If you're looking for canvas French legion boots they're called Pataugas, leather ones on the other hands are made by Marbot and are called Brodequin de marche Modèle 52, later on they switched to the BM65 (Brodequin de Marche 65) made by Marbot, when the factory closed they switched to Argueyrolles which is a boots made for the ceremonies
I have 3 pairs of Palladiums...black, tan, & a leather pair & happy with all of them.... Trivia, not that I would buy them because of this, but Palladiums were what Will Smith wore in I Am Legend... To me they're less boots than they are Converse Chuck Taylors on steroids...
So Will Smith switched his Palladiums for Chucks, huh? Not the best publicity for the former. Meanwhile Smith unboxing his Chucks was one of the most in-your-face product placements from the 2000s.
I have a pair that I got over 15 years ago, they are made in France. They do not have a foam insole. The insole looks like a weave with a type of cork bottom. The rubber bottom also seems to be thinker and stiffer than what you show on current day. They have been on many a dog walk on beaches and are always comfortable
Chuck Taylors with a hiking sole. Best shoes ever if you live in a hot climate. Price is pretty good comparing to everything else out there. The only negative stones, gravel will get caught in the lugs. Light, cool and they dry fast.
10:24 gets to main reason modern ones are not as durable, the originals were vulcanised whereby the rubber outsole was melted onto the canvas, like the us jungle boots. Modern ones seem to use glued or cemented construction. This has been hard to verify as the company released a video discussing the original construction, direct vulcanisation, inferring this method was still used. The matter is further confused by the website referring to vulcanised outsoles where the rubber may be indeed vulcanised separately and then the sole unit glued to the upper. Further research (yes I looked into this considerably) indicated that the change in construction method occurred in the early 2000s from direct vulcanised to glued where many seem to be referring to quality decline.
I think the modern ones differ from the ones produced in the 80s. They were a big fashion item in the late 80s and clubbers wore them, often with the top few inches rolled down and their jeans/dungarees or trousers rolled up.
I had palladiums in the late 80s/ early 90s and remember they only lasted 1-2 years before the canvas started peeling away from the sole. I have a couple of the new pairs and think they are great for what they are. Very comfortable summer weight boots. The insoles are better now than they were in the 90s!
I love my pair of Pampa Hi so much I bought a second pair in a different color! Almost got a third a couple weeks ago lol they are lightweight, comfortable as hell, are quality shoes, and look good. You can get them at Marshall's somewhat often, usually around $30 instead of full price. They blow Converse out of the water in basically every regard, because they are almost everything you want in a Converse but better. For anyone that wants the All-Stars look but can't stand the shoe itself, like me, these are a perfect substitute without adding a ton more weight or bulkiness. You can walk all shift or all day in these and not have foot pain, unlike Converse 🤷🏼 the biggest downside for me is the fact that you can get pretty bad traction on smooth, hard, wet surfaces (like tiles).
Hello from France. La marque Pataugas, Wizard furent aussi parties de l équipement de nos militaires, dans mon Bataillon ( 27 BCA) nous avions un petit musée représentant les équipements qui ont fait notre histoire. Merci pour cette vidéo.
@@-NIRN- true, though I'm sure this too could depend on education and generation. Lots francophones get the subjunctive wrong for ex. Also, could just be a typo--at least on N.A. keyboard u and i are adjacent.
I am retired US Army, I have a pair of the tan Pampa Hi, minus the insole (I replace all the insoles with ones I like)I really like them. I also have 2 pair of the Altima Maritime (one hi, one low), and the discontinued Go Ruck Jedburghs. I really liked the Jedburghs until discontinued. I do a lot of hiking and rucking. For a lightweight warm weather boot the Pampa Hi works for me. Just my opinion.
I have 2 pairs of Palladiums, one of which are "waterproof". Both pairs' outsoles got worn within 1.5 years and the waterproof ones started letting water in when dipped in water after a year or so. They are OK for casual walking, I really like how the canvas looks in a boot-like form factor, but with how simple their constructions are they are like 70-120 USD at full-price at which I can buy canvas shoes that are both a lot more comfortable and a little bit more long-lasting. I bought mine at an outlet store for ~35 USD apiece and I would probably not buy another pair if they are not at sub-50 dollars.
Yep, I got the waterproof ones too. They stayed waterproof for a couple trips during the first year (including walking in streams). A year later they get soaked and leak when I walk in mild rain. It makes no sense to buy the waterproof version, especially since the non-waterproof has a nicer looking canvas.
Like converse, but you can walk on wet grass without slipping over. A most recommended summer boot of a British music festival. However, where the toes bend, always a hole develops where the canvas meets the rubber.
I had a pair of Palladiums years ago. They are exactly as you've described: A sneaker that looks like a boot. I found the construction to be very similar to that of a pair of Chuck Taylor's. Are they a boot? Well, they look like one. And that's why I bought them. I'd buy them again, I got what I paid for. Plus I think they look really cool, and they're pretty cheap.
I owned an original pair and the brown model is fairly close. What they don't mention is that these were JUNGLE boots, meant for fighting in (then) Indochina. They were made to be light, airy and to drain water through the canvas. Troops would draw camoflage patterns on them for a bit of extra concealment. You'd see French Marines still wearing them in the early 2000s for Maritime operations, but the French Army, including the FFL, had a VERY stout full grain leather boot for most climates.
"The greatest summer adventures never have a plan!" Sounds like those old French Foreign Legion soldiers were just these fun-loving guys always ready for a hip adventure in the sun without a care in the world! 😂
In 1990, I was at US Army Airborne School and some BUDS candidates were rolling through. In the barracks, A few of them wore Israeli combat boots that have the same canvas exterior as the Palladium but in olive drab. Those are the best looking of the French foreign legion style canvas boots
I've been wearing Palladium boots for 20+ years and love them. That wear includes 2-3 in the Northern Nevada desert every summer. Also, they were worn by the Israeli military for decades and back in the day you could but those versions at surplus stores for under $20!
I have 5 pairs of Palladiums with years of wear on all of them. My favorites for errands in town, working in the shop or yard chores are my black Pampa Travel Lights. Light, easy to put on/off and just enough support. For social outings, I grab the Pampa Hi - stylish, light and affordable enough to have in multiple colors. For music festivals or anywhere I'm going to be standing for hours on end I only wear the Pallabrousse. And seeing your video I now understand why. The Travel Lights are fine on a flat surface but brutal on rocks/roots, even loose sand due to the thin soles. The Pampa Hi is more supportive, but the solid outsole will still hot spot the sole of your foot while standing/dancing for hours. The open voids of the Pallabrousse combined with the better inserts are, apparently, what makes that shoe the far better choice for standing/walking/dancing on uneven surfaces. More like having an inflated bike tire under your foot instead of a solid block of material. And I have not had any durability issues. Pallabrousse is what I wear 80% of the time I'm heading for a 20-30,000 step festival day! Thanks for the vids, so helpful!
I absolutely love the Palladium Pampa. I have hiked many miles on the Appalachian Trail with them. Also I wear them as an everyday boot on the farm. I spent almost 30 years in the US Army and they certainly beat any Army boot I ever wore. Too bad they’re not authorized for wear with the uniform. I guess different people have different feet, but these are the best boots I’ve found for my feet. They’re even reasonably water resistant to be made of canvas, but I also own leather and waterproof versions.
I have the black ones and the tan ones just like in the video. I'm surprised you didn't mention the extra strips of material sewn into the sides of the uppers. That's a definite difference between the version. I've found the black ones (which I was under the impression were a special anniversary edition) fit much looser than the tan ones. Perhaps that's just the difference in size standards in Vietnam vs. China. They really are like a Converse and a combat boot had a baby. I find them very comfortable.
