Boot Recommendations?

"Pixel" (Improbcat) 07/11/2017 at 13:56 • Filed to: None

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I wear pretty much nothing but Paratrooper boots year round, and all my current pairs are at (or well past) the end of their life. I’m looking for recommendations for their replacement.

I have both Bates & Rocky boots, and both have bee ok, but not great. I ordered a new set of Bates and when they came in the top snap flap doesn’t snap with the boot on, the sizing was weirdly huge (ordered the same size as my current ones), and something was way off in the cut of the leather above the ankle such than they were pressing into the side of my leg above ankle enough to raise a bruise with an hour’s wear.

So I am looking for other options. I wear a mens 10.5 wide, and have bad ankles, so I need the ankle support of a tall boot. Only hard requirements are:

-Over the ankle (8-10" preferred)

-Side zip or other means to avoid having to untie& unlace them every time.

-lug or other grippy sole.

-Comes in black (preferably leather).

-Not insulated.

The boots I’ve been buying run $100-$150 a pair, but I will pay more for quality footwear.

McMike > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:08

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I never understood the side-zip partrooper boots. What if you split the zipper? Boots broken?

Do they still make center-zip boots?

Decay buys too many beaters > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:08

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I’ve had a pair of Dr. Martens Industrial line steel toe boots for 5 years now, barely broken in :p

AM3R, lost another burner > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:08

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I really like my timberlands. I don’t those will fit your requirement though, with the zipper on the side.

Pixel > McMike 07/11/2017 at 14:09

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I’ve never split the zipper (or had the zipper tab break) in 20 years of wearing them.

I bought a used vintage pair with a bad zipper, and had a set of new steel zippers put in for $20.

crowmolly > McMike 07/11/2017 at 14:12

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I guess I may be doing it wrong, but I use the zipper to make it easier to get the boot on my foot before lacing up- not in place of lacing entirely.

Otherwise the boot moves around too much since it has to be loosely laced up to zip all the way.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:15

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I only use Bean Boots, which somehow manage the feat of only matching a single one of your requirements.

Svend > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:18

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I’ve been wearing Magnums for some 20 years now going back to the basic Classics.

I now wear what I can find at a good price when I need a new pair.

From Striker, Stealth, Viper and Panther.

The Striker up top is the most comfortable and breathable while the Panther are the lightest weight but very thin leather over the top of the foot.

I wear mine about 12 hours a day for work and even wear them going as they don’t stick out much from a regular shoe and so much more comfortable.

Flex my boost > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:19

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Red wing Iron Rangers. A little pricey but worth every penny. If you can make it to a store they’ll measure your feet and custom make them to your feet.

McMike > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:22

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Maybe I’m thinking of military alert air crews, or combat paratroopers.

X37.9XXS > McMike 07/11/2017 at 14:22

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They certainly do

and

McMike > X37.9XXS 07/11/2017 at 14:24

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That’s exactly what I was talking about. Thanks for that. I can’t post photos here anymore

That second photo is a side-zip boot, tho.  Yo dog, I heard you liked zippers. :)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 14:32

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http://www.511tactical.com/atac-8-side-zip-boot.html

I had a pair of these that I wore through an academy and then later on as winter daily footwear for a number of years. They were the best boots I’ve ever owned.

0pihl > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 15:21

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Why not buy the real thing? $20 on ebay.

Xyl0c41n3 > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 15:25

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The ultimate versatile shoe:

Slip on and off. The longer you wear them, the more broken in and molded to your foot they become. And Ariat uses a non-slip rubberized outer sole versus a hardened leather sole (like traditional style boots).

I know you want paratrooper boots, but cowboy boots are ridiculously practical. Oh, and when the soles wear out, if the uppers are still in good conditioned, you can just take them to a cobbler and have them re-soled.

Pixel > 0pihl 07/11/2017 at 15:43

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What real thing are you referring to for $20

Pixel > Xyl0c41n3 07/11/2017 at 15:44

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Slick sole means no traction where I need it. Slip-on design without laces means lack of ankle support, which is exactly why I wear boots.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 15:46

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I bought these a few years ago. They were in the movie Terminator Salvation but are ridiculously comfortable (like sneakers).

http://www.qmuniforms.com/oakley-8-si-assault-boot?PMSRCE=QMPLA&gclid=CPnOkP3-gdUCFQ50fgodjrsI2w#.WWUqw8aZMUE

Xyl0c41n3 > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 15:57

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I think you misread my comment. I said Ariat boots are made with NON-slip soles. They’re rubberized so you DO have traction on slick surfaces. I have better traction with mine than I do with my running shoes which are made to handle mud.

