

I wear combat boots made for first responders (Haix). They are about 3-4 times the cost of yours, but they are made in Europe. Anyway, I’ve had my oldest pair for over six years, and I put at least 10 miles on them on a day. The only upkeep they’ve needed so far is some conditioner. I have a ton of boots, but these are by far my favorites
I’ve worn them in the Arizona desert during summer, and in winter where I live (gets to -30F and colder)
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause toes to curl into claws. There’s another autoimmune disorder that does this too, but I can’t remember which. Lupus maybe? Which would be fitting by name alone