I also wore the high end American Danners for military use for close to twenty years. Loved them for sure, but now the china made stuff is crap for sure.... My problem with the Danners is I personnaly never could get them to fit perfectly for me and I am a bit of freak when it comes to shoes not fitting right and hate the quitted isulation inside. It seems to always bunch at one time or another when I don't want it to.... I currently have Meindls with IQ fit and alot of five mile trips adding up to a group of miles and they fit excellent with very minimal breakin at all.... No squeaks.