I wore the same pair of boots I got in basic for my entire 4 years, even though my MOS was given new boots yearly (not all get free boots).
The army uses various brands. Some suck, some dont.
combat boots suck for PrepHole whenever there's no restrictions on what they have to wear (special forces, some 4oreigner armies) everyone gravitates to the exact same model of solomon boot that everyone recs for hiking.
just get some solomons or lowas or something.
It's expensive for crap. $200 can go much further for different brands.
all the best boots are $200-250.
price to performance ratio doesn't drop off until $250 retail.
anything that costs less is either on sale or noticably worse.
the only notable exception to this rule are some keen models.
if you want to save money buy trail runners while you save up for decent boots. they cost less up front but last for less miles. even if you're a sperg and don't like them, they're better than a cheap boot.
$230 retail but they go on sale for $180 all the time.
Any boot cheaper than Quest 4d's that isn't used or some crazy sale price is going to be absolute dog shit compared to an average pair of cheap $50 last season trailrunners. There's other boots that are good, they all cost $200-230. Quest 4d's and comparable eva midsole boots should last as long as 4 pairs of trailrunners, so the long term cost is the same and the up front cost is higher.
If you can't afford $200 boots your options are >Waterproof moabs
Half the cost, half the life-span, fungus/condensation issues, heavy. Great choice if you're a weekend warrior, but just buy Salomons if you're going to put miles on them. >Ventilated moabs
Great boot..... for 2 seasons if you live somewhere with seasons. >Ill-suited milsurp boot
It'll last forever but it'll be wore than your old running shoes collecting dust in the garage.
imagine suggesting trailrunners.
...Why? Its summer, you shouldn't even be wearing your boots for a few more months.
Which model? I've seen mixed reviews about declining quality
2 years ago
Anonymous
renegade is the 4d gtx equivalent
haven't heard of any real issues with it specifically but if its a recent development that their quality dropped i wouldn't know about it. spent a year in the hospital so i'm a little out of the loop.
2 years ago
Anonymous
Zephyrs are the “cool” popular boot right now.
I’m gonna reiterate the best response in the thread: there’s a reason sf or soldiers who are allowed to wear whatever they want wear Merrel and Solomon. Army boots kinda suck for hiking boots because they are also work boots.
If you want a great army boot for the summer that feels like a running shoe check out the danner tachyon. Lightest boot I’ve ever seen.
thats not gatekeeping. the answer to "what is the best boot under $200" is wear your old running shoes and save up $200.
keen has a few good $150 boots but they're not any cheaper, the lifespan is lower than solomons/lowas.
I own a pair of Australian issue combat boots from my dad who is in the air force.
First of all, they are awesome. The last forever, they're comfy, fairly breathable but also warm, mostly waterproof.
I've done 1 proper hike in them and everything went well, but I doubt I'll do it again. They're just too heavy and the high ankle is cumbersome. The trade-off of having the extra ankle support and heavy-duty materials isn't worth it if you ask me. After all they aren't made for long distance high pace walking and running, they're mostly made for the worksite (yes I'm aware soldiers go into combat with these things).
I'm thinking about if I should get a new pair of shoes to replace the now 3 year old Brooks running shoes that I still use (which are also awesome), just need to do some research and think about what kind of shoe I actually want.
The combat boots are good if you already own a pair and don't want to buy another pair of shoes, but if you're in the market for a new pair of shoes, there's other options that will be more versatile and probably cheaper.
c**t what the frick are you on about? These boots are the most dog shit boot anyone who has walked longer than 5km will ever wear, there is a reason why everyone who joins and actually walks in them drops them and buys something better.
In-fact there is a reason why they're no longer issued.
I don't know what the Australian Army boots are like today, but when I was in 10 years ago they were fricking awful. Like walking around with your feet encased in concrete. They didn't even have the advantage of being somewhat aesthetic, as you couldn't polish them and they're the colour of dead flesh.
I don't know what the Australian Army boots are like today, but when I was in 10 years ago they were fricking awful. Like walking around with your feet encased in concrete. They didn't even have the advantage of being somewhat aesthetic, as you couldn't polish them and they're the colour of dead flesh.
That's one of my main concern about any military surplus apparel or surplus-adjacent. I love military gear but at the same time I don't want anyone thinking I'm a soldier / vet or trying to pass for one which is why I don't wear camo pants, shirts or jackets.
Land of the free: can't wear camouflage patterns because you're afraid of some Walmart hero. Just wear what you want, moron. I hope no-one actually gives a frick.
A shoe's a shoe. As long as you're not dressing in a uniform, and if anyone does have to ask if you've served you are always honest and forthcoming, it won't be a problem. I feel the same way about military-style boots and hats as I do about backpacks-- it's equipment, not a status symbol.
Clothing is a much more sensitive subject though, and I think it's always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to things like surplus camo pants and jackets because they are so closely associated with servicemen and veterans. I think military fatigues look good but I also recognize that I am not the one who should be wearing them.
Nobody gives a frick, anybody who does is usually whiteknighting for supposedly offended veterans or they're a moron boomervet who served in the 69th Parachute Cooking regiment and want's to swing his chode a bit.
/k/ has a general rule from back in the day: One shouldn't wear more than one military thing in an outfit. One piece of milsurp at a time, or one risks looking like a stolen valor larper
Land of the free: can't wear camouflage patterns because you're afraid of some Walmart hero. Just wear what you want, moron. I hope no-one actually gives a frick.
It's not that you can't, it's that it's disrespectful to dress in a manner whereby you can be easily mistaken for a veteran.
How about wearing any other camo pattern than the one your troops wear in desert shitholes? Surely that should ward off any reasonable misinterpretations.
Veteran here.
We don't give a shit if you wear a surplus field jacket.
I know multiple painters that buy ACU pants because they're cheap, durable and have awesome pockets.
Again, we don't give a shit.
Nobody thinks you're pretending to be a vet by wearing combat boots.
They are a piss poor excuse for boots, which is why spec ops guys buy from the civilian market. See salmon quest 4d boots. Look at their forces line if you need the full larp
this anon is correct
quest 4d's are one of the best civilian hiking boots and the most popular boot for special forces and other parts of the mil that get to wear any boots they want.
civilian version comes in od, special forces version comes in black and desert.
I used these bad boys when I was in and have been using them since I've been out for a few months. I'll probably try out a pair of shoes when they fall apart though. If they weren't so military looking I wouldn't mind continuing to use them though
Good boots. You may try using some leather conditioners on them as they will darken the leather a significant amount to where they would be out of regular.
I don't know why you care though. Do you want brown leather to look like dad or black to look like Patrick bateman?
desert combat boots frick, the only problem is they scream stolen valor too
Who gives a shit. What are you going to get rank checked in veteran parking at cabelas?
If any man's life has come to fashion checking the public, then mark Miller really did slip them the hrt
I've got a pair of these. They are ok, sole is a bit thin and you can feel every rock under foot. Very light weight though, I like that about them. Mine are a couple years old and starting to wear, thinking about a replacement. I like boots because you can blouse your pants over them. I'm not a fan of ending a day with shoes full on sand and I like the blousing as it keep ticks and other creepy crawlies out. I wouldn't pay $250 for a pair of hiking boots though. I do LARP pretty hard now that I come to think of it....
ok what type of shoe insert do i put in a hiking boot?
i bought a pair used, and they fit fine, but the problem is the insole is rough, i guess? like it's almost a sandpaper texture and it fricks up my socks. so i need to put something inside to separate my sock from it.
there's a lot of pseudoscience bullshit about choosing a shoe insert, and i have no clue what i am meant to put in the shoe. i've never bought or used a shoe insert.
bens backwoods sells nice ventilating insoles similar to the old gi kind just thicker they keep your feet remarkably dry in both cold and heat
i used shorts and runners on damn year every non crampon mountain in washington oregon and shorts with boots most of the time in alaska
i am from iceland though.
I'll go a step further and say runners are good in wayyyyy more situations than most people think.
