What is the BEST BOOT for the Military & Special Operations?
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- What is the Best Boot for the Military and Special Operations?
As an aspiring member of the military or prestigious special operations community, you can expect to be on your feet, in all types of terrain, and in all types of condition for a significantly longer period of time each day. And this is why it is important to choose and wear the right footgear. Let’s talk about
The Importance of Footwear
Boot Development
Fitment
Considerations
& Alternatives
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in '93 when I went home on leave after AIT my Grandfather shook his head when I showed him my black issue leg boots. He said for fuck sakes we can build Billion dollar stealth jets but they still cant make a decent pair of boots for the Infantry. He landed on D-Day and walked his happy ass to the Czech Republic so I think he had a good idea about foot wear.
I also go back to the 80's and we were also humping a ruck in black boots (19Delta), and it did'nt take long to get the skinny on stuff you'd rather have than the standard 'cruit boots. The favorite: CORCORAN'S. 2 pair would take your base pay back then, but broke in way less than a month, and you could really 'dress your leather. One for daily dress and the other for inspection and ceremonies to stay squared away.
Thank your grandfather for his service on behalf of the Czech people! Is he still around? I'd be more than happy to ship him a few small gifts.
@@Excalibur-Army unfortunately he passed away in 2001. I will let my father know. Thanks.
The black speed lace boots sucked, but the did last a long time. I had Matterhorns in Germany and they were good for cold weather or at least down to ten degrees.
Your grandfather was right.
Solid info on both boots AND socks. Do not overlook your socks. Finally don't discount good orthotics. As one Olympic runner told me: The right orthotic may cost as much as a good pair of running shoes but will outlast and add value to 4-5 pair of shoes. Great boots on cheap socks is like new tires on a bad alignment.
It's like I'm reading the Word of God. Also, learn how to treat blisters before you need to!
@TOM ROLFSON : Great that you mentioned orthotics-they are overlooked and Dr Scholl's jelly donut POS offerings at WalMart or CVS is just throwing $$$ away.
A good orthotic will cost $200+. I've had two of them. One was by the old 'step into a box with a plaster-type mold' way and the 2nd is your feet get scanned barefoot (or socks?) and a custom fit is made for you. My feet as flat as hell and I had arch & ball of foot pain until I got orthotics. They also help your hip and spine alignment quite a bit as well.
@@FilthyAngryIrishPeasant TY and absolutely. I have done no where near the miles an Olympic class runner has, but the difference in quality is obvious even to me.
"Do not overlook your socks."
Absolutely.
We've all been guilty of taking our socks for granted until we bought and wore our first pair of Darn Toughs and/or Smartwools. I'd never look back.
“Great boots on cheap socks is like new tires on bad alignment”
I swear I heard the best analogies in YT comments
In my time at Nike I learned that after a mile of running blood and perspiration are pumped into your feet which will swell up a half size. So it’s good advice having a good merino wool boot sock and fitted for a boot a half size larger to allow your foot to comfortably swell into them and not be too tight. A full size is too large allowing your foot to slide around causing blisters. For marathoners and ultra marathoners we will image their feet and custom build a proper shoe a half size larger which produced dependable results. During my time in SF, prior to USN EOD, we were issued J boots which I always picked up a half size larger and never suffered blisters. Now I know why.
Thanks for that great info!
which socks are good for tropical climates ?
It's really hot in wool socks and you sweat, i mostly wear thin linen socks in boots..
I’m still confused as to why wool helps. Doesn’t it heat your feet?
@@andrewtanczyk4009 I think wool still performs even when wet among other things. I use wool a lot when hiking in wet environments. I have several pairs of REI wool socks but latest ones I bought are Darn Tough socks. I HATE synthetic fiber socks. I've not had issues with feet heating. I suppose that depends on thickness of sock? I have a confession though, and probably need some clarification... I wear thin cotton running socks where I live now to hike. Everybody says that's bad... but never get wet feet and they are super comfy. I think longest hike I've done is 18 miles w/ light backpack (20lbs?). However, it's HOT and SUPER dry here (Sonoran Desert). Never had issues with blistering. I suppose it matters where you are too / weather / environment?
@@andrewtanczyk4009 wool is great. sheep wear it all the time.
really. search the internet. all season great feel, not just socks.
maybe the only problem is, how to keep it clean
I joined at the end of the black boot era, and didn't know boots could be comfortable. My buddy in Korea took me to the local dude who measured my feet in like 8 places and and whipped up the perfect custom jungle boots for $80. Now I run around in Salomon boots but I think back to those.