The leather, waterproof baggy is the best boot I've ever owned. They're lined with wool and keep your feet comfortable no matter what environment you're in. I wore them on a 40 km backpacking trip through the Continental Divide in the Canadian Rockies mid summer. They performed excellent in the rain and on steep inclines. I've also worn them on numerous hikes in minus 30 Celsius during the winter. They were incredibly warm paired with wool socks and my feet never got wet. Ended up liking the so much I got 2 more pairs.Some people people might find them a bit heavy But I'd still highly recommend them.
I've owned one pair of Palladium boots years ago. I liked the style, fit, and comfort. Mine had the same wrap around rubber outsole as the ones featured in this video. Unfortunately, they only lasted about 1.5 years of daily city use before the rubber started separating from the rest of the shoe. Shoe goo could only do so much before water, dirt, and grime kept getting in and the separation kept growing. They had no warranty. Just another piece of junk for the landfill. I never bought another pair.
@@Fenster21I wore the same pair of boots everyday from freshman year until I graduated, and only got a new pair when the soles were treadbare and no cobbler would take 'em
@@supertinheng you probably didn’t do much in those boots besides sit at a desk then lol. Shoes are like tires, longevity is measured in miles (or steps), not age. It all totally varies depending on how and where they are used. My work shoes I wear at my restaurant job still look brand new on the tread, but the top leather is falling apart because I only walk on smooth surfaces, and they are two years old. I had the same shoes when I lived in San Diego as my daily sneakers and they lasted me six months at best because I was walking around town on concrete all the time. City use is probably the hardest on boots aside from hiking on granite, city Slickers are always walking around on concrete
Shoe Goo is garbage. I've never had good luck with that product. There are much better products than that. Gear Aid makes a shoe repair glue that is much better, or even their Aquaseal or Seam Seal. Or completely remove the sole and use a good contact cement.
@@BikingVikingHH You're not wrong about sitting at a desk, this was when I was in college, but I was walking and commuting by bus a lot. I've had skate shoes cost less and have the outsoles remain on the shoe with more miles and usage, while skateboarding and biking a lot in them. I still have pairs of shoes with holes in the bottom where the outsole never separated from the shoe. Palladiums boots started separating well before I stopped using them at the 1.5 year mark, that was just when they were not worth repairing. In my experience, they do not make quality footwear.
FFL are not Special Operations Forces, they're a combined arms expeditionary force, which are a cut above typical ground forces. The French army, and the FFL itself, have special operations units. They're most comparable to the USMC or the expeditionary forces of the US Army, such as the 82nd airborne.
I was looking at these before, but because I saw their advertising on Instagram I just assumed they were a cheap Tek wear/Mall ninja brand/shoe. Knowing that they're the real deal makes it a little easier for me to potentially get a pair.
From testing reviews it seems: + comfortable for light use, tropical conditions, grippy sole, some love them - the soles dont wear well for very long distance (damaged feet), not great with rucksacks long distance, may be slightly inferior quality to originals (vulcanisation) can be expensive.
I got a black pair brand new at a thrift store. They are so comfortable. I have wide feet needing a stiff sole. They fill all the gaps. I think mine are from 2017or so.
they’re more like converse high tops on steroids with thicker canvas and hiking soles. i have a baggy pair and they’re comfortable as hell. like how converse started as a basketball shoe, these started as military boots but they both became more for fashion than their original intent
I've owned two pairs, both leather and weather proof. Used them daily as a mail carrier. The tread seems to wear out after a year an a half and they stay waterproof for almost a year. Definitely not heavy duty but if you just want something casual and good looking go for it. Personally I'm going to be looking for something heavier duty from now on. Nice in-depth review! Keep it up.
I was issued a pair of gray "Coral Booties" for swimming as a US Marine in 1984. Flat, slick soles. We were told they were WWII surplus. Terrible. Next, they issued us green high top Converse. Slightly better, but the soles had no grip and the insoles took forever to dry once you got on the beach. We all started buying tan Palladiums while overseas in the Med. They had a woven insole back then. Well suited for the task. LL Bean started selling them, which made them easier to get. I had a friend pick a pair up for me in Europe about 10 years ago. They still had a woven insole. I still wear them for finning in warmer weather.
I have several of these boots they are especially good if you add a supportive insole. I am susceptible to plantar fasciitis and Sholl inserts are better for my feet than the factory standard. Clearly they are not meant for heavy duty hiking in rough terrain but I’ve hiked in savannah and they are ideal. They are my default travel boot. The canvas make them light, breathable and comfy to wear on plane, train, boat and car when travelling but are robust enough for you to hit the ground running when you get there. You can wax them to give them a bit of waterproofing and you can dye them if you want to change the colour.
I have had mine for 10 years and I love them I wear them almost every day. And through 3 pregnancies. I haven’t had a single problem with them. I live in Tokyo so we have high humidity so they are great for moisture. I love them. People who insult them either haven’t given a chance or have never owned a pair. So it’s easier to insult a country and their shoes and I have PF .
I always found Palladiums comfortable my only issue mainly was if you walk on gravel youll be constanly picking stones out of the treads and you feel them with every step.
I did a bunch of hiking in El Salvador in these from 2016-2018. They were extremely comfortable for hiking in a jungle/volcano environment. You are dead right they pick up every small rock on Earth, however.
I love the look of Palladium baggy pallabrouse with the turn-down look but they don't hold up super well. Around the little toe the canvas and rubber separates. I got the Nylon ones and they've held up better but they don't breathe as well. I love the look and they aren't the most expensive. I'll still buy them.
I have a pair of the taller ones in suede which I don't believe they sell any more. Same design but far more durable than the canvas ones. They have held up for close to a decade of pretty continuous "medium duty" use. I also had the tan pair shown here that went on a trip to the middle east as my "civilian shoes". Light and easy to pack. They are some of the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. If you just want a comfortable, light weight, general use boot, you really can't go wrong. One thing to consider: The tongues aren't attached to the upper part of the boot, which makes for less material folded up around your ankle. But it also allows for crap to get inside. If you're going to be exposing your feet to things like chainsaw chips, grain, deep sand, etc., it's getting inside.
I wore Palladium boots for a few years for work (maintenance crew on a golf course) They were pretty comfortable, but barely lasted a year before the sole started separating from the canvas. They are good for casual use, but not for hard work. I’d love to see a more rugged, solid built Palladium, because I do like the look of them.
I was so excited to buy a pair of these boots, and I found them at a local store. I bought the brown ones and they were great for about three months and then the fabric started to rip. I’ve never had a boot/shoe fall apart so quickly on me.
i have some grey ones from 4 or 5 years ago, they're really really nice if you want a boot to wear in the summer like you'd wear a pair of chucks. Nothin' fancy but not bad to wear.
I have been using palladiums for hiking all around use for 10 years now. I used them while trekking in the Egyptian Sahara, i used them in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, did so many kilometers with them and they never failed me.
Bon Chance Mon Ami. I had a pair when we would do patrol exercises in the Marines. We called them Ninja boots, VietCong boots and Israeli commando boots. They were as comfortable as sneakers but only lasted a few outings.
Many years ago I handled a pair of pristine Palladium boots from the 1960's that belonged to a militaria collector, they were the authentic article as issued to French Foreign Legion troops stationed in tropical regions, looked very crudely made with flashing here and there from the rubber injection molding and were definitely tougher and heavier than the mall Palladiums I had.
I started wearing these in the early 80's when L.L. Bean used to sell them. Eventually I stopped wearing them because my feets, by global and Waller standards, too big. Then they started making them in even larger sizes and I returned. Alas, they became a fashion item instead of a military supply/surplus thing and prices crept up, it seems. Great traction - soft rubber! And great tread. (Other than picking up rocks which you become aware of and cope with with ease, rocks come out just as easily as they get jammed into the gaps in the soft rubber.) Best shoe for walking around on a shingled roof. Flexible sole, very nimble. Chuck Taylors with traction. Great in the heat. Go without socks in the summer, very comfy. Get them wet, big deal, as long as its summer time and you don't care about wet cotton shoes. Light weight. Cheap. The bottom may get thin but you'll also get holes in the cotton by that point. I tend to wear mine in the shop, so I'm not getting much sand through holes in the fabric. Eventually just give up and buy another pair. Their strengths are also their weaknesses, but they are a disposable kinda thing. I now wear a knock-off of Palladium (Farm Blue) to get even more room inside for my feet in a certain big size. Even the shoe laces can die prematurely. I say toss them immediately and get smaller diameter round laces, which slide better in the eyelets.