With waterproof and wool socks I've worn a size larger runners in -5C with constant marsh and river crossings. They were ideal as the soft sole gripped slippy terrain, and water drained immediately out the runner >TFW standing in -5C alpine river in howling wind to wash off mud and feeling toasty warm
My fren in "waterproof" boots was suffering hard with constant soaking freezing feet, heavy slippy boots and no way to drain water without stopping.
Adding microspikes turned them into snow and ice scrambling machines. Love trainers, simple as
Shorts are still a good choice in pretty brutal conditions as bare legs dry much faster than any fabric, as long as they're close fitting and windproof enough to protect your femoral arteries and you're wearing medium/high socks to cover your ankles as this is where most heat loss occurs
>Shorts are still a good choice in pretty brutal conditions as bare legs
no they are not, freezing knees is not only uncomfortable but its a shortcut to a bunch of problems down the line.
And yes i did read your post and ive used waterproof socks/ plastic bags when mountain biking in the winter but its not something i would consider using on foot, especially if im not home by dinner. It gets cold as soon as you stop moving in my experience and that is only in around freezing conditions.
If i had to do a lot of crossing i would probably buy a pair of well fitting knee high rubber boots. Or commit to doing a lot of footwear changes.
Its not a relevant issue for me these days since winter means i will be on skis where i live now
>shortcut to a bunch of problems down the line
curious, like what? >not something I would consider using on foot
Works for a lot of people just fine.
2 years ago
Anonymous
>curious, like what?
Literally everything, every possible type of problem with your knees that you have or have the genetics for or you're slowly developing from your lifestyle will be sped up from having cold knees.
>Works for a lot of people just fine.
Good for them, I've tried it and will never use it if I have a choice
2 years ago
Anonymous
Really? That seems important, thanks for sharing anon. Might think back on this one anon's in 30 years as the post that saved my knees
>good for them
The reason I mentioned it is that my experiences really didn't match your seemingly bad one. I wore pretty sturdy waterproof shell socks over wool in comfy runners during a very wet winter and was as warm and dry as if it were summer. Maybe your socks got saturated or your shoes were too tight or the breadbags leaked/slipped around. My experience with gumboots over multi day hikes was really negative. if you somehow found a pair that are comfy for 20-30 mile days, they would have filled up with marsh and river water and rain/snow/hail, been very sweaty and simultaneously cold due to the bellows/pumping effect removing warm air as you walk.
>If i had to do a lot of crossing i would probably buy a pair of well fitting knee high rubber boots.
This only works if the water is below knee height. I already covered this in a previous post.
If you're much colder there's not going to be water to cross it'll probably be frozen.
>curious, like what?
Literally everything, every possible type of problem with your knees that you have or have the genetics for or you're slowly developing from your lifestyle will be sped up from having cold knees.
>Works for a lot of people just fine.
Good for them, I've tried it and will never use it if I have a choice
>Good for them, I've tried it and will never use it if I have a choice
Why? a rubber boot or a bag membrane is effectively the same fricking thing, your skin isn't breathing either way.
2 years ago
Anonymous
>Why? a rubber boot or a bag membrane is effectively the same fricking thing, your skin isn't breathing either way.
Its not, if you have a running shoe with a membrane sock under it you still have a wet shoe with a lot of cold water still in it even after you're back in dry land. That will basically act like a heatsink for your foot.
Does it matter? Well that's up to you fren.
From the other answers it sounds like I lucked out, I love my pair. I wear them regularly on 7-10 mile hikes and never had a complaint. Best part is they were free, our ROTC unit at college needed some guys to LARP as enemies for one of their classes. Me and a few other guys got to play Taliban for a 4 hours a week and at the end of the semester some boots were written off as “field losses”.
Here's your best anecdote of a single person testing the same military boot.
The one thing I don't agree with him is how he downsizes to a point where his toes barely touch the length of the boots, but bellevilles worst design tends to be how snug their laces hold.
Certain belleville models (mini mil, xero) and garmont bifida t8s tend to be the best.
T8 nfs weighs less but won't last as long for eva foam.
Bifida t8 tend to last longer as polyurethane but weigh more.
https://www.frankrevelo.com/hiking/gear_footwear_belleville.htm
I'd say the one caveat with military boots, which is the same as trainers is that they are designed to function for a set time (ie a mission, training, few months) in general. Eva shoes are stated for the foam cushion to last 500 miles before it breaks down.
Boots now use the same eva foam and sometimes polyurethane (more durable) but the leather tends to be some of the lowest quality (suede) you can find.
A lot of people buy new boots for a new combat school, deployment, etc for that reason. So don't be surprised if you buy some and don't use it for a year (hydrolysis of foam, or leather dries out and cracks) and your boots are doa upon the time you break them out of the closet.
I'd still aim for boots around or under 3 lbs as getting some type of station boot across a profession like 5 lb logger boots or 4 lb Corcoran jump boots or most other welted boots will be really hard on your joints down the road.
>I'd still aim for boots around or under 3 lbs as getting some type of station boot across a profession like 5 lb logger boots or 4 lb Corcoran jump boots or most other welted boots will be really hard on your joints down the road.
This cannot be stressed enough
STOP LARPING
SAVE YOUR JOINTS
1lb on the feet = 5lb on the back
Wear comfy trainers.
I'm extremelly interested that other people trudge along in belvilles. Aside from my bones getting fricking pulverised. I get this fricking gigantic blister. I don't think a blister is a big deal I use to get them from things. If it popped and there is nothing I can do besides change my socks more frequently? Blister popped change socks. Lost one of them in a dryer. I borrowed a few of clean ones out. I just have to limp around for the day?
Trail runners for all hiking that doesn't require crampons
Crocs for cycle touring
boots are torture. Totally unnecessary. Waterproof is a meme - they'll never dry. I wear waterproof socks with runners in winter. I don't carry superfluous larp gear so my pack is always under 30lb even with a week's worth of food, so trail runners are all I'll ever need.
only if they're classic 20th century designs like double buckles, paratroopers, or jungles, and only situationally. i would never, EVER, buy anything with the word "tactical" stamped in it, or that had goretex mesh padding on the inside, or shitty leather with a PU coating on top of it. if you're thinking about buying something like that, you should just get salomans because that's like the same garbage but way better. don't buy mil-tec, rothco, or anything made in asia. genuine milsurp is almost always better than commercially available. also if you have to pick between a size that might be too big or one that might be too small, always go with the smaller one. also learn to aproximate fit by looking at pictures and never trust the sizing guides
Kinda suck for specifically hiking. They're multipurpose. If you're gonna go hiking though and not do all the other odd jobs of army life. Cleaning, combat, construction etc. It's a waste of weight and not your best choice. Go with a dedicated hiking boot or runner. Get some gaiters if you're gonna hit brush. It'll be lighter, better supported and a more specialized grip for hiking.
Here's an Altra King. Maximized for difficult slippery terrain. Not that an army boot has *bad* grip. But something like this will be better accounting for incline/decline traverse and odd angles.
So OP im gonna let you in on a well known secret that a lot of people still have not heard.
Military grade =/= best quality or even good
Military gear/grade is built for 3 things. To be as durable as humanly possible, the average GI joe will fricking destory almost any piece of equipment you give them in a matter of hours. Wanna see if something you made in durable? Give it to a group of marines who are under paid, in the middle of a hot ass wasteland, that have not gotten laid in months and are eating shit that makes them crap once every three days and have not taken a bath in over a week, they will abuse the frick outta anything you give them.
The second thing, is they are simple, again, GI Joe aint build for complex tasks, any piiece of equipment you give him better be really fricking easy to operate or else he is going to find the incorrect way to correctly use it.
Third, Military gear/grade shit is meant ot be cheap as frick and able to be bought in mass quantities.
Out side of very niche or high tech military equipment 9/10 times civilian grade equipment is going to be better, strong, lighter, more durable and more comfortable. morons that buy military grade shit that costs 3x more then civilian grade are just being suckered into thinking MUH MILITARY GOOD!
No, its not, military gear for the most part is pretty sub par, and clothing is one of the greatest examples of this;. You can get WAY more comfortable, durable, and better quality boots in the civilian market.
the big thing you missed that makes milsurp (in general, not specifically boots) often ill-suited for PrepHole is that there's a high priority on making everything either not flammable or flame moronant at the cost of everything else. which makes sense for a soldier. makes zero sense outside. oh boo hoo you might melt a puffy once in a while by the campfire and need to buy a square of nylon tape.