Im a civilian training to go to sf selection and i bought a pair of jungle boots from a surplus store and i remember my feet never felt wet and I felt like spider man hiking up rocks and stuff.
@@captainrutabeggacrossout8482 which ones were they?
saloman speed assaults?
It's worth pointing out: after 1SG has a heart attack upon seeing your boots, you will also have a heart attack upon hearing how many pushups he will be correcting you with.
The trick is to do this after your platoon sergeant slacked on arm day.
No joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Boots, boots, boots, boots
Stepping up and down again
DOL
Your going to trigger my ptsd, lol.
There's no discharge in the war.
Shalom, pastor! I transitioned to Tactical Research (Bellleville) minimalist training boots to help with my plantar fasciitis and it worked after a few weeks - my feet stretched and strengthened therapeutically. Old school standard issue has its place but it's also important to keep up with tech advances.
Adidas GSG9.3 for me, best boots ever, hard to find but if you find them in your size you should buy them! I have the last two pairs of US Mens Size 12.
Well, this is an unwelcome blast from the past 😂
The USMC R.A.T. Boot shown at 7:00 is the best boot I've ever worn in my 67 years. Been through a lot of them. Not too heavy, well isolated from ground objects, no pressure points, plenty of toe room. These are made by Danner.
What’s it called?
@@xmcererRAT BOOTS. /: RUGGED ALL TERRAIN; ONLY THE US MARINES ISSUED THESE. Best boots I was issue ; and I must confess the IMO Rocky S2v's are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn ,2 Danner rivot boots; you can't go wrong with either.
Danner is very well built but kind heavy. I guess they fixed that issue.
This video brings back some memories of me arriving to Ft Bragg and getting base housing,my next door neighbor was a 18D E-6,first thing he told me was..'Get yourself a pair of great boots,your feet will thank you',,,Good thing I listened.
Yep. In my opinion, one of the best perks of SOF was getting the best boot that did the job for you. Even to this day I'm nonchalant about most of my wardrobe, but I'm an absolute premodonna about footwear.
The old saying the ARMY moves on it's feet is true. Still rocking them boots after all these years! Solomon, Merrell, Vasque, Bates, Danner and Rocky. Had them all.
@@embracethesuck1041yeah even if you’re not in the military being very choosy with your footwear is essential especially if you work a physically laborious job I work as a janitor and I work in nice Salomon black shoes and man I never felt better, my new balances and vans are only good for casual wear but those Salomon’s I can run and wear for days on end
"I thought I was cheating I couldn't believe my feet could be so happy" AMEN. True words once you get a good pair of boots it makes all the difference. Great vid cheers.
Ok, funny story. I reported to jump on my way to the Q course as medic. During in processing we were issued a pair of gym shorts and a brand new pair of New Balance running shoes. I was a salty Buck Sgt and just knew we were going to get f'd up if we EVER wore them! We were told to show up for PT at 0530 in them, not our BDU trousers, boots and tshirts. Oh lordy, we just knew that we were getting screwed with and when we showed up for PT in shorts and running shoes we were going to get SMOKED! LOL. Well come to find out out class was going to be validating the NEW 3 event PT test! We had been doing the 6 event PT test. WOW! When we took off in our run it was like I was flying! Lol. We still got smoked but my feet loved it! Lol. I kept doing rucksack and boots pt to stay in shape for the QC.
Worst part of basic was standing/hurting feet. The first weeks in processing were WAY worse than the 12 mile hikes etc. it’s absolute torture to stand on your feet for 50+ hours with no sleep/sitting down at all ever.
Still can’t feel my toes
Thank you Retired Special Forces (Green Beret) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Littlestone for your courageous service to our country Sir. 🇺🇸
911 was an inside job.
@@simontuffs4106 your birth was a Alabama job
We wore jungle boots in Vietnam and no one ever complained of foot problems from wearing them. However, the nylon mesh insert would degrade and actually mesh into our socks because we could not remove our boots for sometimes ten or twelve days at a time in the bush. We hated to have to requisition new boots because they made you look “boot to the nam.’
You couldn’t take your boots off for “ten to twelve days at a time”?
That is an interesting claim.
You were worried about how you looked in them and not how comfortable they were?
Dude. Come on.
@@AclockworkPurple
I don’t think you understood what I meant about appearance. In the Marines, old (salty) is good, new (boot) is bad. It’s all about how long you’ve been in the Corps and/or in combat. And any Marine grunt who was in Vietnam will confirm not being able to remove boots in the bush.