I had a pair of these ~10yrs ago. The pampa with the roll down shaft. They were definitely more stylish than a functional boot but I wore them all the time and they were comfortable and held up really well. My biggest gripe was that the lighter colors (mine were a bluish light grey) stained around the toe cap if you had sweaty feet. I completely agree that they wore more like a shoe. Got lots of compliments on them, probably wouldn’t buy another pair though just on my changing preferences.
I have a waterproof purple pair that are a mix of leather and synthetic canvas I think. I’ve had them about 8 years and they are just starting to wear out. I love them and knew nothing about them when I got them. Now I need to inspect them more closely.
Living in the hot and sticky US Southeast, these are my go-to hiking trail boot. Lightweight, supportive enough in the ankle, rugged but flexible sole. I've only owned a couple of the single color versions, and they lack the contrast of something like Chucks, so not the most fashionable with jeans or whatever, but not embarrassing. The only place I've had a pair fail was the glue holding the upper to the toe "cap" part. The sock liner held it together, but I stopped wearing that pair, especially for hiking.
My friends and I do open top vehicle expeditions in Tunisia and Morocco. We mostly wear the Baggy version of these. They are good in the big dunes (would be better if the tongue was webbed) and great in hot weather. Yes, they catch gravel in the heels all the time. I do wish they were better quality as I would be very willing to pay for it.
I’ve been buying them for years… Great summer footwear. I like to wear boots and I used to wear Converse all stars. But their quality went to crap a few years ago. I love them. I like the leather ones too. Can’t go wrong with lightweight boots that are breathable. They pound the concrete well.
I own a pair of Pampa Hi Seeker Lite Waterproof and they look better than the hi Chuck 70 that I used to have. Like he said, the design on the outsole on these boots are really nice, the grip you get from walking on snow is one of the reasons I'm glad I got mine over another Converse when it started to snow a few months ago. The comfort on these, at least for me is okay. I did replace the insole for a more firmer one (Superfeet blue) but I've had no complaints especially with the side zipper that makes wearing it slightly more faster but keeps its waterproof feature in mind with the design. It's definitely not a "Boot", but it's good enough as a casual street shoe and better than a Converse in terms of design and comfort.
I've had 3 pairs over the years. All leather 2 pairs of Pampas and a Chelsea style that they made 20 years ago. At the time I was bartending and these boots held up to beer, water and questionable decisions for far longer than Docs or blundstones. I have a tan leather pair of Pampas that I still love but haven't put them through much real work other than light hiking.
I have been using the tan / khaki version of these boots for 3 seasons. They are surprisingly durable and comfortable for long hours of walking. I would not chose them for hiking, but for travelling and for walking around the city, they are super useful.
I won't comment on the history of Palladium, others already have. I have the tan model and I had a bit of a hard time breaking them in. I've had about half a dozen models, mostly the low cut and i can't say they are the most comfortable, but for the price I consider them quite decent. Certain models were a bit flimsy and wore out rather quickly but Palladium makes quite a few models for us big footed folks so its often my go to brand.
If they made one with a shank, a leather lasting board/insole underneath that foam insole, and added that reinforcement strip found on the black model on the other 2 models, these would be amazing canvas boots that I’d buy even at a higher price.
Great review as always sir! I posted this on another video but thought I'd share it here too... TLDR: Bought my first pair in 2014, still in great condition, I still wear them regularly, and just bought my 5th pair this month. All are US size 8. I bought my first pair in Nov 2014, the all-black leather and nylon Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 on sale for $70 CAD. They're very comfortable, my most worn pair and they're still going strong. The sole has held up great and they look like they've still got many years of life in them. I wear them year-round and they've been my go-to winter boot since I bought them. For context, I'm in the Toronto area. My second pair is another all-black leather model, the Pampa Sport BaggyWP purchased in Jan 2015 for $78 CAD on sale. These are the ones with the fold-over collar to make them shorter or taller. I've only worn these a few times but plan to make more use of them now to give my Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 a break. This one feels a light tighter in fit. My 3rd pair is another all-black leather and nylon pair, the Pampa Thermal which is a real winter boot. Paid $120 CAD on sale in 2015. These are used mostly on heavy snow days, mostly for shoveling the driveway. My 4th pair is the Pampa Hi Mono Chrome in the Olive Night colorway. These are the non-waterproof canvas boots made more for summer but I sprayed them with waterproofing. I got these in Nov 2022 for $85 CAD delivered. I've only worn these a few times also. These fit a little looser than the others, mainly because they don't have the additional lining. These are basically like high top Converse Chuck Taylors but with a knobbier grip. I just received my 5th pair, the leather and nylon PAMPA SHIELD WP+ in the "Dear Brown" colorway (a light caramel color) for $121 CAD delivered from the Palladium online sale currently going on. Haven't worn them yet but am confident they'll be another great pair of boots for beating around town in.
Get a pair of Rangers with the double ankle buckles, it’s what the legion wore for at least 30 years up until fairly recently. Once they are worn in they are very comfortable and extremely hard wearing
My favorite pare of shoes of all time are the lowest end Pampa Travel Lites. They are incredibly lightweight and super flexible so it is almost like a sock with a boot sole. They fill a very unique niche that fits exactly what I want. For me I would rate them a 10 in every category except durability which I would give maybe a 4
Have a pair of the black boots without the french flag tab, nice boot (Original Pampa Hi) made in Vietnam. The black boot shown is a slightly different canvas style to the other two shown. The black boot was a special Legion edition they released, also had writing and flag tab on the side. One thing I’d wish they would do is to stitch a pull tab on the back, would make them a lot easier to put on.
Own 3 pairs, ironically the travel lites feel most boot like. The hi line beought the best of a sneaker and military boot together. Just think of it as the smartest designed sneaker ever, you can do all the outfoor stuff you want thanks to the outsole
I call them my adventure converse and basically wear them like sneakers, maybe for walks in the grass or generally the countryside. They're great for that purpose but of course not more!
You should stop the ball drop test because the information it provides depends on many variables and you can't draw definite conclusions from it. An example is that one might think that because the ball bounced high, then the insole and sole are thick and bouncy. However, you could get the same result with a very thin insole and sole that allows the ball to rebound with the hard floor and get a lot of height. Whereas, maybe a shoe with a very comfortable and shock absorbing insole and sole, won't give a good bounce. One could judge that shoe as lower quality where in reality a comfortable shoe won't always give a good bounce. Since the experiment isn't correlated with comfort, you should think of a better test with more consistent results.
Wes, I truly thank you for your in depth reviews over the years. I am now the proud owner of some JKs (300s), and JG African Rangers in zero drop. Nice additions to my stable of boots. Only regret: not buying your first collab. Boy I wanted those, but couldn’t hit the buy button.
I used to wear the hi top leather version from 2019-2021 for police duty. I really miss those boots, sad they took the leather version out of production.
I have a unused pair of the old boots (MLE 52 Rangers marrons) in size 46, we can get in contact if you want to buy them, they do not really fit me. I am located in germany though.
@@martijnoerlemans765I guess it would be a pity to cut my unused ones in size 46 (not a chance to get those anymore unused in this size, i looked for 3 years). If you want to buy them i might be inclined to sell them.