How many fricking grenades do you encounter when you are in the woods? Also how many fricking chemical fires (Gas and oil) are you going to plan on encountering?
Mil surp shit is made with a purpose, going PrepHole is not that purpose.
The other thing to is a lot of mil surp equipment is also made in mind of operating in squads/groups. Not one or 2 people.
There are some mil surp things that i admit are really good because it was just designed well.
Example of good mil surp things are, the military sleep system sleeping bag, comes in 3 pices the patrol bag, the bive and the black bag, shit is great for all weather, down to like...fricking -10 i think? somethign assininly cold, good shit.
Their most recent pack is also pretty fricking solid, my dad bought one, i unfortunately cant remember the exact name of it. But its a really solid pack, durable as frick, and comes with lots of modularity and has the ability to carry an assault pack ontop of it, basically your inna wood extended field deployment pack, only down side is, its super wide vs being tall and narrow. but thats dealers choice.
Another great mil surp item usually are gonna be your simple gadgets, like a compass.
Just dont go buying boots and jackets and shit from mil surp its pretty sub par vs waht the civilian market can get a hold of.
For the average run of the mill grunt, desk jockey, or maintainer, service issued combat boots will get them through 99% of the situations they'll ever be in. When you look at the less formal/rigid areas of the military, specifically the small community types, whether its seals or marsoc on the ground, or blackhawk pilots and contractor spy planes overhead, they don't have time to deal with small things that add up over time. Boots falling apart, chaffing from a poorly fitted vest, a jacket that isnt warm enough when youre flying in the moutains, etc... So most of them end up just buying very nice, expensive, quality of life type things so that they can focus on the important stuff. You can't really get a new pair of boots when you're hundreds of miles in enemy territory providing troop movements back to homebase, right? If you're trying to survive red dawn china edition then you should probably get a nice pair of waterproof salomons, otherwise if you're just playing dress up in the woods with your friends combat boots should do you just fine.
>You can't really get a new pair of boots when you're hundreds of miles in enemy territory providing troop movements back to homebase, right? If you're trying to survive red dawn china edition then you should probably get a nice pair of waterproof salomons
salomans are notorious for falling apart. SF wear salomans because they're never deployed anywhere for more than a few days. short deployments mean less weight, and less weight makes the ankle support and sole rigidity of high combat boots a disadvantage rather than a benefit. a lot of these SF guys use local transportation on deployment and never walk more than 20km anywhere outside of training. just because salomans are ideal for modern expeditionary SF doesn't mean they're the best ever. there is no "best ever"
>salomans are notorious for falling apart.
what fails on them?
my last 4 pairs lasted longer than average for eva midsole gtx upper boots.
i did buy a bunch of pairs of version 2 years ago on sale and store them did the quality go down or something?
Standard issue ones suck ass, they're alright, but I've been wearing my Oakley Light Assault boots ever since I enlisted. I wear them probably every day, and because I'm not a pog, they don't only see garrison use. They actually get fricked up. One year I only had one pair, it lasted over a year of rucking, climbing rope, etc.
Dries fast too.
I'll wear them and keep wearing them.
I buy a new pair of Corcoran side zip jump boots every 5 years. They arent milsurp per se, but are modeled after ww2 paratrooper boots.
idgaf what PrepHole says, they are the best boots ive ever worn and they last forever. i own those boots and a pair of flip flops and thats it for footwear
I have a beat pair, for yard work, hiking and PrepHole type shit and a nicer pair to wear as shoes when its poopy out. Each pair lasts 10 years, thats forever for boots that get worn daily for 5 years and weekend warrior shit for the 2nd 5 years.
i hope you cleaned and polished those after taking that picture. you can definitely tell they've been used extensively, unlike most of the pictures i see here where shoes and clothes look brand new
>cleaned and polished
this only happens in the 1st 5 years... after they become the weekend warrior pair, they get no shining or cleaning or whatever
one thing i will say, i will never ever for any reason put on my boots without socks. im big on socks anon... i legit use my seal a meal to individually vaccumn seal like 10 pairs of socks every time i go PrepHole ... you get one pair of feet, you need them to get back to civilization and trust me when i say that trying to hike 10 miles back to the car with soggy wet feet is fricking torture... i lost all the skin on my feet that day, and i vowed to never let that happen again
LOL HELL NO
Go to the nearest serious trail or watch any hiking vids and count the number of larper boots
I get that you want to emulate Muh Masculine Manly Marines but do your body a favour and buy something comfy and light like anyone who isn't paid by uncle Sam to walk over punji traps would do
Here's some great options to get you started >Salomon speedcross or XA lite >Adidas terrex agravic >LA sportiva Bushido or mutant >scarpa mojito
Any of these will weigh at least half that of a light larp boot. Add simple gaiters in sand or mud and waterproof or neoprene socks in cold wet.
>ruining your ankles or getting bit by a snake
Desert boots ain't gonna stop a snake bite, have you ever seen snake gaiters?
Boots don't protect your weak babby ankles anyway. They'd have to be debilitatingly tight and rigid like downhill ski boots for that, ya dingus. Strengthen them ankles boy
>caring about fashion in the outdoors
I think they all look sick. And you'll have plenty of opportunity to admire them as they breeze past your overheating ass clomping along in your sweaty foot casts. >gay
Always the insecurity with you larpers. Guess what, no one thinks a pasty frail nerd is a tough veteran survivorman, no matter what he's got on his feet. Whereas Cam Honan could wear Polly pocket flip flops and you'd still know he's the real deal.
And what kind of girl prefers some bitter insecure chud doing the hiker hobble in filthy sweaty boots over some superfit hillchad jumping through streams and jogging up the trail in his sporty runners?
>anime pic
im sure the tl;dr of your post is basically 'im a huge homosexual, please rape my face'
perhaps someone can clue me in cause i didnt read your blogpost, homosexual
>gay
the one thing is always consistent with you ti/K/tok larpers.
you care more about what the trees in the forest think about your cute airsoft outfit than you care about how good your gear is.
>ruining your ankles or getting bit by a snake
Desert boots ain't gonna stop a snake bite, have you ever seen snake gaiters?
Boots don't protect your weak babby ankles anyway. They'd have to be debilitatingly tight and rigid like downhill ski boots for that, ya dingus. Strengthen them ankles boy
>caring about fashion in the outdoors
I think they all look sick. And you'll have plenty of opportunity to admire them as they breeze past your overheating ass clomping along in your sweaty foot casts. >gay
Always the insecurity with you larpers. Guess what, no one thinks a pasty frail nerd is a tough veteran survivorman, no matter what he's got on his feet. Whereas Cam Honan could wear Polly pocket flip flops and you'd still know he's the real deal.
And what kind of girl prefers some bitter insecure chud doing the hiker hobble in filthy sweaty boots over some superfit hillchad jumping through streams and jogging up the trail in his sporty runners?
>gay
the one thing is always consistent with you ti/K/tok larpers.
you care more about what the trees in the forest think about your cute airsoft outfit than you care about how good your gear is.
Tl;Dr: I mog you in my epic runners and laugh at you having a sexual orientation crisis
Seethe
no you're just a tard who cares what people think about you in the woods where no one should even be around except your friends unless you're a park-prancing pussyboy.
i use the right tool for the job 80% of the time its a runner.
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Did a pair of boots frick your mom or something?
, not the guy you were originally replying to, but let me this straight: >you care about what people think about you in the woods! >nobody should care what people think of them in the woods! >so wear what I want in the woods or I'll think you're a "park-prancing pussyboy"!
What kind of logic is that?
And I'm not that guy and lol at his choice of words but trail runners are the superior choice for just about anything that doesn't involve crampons, extreme cold or massive amounts of abrasion.