@@billballeza377 Vietnam is a wet jungle environment. That, combined with pressure and limited circulation on your feet causes pressure points and skin break down. It also provides the perfect environment for harmful bacteria and fungus.
The jungle boot allowed water in the boot along with particulates that include a lot of nasty things like feces.
Your claim seems off to me.
@@AclockworkPurple
I guess you just had to have been there, son.
@@billballeza377 Exactly.
The best review and recommendations of boot footwear I've seen. Having been deployed, then a Boot salesman, then a federal policeman and now a leather crafter in retirement, this review is outstanding. I have several boxes of unworn Danners and still swear by this Oregon based company. I've had several of my boots reconditioned by this manufacturer and have had ZERO issues with them over a thirty year span. There is truth in the statement that a person should buy a comfortable boot to suit the work environment. A perfect boot for all occasions doesn't exist. As recommended, always buy several pairs of wool socks.
So, 11B I used jungle boots with ripple soles for years, and I absolutely loved them. Marched for 1000s of miles in my career and it really helped.
Ripple sole are phenomenal!!
5.11 ATACs My first job was a cobbler, so I know how to look after and repair footwear. These are great boots with a little bit of proper love; they’re light, comfortable out of the box, take a great shine and have some options other companies don’t offer like gusseted zippers and covert pockets.
I really feel this one. These issues eventually ended my Military career. Made it through basic, AIT, Jump School, got to the 82nd and volunteered to OJT as 12B1P, and was eventually forced to medically retire. Interestingly, a doctor tried to get me an appointment, for new Boots and was denied. Foot Gear in the early 80's was pretty bad. I currently wear Magnum Boots with side zipper. Very nice and no problems. I hope that helps someone. AATW
Wow. Bad boots can really do that? Sorry to hear that. Have you recovered since then? What medical issues happened if you don’t mind asking.
@@andrewtanczyk4009 , proper Boots make a lot of difference. I also recommend changing to fresh , well-made socks, regularly. If you do get the blistering, I would open them asap and keep them clean and bandaged. God bless.
@@markgreiser464 thanks for the advice
Yeah, 80's Army boots sucked big time... The ones I finally was issued in 91 were much better. I also had a great Army doctor make me some AWESOME cork insoles. Saved my ass.
@@jetjaguarXP They sent me to see a Doctor when I went to the Clinic. Apparently , this Guy wanted to be a Paratrooper and failed, so he took it out on my Feet. He peeled off the Skin and treated the open wounds with Benzoine Tincture. I literally bent a steel Table. He laughed and made me walk back to the Bus Stop, from Womack. It was about a Mile. He was supposed to look into getting me new Boots, as a profile. never happened. AATW
Solid advice. I served prior to the advent of Danner and Matterhorn boots, we spent a lot of time " customizing " our issue boots with moleskin and super glue. A second pair of socks was sometimes in order.
I have since found Matterhorns to be ideal for me, the fit and quality are superb.
This video should be mandatory for all entering the military…wish I’d heard (and headed) it 30+ years ago, and not learned (too slowly) by personal experience. Not to mention good socks, orthotics/or arch supports and using mole skin! I agree, this would all be money well spent. Thanks for the video.
Learned faster than you, but still took me too long to realize the value of good socks I think haha. USMC 2009-14, US Army 2019-2023
The exact video I needed, about to buy boots. I've put a couple-hundred miles into my belleville ultra lights and plan on getting another pair. Reliable, comfy, and durable
The struggle was real and continues to be real. Came in late 1990s with 3/75. OD Jungles / toe cup taking out / steel shank taking out / Vibram flat soles and used mink oil to soften the leather. Maintain my 6 inch Lowa’s , ASOLOs , and a pair of Salomon’s when going fwd.
Cheers 🍻!
I’ve always been big on the Garmont T8 Bifida and Extreme GTX
Hell yes T8s win
Agreed.
Garmont NFS and T8 Bifida got me through SFAS with 0 blisters.
@@castellanskeep9564 same here with NTC and t8
Garmont boots are built 10km from my home in Italy ahaha
I love boots hence I found the comments section as informative as the video itself, with so many knowledgeable and experienced people sharing their views. Thanks everyone.
Let’s keep it real though, Salomon boots are the best from what I gather. The other brands seem pointless/no go’s. Like how Osprey dominates backpacks with impunity, similar story.