Love my beige canvas Palladium Pampas, they may be fashion sneaker/boots, but I can wear them all day and have no discomfort, even with my bad knees and ankles. The support is excellent. The only thing that gets me is the aggressive lugged sole picks up pebbles, but they're easily removed. Here are some quotes from African hunters on safari who swear by Pampa's (and Converse Allstars, believe it or not...) - Fred Bear, Wally Johnson, Buzz, wore Converse - many more wore Palladium - Tony Seth-Smith used to and Natasha Illum-Berg still does Palladium shoes were once very popular among east africa's hunters. They are essentially chuck taylors with a lug sole - and it's a damn shame they only make them narrow as a toothpick. Natasha Illum Berg wears them. For hot weather I have always worn Palladium Pampa Boots.
I work in the woods for a living. I have great re-soleale boots. However I can’t wear them above 55 degrees. The rest of the year I’m wearing my 2 pairs of Palladium boots or Vasque hiking shoes. Disposable shoes have a use.
Lol the most cushioned military styled boots I have are the cheap Chinese suede ankle boots, the heel is made of light rubber that has rectangular cavities inside. For some reason they are very comfortable : )
I served in the Legion 5 years (early 90's). I remember getting a shoe like that once and I don't recall what it was for but its not and probably was never regular issue. The legion is a creature of tradition and elements of the uniform reflect that. The belt, tie and boot are American military items given them during WW2. The boot I was issued (and go back and look at the pics you showed they're the same boot) was the US military "double buckle" first issued in 1944. I was told they were made of bull hide and they were thick leather. took months to break them in. They never became comfortable and were very heavy, but after many years of extremely severe abuse....they were still serviceable. I kept and used a pair for another 5 plus years before I got rid of them for lighter modern hiking boots. Lastly the Legion was not created to allow foreigners to serve the French military it was a xenophobic period of French history. It allowed the French government to round up and keep close tabs on questionable elements (foreigners).
I have had a pair of pampa hi originales for several years now with no noticeable damage. I usually only wear them casually once or twice a week. I don't have anything bad to say about them for what they're trying to be.
I love these boots I have 2 leather 2 suede and 3 canvas in hi lo and shoe type, wear is not a problem with them they last a long time and have survived the washing machine (canvas) without any problems I do swap around then change insoles tho. Some fade differently one black canvas faded grey and another black canvas faded brown from the sun.
I bought a pair of PALLABROUSE online after being intrigued by the tread for mixed walking: Super Light Rather Narrow fit Nice Semi-firm soul for walking Super comfortable They probably aren't great for every occasion in all black because they do look like a Jack-boot, but I am a happy customer.
I'd love to see you review some of their other boots. The Pampa Travel Lite is a popular, more expensive model of theirs, and many of their waterproof boots have been praised. The Pampa Hi's are one of their cheapest models.
I bought 2 pairs of Palladium because they look cool, but they are garbage. Both are too uncomfortable even for short 5km walk. Also dont last for long - the first pair (Sp20 Hi Cvs) lasted only 6 months, the second one will last forever because I don't want to wear them. The funniest part is that 12 euro snickers from decathlon are more comfortable (by a lot) and last longer.
They make good inexpensive otb boots instead of wearing converse, they fit also well with flippers. Good treading for soft Sandy ground. On concrete they get chewed up pretty quickly, but the same applies to the old US army desert boots in my experience.
@@francescolombrici188 I disagree. In my experience, Palladium boots are not designed to last and, like all other products that are not meant to last (which seems to be almost everything nowadays), they are not "good".
@@cum5681 yeah, I know, but they are very light and feel great on the feet even after dozens of kilometers. I even went hiking with them in Gran Sasso National Park, my only complaint is that they don't provide enough grip on rocky terrain. Anyway, I think I will try M-Tac sneakers next, they look identically to Palladiums and there is a chance that they will be better. At least they are not as expensive as palladiums.
Nice to see u review budget boots. A lot of us use boots for casual, dress or just for the looks. If you could do more of these....maybe X-ray boots or even Cole Hans....keep up the excellent work.
Prob the only shoe I ever bought that didn’t need to be broken in? It was kind of crazy, day one perfect fit and comfort. Perfect for day to day chicanery.
Those were commonly known as "pataugas" in France and an archetypal hot climate outdoors shoe (and excellent for that). My sister had them in the Scouts. I wore out two pairs in North Africa and in SouthEast Asia (doing civilian stuff). The world then had limited choices in terms of outdoor footwear. Essentially, you had either leather combat boots, leather mountaineering boots,, and that kind of canvas shoes. I remember when thry became a mainstream fashion thing suddenly made in crazy colours but these were bona fide outdoors. Don't know about modern built quality.
Owned a couple of pairs over the last 7-8 years, and while they were indeed comfortable, they had by far the worst grip of any boots I've ever owned. On slick surfaces, snow, or even slightly icy conditions, they were unwearable. How they managed to blend and manufacture such a poor rubber compound for the outsole is beyond comprehension.
These look interesting as summer "boots". The best I've come across are the Astorflex Greenflex, which essentially seem to be clark's desert boot with fewer corners cut.
I joined the legion 1981 where i joined up fort de nogent some of the old anciennes wore these as they were goingabout their dayon another note serving in british army in belize,unlike everyone else in my batallion i was issued an older british army jungle boot green canvas,rubber toe cap similar to the french,/palladium boot
There were multiple contractors that made this type of boots for the french army. As an owner of a few paiirs of the originals also called"pataugas", the current ones have almost NOTHING in common with the real deal.
Did you you post this video already? Anywho, right now is probably The Time to be picking up a pair of Palladiums or, like, mid-July. You're doing a service for humanity by posting reviews of the better brands out there, construction- & style-wise. I haven't picked a pair of Palladiums up yet, but have been meaning to. Maybe now is the the time...
i tried a pair of the tan shoes and the heel caused instant pain before i laced them up. after lacing i took a few steps, unlaced them, put them back in the box, then left the store.
Enter the $5k Rose Anvil giveaway here - bit.ly/3x6ycDh
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Inb4 UA-cam's autistic algorithm demonetizes the video because it talks about military history.
Is the giveaway open for us bloody foreigners?
The Wax version of the Legion boot is the one you want to buy.
If you're looking for canvas French legion boots they're called Pataugas, leather ones on the other hands are made by Marbot and are called Brodequin de marche Modèle 52, later on they switched to the BM65 (Brodequin de Marche 65) made by Marbot, when the factory closed they switched to Argueyrolles which is a boots made for the ceremonies
Malheureusement la marque Pataugas n'existe plus. :(
@@holygooffils ont été racheté par le group VGM Holding....
@@holygooff J'étais dégoûté quand j'ai appris la nouvelle 😢
I have 3 pairs of Palladiums...black, tan, & a leather pair & happy with all of them....
Trivia, not that I would buy them because of this, but Palladiums were what Will Smith wore in I Am Legend...
To me they're less boots than they are Converse Chuck Taylors on steroids...
So, the only reason you bought three pair is just because Will Smith wore them in _I Am Legend?_
@@PhantomFilmAustralia nope, I said I wouldn't have because of that... it's just an item of trivia about the subject material
Emily blunt wore some in Sicario
So Will Smith switched his Palladiums for Chucks, huh? Not the best publicity for the former. Meanwhile Smith unboxing his Chucks was one of the most in-your-face product placements from the 2000s.
Personally, I think the Altama OTB Maritime mid boots are the Converse Chuck Taylors on steroids. They were also designed to be worn with fins.
I have a pair that I got over 15 years ago, they are made in France. They do not have a foam insole. The insole looks like a weave with a type of cork bottom. The rubber bottom also seems to be thinker and stiffer than what you show on current day. They have been on many a dog walk on beaches and are always comfortable
Chuck Taylors with a hiking sole. Best shoes ever if you live in a hot climate. Price is pretty good comparing to everything else out there. The only negative stones, gravel will get caught in the lugs. Light, cool and they dry fast.