Despite this lots of media, boomers and kids on this board push the myth that boots are superior or even required, when people could be having a much comfier and easier time in the outdoors in runners so I proselytize their benefits in the hope people think for themselves and get to enjoy them
anon here said it all.
boots are also better for swamps less deep than the ankle and i prefer them on trails that are shared with horses.
some thru hikers like them because the lifespan of a boot is about the same as a thru hike, trailrunners have to be replaced along the way. most prefer runners but i think that's a solid advantage.
2 years ago
Anonymous
Funnily enough I've done both, 1200 miles in boots and 900 in runners (replaced twice)
Here's why I preferred runners:
Boots cost 100-200 for decent PU midsoled ones (forget EVA midsole, may as well use runners) and last approx 900-1200 miles. Runners can be had for 30-50 end of season/sales. Good runners like Agravics or Speedcross can last over 500 miles before midsole compression and I've had some do over 700 before sole lost grip and uppers shredded. More on softer terrain.
You'll be burning a lot more calories and taking longer to recover in boots as they are a lot heavier, especially when wet (and slower to drain/dry). You can think of this in money if you like.
You'll be slower, runners encourage faster walking by weight and sole shape. This costs more in time and food.
Tougher boot soles are less tacky and grippy compounds and are often slippier, and often use deep hard tread which is less pleasant to walk on. The soles are harder, often less flexible nor cushioning.
Boots are hot in high heat and dry very slowly in wet so lead to faster foot problems. Most surplus boots have fungus issues for this reason (cut them open if you don't believe me). Runners drain, dry and breathe better.
I don't need ankle protection for my pack weights, nor very rigid heels. I wear gaiters when a high shaft shoe is needed.
Runner masterrace.
2 years ago
Anonymous
>Runners can be had for 30-50 end of season/sales
agree @ all and echoing this because it makes boots rather silly for even really the economical argument, with a little planning.
only source of cheap boots i know about was the rei garage sales but they stopped doing those.
pretty simple stuff anon.
if you're not destitute poor you got boots and trailrunners and if you go outside more than once a year you know when its best to bring one or the other.
most of the time its probably a trailrunner especially right now its summer bro.
I'll go a step further and say runners are good in wayyyyy more situations than most people think.
With waterproof and wool socks I've worn a size larger runners in -5C with constant marsh and river crossings. They were ideal as the soft sole gripped slippy terrain, and water drained immediately out the runner >TFW standing in -5C alpine river in howling wind to wash off mud and feeling toasty warm
My fren in "waterproof" boots was suffering hard with constant soaking freezing feet, heavy slippy boots and no way to drain water without stopping.
Adding microspikes turned them into snow and ice scrambling machines. Love trainers, simple as
2 years ago
Anonymous
>med denier taller gaiters >short stretchy running gaiters >wool sock, coolmax for summer >bread bags
can do p much anything in a runner
the stuff you can't isn't what these anons are doing either lets be real lmfao
Legit and better than most boots, but u won't get reddit karma and the whales here will hate you because you deviate from current fads.
Not to say all military boots are good, such as basic jungle etc are garbage and larpers only like to use the shittiest and cheapest boots
I learned to embrace how goofy some runners look. Love buying moronic end-of-season clown colors and beating the everloving shit out if them on an adventure. Really fun dressing in insane person colours to go and do cool shit lol
Love that. I see it a lot with hardcore mountain, climbing and running brands and cottage co gear - most of their gear comes in kaleidoscope schizo colours. Think its because the hardcore types who buy their niche gear fully embrace the perks of morale boosting fun colours and high vis etc.
I like them for hunting in steep areas. Im not aiming to walk long distances on a trail, but to bush bash, slip and slide, climb/descend uneven ground, stuff like that.
I've been using LowaM Z-6S GTXs and they are wonderful for hiking. Sturdy, light, great support. IDGAF what the fairies in their neon colored $400 hiking technology shoes think.
I bought a pair of Belleville 790V's when I was in the Air Force (right when we switched from ABU to OCP) because I needed a new pair of tans instead of sages. They have lasted six years without any issues, they are the best fitting boot I have ever owned, and they aren't heavy (YMMV on that since I'm rather used to the weight of combats). I'm big on the full length ankle support and the added protection from snakes, bugs, briars, etc.
I wouldn't worry about stolen valor nonsense. They're just boots, dude. It's not like you're walking around with a medal of honor around your neck.
ok what type of shoe insert do i put in a hiking boot?
i bought a pair used, and they fit fine, but the problem is the insole is rough, i guess? like it's almost a sandpaper texture and it fricks up my socks. so i need to put something inside to separate my sock from it.
there's a lot of pseudoscience bullshit about choosing a shoe insert, and i have no clue what i am meant to put in the shoe. i've never bought or used a shoe insert.
i was thinking of getting some desert combat surplus for hiking and maybe even for a specific beach i go to with sharp cliffs and rough terrain
bad idea?
rocky beaches or ones with frickloads of shellfish are one of the valid uses for combat boots imo
far from the most optimal thing to walk with on a beach but cheap (beaches frick footwear up fast), abrasion resistant, won't gash your foot/leg on shit, it might be viable if we're talking the kind of beach you can't wear sandals at.
i'm one of the people shitting on milsurp boots but i actually do have a pair at my beach house for the above reasons and because right off the beach everything is full of tiny prickly frick plants.
blundstones are the lightest of the bunch and still very tough despite a drop in quality and overseas manufacture. I got 3 years almost daily wear before the tread was remotely worn, leather is thick and tough too. Warranty is good too i guess. They look like shit though, like gay rainboots for women. No one, no one gives me compliments on them, only memes and clowning (except for mom thank you mom I love you).
The chiseltip blundstones have worse grip but better looks.
I hear redbacks are better quality and comfier but they're heavier and some complaints about sole compound changes. They look like autism bionicle shoes if you care about that.
I wouldn't recommend those kinds of boots for walking any distance or technical terrain. Fine for work, daily and short hikes.
Dont be a moron, buy hunting boots. Or loggers if you need something heavier. Unless maybe your broke as frick and have to suffer for it, then just get a job
>loggers
i don't know about that. obviously heritage loggers are great quality, very practical, classy, and all that business, but is somebody who's walking all day really going to want a giant heel stack? to me, ideally, a combat boot should be substantially similar to a logger, just with a less thick heel
They make small heel loggers. If you are on steep terrain woth lots of slippery duff imo its worth it to have the big heel. If you are on flat stuff or fust rocky it its probably more pain than its worth. Even still, if i wasnt to get a logger I'd get hunting boots before combat boots. Im a timber cruiser and Ive used all 3.
Recommend a pair of loggers without a 2" heel?
I've checked all the major brands but can't find anything. A good pair of full-grain loggers with a vibram sole without a high heel is my grail.
the mil-tec squad boot reviews extremely well and even got 1st place in a Danish outdoors magazine for price/quality. the price of <100usd and the other products from mil-tec along with the larp factor feels like a blaring red flag, but since I'm in Denmark I won't encounter any challenging terrain that can't easily be circled around. no rocks or mountains.
Would it be a waste of money to get those? would love to hear if anyone has tried them. Been using timbs so far and they are not cutting it at all. yes i am a newbie with only a couple trips under my belt.
they are not good quality and fall apart pretty fast. i use them because i live in a military town and can get them for $15 a pair at thrift stores.
I wore the same pair of boots I got in basic for my entire 4 years, even though my MOS was given new boots yearly (not all get free boots).
The army uses various brands. Some suck, some dont.
The frick kind of MOS do you have? How often do you go to the field? Most people in my unit can’t go a year without replacing their boots.
>not knowing about good military boots.
fricking kek
They're heavy, and the good ones (like Danners) cost north of 200 bucks. Just go with Solomons or trail runners.
>north of 200 bucks
Is this expensive for you, anon?
No, that was more to address the guy above me who says that he can get boots for $15. Those boots are almost guaranteed to be pieces of shit.
What if they're about $150 or so?
combat boots suck for PrepHole whenever there's no restrictions on what they have to wear (special forces, some 4oreigner armies) everyone gravitates to the exact same model of solomon boot that everyone recs for hiking.
just get some solomons or lowas or something.
all the best boots are $200-250.
price to performance ratio doesn't drop off until $250 retail.
anything that costs less is either on sale or noticably worse.
the only notable exception to this rule are some keen models.
if you want to save money buy trail runners while you save up for decent boots. they cost less up front but last for less miles. even if you're a sperg and don't like them, they're better than a cheap boot.