I’ve fallen in love with my 5.11 Speed 3 Jungles. Great stability and overall comfort. They took a few weeks to really break in but I use them to ruck and run twice a week.
1979 we could only wear boots for everything including PT, I don't remember the brand but they were like tennis shoes, most of my career was Belleville and Danner, I retired in 2018.
I'll vouch for the Matterhorn boots. When I was stationed in Korea in 90-91 there was nothing better for the winter snow. I still have my first pair of combat boots issued in basic. Towards the end they had became my favorite pair of boots as they had become so well broken in. Yep, they take awhile.
Short answer, Saloman T8 NFS or Lowa Zephyr
Never heard of Scarpa?
@@JoeZUGOOLA if Scarpa made military style boots in coyote color, I would have bought them right away 😂
I love Lowa
20+ years (82-03) in the infantry and I was lucky enough to have had mentors that told me the same things early on. I have always had great footwear because of them. BTW I saw Tim Kennedy's UA-cam ad about Woobies and bought a pair the same day. I am wearing them now. I can't say enough good about them. Great video. Thanks!
Never spare money on your boots or your mattress, considering the amount of time you spend on each is about 2/3 to 3/4 of your life.
Outstanding presentation! While not part of the Special Operations community, I had a very similar experience with footgear during my service as a tank crewman in 1st BDE 4th ID 1988-90. Our chain of command permitted all available footgear of proper military appearance including the Matterhorn and specialized tanker/Cav boots. My personal favorite in wintertime was either the Herman Survivors 10th MTN or insulated Bundeswehr boots, both with Vibram soles.
The best boot I wore in Afghanistan were a pair of “Danner Combat Hiker” issued through 3rd SFG in 05. We planned for a 3 day. I thought I’d regret wearing them new out of the box. It was the best decision I made. Comfort from start to finish. Even used them for 3 more tours.
I liked them as a Civilian as well, I wonder why they discontinued them. They were the best combat boots I've ever worn.
My mother knows a mason for years that did many jobs to reform our home. He bought the cheapest work boots and complained about pains. I bought a slightly better work boots for him and... pain gone. The cheaper the boot and harder the sole the more expensive the medical bill will be.
Strong boot heel counter (the part that is hard near the heel) is very important as well for ankle support
Tall boots also can help protect legs from rocks and twigs
I don't like waterproofing like goretex as i feel it makes the boot much hotter and doesn't circulate air as well (and if water gets in it will be hell to dry), What I like are boots with little vents made of cordura which allows some ventilation, is water repellent, enough water will make it wet but I never had water get into the boot through cordura mesh.
Full leather boots have the advantage that you can waterproof them with a mix of coconut oil + beeswax + cocoa butter (1/3 of each) heat the using double boiler, put in a glass or metal cointainer while is hot because once it cools it gets hard, apply with your hands or brush, use a hair drier to heat it up, let the leather absorb it, let it dry, repeat.
What pisses me off is boot companies sizes varying so much, I generally wear a 12 but it can vary depending upon brand up to a full size up or down not to mention regular or wide. In today's world it is not like I have a dozen stores to go try them on, 90% of the time I am going to have to order on line and cross my fingers.
I hate this so much, I've worn size 10 boots as long as I have been in with no problem across multiple different manufacturers and styles, I got to my current unit and was issued the $250 Rocky SV2 and my supply was in a hurry so I didn't have time to try them on or even think I needed to, got home put them on and immediately could not feel my toes. Took them back to supply and they wouldn't let me exchange them for boots that fit.
Pick em up and Put em down. One correction....the taping around the "ankles" wasn't to re-enforce his ankles, it was to cover the upper "eyelets" of those boots (the open eyelets that you find on civilian hiking boots). We had to wrap tape (usually 100mph tape) around our eyelets as well (jumping SF10As) at Carson.
I love the Solomon quest for the field and development, I like a semi hard thick soul for insulation protection from ground. I wish they made them in a 8" boot
I think these are the shoes devgru and other tier1 units use?
My friend I have some one, the name is Salomon XA Forces 8 GTX it's absolute amassing, the oficial page don't have this model, try in military shops.
@@miatamata5117 sporting/hiking stores here in Denmark have all versions of the Forces boots, and they're really good. Took a bit longer to break in than my favourite mammut hiking boots. I consider mammut to be better - but that's all subjective.
Quest GTX are the best available and can be used year round.
Once I saw the video in my feed, I clicked right away. Awesome video!
20+ Years later and my favorite boots are still the gortex marauders. I have had the same pair for more than 15 years now, I get it resoled when needed. I love these boots and will probably get buried with them too.
