I heard Bates made some of the RAT boots which fell apart/separated at the sole. They lost the contract. So had a lot of spare boots. USMC made Bates stamp over (obliterate) the USMC emblem on the heel on any boots they had which they intended to sell on the open market.
That is true, the emblem is melted to obscure them. They were selling them at LAPD for $39.95 the first time and mine fell apart. The Wellco ones are super narrow, so I sold a pair used. All of my current ones are Danner.
I just ordered a pair of rat gortex main reason was I'm tired of paying $300 for a pair of thourogoods. Heavy underground construction Pipelayer boots get destroyed quickly. $99 I can buy three pair for one pair of thourogoods. Haven't used them yet but I will know quickly if they are solid.
I have a pair of those RAT boots made by Wellco. They are comfortable. When I was in the USAF 75-81, combat boots were the most comfortable for me. I just use mine for doing walks with, so I haven't noticed heel separation yet.
It doesn't mean that they will separate, but it was a common enough issue that they yanked the BATES and Wellco boots. I just wore out the soles, only paid $40 for them and didn't want to pay more money. At my work, I constantly kneel or bend so the heels separated.
@@eskimomarine2252 makes sense. They are the most comfortable combat boots I have worn. No break in like the old ones required. I think I paid 50 bucks for mine off of Sportsman's Guide.
I was an 0311 and we swap those out immediately with some lightweight danner reckonings, but now that i'm a civilian, i'm going right back to those because of how rugged they are and the fact that they are repairable
My toes were numb too, they remained numb for months after my EAS. I kept wearing those issued black leather boots until they wore out; I was working on my feet a lot as a civilian but regained feeling after awhile, pinned the problem down to boot bands, I was no longer required to cut circulation to my feet by wearing rubber bands around my ankles!?
@@eskimomarine2252 I'm trying hard to recall and don't believe numbness set it immediately, but definitely towards the end or after first phase - that's when we were "allowed" to blouse our boots.
That „advanced combat boot“ is from the 80-90s and they are gonna fit wide feet perfectly well if you simple get the wide version, the diffeence in construction makes absolute 0 difference in fit, just get the right width for your feet.
Yes, considering that the supplies are limited, that can be difficult. Mine are wide, yet still tight. My foot shape isn't optimal because it is wide between pinky toe and knuckle of the big toe. My combat boots when I was in would also split in those areas.
You made my night when I heard that you were a fellow red patcher! I am currently in, and I have so many different boots I like to try them each on for a bit. I just got some RATs, but I can’t decide between the hot weather or the gortex just yet.
Hot vs Temperate. Which pair of the Danner you recommend for summer weather? Are the holes going to be so bad you walk through wet grass and get very wet feet with the hot? I can't make my mind up. I usually hate waterproof liners cause they're hot and almost always get solid leather boots without a liner if I can find them. Most people don't realize how waterproof treated leather is without a liner or how sweaty and uncomfortable the liner is compared to non unlined so there's not as many options. Most people don't even try the unlined on and have never owned a pair these days. Anyway, how bad are the hot?
I don't think that the wet grass will saturate, but I haven't worn the Hot ones in that condition. The Temperate have goretex liners, so can get warm. I have seen the temperate still available on eBay for $55-59.
The wellco USMC rat boots are the most comfortable boots/ shoes I've ever worn..I'm a 13.5 wide and those things fit like a glove and it feels like I'm walking on gummy bears...I walk 1.5 miles to work,stand all day building cabinets then walk home 1.5 miles and I still keep them on to do yard work.. 2 months and they are holding up just fine..Better than any of my Nike shoes by far..
@@eskimomarine2252 Thanks I'll keep that in mind if I ever need to but I only paid $59 for them on sale..I got a pair of Belleville army boots for 12$ brand new at a thrift store,but they are real narrow and hurt my feet after about 8 hours of wearing them..
Thanks for the video. You said per the Brannock device you're a 11.5 wide. For these Danner Rats what size are you wearing? Do you usually wear thick, like wool, socks in them or standard cotton socks? That will determine sizing too. Thanks.
