Duty, combat, service boots.

[Brick]

Heylo,

Need another boot.

Since I relieved a car (trade in at a dealer) of some china duty boots, I haven't looked back. They have side zippers, essential for rapid fitment, which I like, along with the ankle support. I now see no need for "regular" shoes, I regard them as an ankle liablilty.

1. It has to be Made In USA. Right here. Better than China dollars.
2. Side zippers.
3. Black, doesn't have to be shiny.
4. Tough. The kind you can do everything in — go hunting, practice paintball/airsoft, at work, go everywhere boot, etc. And last a long time.
5. Relatively good price. Not more than 150 bones or so.
6. Decent looks. I am not after shiny big masculine Herculiean big soled boots.

Share your experiences.

 

[Dilbert]

My squadron was issuing boots with zippers on them, we stopped when the zippers gave out after only a few months for most of us. I've found that drawstring cord locks work really well instead of zippers, just put em on your laces and you can cinch them down about as quick as you can zipper a pair up.

 

[Brick]

My squadron was issuing boots with zippers on them, we stopped when the zippers gave out after only a few months for most of us. I've found that drawstring cord locks work really well instead of zippers, just put em on your laces and you can cinch them down about as quick as you can zipper a pair up.

Never seen "drawstring cord locks".

Care to elaborate? hey, if it works better, it's no biggie, it's not like I have to outfit a battalion within 20 minutes

 

[RedneckFur]

My issue with zippered boots is that you cant get a proper fit with them. A good pair of boots should fit skin-tight at the ankle for proper ankle support.

That being said, my prefered brand of boots is Nicks. They are generally custom fitted, and are marketed towards wildland firefighters (like myself) After owning a pair, I can honestly say none of the dozens of other boots I've tried before even come close.

 

[Dilbert]

Some of these things: http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/t....ctx=cord locks&backto=/agcatalog/results.tam
I've been using the same pair for a little over a year now, they seem to be holding up great.

 

[Brick]

My issue with zippered boots is that you cant get a proper fit with them. A good pair of boots should fit skin-tight at the ankle for proper ankle support.

You are correct, zippered boots don't always have uniform "zip coverage".

While the woodland firefighting boots I looked at look alright (from pictures) they are not quite my purpose. 300+ bones for boots not my requirements is a little rash — thanks for your suggestion though.

 

[Scorch]

Danner makes duty boots with zippers, and their factory is located in Oregon.

 

[Duff]

I've got a pair of these model 8006ST. Have a calcifying tendon in my left heel and can't hardly walk in anything other than tennis shoes, my squadron resource advisor found these for me. Took a couple weeks to break them in, but once they broke in they're great. Extremely comfortable.

 

[Curtis(USAF)]

I'm partial to corcoran boots. Check out thier website, they have a pretty big collection.

 

[tackdriver]

You can't go wrong with Corcorans

I second the recommendation on Corcorans and the generalities about the downsides of side-zippered boots.
I'm 28 and have been wearing the same pair of Corcoran IIs since I was 17. They look it, but I've never found a more comfortable, durable boot for any application -- from hunting to heavy-duty backpacking.

I think it's time to get a new pair, though.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Gonna agree with Tackdriver - I've been wearing Corcorans for years now and I love them On my second pair!

http://www.gr8gear.com/catalog/Footwear/Boots/Zippered-Paratrooper-Boot/

 

[Brick]

Cold, they do look excessively shiny.

I have my mind on these — any experience with them?

Let's keep the discussion rolling!

 

[Indrid Cold]

That picture is actually quite decieving - they're not that shiny. They're about as shiny as any other boot you get out of the box.

EDIT: No experience with the other boots, but I do have a pair of lace-ups that I love. Blackhawk Black Ops. Super comfortable, and super warm (but never hot!). If you don't mind the laces, I highly recommend them...

http://www.blackhawk.com/category1.asp?D=D0053&S=S0540&G=&C=&N=1&pricestart=&priceend=

 

[leadcounsel]

My Bellevues have lasted over a year of constant abuse, including US Army Airborne and Air Assault school and tons of training in the field. I wore them about 80% of the time.

Conversely, in that same time frame, I also wore Danner's about 10% of the time and the insides were ruined.

I also wore 5.11 Tactical about 10% of the time, and ran heavily in them for several months before the Army. The 5.11's are great too.

 

[skeeter1]

Well, I wouldn't go the zipper route, but I've had a pair of Timberland boots for 30 years. Lots of Sno-Seal on them. I've had to replace the laces a couple of times. I've abused the hell out of them, hunting, backpacking, motorcycling, but they're still great. Not cheap, but from my experience, worth every penny of what you pay.