It's expensive for crap. $200 can go much further for different brands.
200 bucks is expensive for footwear. Quit being a tool.
$200 for boots that can expect 1200+ miles from the midsole is really reasonable. the norm for hiking is $100 trailrunners that last 300 miles.
Yikes
If you don't go outside, then why are you posting?
No it's not. I have to get custom made shoes that run me usually close to 500 because i wear a size 13 4E shoe.
No it isn't.
Never be israeli on the things that support you, wheels, bed, shoes, etc.
Salomons are over 200 bucks too unless you get your gay little running shoes.
$230 retail but they go on sale for $180 all the time.
Any boot cheaper than Quest 4d's that isn't used or some crazy sale price is going to be absolute dog shit compared to an average pair of cheap $50 last season trailrunners. There's other boots that are good, they all cost $200-230. Quest 4d's and comparable eva midsole boots should last as long as 4 pairs of trailrunners, so the long term cost is the same and the up front cost is higher.
If you can't afford $200 boots your options are
>Waterproof moabs
Half the cost, half the life-span, fungus/condensation issues, heavy. Great choice if you're a weekend warrior, but just buy Salomons if you're going to put miles on them.
>Ventilated moabs
Great boot..... for 2 seasons if you live somewhere with seasons.
>Ill-suited milsurp boot
It'll last forever but it'll be wore than your old running shoes collecting dust in the garage.
...Why? Its summer, you shouldn't even be wearing your boots for a few more months.
What's the best alternative to Quest 4d that's made in the US or Europe?
lowas
Which model? I've seen mixed reviews about declining quality
renegade is the 4d gtx equivalent
haven't heard of any real issues with it specifically but if its a recent development that their quality dropped i wouldn't know about it. spent a year in the hospital so i'm a little out of the loop.
Zephyrs are the “cool” popular boot right now.
I’m gonna reiterate the best response in the thread: there’s a reason sf or soldiers who are allowed to wear whatever they want wear Merrel and Solomon. Army boots kinda suck for hiking boots because they are also work boots.
If you want a great army boot for the summer that feels like a running shoe check out the danner tachyon. Lightest boot I’ve ever seen.
imagine suggesting trailrunners.
>bragging about wealth
Your pride will cost you dearly.
what
thats not gatekeeping. the answer to "what is the best boot under $200" is wear your old running shoes and save up $200.
keen has a few good $150 boots but they're not any cheaper, the lifespan is lower than solomons/lowas.
I own a pair of Australian issue combat boots from my dad who is in the air force.
First of all, they are awesome. The last forever, they're comfy, fairly breathable but also warm, mostly waterproof.
I've done 1 proper hike in them and everything went well, but I doubt I'll do it again. They're just too heavy and the high ankle is cumbersome. The trade-off of having the extra ankle support and heavy-duty materials isn't worth it if you ask me. After all they aren't made for long distance high pace walking and running, they're mostly made for the worksite (yes I'm aware soldiers go into combat with these things).
I'm thinking about if I should get a new pair of shoes to replace the now 3 year old Brooks running shoes that I still use (which are also awesome), just need to do some research and think about what kind of shoe I actually want.
The combat boots are good if you already own a pair and don't want to buy another pair of shoes, but if you're in the market for a new pair of shoes, there's other options that will be more versatile and probably cheaper.
c**t what the frick are you on about? These boots are the most dog shit boot anyone who has walked longer than 5km will ever wear, there is a reason why everyone who joins and actually walks in them drops them and buys something better.
In-fact there is a reason why they're no longer issued.
>ankle high and cumbersome
you're a dumb c**t
this, terras are dogshit
I don't know what the Australian Army boots are like today, but when I was in 10 years ago they were fricking awful. Like walking around with your feet encased in concrete. They didn't even have the advantage of being somewhat aesthetic, as you couldn't polish them and they're the colour of dead flesh.
>Last forever
HAHAHAHAHA, wanna know how I know you never go out.
how do you know?
I like the look of them but I usually use regular hiking boots. They remind me of something that my mental image of Liet Kynes from Dune would wear.
desert combat boots frick, the only problem is they scream stolen valor too
>problem is they scream stolen valor too
That's one of my main concern about any military surplus apparel or surplus-adjacent. I love military gear but at the same time I don't want anyone thinking I'm a soldier / vet or trying to pass for one which is why I don't wear camo pants, shirts or jackets.
Land of the free: can't wear camouflage patterns because you're afraid of some Walmart hero. Just wear what you want, moron. I hope no-one actually gives a frick.
dont worry. nobody will think you are a soldier.
Oh, yikes, I didn't consider that.
A shoe's a shoe. As long as you're not dressing in a uniform, and if anyone does have to ask if you've served you are always honest and forthcoming, it won't be a problem. I feel the same way about military-style boots and hats as I do about backpacks-- it's equipment, not a status symbol.
Clothing is a much more sensitive subject though, and I think it's always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to things like surplus camo pants and jackets because they are so closely associated with servicemen and veterans. I think military fatigues look good but I also recognize that I am not the one who should be wearing them.
Nobody gives a frick, anybody who does is usually whiteknighting for supposedly offended veterans or they're a moron boomervet who served in the 69th Parachute Cooking regiment and want's to swing his chode a bit.
/k/ has a general rule from back in the day: One shouldn't wear more than one military thing in an outfit. One piece of milsurp at a time, or one risks looking like a stolen valor larper
>stolen valor
lmao I always thought this was a meme but it's actually a concern in muttland.
thanks for your cervix.
It's not that you can't, it's that it's disrespectful to dress in a manner whereby you can be easily mistaken for a veteran.
>sirs please respect the zogbots
how contrived.
How about wearing any other camo pattern than the one your troops wear in desert shitholes? Surely that should ward off any reasonable misinterpretations.
I mean, at least if you wear a foreign uniform no-one's going to assume you're a vet unless you talk with a foreign accent.
A boomer mistook my Bundeswehr flecktarn trousers for USMC marpat before and asked if I was a marine.
Veteran here.
We don't give a shit if you wear a surplus field jacket.
I know multiple painters that buy ACU pants because they're cheap, durable and have awesome pockets.
Again, we don't give a shit.
Nobody thinks you're pretending to be a vet by wearing combat boots.
any zogbot who gets butthurt over such things didn't do anything significant in the military or is simply stupid, you can ignore them
They are a piss poor excuse for boots, which is why spec ops guys buy from the civilian market. See salmon quest 4d boots. Look at their forces line if you need the full larp
this anon is correct
quest 4d's are one of the best civilian hiking boots and the most popular boot for special forces and other parts of the mil that get to wear any boots they want.
civilian version comes in od, special forces version comes in black and desert.
I used these bad boys when I was in and have been using them since I've been out for a few months. I'll probably try out a pair of shoes when they fall apart though. If they weren't so military looking I wouldn't mind continuing to use them though
Good boots. You may try using some leather conditioners on them as they will darken the leather a significant amount to where they would be out of regular.
I don't know why you care though. Do you want brown leather to look like dad or black to look like Patrick bateman?
Who gives a shit. What are you going to get rank checked in veteran parking at cabelas?
If any man's life has come to fashion checking the public, then mark Miller really did slip them the hrt
yes
I've got a pair of these. They are ok, sole is a bit thin and you can feel every rock under foot. Very light weight though, I like that about them. Mine are a couple years old and starting to wear, thinking about a replacement. I like boots because you can blouse your pants over them. I'm not a fan of ending a day with shoes full on sand and I like the blousing as it keep ticks and other creepy crawlies out. I wouldn't pay $250 for a pair of hiking boots though. I do LARP pretty hard now that I come to think of it....
Hm that's a good point, I should try blousing my PrepHole pants if I get combat boots.
you don't know these exist?