@@eskimomarine2252 Wow. That's a helluva difference between foot and boot sizing. So do you recommend going up a full size if wearing thick wool socks? Thank you.
Well, I am 1/2 Native, and like many Natives, my forefoot is shaped different. I used to manages shoe stores, but each 1/2 size adds about 1/8 of an inch. That also makes the width somewhat wider. If it is the waterproof ones, you would want to a full size larger with thick socks. If the shoe is still a little loose, you can put in a thicker insole in.
@@eskimomarine2252 I hear ya about foot shape. I've got a pretty broad toe cross section compared to the rest of my foot. OK. Thank you for the info. God bless ya and stay safe.
Well, Danner says not to because the wrong product will clog the pores. I just use nubuck cleaner at most, but usually just hose mine off and use a nylon brush. When I was in, we only had the black leather combat boots. The only other boot I was issued was the desert boot in Desert Storm. They told us not to polish and did not wear them unless in the desert.
It is probably the prototype/first run version from around 2008. I forgot the numbers assigned to it, but you can tell them apart because the back of the ankle is lower and they have pull tabs as well. The 2nd generation ones have a straight collar on the ankle and do not have pull tabs on the back. Other than those things, I don't see any differences. Danner also discontinued rat boots and have an updated "Marine Expeditionary Boot" since 2021, so existing stock may be hitting the Surplus market.
I'm wearing Danner Hot Weather RAT boots and they're fine. Not as cool as Belleville hot weather boots but more durable and water resistant.
I heard Bates made some of the RAT boots which fell apart/separated at the sole. They lost the contract. So had a lot of spare boots. USMC made Bates stamp over (obliterate) the USMC emblem on the heel on any boots they had which they intended to sell on the open market.
That is true, the emblem is melted to obscure them. They were selling them at LAPD for $39.95 the first time and mine fell apart. The Wellco ones are super narrow, so I sold a pair used. All of my current ones are Danner.
I just ordered a pair of rat gortex main reason was I'm tired of paying $300 for a pair of thourogoods. Heavy underground construction Pipelayer boots get destroyed quickly. $99 I can buy three pair for one pair of thourogoods. Haven't used them yet but I will know quickly if they are solid.
Most likely, just watch for separating heels if Wellco or Bates. No problems with Danner for 4-5 years.
I have a pair of those RAT boots made by Wellco. They are comfortable. When I was in the USAF 75-81, combat boots were the most comfortable for me. I just use mine for doing walks with, so I haven't noticed heel separation yet.
It doesn't mean that they will separate, but it was a common enough issue that they yanked the BATES and Wellco boots. I just wore out the soles, only paid $40 for them and didn't want to pay more money. At my work, I constantly kneel or bend so the heels separated.
@@eskimomarine2252 makes sense. They are the most comfortable combat boots I have worn. No break in like the old ones required. I think I paid 50 bucks for mine off of Sportsman's Guide.
If anyone is interested about the black ones they are belleville 700. Hoy get steel toe and dulce leather on the 800
I use these boots in Ukraine in combat events... it’s more comfortable...
Yes, very comfortable and pretty tough! I hope that they serve you well! Keep up the fight, brother.
I was an 0311 and we swap those out immediately with some lightweight danner reckonings, but now that i'm a civilian, i'm going right back to those because of how rugged they are and the fact that they are repairable
Exactly. And depending on where/when you get them, the price is right.
Sadly these boots are discontinued. I managed to get one of the last pairs.
My toes were numb too, they remained numb for months after my EAS.
I kept wearing those issued black leather boots until they wore out; I was working on my feet a lot as a civilian but regained feeling after awhile, pinned the problem down to boot bands, I was no longer required to cut circulation to my feet by wearing rubber bands around my ankles!?
Possibly, the boot bands contributed. For me, I think it was repetitive marching with the harder midsole of the boots in the 80's.
@@eskimomarine2252 I'm trying hard to recall and don't believe numbness set it immediately, but definitely towards the end or after first phase - that's when we were "allowed" to blouse our boots.
