I scored a little-used two year old pair of A-star Tech8's on ebay not that long ago for ~$125 shipped. Awesome piece of equipment- during one ride I caught my foot between the peg and a tree such that my heel was driven back into the peg hard enough to put a 1/4" dent in the steel heel plate. Didn't even feel it, other than the POW! sensation of having your leg accelerated violently rearward into a hard object. No pain, no lasting effects.
i HAVE been wearing mine almost always, and if not it's just putt-putt on the 220. my foot hurt for 2-3 days. thank gawd it wasn't worse!
maybe they are breaking in more. but still won't buy the thors again.
1999 KDX240 big bore street legal, 2008 KLX300R, 2002 XR250R stock, 1985 XL600R stock, 2001 KDX220 bone stock street legal, 1988 VN750 dresser, 1975 RD350 stock, 1983 GL650I Sliverwing Interstate with sidecar, 1975 Kawasaki F11 (early KDX!), about 15 other bikes that come and go!