Nice ankle warmers anon, very cute uwu
>shorts and trail runners
>in the snow
picrel
bens backwoods sells nice ventilating insoles similar to the old gi kind just thicker they keep your feet remarkably dry in both cold and heat
i used shorts and runners on damn year every non crampon mountain in washington oregon and shorts with boots most of the time in alaska
i am from iceland though.
and trail runners
>>in the snow
>picrel
read
Shorts are still a good choice in pretty brutal conditions as bare legs dry much faster than any fabric, as long as they're close fitting and windproof enough to protect your femoral arteries and you're wearing medium/high socks to cover your ankles as this is where most heat loss occurs
>Shorts are still a good choice in pretty brutal conditions as bare legs
no they are not, freezing knees is not only uncomfortable but its a shortcut to a bunch of problems down the line.
And yes i did read your post and ive used waterproof socks/ plastic bags when mountain biking in the winter but its not something i would consider using on foot, especially if im not home by dinner. It gets cold as soon as you stop moving in my experience and that is only in around freezing conditions.
If i had to do a lot of crossing i would probably buy a pair of well fitting knee high rubber boots. Or commit to doing a lot of footwear changes.
Its not a relevant issue for me these days since winter means i will be on skis where i live now
>shortcut to a bunch of problems down the line
curious, like what?
>not something I would consider using on foot
Works for a lot of people just fine.
>curious, like what?
Literally everything, every possible type of problem with your knees that you have or have the genetics for or you're slowly developing from your lifestyle will be sped up from having cold knees.
>Works for a lot of people just fine.
Good for them, I've tried it and will never use it if I have a choice
Really? That seems important, thanks for sharing anon. Might think back on this one anon's in 30 years as the post that saved my knees
>good for them
The reason I mentioned it is that my experiences really didn't match your seemingly bad one. I wore pretty sturdy waterproof shell socks over wool in comfy runners during a very wet winter and was as warm and dry as if it were summer. Maybe your socks got saturated or your shoes were too tight or the breadbags leaked/slipped around. My experience with gumboots over multi day hikes was really negative. if you somehow found a pair that are comfy for 20-30 mile days, they would have filled up with marsh and river water and rain/snow/hail, been very sweaty and simultaneously cold due to the bellows/pumping effect removing warm air as you walk.
>If i had to do a lot of crossing i would probably buy a pair of well fitting knee high rubber boots.
This only works if the water is below knee height. I already covered this in a previous post.
If you're much colder there's not going to be water to cross it'll probably be frozen.
>Good for them, I've tried it and will never use it if I have a choice
Why? a rubber boot or a bag membrane is effectively the same fricking thing, your skin isn't breathing either way.
>Why? a rubber boot or a bag membrane is effectively the same fricking thing, your skin isn't breathing either way.
Its not, if you have a running shoe with a membrane sock under it you still have a wet shoe with a lot of cold water still in it even after you're back in dry land. That will basically act like a heatsink for your foot.
Does it matter? Well that's up to you fren.
tbf it's a very thin and quick draining layer
Ranger panty gay here
Get a pair with the vibram soles. Take them to a boot shop, have the toe cup, heel cup and shank removed. Best boots you'll ever own
From the other answers it sounds like I lucked out, I love my pair. I wear them regularly on 7-10 mile hikes and never had a complaint. Best part is they were free, our ROTC unit at college needed some guys to LARP as enemies for one of their classes. Me and a few other guys got to play Taliban for a 4 hours a week and at the end of the semester some boots were written off as “field losses”.
Here's your best anecdote of a single person testing the same military boot.
The one thing I don't agree with him is how he downsizes to a point where his toes barely touch the length of the boots, but bellevilles worst design tends to be how snug their laces hold.
Certain belleville models (mini mil, xero) and garmont bifida t8s tend to be the best.
T8 nfs weighs less but won't last as long for eva foam.
Bifida t8 tend to last longer as polyurethane but weigh more.
https://www.frankrevelo.com/hiking/gear_footwear_belleville.htm
I'd say the one caveat with military boots, which is the same as trainers is that they are designed to function for a set time (ie a mission, training, few months) in general. Eva shoes are stated for the foam cushion to last 500 miles before it breaks down.
Boots now use the same eva foam and sometimes polyurethane (more durable) but the leather tends to be some of the lowest quality (suede) you can find.
A lot of people buy new boots for a new combat school, deployment, etc for that reason. So don't be surprised if you buy some and don't use it for a year (hydrolysis of foam, or leather dries out and cracks) and your boots are doa upon the time you break them out of the closet.
I'd still aim for boots around or under 3 lbs as getting some type of station boot across a profession like 5 lb logger boots or 4 lb Corcoran jump boots or most other welted boots will be really hard on your joints down the road.
>I'd still aim for boots around or under 3 lbs as getting some type of station boot across a profession like 5 lb logger boots or 4 lb Corcoran jump boots or most other welted boots will be really hard on your joints down the road.
This cannot be stressed enough
STOP LARPING
SAVE YOUR JOINTS
1lb on the feet = 5lb on the back
Wear comfy trainers.
I'm extremelly interested that other people trudge along in belvilles. Aside from my bones getting fricking pulverised. I get this fricking gigantic blister. I don't think a blister is a big deal I use to get them from things. If it popped and there is nothing I can do besides change my socks more frequently? Blister popped change socks. Lost one of them in a dryer. I borrowed a few of clean ones out. I just have to limp around for the day?
Trail runners for all hiking that doesn't require crampons
Crocs for cycle touring
boots are torture. Totally unnecessary. Waterproof is a meme - they'll never dry. I wear waterproof socks with runners in winter. I don't carry superfluous larp gear so my pack is always under 30lb even with a week's worth of food, so trail runners are all I'll ever need.
They're fine as long as you don't get the shit ones from companies that cater to sportsball.
only if they're classic 20th century designs like double buckles, paratroopers, or jungles, and only situationally. i would never, EVER, buy anything with the word "tactical" stamped in it, or that had goretex mesh padding on the inside, or shitty leather with a PU coating on top of it. if you're thinking about buying something like that, you should just get salomans because that's like the same garbage but way better. don't buy mil-tec, rothco, or anything made in asia. genuine milsurp is almost always better than commercially available. also if you have to pick between a size that might be too big or one that might be too small, always go with the smaller one. also learn to aproximate fit by looking at pictures and never trust the sizing guides
Kinda suck for specifically hiking. They're multipurpose. If you're gonna go hiking though and not do all the other odd jobs of army life. Cleaning, combat, construction etc. It's a waste of weight and not your best choice. Go with a dedicated hiking boot or runner. Get some gaiters if you're gonna hit brush. It'll be lighter, better supported and a more specialized grip for hiking.
Here's an Altra King. Maximized for difficult slippery terrain. Not that an army boot has *bad* grip. But something like this will be better accounting for incline/decline traverse and odd angles.
So OP im gonna let you in on a well known secret that a lot of people still have not heard.
Military grade =/= best quality or even good
Military gear/grade is built for 3 things. To be as durable as humanly possible, the average GI joe will fricking destory almost any piece of equipment you give them in a matter of hours. Wanna see if something you made in durable? Give it to a group of marines who are under paid, in the middle of a hot ass wasteland, that have not gotten laid in months and are eating shit that makes them crap once every three days and have not taken a bath in over a week, they will abuse the frick outta anything you give them.
The second thing, is they are simple, again, GI Joe aint build for complex tasks, any piiece of equipment you give him better be really fricking easy to operate or else he is going to find the incorrect way to correctly use it.
Third, Military gear/grade shit is meant ot be cheap as frick and able to be bought in mass quantities.
Out side of very niche or high tech military equipment 9/10 times civilian grade equipment is going to be better, strong, lighter, more durable and more comfortable. morons that buy military grade shit that costs 3x more then civilian grade are just being suckered into thinking MUH MILITARY GOOD!
No, its not, military gear for the most part is pretty sub par, and clothing is one of the greatest examples of this;. You can get WAY more comfortable, durable, and better quality boots in the civilian market.
the big thing you missed that makes milsurp (in general, not specifically boots) often ill-suited for PrepHole is that there's a high priority on making everything either not flammable or flame moronant at the cost of everything else. which makes sense for a soldier. makes zero sense outside. oh boo hoo you might melt a puffy once in a while by the campfire and need to buy a square of nylon tape.