That „advanced combat boot“ is from the 80-90s and they are gonna fit wide feet perfectly well if you simple get the wide version, the diffeence in construction makes absolute 0 difference in fit, just get the right width for your feet.
Yes, considering that the supplies are limited, that can be difficult. Mine are wide, yet still tight. My foot shape isn't optimal because it is wide between pinky toe and knuckle of the big toe. My combat boots when I was in would also split in those areas.
You made my night when I heard that you were a fellow red patcher! I am currently in, and I have so many different boots I like to try them each on for a bit. I just got some RATs, but I can’t decide between the hot weather or the gortex just yet.
I like the hot weather, unless I am in a lot of water. They are way better than the ones I had. I got out in 1994.
Hot vs Temperate. Which pair of the Danner you recommend for summer weather? Are the holes going to be so bad you walk through wet grass and get very wet feet with the hot? I can't make my mind up. I usually hate waterproof liners cause they're hot and almost always get solid leather boots without a liner if I can find them. Most people don't realize how waterproof treated leather is without a liner or how sweaty and uncomfortable the liner is compared to non unlined so there's not as many options. Most people don't even try the unlined on and have never owned a pair these days. Anyway, how bad are the hot?
I don't think that the wet grass will saturate, but I haven't worn the Hot ones in that condition. The Temperate have goretex liners, so can get warm. I have seen the temperate still available on eBay for $55-59.
You could use some caulking on the drain holes (latex would be removable) and then take it off if you want ventilation.
The wellco USMC rat boots are the most comfortable boots/ shoes I've ever worn..I'm a 13.5 wide and those things fit like a glove and it feels like I'm walking on gummy bears...I walk 1.5 miles to work,stand all day building cabinets then walk home 1.5 miles and I still keep them on to do yard work.. 2 months and they are holding up just fine..Better than any of my Nike shoes by far..
If you wear out the soles, a cobbler can replace them, although it may cost more than what you paid if they were on clearance.
@@eskimomarine2252 Thanks I'll keep that in mind if I ever need to but I only paid $59 for them on sale..I got a pair of Belleville army boots for 12$ brand new at a thrift store,but they are real narrow and hurt my feet after about 8 hours of wearing them..
Thanks for the video. You said per the Brannock device you're a 11.5 wide. For these Danner Rats what size are you wearing? Do you usually wear thick, like wool, socks in them or standard cotton socks? That will determine sizing too. Thanks.
I have worn the 13D and they fit the toebox with 1/8 extra length. All of mine currently are 12.5W. I wear padded wool socks or thin wool socks.
@@eskimomarine2252 Wow. That's a helluva difference between foot and boot sizing. So do you recommend going up a full size if wearing thick wool socks? Thank you.
Well, I am 1/2 Native, and like many Natives, my forefoot is shaped different.
I used to manages shoe stores, but each 1/2 size adds about 1/8 of an inch. That also makes the width somewhat wider. If it is the waterproof ones, you would want to a full size larger with thick socks. If the shoe is still a little loose, you can put in a thicker insole in.
@@eskimomarine2252 I hear ya about foot shape. I've got a pretty broad toe cross section compared to the rest of my foot. OK. Thank you for the info. God bless ya and stay safe.
who the heck told you not to shine up goretex boots?
Well, Danner says not to because the wrong product will clog the pores. I just use nubuck cleaner at most, but usually just hose mine off and use a nylon brush.
When I was in, we only had the black leather combat boots. The only other boot I was issued was the desert boot in Desert Storm. They told us not to polish and did not wear them unless in the desert.
Thanks for the video. I have a pair in the mail. I hope they fit me.
For some reason the Danner RAT boots are popping up for around $50 - $90.
It is probably the prototype/first run version from around 2008. I forgot the numbers assigned to it, but you can tell them apart because the back of the ankle is lower and they have pull tabs as well. The 2nd generation ones have a straight collar on the ankle and do not have pull tabs on the back. Other than those things, I don't see any differences. Danner also discontinued rat boots and have an updated "Marine Expeditionary Boot" since 2021, so existing stock may be hitting the Surplus market.
The reason they're so cheap now is because of the surplus of half sizes and wide sizes they made.