The old style sucked ass and it probably would have ended bad if it was winter time (Flows up, cold water); however it was a hot summer day in low water. I was wading on the sky and the front fell out leaving the back attached, this is when im trying to cross a heavy midstream pool that was probably 3 feet deep and zipping pretty good. I totally fell face first into the water and got washed downstream a good 50-100 yards. Thank god the water shallowed out into a gradual bar/tailout and i didn't have waders on... Those where immediately dried and sprayed with a bake on adhesive spray and lasted another 3-4 months and they did the same thing, this time thankfully i was walking to the river.
I contacted Korkers and they gave me credit for the old ones, and i paid something like 15-20 bucks for the "newer models". The new ones are badass and so far so good, 2 years later and over 200 trips on them. There soles are tough to remove/hard to get in which makes me more apt about using them. I got the Aquastealth soles on them, and they grip pretty dam good on both the trail and the river. They have seen combat in AK, ID, WA, CA and in Montana where there are some "slick" riverbeds and they have held up fine. I did get a pair of Chotas awhile back and have been impressed with them aswell.
Moral of the story: While they almost killed me, i gave them another shot and have been impressed. However you may see me in the newspaper in the following year or two (blame them on the wading boots....)
If i was to get a pair of wading boots all over, a vote for Chotas or Patagonia's boots.