Recently, I had a sole on pair of Northwave MTB shoes separate from the upper. At first I thought the cleat was loose, then I looked down and only the front of the shoe was still attached to the sole. I think I got my moneys worth on that pair, bought in the '00s. I still have them and will probably repair them with some shoe goo. Aside from the sole delaminating from the upper, it's still in decent shape. BTW, I have four other pairs of bike shoes I keep in rotation and one pair I keep in the trunk of my car along with a spare helmet and pair of gloves for those times I need them when I forget them at home.