Altberg from Richmond North Yorkshire UK. There is a reason this family company is surviving in this modern multinational age!
Salomon X Ultra - low cut boots were the ones I regularly used. Lighter than some tennis shoes I had
Excellent advice...I learned this lesson the hard way...you can be prepared for everything else but if your feet aren't happy you've had a bad day at the office...you can't stay focused when your feet are screaming...it should be up there as a top priority to have the right footwear...
Thank you for mentioning socks....... a good pair of socks makes all the difference.
Edit: Also, something I recently discovered, if you are someone who weighs over 200, get some Dr. Scholls for men over 200 lbs. I never knew these existed and when I switched..... oh lord it made a difference.
Dear LIaSO, I agree with you in every particular on boots. I am retired now but the piles of issue boots that I still have still serve me well after 14 years.
I've been wearing the Belleville light boots for about a year now. I love them
I've been wearing Bellville for years. I'm a surveyor so have to be on my feet in all conditions. Love Bellville and Danners
@@DT-sb9sv I also have a pair of Danners I wear occasionally. They're excellent, but I like the Belleville boots a little better.
Always been partial to Danner Ft Lewis.... Comfortable, durable, rebuildable.
Danner served me well
My current pair are on their second soles...they are THE boot of choice for long trips to the field for me. Plus a pair of light teva sandals in my pack if the Danners get totally waterlogged (or to prevent them from getting that way) :D.
If you have weak ankles.the best way to strengthen them is to do single leg"get ups" you're at a sitting position then you get up using one leg(don't forget to do both legs) do 3 sets, 5times each leg at 2times a week.
thanks for the tips
@@ericblacklight3564 you're welcome! My son has been in gymnastics for 5years now and is competing at a national level.i got this too from his 1st gymnastics coach. My son also had weak ankles he had to deal with and it worked wonders.i also do this at least once a week.
How does one know if they have weak ankles or not?
I work daily in Tactical Research (made by Belleville) Minimalist boots - they're flexible and lightweight and forced my feet to flex and strengthen, which really helped my plantar fasciitis. I keep heavier, protective boots for when those are the right tool, but if you get the chance, train to have strong, healthy feet that don't depend on mechanical advantages.
Minimalist combat boots are ugly as sin. They look like a cross between ballet slippers and something a pirate would wear, yarrrr you scalawag
I got some crazy advice from an old SF Vietnam guy. And when I was training for selections I stopped wearing socks completely. it was freaking amazing, I didn’t have a blister at all and I was doing 20 milers three times a week. then when I went up to selections I had the idea of putting socks back on, you know a train hard fight easy.... turns out that was a terrible idea, when you don’t have a sock on the sweat lubricate your foot and you’re able to move. I wore resoled dog jungle boots with a cushion sole. They were amazing. 100% go oversize on your boots, give your foot room to move and for your toes to spread out.
that is intense. I have never heard of anyone going no sock. All the seams and hard spots in boots I would think would shred your feet. Crazy
@@cwr8618your feet adapt. Also wear good boots. The sog line was made by ranger Joe's I think.. It's gone now. But it was a great jungle boot. You want to be as close to barefoot as possible for your feet to be ok.
Being a sailor in the U.S. Navy the go to boot was a pair of high top flight deck boots. A U.S. Marine friend of mine thanks me profusely for scoring him a pair to this day.
Personally, I like the Salomon Quest 4d GTX boots. Comfortable plus high enough for great ankle support. Rather pricey but worth every penny. Like them so much that I bought the Salomon Quest 4d 3 GTX boots
As a former recon guy here is a tip...wrap big and little toe with med tape as well as back of heel...wear thin dress socks then wool socks...soak new boots in water and wear all day long..leather will form fit to your feet. tape prevents blister from rubbing against leather..change socks every day and plenty of foot powder too... dry used socks by tying onto your ruck doing operations to air out....this method works well for jungle/tropical ops...
I still have my old black leather (pre-speed laces) and jungle boots that I was issued in the mid-late '80s. These are actually quite comfortable once they're broken. Many of us had ours resoled vs replaced when the bottoms wore out. Probably still nowhere as comfortable as the boots the troops get these days.
When I was in the Marines it was Bates Lites for garrison, Lowa Zephyrs for ground ops, and black Chuck Taylers for Amphib ops. Now that I'm out now, but I don't think I'll ever be without Zephyrs and black Chucks in the shoe rack.
As a civilian now, I love Danner boots HOOAH!!!