They catch absolutely everything between the lugs, but I still love them, wearing a leather pair right now
10:24 gets to main reason modern ones are not as durable, the originals were vulcanised whereby the rubber outsole was melted onto the canvas, like the us jungle boots. Modern ones seem to use glued or cemented construction. This has been hard to verify as the company released a video discussing the original construction, direct vulcanisation, inferring this method was still used. The matter is further confused by the website referring to vulcanised outsoles where the rubber may be indeed vulcanised separately and then the sole unit glued to the upper. Further research (yes I looked into this considerably) indicated that the change in construction method occurred in the early 2000s from direct vulcanised to glued where many seem to be referring to quality decline.
Yeah mine are over ten years old and do not look like the ones tested here.
I think the modern ones differ from the ones produced in the 80s. They were a big fashion item in the late 80s and clubbers wore them, often with the top few inches rolled down and their jeans/dungarees or trousers rolled up.
Ofc they differ, just like everything else made in 80s and nowadays
I had palladiums in the late 80s/ early 90s and remember they only lasted 1-2 years before the canvas started peeling away from the sole. I have a couple of the new pairs and think they are great for what they are. Very comfortable summer weight boots. The insoles are better now than they were in the 90s!
I love my pair of Pampa Hi so much I bought a second pair in a different color! Almost got a third a couple weeks ago lol they are lightweight, comfortable as hell, are quality shoes, and look good. You can get them at Marshall's somewhat often, usually around $30 instead of full price. They blow Converse out of the water in basically every regard, because they are almost everything you want in a Converse but better. For anyone that wants the All-Stars look but can't stand the shoe itself, like me, these are a perfect substitute without adding a ton more weight or bulkiness. You can walk all shift or all day in these and not have foot pain, unlike Converse 🤷🏼 the biggest downside for me is the fact that you can get pretty bad traction on smooth, hard, wet surfaces (like tiles).
Hello from France. La marque Pataugas, Wizard furent aussi parties de l équipement de nos militaires, dans mon Bataillon ( 27 BCA) nous avions un petit musée représentant les équipements qui ont fait notre histoire. Merci pour cette vidéo.
Do people actually write day-to-day with the passé simple?
Very cool.
Interesting!
@@liammorantz413Not really. But it could depend on your generation and education. Furthermore, he made a mistake writing “furent” instead of “firent”
@@-NIRN- true, though I'm sure this too could depend on education and generation. Lots francophones get the subjunctive wrong for ex. Also, could just be a typo--at least on N.A. keyboard u and i are adjacent.
I am retired US Army, I have a pair of the tan Pampa Hi, minus the insole (I replace all the insoles with ones I like)I really like them. I also have 2 pair of the Altima Maritime (one hi, one low), and the discontinued Go Ruck Jedburghs. I really liked the Jedburghs until discontinued. I do a lot of hiking and rucking. For a lightweight warm weather boot the Pampa Hi works for me. Just my opinion.
Do you use?
These boots for rocking question mark
@@michaelreyes4981 I have. I have had no problems.
I have 2 pairs of Palladiums, one of which are "waterproof". Both pairs' outsoles got worn within 1.5 years and the waterproof ones started letting water in when dipped in water after a year or so. They are OK for casual walking, I really like how the canvas looks in a boot-like form factor, but with how simple their constructions are they are like 70-120 USD at full-price at which I can buy canvas shoes that are both a lot more comfortable and a little bit more long-lasting. I bought mine at an outlet store for ~35 USD apiece and I would probably not buy another pair if they are not at sub-50 dollars.
Yep, I got the waterproof ones too. They stayed waterproof for a couple trips during the first year (including walking in streams). A year later they get soaked and leak when I walk in mild rain. It makes no sense to buy the waterproof version, especially since the non-waterproof has a nicer looking canvas.
They are also called "Pataugas" in France and were very popular with kids going in holidays summer camps in the 70s.
Je crois qu'il s'agit de deux marques différentes.
@@m1m1n0u Tu as raison. Mon père avait l'habitude d'user du terme Pataugas pour toutes chaussures de couleur kaki ou vert armée.
Like converse, but you can walk on wet grass without slipping over. A most recommended summer boot of a British music festival.
However, where the toes bend, always a hole develops where the canvas meets the rubber.
I had a pair of Palladiums years ago. They are exactly as you've described: A sneaker that looks like a boot. I found the construction to be very similar to that of a pair of Chuck Taylor's. Are they a boot? Well, they look like one. And that's why I bought them. I'd buy them again, I got what I paid for. Plus I think they look really cool, and they're pretty cheap.
I owned an original pair and the brown model is fairly close. What they don't mention is that these were JUNGLE boots, meant for fighting in (then) Indochina. They were made to be light, airy and to drain water through the canvas. Troops would draw camoflage patterns on them for a bit of extra concealment. You'd see French Marines still wearing them in the early 2000s for Maritime operations, but the French Army, including the FFL, had a VERY stout full grain leather boot for most climates.
"The greatest summer adventures never have a plan!" Sounds like those old French Foreign Legion soldiers were just these fun-loving guys always ready for a hip adventure in the sun without a care in the world! 😂
In 1990, I was at US Army Airborne School and some BUDS candidates were rolling through. In the barracks, A few of them wore Israeli combat boots that have the same canvas exterior as the Palladium but in olive drab. Those are the best looking of the French foreign legion style canvas boots
I've been wearing Palladium boots for 20+ years and love them. That wear includes 2-3 in the Northern Nevada desert every summer. Also, they were worn by the Israeli military for decades and back in the day you could but those versions at surplus stores for under $20!
Thanks for including metric weight in the description, alongside imperial one
The palladium is used in SOF of the IDF.
I used them in the 70'
I have 5 pairs of Palladiums with years of wear on all of them. My favorites for errands in town, working in the shop or yard chores are my black Pampa Travel Lights. Light, easy to put on/off and just enough support. For social outings, I grab the Pampa Hi - stylish, light and affordable enough to have in multiple colors. For music festivals or anywhere I'm going to be standing for hours on end I only wear the Pallabrousse. And seeing your video I now understand why. The Travel Lights are fine on a flat surface but brutal on rocks/roots, even loose sand due to the thin soles. The Pampa Hi is more supportive, but the solid outsole will still hot spot the sole of your foot while standing/dancing for hours. The open voids of the Pallabrousse combined with the better inserts are, apparently, what makes that shoe the far better choice for standing/walking/dancing on uneven surfaces. More like having an inflated bike tire under your foot instead of a solid block of material. And I have not had any durability issues. Pallabrousse is what I wear 80% of the time I'm heading for a 20-30,000 step festival day! Thanks for the vids, so helpful!
I absolutely love the Palladium Pampa. I have hiked many miles on the Appalachian Trail with them. Also I wear them as an everyday boot on the farm. I spent almost 30 years in the US Army and they certainly beat any Army boot I ever wore. Too bad they’re not authorized for wear with the uniform. I guess different people have different feet, but these are the best boots I’ve found for my feet. They’re even reasonably water resistant to be made of canvas, but I also own leather and waterproof versions.
I have the black ones and the tan ones just like in the video. I'm surprised you didn't mention the extra strips of material sewn into the sides of the uppers. That's a definite difference between the version. I've found the black ones (which I was under the impression were a special anniversary edition) fit much looser than the tan ones. Perhaps that's just the difference in size standards in Vietnam vs. China. They really are like a Converse and a combat boot had a baby. I find them very comfortable.
The leather, waterproof baggy is the best boot I've ever owned. They're lined with wool and keep your feet comfortable no matter what environment you're in.
I wore them on a 40 km backpacking trip through the Continental Divide in the Canadian Rockies mid summer. They performed excellent in the rain and on steep inclines.
I've also worn them on numerous hikes in minus 30 Celsius during the winter. They were incredibly warm paired with wool socks and my feet never got wet.
Ended up liking the so much I got 2 more pairs.Some people people might find them a bit heavy But I'd still highly recommend them.