>these boots that are made to withstand moronic children with grenades are also flame resistant, and that means they're bad
How many fricking grenades do you encounter when you are in the woods? Also how many fricking chemical fires (Gas and oil) are you going to plan on encountering?
Mil surp shit is made with a purpose, going PrepHole is not that purpose.
The other thing to is a lot of mil surp equipment is also made in mind of operating in squads/groups. Not one or 2 people.
There are some mil surp things that i admit are really good because it was just designed well.
Example of good mil surp things are, the military sleep system sleeping bag, comes in 3 pices the patrol bag, the bive and the black bag, shit is great for all weather, down to like...fricking -10 i think? somethign assininly cold, good shit.
Their most recent pack is also pretty fricking solid, my dad bought one, i unfortunately cant remember the exact name of it. But its a really solid pack, durable as frick, and comes with lots of modularity and has the ability to carry an assault pack ontop of it, basically your inna wood extended field deployment pack, only down side is, its super wide vs being tall and narrow. but thats dealers choice.
Another great mil surp item usually are gonna be your simple gadgets, like a compass.
Just dont go buying boots and jackets and shit from mil surp its pretty sub par vs waht the civilian market can get a hold of.
another one is that milsurp gear is often made with being transported on a vehicle not a back most of its life.
For the average run of the mill grunt, desk jockey, or maintainer, service issued combat boots will get them through 99% of the situations they'll ever be in. When you look at the less formal/rigid areas of the military, specifically the small community types, whether its seals or marsoc on the ground, or blackhawk pilots and contractor spy planes overhead, they don't have time to deal with small things that add up over time. Boots falling apart, chaffing from a poorly fitted vest, a jacket that isnt warm enough when youre flying in the moutains, etc... So most of them end up just buying very nice, expensive, quality of life type things so that they can focus on the important stuff. You can't really get a new pair of boots when you're hundreds of miles in enemy territory providing troop movements back to homebase, right? If you're trying to survive red dawn china edition then you should probably get a nice pair of waterproof salomons, otherwise if you're just playing dress up in the woods with your friends combat boots should do you just fine.
>You can't really get a new pair of boots when you're hundreds of miles in enemy territory providing troop movements back to homebase, right? If you're trying to survive red dawn china edition then you should probably get a nice pair of waterproof salomons
salomans are notorious for falling apart. SF wear salomans because they're never deployed anywhere for more than a few days. short deployments mean less weight, and less weight makes the ankle support and sole rigidity of high combat boots a disadvantage rather than a benefit. a lot of these SF guys use local transportation on deployment and never walk more than 20km anywhere outside of training. just because salomans are ideal for modern expeditionary SF doesn't mean they're the best ever. there is no "best ever"
>salomans are notorious for falling apart.
what fails on them?
my last 4 pairs lasted longer than average for eva midsole gtx upper boots.
i did buy a bunch of pairs of version 2 years ago on sale and store them did the quality go down or something?
army boots make damn good budget work boots if you're not buying bespoke or high end. i'm not trying to totally shit on them itt by the way.
Standard issue ones suck ass, they're alright, but I've been wearing my Oakley Light Assault boots ever since I enlisted. I wear them probably every day, and because I'm not a pog, they don't only see garrison use. They actually get fricked up. One year I only had one pair, it lasted over a year of rucking, climbing rope, etc.
Dries fast too.
I'll wear them and keep wearing them.
for summer boots, I really like waxis for how light and breathable they are
I got a pair and i've really been enjoying them, granted I've only worn them to work but they are quite comfortable and nice to walk in.
Anyone know where to get good jackboots? I love the look of them but I can't seem to find a good pair anywhere
I buy a new pair of Corcoran side zip jump boots every 5 years. They arent milsurp per se, but are modeled after ww2 paratrooper boots.
idgaf what PrepHole says, they are the best boots ive ever worn and they last forever. i own those boots and a pair of flip flops and thats it for footwear
As a mathematician, I am obligated to debunk this assertion that equates 5 years to forever.
I have a beat pair, for yard work, hiking and PrepHole type shit and a nicer pair to wear as shoes when its poopy out. Each pair lasts 10 years, thats forever for boots that get worn daily for 5 years and weekend warrior shit for the 2nd 5 years.
pic is 10 yrs old pair
ive beat the living shit out of these
i hope you cleaned and polished those after taking that picture. you can definitely tell they've been used extensively, unlike most of the pictures i see here where shoes and clothes look brand new
>cleaned and polished
this only happens in the 1st 5 years... after they become the weekend warrior pair, they get no shining or cleaning or whatever
one thing i will say, i will never ever for any reason put on my boots without socks. im big on socks anon... i legit use my seal a meal to individually vaccumn seal like 10 pairs of socks every time i go PrepHole ... you get one pair of feet, you need them to get back to civilization and trust me when i say that trying to hike 10 miles back to the car with soggy wet feet is fricking torture... i lost all the skin on my feet that day, and i vowed to never let that happen again
LOL HELL NO
Go to the nearest serious trail or watch any hiking vids and count the number of larper boots
I get that you want to emulate Muh Masculine Manly Marines but do your body a favour and buy something comfy and light like anyone who isn't paid by uncle Sam to walk over punji traps would do
Here's some great options to get you started
>Salomon speedcross or XA lite
>Adidas terrex agravic
>LA sportiva Bushido or mutant
>scarpa mojito
Any of these will weigh at least half that of a light larp boot. Add simple gaiters in sand or mud and waterproof or neoprene socks in cold wet.
save your knee cartilage
have fun ruining your ankles or getting bit by a snake
>also
all of those options are fricking ugly and gay as frick
What a pussy. Who the hell is actually afraid of snakes? I've been picking them up since I was 8.
Personally I just want the protection from mosquitoes. After 30 bites on each ankle the swelling feels like arthritis in the morning
never had that problem soaking my gaiters in permethrin and spraying em with deet
>ruining your ankles or getting bit by a snake
Desert boots ain't gonna stop a snake bite, have you ever seen snake gaiters?
Boots don't protect your weak babby ankles anyway. They'd have to be debilitatingly tight and rigid like downhill ski boots for that, ya dingus. Strengthen them ankles boy
>caring about fashion in the outdoors
I think they all look sick. And you'll have plenty of opportunity to admire them as they breeze past your overheating ass clomping along in your sweaty foot casts.
>gay
Always the insecurity with you larpers. Guess what, no one thinks a pasty frail nerd is a tough veteran survivorman, no matter what he's got on his feet. Whereas Cam Honan could wear Polly pocket flip flops and you'd still know he's the real deal.
And what kind of girl prefers some bitter insecure chud doing the hiker hobble in filthy sweaty boots over some superfit hillchad jumping through streams and jogging up the trail in his sporty runners?
>anime pic
im sure the tl;dr of your post is basically 'im a huge homosexual, please rape my face'
perhaps someone can clue me in cause i didnt read your blogpost, homosexual
Tl;Dr: I mog you in my epic runners and laugh at you having a sexual orientation crisis
Seethe
>gay
the one thing is always consistent with you ti/K/tok larpers.
you care more about what the trees in the forest think about your cute airsoft outfit than you care about how good your gear is.
Did a pair of boots frick your mom or something?
no you're just a tard who cares what people think about you in the woods where no one should even be around except your friends unless you're a park-prancing pussyboy.
i use the right tool for the job 80% of the time its a runner.
I'm
, not the guy you were originally replying to, but let me this straight:
>you care about what people think about you in the woods!
>nobody should care what people think of them in the woods!
>so wear what I want in the woods or I'll think you're a "park-prancing pussyboy"!
What kind of logic is that?
And I'm not that guy and lol at his choice of words but trail runners are the superior choice for just about anything that doesn't involve crampons, extreme cold or massive amounts of abrasion.
Despite this lots of media, boomers and kids on this board push the myth that boots are superior or even required, when people could be having a much comfier and easier time in the outdoors in runners so I proselytize their benefits in the hope people think for themselves and get to enjoy them
anon here said it all.
boots are also better for swamps less deep than the ankle and i prefer them on trails that are shared with horses.
some thru hikers like them because the lifespan of a boot is about the same as a thru hike, trailrunners have to be replaced along the way. most prefer runners but i think that's a solid advantage.