I have 3 pairs of Danners Rock Quarry and 2 pairs Marine Expedition...nothing better I’ve found.
They are great boots that can be re-soled but they are very heavy. So depends on your needs I guess
@@davids11131113 I am tempted to get a pair of Quarries to replace my shit standard issue Baits.
Here in Australia our boots for the army and special forces are made by hand by a government owned facility that also produces all our smallarms under license from the likes of Sig Sauer and FN Herstal. Supply to the military must be government controlled for security of supply.
They are based on the Garmont G8 from a combination of ballistic soles made of composites and natural rubber for grip. The uppers are a combination of carbon fibre and goretex and they are lined with soft suede leather which breathes yet does not permit water to enter. They cost $500 a pair to make and are custom fitted. You get issued with two pairs.
So much emphasis is placed on footwear and feet care that your boots and feet are inspected once a week by your unit medical officer. If you can't walk or run then you are useless on an operation.
That’s what happens when you have a smaller military can spend more on better tech gear equipment etc for the soldiers 👍
Finally, someone made a relevant vid.
About 3 years ago special forces adopted the boots I've been buying for 12 years. Good to see them catch up, finally
My favorite boots are the ones that don't snitch when you haze them. 😂
Funny.
J hopkins
Funny.
It's not hazing, it's training.
This video was actually the best I've seen. Most of the boot video's on YT don't know what they're talking about. I wear Danner Alsea for every day work.
"your first sergeant is going to have a heart attack if they see you wearing woobies"
sound like my dad every time i get anything below a B-
Thank you for the information. I was medically discharged from the Marines for feet issues never had time for my feet to heal. Wish we would of had the options you talked about today in the 90s. Thank you
As a 11M in the 2 Inf and 1 Cav, I lived in my US Cavalry (the military supply chain) Panama sole OD Jungles. Even wore them in winter with Gore Tex Socks. This was during the 90's.
Wow, I’ve never heard of Gortex socks. Bet those felt Funky.
For real I'm happy you had that picture of the foot. It's a vivid reminder of what can happen with bad boots.
Good stuff. I definitely think boots are something that most people overthink...like most gear.
OLD guy here. First military boots circa 1975. I just bought the Wellco Marine RAT with the gore tex liner. This is the most comfortable general purpose boot ever. Agree totally with wool socks.
Right on. Leaving for PJ A&S soon. Needed to break in a great boot soon. Thanks!
Good luck. God speed
Best of luck
My favorite boot so far has been the Oakley Field Assaults, based on an old sf type boot from the mid to late GWOT. You'll see POGs rocking the light assaults with the eva sole but the Field Assaults have a stitched in virbram sole, solid but flexible. It fits like a sneaker, heel locked but toes are still able to move and flex. Only issue is the durability of the upper, as I've been wearing my current pair for a year through 2 separate deployments in the mid-east and eastern europe, and the laces have begun to cut through the leather. Extremely comfortable and light though.
Personally the old garmont t8 is my favorite. I also have a pair of okley elite assault boots that do a shockingly good job of keeping my feet dry. 3 days in the rain and mud and the only water on my socks was sweat from my feet
Just bought the T8 Bifida today, hope they're not too much for my casual backpacking
I rocked a pair of Lowa Zephyr Mids. Have owned them for over 15 years, and they still get put through some shit. Best pair of boots I've ever owned.
My Old French military Captain* " This is not the boot who take habbit to the man, it's the man who take habbit to the boot ... "
Now in my upper 60yrs old....Ground and pound has taken it's toll. In my day it was Jungles, and Jumpers and I blame them for lack of arch support and problems now. Today's military has option availability....not so many years ago.
also... I always was told, that i should tie my boots as tight as possible to minimize risk of feet damage
You want it tight so that there's minimal movement/friction between your feet & the insides of the shoes, but you want it loose enough so that when you step, there's enough space for your feet to expand when you step
@@JD-jc5hg I remember some folks using "top tight, loose bottom" so it all comes into one piece
Yep, exactly what J D said. Tight enough to not wiggle, loose enough to not cut circulation.
It’s a boot not a tourniquet for gods sake’s lol.
@@Tux7.62 yee. But at the same time. I seem to never be able to tie my boots tight enough. My fingers are purple and hurt, but still there is wiggle room. I might try to buy gel inserts.... (my boots are "grom protektor plus)
What boots are they and how are you tying them? Maybe you need a lower or higher ankle or are you tucking your pants into them? I found that loosens them up throughout the day in my personal experience.