Ask anyone who visited South Africa in the 1990s and they will tell you those are security guard boots.
Securitiesmens eh
Yeah, like an armed guard.
25 bucks US and I own a pair. They sell them at builders.
Still widely used today in SA with security companies.light,dry fast and cheap.
I've owned one pair of Palladium boots years ago. I liked the style, fit, and comfort. Mine had the same wrap around rubber outsole as the ones featured in this video. Unfortunately, they only lasted about 1.5 years of daily city use before the rubber started separating from the rest of the shoe. Shoe goo could only do so much before water, dirt, and grime kept getting in and the separation kept growing. They had no warranty. Just another piece of junk for the landfill. I never bought another pair.
1.5 years is pretty crazy for a boot worn every day with zero rest days. Even true boots would need a resole with that amount of wear.
@@Fenster21I wore the same pair of boots everyday from freshman year until I graduated, and only got a new pair when the soles were treadbare and no cobbler would take 'em
@@supertinheng you probably didn’t do much in those boots besides sit at a desk then lol. Shoes are like tires, longevity is measured in miles (or steps), not age. It all totally varies depending on how and where they are used. My work shoes I wear at my restaurant job still look brand new on the tread, but the top leather is falling apart because I only walk on smooth surfaces, and they are two years old. I had the same shoes when I lived in San Diego as my daily sneakers and they lasted me six months at best because I was walking around town on concrete all the time. City use is probably the hardest on boots aside from hiking on granite, city Slickers are always walking around on concrete
Shoe Goo is garbage. I've never had good luck with that product. There are much better products than that. Gear Aid makes a shoe repair glue that is much better, or even their Aquaseal or Seam Seal. Or completely remove the sole and use a good contact cement.
@@BikingVikingHH You're not wrong about sitting at a desk, this was when I was in college, but I was walking and commuting by bus a lot. I've had skate shoes cost less and have the outsoles remain on the shoe with more miles and usage, while skateboarding and biking a lot in them. I still have pairs of shoes with holes in the bottom where the outsole never separated from the shoe. Palladiums boots started separating well before I stopped using them at the 1.5 year mark, that was just when they were not worth repairing. In my experience, they do not make quality footwear.
FFL are not Special Operations Forces, they're a combined arms expeditionary force, which are a cut above typical ground forces. The French army, and the FFL itself, have special operations units. They're most comparable to the USMC or the expeditionary forces of the US Army, such as the 82nd airborne.
I was looking at these before, but because I saw their advertising on Instagram I just assumed they were a cheap Tek wear/Mall ninja brand/shoe. Knowing that they're the real deal makes it a little easier for me to potentially get a pair.
From testing reviews it seems:
+ comfortable for light use, tropical conditions, grippy sole, some love them
- the soles dont wear well for very long distance (damaged feet), not great with rucksacks long distance, may be slightly inferior quality to originals (vulcanisation) can be expensive.
I got a black pair brand new at a thrift store. They are so comfortable. I have wide feet needing a stiff sole. They fill all the gaps. I think mine are from 2017or so.
Do these run decently wide? I'd love to get a pair but I have some wide feet as well and they just look narrow
@@yeetusfeetus4280 I am a 14EE and like the 14/Euro 49 sized ones for width.
Boot suggestion: The Corcoran Tanker boot.
Nice video. I would rather buy these than Converse all day long. And I agree, Palladium needs to make a real boot that costs more.
they’re more like converse high tops on steroids with thicker canvas and hiking soles. i have a baggy pair and they’re comfortable as hell. like how converse started as a basketball shoe, these started as military boots but they both became more for fashion than their original intent
I've owned two pairs, both leather and weather proof. Used them daily as a mail carrier. The tread seems to wear out after a year an a half and they stay waterproof for almost a year. Definitely not heavy duty but if you just want something casual and good looking go for it. Personally I'm going to be looking for something heavier duty from now on. Nice in-depth review! Keep it up.
I was issued a pair of gray "Coral Booties" for swimming as a US Marine in 1984. Flat, slick soles. We were told they were WWII surplus. Terrible. Next, they issued us green high top Converse. Slightly better, but the soles had no grip and the insoles took forever to dry once you got on the beach. We all started buying tan Palladiums while overseas in the Med. They had a woven insole back then. Well suited for the task. LL Bean started selling them, which made them easier to get. I had a friend pick a pair up for me in Europe about 10 years ago. They still had a woven insole. I still wear them for finning in warmer weather.
I have several of these boots they are especially good if you add a supportive insole. I am susceptible to plantar fasciitis and Sholl inserts are better for my feet than the factory standard. Clearly they are not meant for heavy duty hiking in rough terrain but I’ve hiked in savannah and they are ideal. They are my default travel boot. The canvas make them light, breathable and comfy to wear on plane, train, boat and car when travelling but are robust enough for you to hit the ground running when you get there. You can wax them to give them a bit of waterproofing and you can dye them if you want to change the colour.
I have had mine for 10 years and I love them I wear them almost every day. And through 3 pregnancies. I haven’t had a single problem with them. I live in Tokyo so we have high humidity so they are great for moisture. I love them. People who insult them either haven’t given a chance or have never owned a pair. So it’s easier to insult a country and their shoes and I have PF .
I always found Palladiums comfortable my only issue mainly was if you walk on gravel youll be constanly picking stones out of the treads and you feel them with every step.
I did a bunch of hiking in El Salvador in these from 2016-2018. They were extremely comfortable for hiking in a jungle/volcano environment. You are dead right they pick up every small rock on Earth, however.
I love the look of Palladium baggy pallabrouse with the turn-down look but they don't hold up super well. Around the little toe the canvas and rubber separates. I got the Nylon ones and they've held up better but they don't breathe as well. I love the look and they aren't the most expensive. I'll still buy them.
I have a pair of the taller ones in suede which I don't believe they sell any more. Same design but far more durable than the canvas ones. They have held up for close to a decade of pretty continuous "medium duty" use. I also had the tan pair shown here that went on a trip to the middle east as my "civilian shoes". Light and easy to pack. They are some of the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. If you just want a comfortable, light weight, general use boot, you really can't go wrong. One thing to consider: The tongues aren't attached to the upper part of the boot, which makes for less material folded up around your ankle. But it also allows for crap to get inside. If you're going to be exposing your feet to things like chainsaw chips, grain, deep sand, etc., it's getting inside.
I wore Palladium boots for a few years for work (maintenance crew on a golf course) They were pretty comfortable, but barely lasted a year before the sole started separating from the canvas. They are good for casual use, but not for hard work. I’d love to see a more rugged, solid built Palladium, because I do like the look of them.
I was so excited to buy a pair of these boots, and I found them at a local store. I bought the brown ones and they were great for about three months and then the fabric started to rip. I’ve never had a boot/shoe fall apart so quickly on me.
i have some grey ones from 4 or 5 years ago, they're really really nice if you want a boot to wear in the summer like you'd wear a pair of chucks. Nothin' fancy but not bad to wear.
I have been using palladiums for hiking all around use for 10 years now.
I used them while trekking in the Egyptian Sahara, i used them in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, did so many kilometers with them and they never failed me.
Bucking the trend I have a pair of these and really like them.
Bon Chance Mon Ami. I had a pair when we would do patrol exercises in the Marines. We called them Ninja boots, VietCong boots and Israeli commando boots. They were as comfortable as sneakers but only lasted a few outings.
Many years ago I handled a pair of pristine Palladium boots from the 1960's that belonged to a militaria collector, they were the authentic article as issued to French Foreign Legion troops stationed in tropical regions, looked very crudely made with flashing here and there from the rubber injection molding and were definitely tougher and heavier than the mall Palladiums I had.
I started wearing these in the early 80's when L.L. Bean used to sell them. Eventually I stopped wearing them because my feets, by global and Waller standards, too big. Then they started making them in even larger sizes and I returned. Alas, they became a fashion item instead of a military supply/surplus thing and prices crept up, it seems.
