text: For good deals on hiking bootstennis shoes I shop Big every few months despite membership at REI for a long time nnI first learned about HiTEC boots while some of the AZ Yelpers were in kindergarten I made a big mistake of hiking in work boots on my first ten mile coastal hike with stream crossings followed by climbing a ridge on a fire road near Malibu I also used cheap cotton socks which did not help the situation either I had to nurse quarter size blisters for several months In the interim I learned about the necessity for good fitting hiking boots and hiking socksnnOn my next hike I had purchased my first pair of HiTEC hiking boots and padded socks Since then both light and heavy duty boots but still like HiTECs for short to medium hikes Three years ago I learned Big stocked HiTECs and seemed to put them on sale fairly often I have worn out two pairs but at half the price or less than REI it is not worth my trouble or time and now gas to go to REI nnI just purchased two pairs of HiTEC El Dorados so should be set for several more years Happy HikingnnHiTEC Update The El Dorado model has superior ease in sliding my foot in and out plus tie ability with a raised loop and hook vs my oldest Quantum model with a loop and my more recent Mckenzie with double hooks The Quantum although more colorful is being retired and I hope it does not end up in Canadian waters with a foot in it especially my foot