I bought the same Itaska boots last year from Gander mountain, after two weekends of hunting in them I had the same problem. Gander Mountain took them back and DISCOURAGED me from replacing them with the same brand boot! The person at the return desk said they had numerous returns of this brand boot. My guess Bud is you told the representative about your speaking tour and he did not want the bad press. they had the problem last year and still have it this year??? That's not customer service or product management....