Great traction - soft rubber! And great tread. (Other than picking up rocks which you become aware of and cope with with ease, rocks come out just as easily as they get jammed into the gaps in the soft rubber.) Best shoe for walking around on a shingled roof.
Flexible sole, very nimble. Chuck Taylors with traction.
Great in the heat. Go without socks in the summer, very comfy.
Get them wet, big deal, as long as its summer time and you don't care about wet cotton shoes.
Light weight.
Cheap. The bottom may get thin but you'll also get holes in the cotton by that point. I tend to wear mine in the shop, so I'm not getting much sand through holes in the fabric. Eventually just give up and buy another pair.
Their strengths are also their weaknesses, but they are a disposable kinda thing. I now wear a knock-off of Palladium (Farm Blue) to get even more room inside for my feet in a certain big size.
Even the shoe laces can die prematurely. I say toss them immediately and get smaller diameter round laces, which slide better in the eyelets.
I had a pair of these ~10yrs ago. The pampa with the roll down shaft. They were definitely more stylish than a functional boot but I wore them all the time and they were comfortable and held up really well. My biggest gripe was that the lighter colors (mine were a bluish light grey) stained around the toe cap if you had sweaty feet.
I completely agree that they wore more like a shoe. Got lots of compliments on them, probably wouldn’t buy another pair though just on my changing preferences.
I have a waterproof purple pair that are a mix of leather and synthetic canvas I think. I’ve had them about 8 years and they are just starting to wear out. I love them and knew nothing about them when I got them. Now I need to inspect them more closely.
Living in the hot and sticky US Southeast, these are my go-to hiking trail boot. Lightweight, supportive enough in the ankle, rugged but flexible sole. I've only owned a couple of the single color versions, and they lack the contrast of something like Chucks, so not the most fashionable with jeans or whatever, but not embarrassing.
The only place I've had a pair fail was the glue holding the upper to the toe "cap" part. The sock liner held it together, but I stopped wearing that pair, especially for hiking.
My friends and I do open top vehicle expeditions in Tunisia and Morocco. We mostly wear the Baggy version of these. They are good in the big dunes (would be better if the tongue was webbed) and great in hot weather. Yes, they catch gravel in the heels all the time. I do wish they were better quality as I would be very willing to pay for it.
I’ve been buying them for years… Great summer footwear. I like to wear boots and I used to wear Converse all stars. But their quality went to crap a few years ago. I love them. I like the leather ones too. Can’t go wrong with lightweight boots that are breathable. They pound the concrete well.
I own a pair of Pampa Hi Seeker Lite Waterproof and they look better than the hi Chuck 70 that I used to have.
Like he said, the design on the outsole on these boots are really nice, the grip you get from walking on snow is one of the reasons I'm glad I got mine over another Converse when it started to snow a few months ago.
The comfort on these, at least for me is okay. I did replace the insole for a more firmer one (Superfeet blue) but I've had no complaints especially with the side zipper that makes wearing it slightly more faster but keeps its waterproof feature in mind with the design.
It's definitely not a "Boot", but it's good enough as a casual street shoe and better than a Converse in terms of design and comfort.
I've had 3 pairs over the years. All leather 2 pairs of Pampas and a Chelsea style that they made 20 years ago. At the time I was bartending and these boots held up to beer, water and questionable decisions for far longer than Docs or blundstones. I have a tan leather pair of Pampas that I still love but haven't put them through much real work other than light hiking.
I have been using the tan / khaki version of these boots for 3 seasons. They are surprisingly durable and comfortable for long hours of walking. I would not chose them for hiking, but for travelling and for walking around the city, they are super useful.
I won't comment on the history of Palladium, others already have. I have the tan model and I had a bit of a hard time breaking them in. I've had about half a dozen models, mostly the low cut and i can't say they are the most comfortable, but for the price I consider them quite decent. Certain models were a bit flimsy and wore out rather quickly but Palladium makes quite a few models for us big footed folks so its often my go to brand.
If they made one with a shank, a leather lasting board/insole underneath that foam insole, and added that reinforcement strip found on the black model on the other 2 models, these would be amazing canvas boots that I’d buy even at a higher price.
Great review as always sir! I posted this on another video but thought I'd share it here too...
TLDR: Bought my first pair in 2014, still in great condition, I still wear them regularly, and just bought my 5th pair this month. All are US size 8.
I bought my first pair in Nov 2014, the all-black leather and nylon Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 on sale for $70 CAD. They're very comfortable, my most worn pair and they're still going strong. The sole has held up great and they look like they've still got many years of life in them. I wear them year-round and they've been my go-to winter boot since I bought them. For context, I'm in the Toronto area.
My second pair is another all-black leather model, the Pampa Sport BaggyWP purchased in Jan 2015 for $78 CAD on sale. These are the ones with the fold-over collar to make them shorter or taller. I've only worn these a few times but plan to make more use of them now to give my Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 a break. This one feels a light tighter in fit.
My 3rd pair is another all-black leather and nylon pair, the Pampa Thermal which is a real winter boot. Paid $120 CAD on sale in 2015. These are used mostly on heavy snow days, mostly for shoveling the driveway.
My 4th pair is the Pampa Hi Mono Chrome in the Olive Night colorway. These are the non-waterproof canvas boots made more for summer but I sprayed them with waterproofing. I got these in Nov 2022 for $85 CAD delivered. I've only worn these a few times also. These fit a little looser than the others, mainly because they don't have the additional lining. These are basically like high top Converse Chuck Taylors but with a knobbier grip.
I just received my 5th pair, the leather and nylon PAMPA SHIELD WP+ in the "Dear Brown" colorway (a light caramel color) for $121 CAD delivered from the Palladium online sale currently going on. Haven't worn them yet but am confident they'll be another great pair of boots for beating around town in.
Get a pair of Rangers with the double ankle buckles, it’s what the legion wore for at least 30 years up until fairly recently. Once they are worn in they are very comfortable and extremely hard wearing
My favorite pare of shoes of all time are the lowest end Pampa Travel Lites. They are incredibly lightweight and super flexible so it is almost like a sock with a boot sole. They fill a very unique niche that fits exactly what I want. For me I would rate them a 10 in every category except durability which I would give maybe a 4
Have a pair of the black boots without the french flag tab, nice boot (Original Pampa Hi) made in Vietnam. The black boot shown is a slightly different canvas style to the other two shown. The black boot was a special Legion edition they released, also had writing and flag tab on the side. One thing I’d wish they would do is to stitch a pull tab on the back, would make them a lot easier to put on.
Own 3 pairs, ironically the travel lites feel most boot like. The hi line beought the best of a sneaker and military boot together. Just think of it as the smartest designed sneaker ever, you can do all the outfoor stuff you want thanks to the outsole
I remember similar boots in 90s in US Calvary catalog called Israeli boots. But I think they were taller.
I have a pair like the tan ones. They are better over gravel roads than regular sneakers. I don't feel the rocks digging in my feet so much.
I don't agree with the part of the grip in winter. My black palladiums were super slippy in winter. Most slippy boot I've ever worn in winter.
I call them my adventure converse and basically wear them like sneakers, maybe for walks in the grass or generally the countryside. They're great for that purpose but of course not more!
You should stop the ball drop test because the information it provides depends on many variables and you can't draw definite conclusions from it. An example is that one might think that because the ball bounced high, then the insole and sole are thick and bouncy. However, you could get the same result with a very thin insole and sole that allows the ball to rebound with the hard floor and get a lot of height. Whereas, maybe a shoe with a very comfortable and shock absorbing insole and sole, won't give a good bounce. One could judge that shoe as lower quality where in reality a comfortable shoe won't always give a good bounce.
Since the experiment isn't correlated with comfort, you should think of a better test with more consistent results.
