What boots do you wear?

[Persona non grata]

Just seeing what boots people wear these days in CAP , most of us use to only wear the jungle or all leather combat boot back in the day.  Now there are so many choices.

This is what I wear for CAP  and work.

Orginal Swat Air
Converse pursut boot
Mach boot

[jks19714]

Wellco boots

[Extremepredjudice]

I wear jungle Bellevilles and I used to wear Jungle Bates, but they got ruined.

[abdsp51]

5.11 and SWAT when paperwork approved and SWAT for work.

[Eclipse]

Bates GX-8 Gore-Tex Side Zip

[HGjunkie]

I wear nearly the same thing as above, but it has an adjustable insole sans goretex.

Delta-8's

[AngelWings]

Bates paratroopers or the old military issued all leathers.

[vento]

Wellco Flight Boot.

[titanII]

Corcoran Jump Boots

[GTRanger]

Magnums are great, I have a pair of Waterproof Magnum " Interceptors". I've never had a problem with them, and they've been caked in feet of clay and drenched in the dirtiest water you can find.

[MIKE]

Bates Infantry Combat Boots.  My next pair should have a nonmetallic safety toe though.

[Abby.L]

Well, I just wear some Response Gear boots that have the zipper on the side. Not too bad for $40.

[gordo07]

Corcoran Jump Boots

+1, used to wear my full leather black logger fire boots, but after I got a custom pair of brown leather, I had to get some black boots again

[Sapper168]

I wear a pair of basic tac type boots for most activities, but i do break out the boots I was issued in Basic Training, all leather speed laced  boots, For field use.  They are broken in, fit like a glove, have chewed dirt in both Korea and Eastern Europe, and still hold a shine! 

I am giving serious thought to buying a pair of jump boots to replace the tac boots though, kind of a personal reward for when ive lost the extra weight and get into camo bdu's.

[Spaceman3750]

I wear Danner Striker II's (GoreTex FTW). They're very comfortable, though their longevity has been called into question. I'm hoping that since I'm not the 40+ a week type that typically wears this boot that I won't see any issues for awhile.

[titanII]

GoreTex FTW

+1,000
The only reason I don't have GoreTex boots for CAP is because I haven't been able to find a black leather boot with GoreTex that I'm willing to pay the money for.

[Extremepredjudice]

GoreTex FTW

+1,000
The only reason I don't have GoreTex boots for CAP is because I haven't been able to find a black leather boot with GoreTex that I'm willing to pay the money for.

GoreTex owns. I fell into water wearing my GoreTex boots, and was able to get out with my feet only wet from my socks.

Sucked being in wet BDUs...

[AngelWings]

GoreTex FTW

+1,000
The only reason I don't have GoreTex boots for CAP is because I haven't been able to find a black leather boot with GoreTex that I'm willing to pay the money for.

GoreTex owns. I fell into water wearing my GoreTex boots, and was able to get out with my feet only wet from my socks.

Sucked being in wet BDUs...

Wear a poopie suit under it then 

[Patterson]

Corcoran Jump Boots

+1

[Pylon]

Bates Infantry Combat Boots.  My next pair should have a nonmetallic safety toe though.

I wear the ICB's all the time in the Marines. I've put a lot of miles under a lot of weight on those boots.  They've taken a beating in some nasty terrain, and are comfortable enough to live in, in the field, for weeks at a time.  A testament to their durability, I think I still have the pair that I wore all through Parris Island and School of Infantry.  If a pair of boots can survive that, it can survive anything.  Heh.

[MIKE]

Bates Infantry Combat Boots.  My next pair should have a nonmetallic safety toe though.

I wear the ICB's all the time in the Marines. I've put a lot of miles under a lot of weight on those boots.  They've taken a beating in some nasty terrain, and are comfortable enough to live in, in the field, for weeks at a time.  A testament to their durability, I think I still have the pair that I wore all through Parris Island and School of Infantry.  If a pair of boots can survive that, it can survive anything.  Heh.

I was looking at these to replace them since mine are getting pretty worn: http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=5557&tabid=548&catid=84


It seems the USCG issue ones are cheaper now though at $108. The price has gone up on the ones at USCav.

[68w20]

Corcoran Jump Boots

Anyone know a good place to get these cheap?  I'm looking for a new pair and $150 will break the bank for a poor college student.