If you’re concerned about feet rubbing and stuff then there’s tape you can buy, I’m not sure of the name but it’s quite good apparently. If not then Vasaline or something helps. Also you can never underestimate the power of a bloody good sock.
Great vid!!! I used Asolo Flame GTX hiking boots almost exclusively in Afghanistan. They took forever to break in and had a stiff sole, but my ankles appreciated the support while humping a robot. In garrison and training, I LOVED the original Nike SFB. They weighed a little more than a pair of Nike Free running shoes, were made of microsuede & dried very quickly, and looked immediately serviceable after a run through the washing machine no matter how bad I trashed them.
I wear jungle boots all the time and they’re the best things I’ve put on my feet
100% agree!
Altama (the original Viet Nam era footware), McGuire, or Rothco (the Chinese $20-30.00 worst boot) ? I've been using all 3, the Rothco offers a version with a safety cap toe for industrial work environments.
I am happy with with Rothco jungle boots. Proper sizing and break in saves foot wear.
@@jonbumcrot2934 I use McRae jungle boots but might start buying the original ones from surplus
@@jonbumcrot2934 Me 2. They are underrated and much criticized. But work for me. Have the version with safety toes, wear for work. Also McGuires and Altamas. Will tryout others mentioned when restocking.
Back around 20 years ago I used to wear the cheapest 25$ black steel toe boots from Walmart. There's no way I could stand to wear them today. They helped me beat up a 6 foot tall dude. I'm 5,7 and my first hit was a kick with that steel toe boot straight in his stomach. He immediately folded gasping for air so I immediately followed up with lightning speed punches in his chin, eyes, nose, and I remember hearing the crunching slapping sounds that were made. Longest fight I was ever in. About 15 minutes. We went 3 rounds but the cheap 25$ steel toe boots from Walmart were definitely a big factor in my victory.
Loved my Scarpa Attak mountain boots, also British Army issued Meindl Desert boots.
You are absolutely right about breaking in boots. I have turned cheap army surplus boots into mint hiking boots by just careful maintenance and progressive hikes. If you dont break them in, the boots will break YOU in.
Another thing I highly recommend is to get customized insoles to support your feet perfectly. The best $80 spent. Softer boot with the custom insoles, 40 mile hike was no problem
7:43 - so important. If it is wet all the time (in the military or on longer backpacking hikes), DON’T get gore-tex boots. The feet will get anyway eventuall, but the boot will take a longer time to dry. So light, vented shoes is the way to go.
Salute!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! I ran straight up the side of a wall during training wearing a pair of “Rocky SV2” with a Dr. Schol’s gel inserts!! I did that without a weapon or any gear. Salute⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
9177751959 EST
I’m pretty sure people were calling You. So now You have My #
!GREAT ADVICE!
For cold, cold weather, I recommend:
Make sure that you have the right size boots to wear good, clean, thin dress socks (preferably silk), good, clean, cotton sports socks, then, clean, wool socks ;)!
(Clean, dry, well-fitting layers... )
Always liked either Merrell, or Salomon.
Issued two pair of boots in 1991, jungle boots and "combat" boots, which were the all black leather boots. I completely loved the look and feel of the jungle boots. The could be easily spit shined to perfection. I took to wearing the black boots twice a week and the jungles three times a week. The desert boots were pretty comfortable. They were just jungle boots without leather back then.
Great video as always!
Thank you, for sharing your knowledge with all of us.
I have those Matterhorn, boy o boy am I happy that I bought them. Winter goes to -25° C, rain, mud, rocks, nails... u name it and it will withstand it. A good woollen sock and you are okay. ❤️
I didnt know Jocko has a shoe company, thanks for sharing!
We wore those black boots my entire career. We wore them for PT. Spent many hours polishing on them every day. By the time they were well broke in and comfortable they were no longer serviceable. Some years after I retired I bought some modern boots the Army uses. I think they were Danners. Amazing improvement.
By stealth and guile, I have a pair of Danner's Tropical boots for the USMC. I live in Florida and did the old Panama jungle School. They sure are a step up from the old jungle boot.
I bet that is a good boot. But isn't nearly anything a step up from the old jungle boot?
My Uncle Ranger Viet Nam 68-70, and Dad MACV Div Com 67-71 both wore those nasty foot torture devices.