Wes, I truly thank you for your in depth reviews over the years. I am now the proud owner of some JKs (300s), and JG African Rangers in zero drop. Nice additions to my stable of boots. Only regret: not buying your first collab. Boy I wanted those, but couldn’t hit the buy button.
Looks like a pair of Converse.
I used to wear the hi top leather version from 2019-2021 for police duty. I really miss those boots, sad they took the leather version out of production.
I've had a pair for years and made somewhat comfortable with a pair of good insoles. Without them , they're hard on your feet for a long walk or hike.
I have a unused pair of the old boots (MLE 52 Rangers marrons) in size 46, we can get in contact if you want to buy them, they do not really fit me. I am located in germany though.
I live in the netherlands, if he doesn't take them keep me in my mind.
@@martijnoerlemans765I guess it would be a pity to cut my unused ones in size 46 (not a chance to get those anymore unused in this size, i looked for 3 years). If you want to buy them i might be inclined to sell them.
I have some full leather boots from them will wool lining from 2015 and they have held up great. I think they are plenty comfortable.
Love my beige canvas Palladium Pampas, they may be fashion sneaker/boots, but I can wear them all day and have no discomfort, even with my bad knees and ankles. The support is excellent. The only thing that gets me is the aggressive lugged sole picks up pebbles, but they're easily removed. Here are some quotes from African hunters on safari who swear by Pampa's (and Converse Allstars, believe it or not...) -
Fred Bear, Wally Johnson, Buzz, wore Converse - many more wore Palladium - Tony Seth-Smith used to and Natasha Illum-Berg still does
Palladium shoes were once very popular among east africa's hunters. They are essentially chuck taylors with a lug sole - and it's a damn shame they only make them narrow as a toothpick. Natasha Illum Berg wears them.
For hot weather I have always worn Palladium Pampa Boots.
I work in the woods for a living. I have great re-soleale boots. However I can’t wear them above 55 degrees. The rest of the year I’m wearing my 2 pairs of Palladium boots or Vasque hiking shoes. Disposable shoes have a use.
Lol the most cushioned military styled boots I have are the cheap Chinese suede ankle boots, the heel is made of light rubber that has rectangular cavities inside. For some reason they are very comfortable : )
I served in the Legion 5 years (early 90's). I remember getting a shoe like that once and I don't recall what it was for but its not and probably was never regular issue. The legion is a creature of tradition and elements of the uniform reflect that. The belt, tie and boot are American military items given them during WW2. The boot I was issued (and go back and look at the pics you showed they're the same boot) was the US military "double buckle" first issued in 1944. I was told they were made of bull hide and they were thick leather. took months to break them in. They never became comfortable and were very heavy, but after many years of extremely severe abuse....they were still serviceable. I kept and used a pair for another 5 plus years before I got rid of them for lighter modern hiking boots. Lastly the Legion was not created to allow foreigners to serve the French military it was a xenophobic period of French history. It allowed the French government to round up and keep close tabs on questionable elements (foreigners).
I have had a pair of pampa hi originales for several years now with no noticeable damage. I usually only wear them casually once or twice a week. I don't have anything bad to say about them for what they're trying to be.
I love these boots I have 2 leather 2 suede and 3 canvas in hi lo and shoe type, wear is not a problem with them they last a long time and have survived the washing machine (canvas) without any problems I do swap around then change insoles tho. Some fade differently one black canvas faded grey and another black canvas faded brown from the sun.
I bought a pair of PALLABROUSE online after being intrigued by the tread for mixed walking:
Super Light
Rather Narrow fit
Nice Semi-firm soul for walking
Super comfortable
They probably aren't great for every occasion in all black because they do look like a Jack-boot, but I am a happy customer.
I'd love to see you review some of their other boots. The Pampa Travel Lite is a popular, more expensive model of theirs, and many of their waterproof boots have been praised. The Pampa Hi's are one of their cheapest models.
I love my palladiums. I only wear boots so to have something lightweight and breathable for the summer they sre perfect
I bought 2 pairs of Palladium because they look cool, but they are garbage. Both are too uncomfortable even for short 5km walk. Also dont last for long - the first pair (Sp20 Hi Cvs) lasted only 6 months, the second one will last forever because I don't want to wear them.
The funniest part is that 12 euro snickers from decathlon are more comfortable (by a lot) and last longer.
They make good inexpensive otb boots instead of wearing converse, they fit also well with flippers. Good treading for soft Sandy ground. On concrete they get chewed up pretty quickly, but the same applies to the old US army desert boots in my experience.
@@francescolombrici188 I disagree. In my experience, Palladium boots are not designed to last and, like all other products that are not meant to last (which seems to be almost everything nowadays), they are not "good".
Decathlon products are affordable , practical but they looks horrendous somehow
@@cum5681 yeah, I know, but they are very light and feel great on the feet even after dozens of kilometers. I even went hiking with them in Gran Sasso National Park, my only complaint is that they don't provide enough grip on rocky terrain.
Anyway, I think I will try M-Tac sneakers next, they look identically to Palladiums and there is a chance that they will be better. At least they are not as expensive as palladiums.
Nice to see u review budget boots. A lot of us use boots for casual, dress or just for the looks. If you could do more of these....maybe X-ray boots or even Cole Hans....keep up the excellent work.
I LOVE my Palladiums! Have an absurd amount of them, will take them over running shoes or Converse anytime!
i've always had my eye on these and never pulled the trigger. I typically like canvas shoes/boots too.
A comparison between palladium and pataugas will be great 👍🏻
1:39 Your team showed the shape and flag of China. Indochina would have referred to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in this context.
They showed vietnam. Watch it again
@@sugarnads when did they show Vietnam?
Prob the only shoe I ever bought that didn’t need to be broken in? It was kind of crazy, day one perfect fit and comfort. Perfect for day to day chicanery.
Those were commonly known as "pataugas" in France and an archetypal hot climate outdoors shoe (and excellent for that). My sister had them in the Scouts. I wore out two pairs in North Africa and in SouthEast Asia (doing civilian stuff). The world then had limited choices in terms of outdoor footwear. Essentially, you had either leather combat boots, leather mountaineering boots,, and that kind of canvas shoes. I remember when thry became a mainstream fashion thing suddenly made in crazy colours but these were bona fide outdoors. Don't know about modern built quality.
I really like my palladiums, they ARE NOT HARD WORKING boots, but if you work inside they are super comfy
Owned a couple of pairs over the last 7-8 years, and while they were indeed comfortable, they had by far the worst grip of any boots I've ever owned. On slick surfaces, snow, or even slightly icy conditions, they were unwearable. How they managed to blend and manufacture such a poor rubber compound for the outsole is beyond comprehension.
Palladium's are great "festival-boots" (if that even is a thing). Light and breathable, but can handle a field covered in mud.
I love the Rose Anvil advert!! I think it was hilarious and informative. I don’t like boot pockets but for some reason, I seem to want one now..
These look interesting as summer "boots".
The best I've come across are the Astorflex Greenflex, which essentially seem to be clark's desert boot with fewer corners cut.
I joined the legion 1981 where i joined up fort de nogent some of the old anciennes wore these as they were goingabout their dayon another note serving in british army in belize,unlike everyone else in my batallion i was issued an older british army jungle boot green canvas,rubber toe cap similar to the french,/palladium boot
I own 2 pair as gardening boots or walking the dog on muddy trails after a rain. Great for those uses.
There were multiple contractors that made this type of boots for the french army. As an owner of a few paiirs of the originals also called"pataugas", the current ones have almost NOTHING in common with the real deal.
Did you you post this video already? Anywho, right now is probably The Time to be picking up a pair of Palladiums or, like, mid-July. You're doing a service for humanity by posting reviews of the better brands out there, construction- & style-wise. I haven't picked a pair of Palladiums up yet, but have been meaning to. Maybe now is the the time...
i tried a pair of the tan shoes and the heel caused instant pain before i laced them up. after lacing i took a few steps, unlaced them, put them back in the box, then left the store.