[Duke Dillio]

Corcoran Jump Boots

Anyone know a good place to get these cheap?  I'm looking for a new pair and $150 will break the bank for a poor college student.

eBay FTW....

I normally wear a set of 5.11 boots with the side zipper.

[a2capt]

... that were made for walkin'...

[Private Investigator]

http://www.uscav.com/ZoomImage.aspx?CatID=377&ImageURL=/prodinfo/enlarged/15903L.jpg

My favorite Altama.

[onetimeoneplace]

I wear the $30 Rothco jungle boots because my feet are still growing, and I don't want to shell out $100 for a pair of boots that I'll have to replace in six months. They're fine for anything up to a weeklong Encampment, but when it comes to hard-on activities, I usually destroy them. I remember the sole of one boot I had cracking right in two halfway into NBB.

[HGjunkie]

I am interested in getting a pair of ICB's for the eventual date when my Bates wear out. What manufacturers make the best version?

[titanII]

Anyone know a good place to get these cheap?  I'm looking for a new pair and $150 will break the bank for a poor college student.

I got mine at the local army surplus store, for $70 or so.

[Smokey]

Kinda wish we could go to the new AF green suede type boots.  After polishing boots for 40 years in my police job and past 14 in CAP, I'd love to get away from the chore.

Let the cadets learn to polish boots/shoes. 

I don' think the issue of stains on them (as some AF folks complained) would be an issue for us.  We aren't usually around the stuff on the ramp that stains them.

[afgeo4]

I have two pairs.
1. Summer - Bates summer ICBs (no gore-tex) with steel toe.
2. Winter - USCG Super Boot II with composite toe and gore-tex lining.

[ThatOneGuy]

I have a pair of old Magnum Stealth Force 8.0s that I got about three years ago. They survived encampment, several airshows, and a trip to NESA thus far, and are very very comfortable.

[stillamarine]

It amuses me the amount of money some people pay for boots just for CAP. I see this among my cadets as well. As for me. I have a 30 dollar pairs of steel toe boots from Walmart. I wear them 6 days a week. 5 in my police job and on Monday nights for CAP. They usually last me about 2 years.

I also give my cadets a hard time about shining them. If they only wear theirs once a week there is no reason why their boots can't be properly shined. I don't require a spit shine but they meed to be clean and black.

Of course I went into the Marine Corps when Marines still knew how to shine boots.

[AngelWings]

It amuses me the amount of money some people pay for boots just for CAP. I see this among my cadets as well. As for me. I have a 30 dollar pairs of steel toe boots from Walmart. I wear them 6 days a week. 5 in my police job and on Monday nights for CAP. They usually last me about 2 years.

I also give my cadets a hard time about shining them. If they only wear theirs once a week there is no reason why their boots can't be properly shined. I don't require a spit shine but they meed to be clean and black.

Of course I went into the Marine Corps when Marines still knew how to shine boots.

To get the proper fit, quality/durability, or adjustments (like boots with goretex for wet/cold environments, or jungles for hot environments), some times you need to spend an extra dollar or two.

[stillamarine]

It amuses me the amount of money some people pay for boots just for CAP. I see this among my cadets as well. As for me. I have a 30 dollar pairs of steel toe boots from Walmart. I wear them 6 days a week. 5 in my police job and on Monday nights for CAP. They usually last me about 2 years.

I also give my cadets a hard time about shining them. If they only wear theirs once a week there is no reason why their boots can't be properly shined. I don't require a spit shine but they meed to be clean and black.

Of course I went into the Marine Corps when Marines still knew how to shine boots.

To get the proper fit, quality/durability, or adjustments (like boots with goretex for wet/cold environments, or jungles for hot environments), some times you need to spend an extra dollar or two.

To wear once a week? Nope not worth it.

[titanII]

I have to agree with stillamarine on this one. My $70 Corcoran Jump Boots are plenty comfortable and versatile for the amount I wear them (once a week, and one whole week for Encampment). I haven't had any weather problems- neither water getting in, or hot feet. Not to mention the quality- I haven't had any wear and tear problems with them in the year and a half or so that I've owned them.
Now, if I were in the military and wore my boots every day to work, THEN I'd think about getting pricier boots. But that is obviously not the case.

