To see this is to believe it. Today was our first day of winter. I told my son - age 8 - to wear his Ecco perfect condition shoe from last year that he never wore. He came home and showed me that this shoe LITERALLY fell apart - I'm still scratching my head in shock. His socks were sopping wet and he was so uncomfortable - having to sit in class all day, with no ability to call me to come get him.