For military boots yeah those are great choices. For top of the line boots for long range operation Solomon Quest 4 GTX gore-Tex
Stew smith once suggested that if you wear dress socks underneath regular socks your feet will dry faster
I tried that at basic and destroyed my feet. I just wore two pairs of socks whenever I put on my boots and even if the boots were still wet I was comfortable as the water didn’t go through both socks really.
Garmont NFS is the Honda Civic of boots. They are great and probably the best well rounded boot. They are light so when you are getting smoked and doing flutter kicks you will be thankful.
Heh, you know a UA-camr has definitely been in the Army when they post a review on boots before the latest Geissele part
That would be the tactical SWAT boot, with a 10-in boot knives in the back of the boot where you have the grip to pull your boot on.
I'm 18, 5'6 151lbs I ruck bout 6 hours a day with 50lbs on my back just walking in the side of the highway since I live in the city, I love the stares I get because I usually ruck in short gym shorts but with the black jungle boots I used back in JROTC 😂😂😂
Gross 😂🤙
@Johnny Rep my socks only go up about 1-2 inches below the knee just so that it gets over my boots, it's usually 33-37° where I live so i need as much air as i can get 😂
Lies. You’ve done that once. No chance you do that 365 days a year.
@@Tovashi no I don't do it everyday more like 2 times a week, but I mean 6 hours on that day I'm aware about the joint problems switched my daily cardio from running & skipping rope to just cycling
@@davidw6828 yeah no I meant 6 hours in a day but just twice a day sorry, and then the usual 9-12 hour hikes in mountain trails round once a month but only with 20lbs in my pack
I could road march with Garmont T8s right out of the box and not get any friction blisters! My 1SG had a pair and highly recommended them, so I got a pair and he was right. Wigwam socks are the best combat boot sock that is made. Pair these two together and you are golden!!
Salomons destroy my feet. Merrells MOAB are my favorite.
It's funny, my feet are the exact opposite. Something for everyone.
I started wearing Magnum side zip boots while working in Kosovo. They very comfortable, but the stitching around the zippers only lasted a couple months.
The lightest coolest boots I had in the middle east came from sportsmans guide and were marketed as "lightweight desert boots. They were great and really lasted. No manufacturer name at all. I think they were Israeli surplus and cost all of $20.
After those finally wore out (I did a two year stint as a contractor in Kuwait) I switched to the company issued 5.11 boots. They were heavier and hotter, but gave good ankle support and lasted until I came home.
I did another year in Iraq with a different company and they issued the same 5.11 boots I had previously. They lasted until I got injured after only a year and came home early.
I now habe a nice pair of Merril Moab boots my wife bought me. They are super comfy and light, but warm. Definitely made for colder climates, not the desert.
Heard former SOF guys tell people to wear cheap boots to strenghten your feet when preparing for the military. Would this be a good thing to do?
In theory of course it would. Making your preparation much harder than your selection would get you used to something more challenging than what needs to be performed, and you would have an easier time doing something less intense
An acrylic-wool blend of sock will add to its durability. A thin under-sock will also help to alleviate friction that leads to blisters. A good rule of thumb along with the great advice in the video - is look for a boot with less, rather than more, stitching.
Not that you’re gonna list every boot but I’m surprised you didn’t mention Solomon 4D (3) GTX. No break-in period necessary.They’re amazing and seem to be the go to for many special operations folks.
they’re garbage
Hey thanks man! I love all of your videos I’ve seen so far and they’ve been extremely helpful just in general LIFE! Not even IN the military and it’s still helpful so thanks again. Appreciate what your doing here. Take care, all of you reading this.
Lowa zephers are 👌
agreed
Durable and comfortable. The best boot I've ever owned and I wear mine near daily. I have the 4" GTX
I could not agree more with your assessment, and my own experiences compel me to support it. Not only am I former military (Army Guard/Reserve) but my civilian job was physically taxing and required me to be on my feet, running, jumping, carrying, twisting and turning, for the whole day. I was a garbageman. I was in the elements all day, all year round. I wore civilian boots AND military boots purchased from the PX or online. The older I got, the more I gravitated toward a tennis shoe type construction with at least a ten inch upper to protect my shins. Red Wing made some fantastic boots like this, but kept discontinuing the ones I liked in favor of boots that were likely more cost-effective all around. I also quit wearing cotton socks and wore merino wool blend socks. They kept your feet warm and dry in the winter (wicking moisture from your feet) and drier in the summer. Merino wool all the way.
The ankle support and broad platform is very helpful, as the Marine boots you featured with the poly covered toe were very stable. I avoided a number of rolled ankles due to that design feature.
Thank you for what you do, sir.