Funnily enough I've done both, 1200 miles in boots and 900 in runners (replaced twice)
Here's why I preferred runners:
Boots cost 100-200 for decent PU midsoled ones (forget EVA midsole, may as well use runners) and last approx 900-1200 miles. Runners can be had for 30-50 end of season/sales. Good runners like Agravics or Speedcross can last over 500 miles before midsole compression and I've had some do over 700 before sole lost grip and uppers shredded. More on softer terrain.
You'll be burning a lot more calories and taking longer to recover in boots as they are a lot heavier, especially when wet (and slower to drain/dry). You can think of this in money if you like.
You'll be slower, runners encourage faster walking by weight and sole shape. This costs more in time and food.
Tougher boot soles are less tacky and grippy compounds and are often slippier, and often use deep hard tread which is less pleasant to walk on. The soles are harder, often less flexible nor cushioning.
Boots are hot in high heat and dry very slowly in wet so lead to faster foot problems. Most surplus boots have fungus issues for this reason (cut them open if you don't believe me). Runners drain, dry and breathe better.
I don't need ankle protection for my pack weights, nor very rigid heels. I wear gaiters when a high shaft shoe is needed.
Runner masterrace.
>Runners can be had for 30-50 end of season/sales
agree @ all and echoing this because it makes boots rather silly for even really the economical argument, with a little planning.
only source of cheap boots i know about was the rei garage sales but they stopped doing those.
pretty simple stuff anon.
if you're not destitute poor you got boots and trailrunners and if you go outside more than once a year you know when its best to bring one or the other.
most of the time its probably a trailrunner especially right now its summer bro.
I'll go a step further and say runners are good in wayyyyy more situations than most people think.
With waterproof and wool socks I've worn a size larger runners in -5C with constant marsh and river crossings. They were ideal as the soft sole gripped slippy terrain, and water drained immediately out the runner
>TFW standing in -5C alpine river in howling wind to wash off mud and feeling toasty warm
My fren in "waterproof" boots was suffering hard with constant soaking freezing feet, heavy slippy boots and no way to drain water without stopping.
Adding microspikes turned them into snow and ice scrambling machines. Love trainers, simple as
>med denier taller gaiters
>short stretchy running gaiters
>wool sock, coolmax for summer
>bread bags
can do p much anything in a runner
the stuff you can't isn't what these anons are doing either lets be real lmfao
>everyone being this mad at himing footwear choice
kek, this place is as pretentious as fricking PrepHole any more
fricking hell
Legit and better than most boots, but u won't get reddit karma and the whales here will hate you because you deviate from current fads.
Not to say all military boots are good, such as basic jungle etc are garbage and larpers only like to use the shittiest and cheapest boots
i also notice bootBlack folk are always getting blisters. it happens sometimes with runners! but way less often with a flexible shoe that breathes.
I learned to embrace how goofy some runners look. Love buying moronic end-of-season clown colors and beating the everloving shit out if them on an adventure. Really fun dressing in insane person colours to go and do cool shit lol
i wish my boots came in clown colors
ever try to find a shoe that fell down a hill or off a cliff?
hm yes i will take my trailrunners in blaze orange 3m and teal with vomit pink splatter effect thank you sir
This homie got the drip fr fr
Love that. I see it a lot with hardcore mountain, climbing and running brands and cottage co gear - most of their gear comes in kaleidoscope schizo colours. Think its because the hardcore types who buy their niche gear fully embrace the perks of morale boosting fun colours and high vis etc.
>vomit pink
Go to a doctor anon
vomit can be pink a lot of times. its literally never the stereotypical green color
I like them for hunting in steep areas. Im not aiming to walk long distances on a trail, but to bush bash, slip and slide, climb/descend uneven ground, stuff like that.
I've been using LowaM Z-6S GTXs and they are wonderful for hiking. Sturdy, light, great support. IDGAF what the fairies in their neon colored $400 hiking technology shoes think.
>hiking technology shoes
Lol, what?
You added a zero
Fairies who do thousands of miles in all weather?
I bought a pair of Belleville 790V's when I was in the Air Force (right when we switched from ABU to OCP) because I needed a new pair of tans instead of sages. They have lasted six years without any issues, they are the best fitting boot I have ever owned, and they aren't heavy (YMMV on that since I'm rather used to the weight of combats). I'm big on the full length ankle support and the added protection from snakes, bugs, briars, etc.
I wouldn't worry about stolen valor nonsense. They're just boots, dude. It's not like you're walking around with a medal of honor around your neck.
Succinct. Have the same pair. They’re great.
army man larping IS legit PrepHole gear!
You’re thinking of /k/
ok what type of shoe insert do i put in a hiking boot?
i bought a pair used, and they fit fine, but the problem is the insole is rough, i guess? like it's almost a sandpaper texture and it fricks up my socks. so i need to put something inside to separate my sock from it.
there's a lot of pseudoscience bullshit about choosing a shoe insert, and i have no clue what i am meant to put in the shoe. i've never bought or used a shoe insert.
Get something smooth and moderately plyable, that's my best advice. Most boots will let you remove the existing insole without any fuss.
I have a pair of those and some nice coyotes that I go back and forth. Prior militarygay. No one cares.
i was thinking of getting some desert combat surplus for hiking and maybe even for a specific beach i go to with sharp cliffs and rough terrain
bad idea?
rocky beaches or ones with frickloads of shellfish are one of the valid uses for combat boots imo
far from the most optimal thing to walk with on a beach but cheap (beaches frick footwear up fast), abrasion resistant, won't gash your foot/leg on shit, it might be viable if we're talking the kind of beach you can't wear sandals at.
i'm one of the people shitting on milsurp boots but i actually do have a pair at my beach house for the above reasons and because right off the beach everything is full of tiny prickly frick plants.
hiking boots like... would be better but they're 2-3x the price and beaches frick your shoes up so fast.
The best boot is one that fits
*trail runner
Anybody have recs for a good chelsea style boot?
blundstones are the lightest of the bunch and still very tough despite a drop in quality and overseas manufacture. I got 3 years almost daily wear before the tread was remotely worn, leather is thick and tough too. Warranty is good too i guess. They look like shit though, like gay rainboots for women. No one, no one gives me compliments on them, only memes and clowning (except for mom thank you mom I love you).
The chiseltip blundstones have worse grip but better looks.
I hear redbacks are better quality and comfier but they're heavier and some complaints about sole compound changes. They look like autism bionicle shoes if you care about that.
I wouldn't recommend those kinds of boots for walking any distance or technical terrain. Fine for work, daily and short hikes.
Dont be a moron, buy hunting boots. Or loggers if you need something heavier. Unless maybe your broke as frick and have to suffer for it, then just get a job
>loggers
i don't know about that. obviously heritage loggers are great quality, very practical, classy, and all that business, but is somebody who's walking all day really going to want a giant heel stack? to me, ideally, a combat boot should be substantially similar to a logger, just with a less thick heel
They make small heel loggers. If you are on steep terrain woth lots of slippery duff imo its worth it to have the big heel. If you are on flat stuff or fust rocky it its probably more pain than its worth. Even still, if i wasnt to get a logger I'd get hunting boots before combat boots. Im a timber cruiser and Ive used all 3.
Recommend a pair of loggers without a 2" heel?
I've checked all the major brands but can't find anything. A good pair of full-grain loggers with a vibram sole without a high heel is my grail.
I know georga makes some. Cant personally attest to them. Ive had some high heel georgas and they were decent
the mil-tec squad boot reviews extremely well and even got 1st place in a Danish outdoors magazine for price/quality. the price of <100usd and the other products from mil-tec along with the larp factor feels like a blaring red flag, but since I'm in Denmark I won't encounter any challenging terrain that can't easily be circled around. no rocks or mountains.
Would it be a waste of money to get those? would love to hear if anyone has tried them. Been using timbs so far and they are not cutting it at all. yes i am a newbie with only a couple trips under my belt.