Also, the way cowboy boots are designed, the foot uppers are a separate piece of leather than those used to make the shafts. But slip on doesn’t mean slip pers . When you first buy a pair, they feel really snug around your ankles. The longer you wear them, the more broken in they become to your foot and leg. They have a lot of ankle support for just that reason. In fact, the days I feel like I need extra support are precisely the days I wear my boots.

Captain of the Enterprise > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 16:06

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I really liked my Blackhawk Warrior Wear Desert Ops Boots they do a black leather version of them called Black Ops that would probably be good too. http://tacticalgear.com/blackhawk-warrior-wear-black-ops-black?hp=y&gclid=CJb87cyDgtUCFQcaaQodw3oDdA#/2014/653,5129,5140/1&dl=b

6691 zapS > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 19:11

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You can put zippers on the tongue of any boot. Cochran field boots

http://www.corcoranandmatterhorn.com/

6691 zapS > Pixel 07/11/2017 at 19:12

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Ft.Lewis Boot.

PWRandSPD > Xyl0c41n3 07/11/2017 at 23:45

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I am going to agree with the cowboy boot, I wear mine almost every day and I have terrible ankles. I however went with Durango boots for two reasons. First off, they were extremely comfortable right out of the box, I was very surprised. Second, I was never a fan of cowboy boots(my opinion has forever changed) and Durango offered a 90 day, no questions asked for any reason money back guarantee if you were not satisfied. 90 days! 3 months to decided if you liked them, and for any reason if you did not, get your money back. It is why I gave them a shot. I not have 3 pairs. A work pair that is waterproof, shock proof etc., another work pair that I just got, and a pair I keep nice for going out and not doing work activities. I highly suggest a pair with the DSS(Durango Suspension System). All my pairs are in the Rebel family of styles and are fantastic. My first pair, over 3 years old and for 2.5 years, they were worn almost every day for approximately 14+ hours per day, almost always on my feet, I don’t sit much during the day unless I am driving.

Xyl0c41n3 > PWRandSPD 07/12/2017 at 00:20

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I’ve got these:

Which feature these inner and outer soles:

“Ariat exclusive ATS technology supports and cushions as you move, promoting good posture and reducing fatigue. At the core of ATS technology is the Ariat ATS composite shank. This patented shank design reduces skeletal and muscular fatigue and injury. Mid-foot support reduces metatarsal stress. The forked shank design allows natural forefoot flex. The ATS footbed has a low-friction surface to protect from heat build-up and blistering. Shock-absorbing gel forefoot cushion reduces skeletal impact stress on knees, hips, and lower back. Cupped footbed chassis offers torsional stability.”

It sounds like a lot of gimmicky marketing, but this shiz works. I can wear these alllllll day. Hiking, even running around a bit. Walking for miles. Whatever I need. I’ve had mine for about 3.5 years now.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Xyl0c41n3 07/12/2017 at 06:03

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blundstone?

Skamanda > Pixel 07/13/2017 at 11:30

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What’s wrong with another pair of jump boots? I know they’ve kinda gone downhill since Carolina stopped making them, but if you go to a military surplus store, they’ll have the Cocorans that are the descendants of the Carolinas, and you can still cherry pick the good pairs...

I’ve been wearing them since the 90s, and it’s great being able to go 5 years of daily wear and mosh pits without replacing them, without even giving them the basic maintenance and care that I should. Plus, they’re just perfectly wide and firm enough for heel-toe (or big toe-little toe, really)!

Pixel > Skamanda 07/13/2017 at 13:23

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Both the Rocky & Bates ones I’ve gotten haven’t been great, and all the reviews (and the pair of brand new bates) see to indicate the quality has gone down even more. I’m looking at Cocorans, but wanted to see if there was another option out there that was actually “good” quality, instead of “barely acceptable” quality.

Skamanda > Pixel 07/13/2017 at 13:27

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The one thing I’ll say about the Corcorans is the stitching on the top of the zippers can be scratchy if it sticks out from the boot much. That’s the one thing I keep an eye out for most. If it feels like it’s raised much above the leather where the snaps and zipper all come together, ask for another pair.

Pretty much all the brands have gone to cheaper, overseas manufacturing, since the military switched mostly away from using leather boots. Corcoran seems to have fallen the least, and more recently got bought by HHH (if I recall correctly), who has fixed some of their quality control issues. My most recent pair has been pretty good, actually.

Pixel > Skamanda 07/13/2017 at 13:38

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Good to know.

Skamanda > Pixel 07/13/2017 at 15:20

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As a workaround on that stitching, by the way, you can probably take a lighter to it and melt the thread, and press it more flush against the side. I never tried because the surplus I was at had so many pairs, but I’ve done similar with nylon rope before...