[AngelWings]

It amuses me the amount of money some people pay for boots just for CAP. I see this among my cadets as well. As for me. I have a 30 dollar pairs of steel toe boots from Walmart. I wear them 6 days a week. 5 in my police job and on Monday nights for CAP. They usually last me about 2 years.

I also give my cadets a hard time about shining them. If they only wear theirs once a week there is no reason why their boots can't be properly shined. I don't require a spit shine but they meed to be clean and black.

Of course I went into the Marine Corps when Marines still knew how to shine boots.

To get the proper fit, quality/durability, or adjustments (like boots with goretex for wet/cold environments, or jungles for hot environments), some times you need to spend an extra dollar or two.

To wear once a week? Nope not worth it.

To wear a few times a week sometimes, in the middle of the field, or for encampments/NCSA's? Definately worth it in my book.

[MIKE]

When I bought my ICBs I don't think I paid more than $60-70 for them... Doubt I will find black ones for that price again, but they are awesome boots so paying $108 doesn't bother me that much. I have also had cheap Jungle Boots that did not survive a weekend of Hanscom AFB. flightline.

Personally, I find most "tactical sneaker" boots unsightly with ODUs and BDUs... except some of the earlier styles of Magnums.

[davidsinn]

Personally, I find most "tactical sneaker" boots unsightly with ODUs and BDUs... except some of the earlier styles of Magnums.

It ain't supposed to look pretty. It's supposed to work well and not tear your feet up.

[jimmydeanno]

I spent $110.00 on my boots, 12 years ago.  I still have them, they're comfortable, and I'm probably more active that 99% of the people in CAP.  I wear my combat boots an average of 180 hours per month for CAP.  That doesn't include the 9 encampments they've been through.

I think $8.00/year for boots is pretty reasonable.

[titanII]

Personally, I find most "tactical sneaker" boots unsightly with ODUs and BDUs... except some of the earlier styles of Magnums.

I agree, to a point. For instance, I do think that some look pretty nice, like these Altama's: http://www.altama.com/products/3668-black-8-exospeed-ii-boot
But I also agree with Captain Sinn's post

It ain't supposed to look pretty. It's supposed to work well and not tear your feet up.

So although I might find them a bit un-uniform looking, I wouldn't let looks affect my choice if I were looking to buy some boots with serious features like Gore-Tex, vibrams, etc.

[AngelWings]

The thing about these tacti-kewl boots is that most of them provide the same comfort that regular boots do, or atleast in my experience. They don't have as much lasting ability either. The boots I have were used on the flightline a year after I was born, and were given to me by my squadron a year ago. They were not new looking, but they were still in perfect condition quality wise.

[DakRadz]

To wear once a week? Nope not worth it.

Respectfully, I followed this for over a year because my boots were free- why get new? Only wore em once a week, and they felt good enough.

Went to encampment, didn't know my boots were two sizes too small, and almost ended up in the ER because as a scared cadet I didn't want to get sent home from encampment for having a small foot problem and small boots.

Ended up being a BIG foot problem and small boots.

Now I have a pair that, while admittedly a gift, are about $100. Wear them for Fire class, duty night, pizza delivery job, and CAP. Worth the money.

[Perez]

Right now I'm wearing a pair of $30 jungle boots, which are completely falling apart. I'm looking to get something sporty that I can use for PJOC, maybe a pair of Adidas GSG 9.2s or Altama Exospeed IIs. Any suggestions?

[AngelWings]

The Exospeeds are pretty nice but I've seen atleast four sets in my JROTC battalions supply room that had eyelets/vent holes popping out. I'd go for Bates 8" steel toe side zip boots or Bellevilles 220 Trop. Both boots are strong and have steel toes, which is always a plus for high adventure experiences with PJ's . Sadly, all pairs of boots are near/over $100. It's worth the money, though. I wear belleville boots for JROTC, and they've been amazing. I wear Bates and Altama (I switch out the pairs so my Altama all leather jungles are ready for field use just in case) with CAP, and both pairs are amazing as well.

[niferous]

Corcoran Troopers or field boots. I also have a pair of Altama jungle boots.

[Spartan]

I like my Corcoran field boots.  They've held up pretty well for the last 4 years and they look good.