the salesman says he gets 1 1/2 years from the uppers.
and the heel and spring can be easy replaced for 40 bucks.
they help me to be able to stand all day on cement floors. and when walking it feels as there no force to the joints.
and they are to relief pain not a fashion statement LOL
nobody has really noticed as far as i can tell.
chuck
ps so far i am very happy with them z-coil walking shoe with laces.