NS 564 Spider II

Good day,
I recently was in Thailand for a two week training. I brought one pair of boots, my AKU NS 564 Spider ll.
After ten days of rigorous training and four days of trekking through the sites the boots held up so fantastically I felt moved to write a review. The Spider NS 564 boots have proven to be a high quality product providing comfort, support, durability. An added plus is the look of the boots provide versatility, whether you are wearing a pair of jeans or you are in the field.

I've been wearing the NS-564 since 2012 when the NS-564 and the Spider were two different models and you had to know the right people to get either one of them. I have worn them in every environment except the jungle and in a wide variety of activities from light summer mountaineering to intense tactical training, construction (don't tell OSHA!), and as a daily driver. These boots have never, ever let me down. They are always supportive and frankly the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn, period. It might sound hyperbolic but it's true, I can't imagine life without a pair of these on my feet. This sentiment is shared by everyone I have ever known who has a pair. It's a drug, we're addicted, and we will never stop!

To be very serious though, these boots are shockingly good and the cult-like following they have is for darn good reasons. I would also like to share that they are incredibly durable. I threw away my first pair after 8 years because I had literally worn the soles off of them. The second pair I had, I destroyed after doing roofing and solar installation work for a year after wearing them as a daily driver for 6 years. Most boots only last 6 months in that environment (asphalt shingles are literally sandpaper). I still have the other two pair I bought years ago and they're still going strong despite the abnormal amounts of abuse I put them through. You can't go wrong with them. As long as Aku keeps making these, I will always have two pair in my inventory!

I received these boots about a month ago, I was diagnosed with beginning stages of plantar fasciitis, so before it started getting worse I went to the podiatrist and during the course of x-rays and measurements, along with the two most painful shots I have taken in my life I caught it early enough and only require orthopedic insoles that are commonly made and not custom made.
I installed my required insoles in these boots and first night pulled 14 hours my feet did not ache, they were very comfortable the entire shift. The second night pulled 12 hours plus a foot pursuit through a field still containing residual surface water still standing soaked my feet and wet my slacks from the knee down from the water splashing.
I can say about these boots are they fit like a good quality tennis shoe, they are super comfortable, they fit like a glove on your feet.
Now one thing I would recommend, AKU if possible a small but not performance affecting water-resistant / water-proofing membrane would be superb and a game changer for these boots.