Who makes the best Combat Boot?

[DocIllinois]

I've been wearing Blackhawk Desert Ops for 2 years now and they have served me pretty well in both the field and during death by power point. I rotate them with a pair of Altama Jungle boots. My problem is both lack any type of water drainage. Water pools in the heel cups and toe and sloshes and is a pain in the ass. This proves to be pretty annoying in training lanes and land nav. Does anyone have any suggestions/experience with good boots that have drainage holes?

I've been using and have lots of experience with the Danner Tachyons, especially for rucking, land nav, and traversing through water and muck.

Very lightweight, arch supportive, drain holes, reg compliant. Only catch is, it helps if you have Hobbit ankles because there's less support there than your Blackhawks, for instance.

 

[pardus]

I've been wearing Blackhawk Desert Ops for 2 years now and they have served me pretty well in both the field and during death by power point. I rotate them with a pair of Altama Jungle boots. My problem is both lack any type of water drainage. Water pools in the heel cups and toe and sloshes and is a pain in the ass. This proves to be pretty annoying in training lanes and land nav. Does anyone have any suggestions/experience with good boots that have drainage holes?

Jungle boots with no drainage holes?

 

[Avenger hammer]

Jungle boots with no drainage holes?

Yeah I didn't quite get that either. I probably should have labeled Panama sole instead.
Pictures are not of mine but they are the same ones, mine are inside my ruck in my locker.

 

[macNcheese]

I ordered a pair of Nike SFBs. I put them on and it was terrible. The heel stitching sat smack in the middle of my heel. and the tongue is imaginary so the laces dug in. I'm returning them and think I'll go for S2Vs. I heard they deteriorate quickly on rough terrain, but has anyone had any other issues with them? I've read that they're good for rucking and running. I'd appreciate any help. Thank you!

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Those are not jungle boots, they were the original desert boot. They lack the drainage holes, to keep the sand from getting in and eating skin off your feet.

 

[pardus]

I ordered a pair of Nike SFBs. I put them on and it was terrible. The heel stitching sat smack in the middle of my heel. and the tongue is imaginary so the laces dug in. I'm returning them and think I'll go for S2Vs. I heard they deteriorate quickly on rough terrain, but has anyone had any other issues with them? I've read that they're good for rucking and running. I'd appreciate any help. Thank you!

Rocky S2Vs are the only boots I will wear, mainly because they fit me properly. They are comfortable and have lasted me well. My first pair were very tough on my ankles when breaking in, the subsequent pairs I had no issue with.
The biggest con for me is that when they become well worn in the eyelets become sharp and will cut the laces.
Good boots.

 

[macNcheese]

Rocky S2Vs are the only boots I will wear, mainly because they fit me properly. They are comfortable and have lasted me well. My first pair were very tough on my ankles when breaking in, the subsequent pairs I had no issue with.
The biggest con for me is that when they become well worn in the eyelets become sharp and will cut the laces.
Good boots.

Thank you for the help! I'm going to give them a shot

 

[pkt1213]

AR compliant boots would be Belleville 390s. Why the Army issues the crappier boot when this one would cost them probably $.25 more is beyond me.

Non compliant. Lowa Zephyr Mids are possibly THE most comfortable things I have ever put on my feet. I wore them every day until I wore the sole out. Several of us in my new unit that came from other places recently all had them and had simular observations.
OTB that are not made anymore were a great 8" boot. They aren't compliant because they have mesh and not canvas sides. No one has said anything about it in the past couple of years though.

 

[macNcheese]

AR compliant boots would be Belleville 390s. Why the Army issues the crappier boot when this one would cost them probably $.25 more is beyond me.

Non compliant. Lowa Zephyr Mids are possibly THE most comfortable things I have ever put on my feet. I wore them every day until I wore the sole out. Several of us in my new unit that came from other places recently all had them and had simular observations.
OTB that are not made anymore were a great 8" boot. They aren't compliant because they have mesh and not canvas sides. No one has said anything about it in the past couple of years though.

I had a good experience with the Belleville 650s in basic. But they are super clunky.It feels like running in platform disco shoes

 

[Gunz]

I've got a pair of Belleville USMC issue boots I bought at the BX at MacDill about 6 years ago. I wear boots all the time for protection and support for left foot/ankle issues. The Bellevilles sold themselves to me when I was building a barn a few years ago. Absolutely great boots for working on a sloping metal roof.

 

[Gunz]

Jungle boots with no drainage holes?

You just brought back fond memories of paddy water squirting out of the ports in my JBs with every step. Great feeling, warm, brown water squishing between the toes.:whatever:

 

[ThunderHorse]

I absolutely thought the OTBs were awesome for two weeks...and then it felt as if there was no cushion for the next six months I wore them...and when used heavily fucked my feet up. Oakley has changed their boots so I'm not sure if I'm going back. The one pair of Belleville's I had were just too heavy. I liked my Danner Rivots, a bit heavy, but I liked them. I'm definitely all over Rocky's very good stuff and comfortable.

 

[pkt1213]

I absolutely thought the OTBs were awesome for two weeks...and then it felt as if there was no cushion for the next six months I wore them...and when used heavily fucked my feet up.

I wonder which ones you had. I am still wearing the DesertLites with the 3 drainage holes on each side. My feet sweat bad and they are great. 2nd or 3rd time I wore them was ruck run to and then back from the pool for helocast training. They drained and dried quickly. Have held up well under 45 lb fast rucking but I haven't used them with much more weight. I could see how the cushion might not be substantial enough for heavier movements.

 

[Yosemite]

Danner Rivot TFX!!
I bought mine over 2 years ago and have put a couple hundred miles of backpacking on them in addition to them being my everyday duty boots. They are handmade in Portland, OR, and the quality shows! None of the stitching has come undone, the soles have not started detaching from the leather, and there have been no rips or tears in the fabric. They have the most amazing ankle support; I'm convinced it is impossible to roll your ankle in these things. I will have to buy a new pair soon because the soles are pretty much slick now, but if they weren't, they would be good for another 2 years.
They aren't as light as the NIKEs or Danner Tachyons, but they are rugged and will last longer.

 

[104TN]

Anyone have experience with Garmont's T8 NFS boot?

Going to try and get off my butt and start hitting the trails. Mainly looking for:

1. Some ankle support (probably won't pack more than 30lbs for quite some time/ever)
   
2. Light weight
3. A tread that won't get gummed up by hard red clay or result in me spilling onto my @ss in loose gravel

Thoughts?

 

[Totentanz]

Anyone have experience with Garmont's T8 NFS boot?

Going to try and get off my butt and start hitting the trails. Mainly looking for:

1. Some ankle support (probably won't pack more than 30lbs for quite some time/ever)
   
2. Light weight
3. A tread that won't get gummed up by hard red clay or result in me spilling onto my @ss in loose gravel

Thoughts?

I don't think mine were the NFS version but I had a pair for a while. Light and comfortable (and easy to break in), my only complaint was the durability. They lasted from Airborne through CAQC (about 18 months total), but by that point the sole and worn all the way through, exposing the compartments inside (and collecting small pebbles). The soles are glued on such that they can't be resoled. If I were looking for a lightweight 670-1 complaint boot, I'd buy them again, just knowing that longevity isn't an attribute to expect from them.

The NFS sole vs the standard T8 sole may make a difference.

 

[Red Flag 1]

I don't think mine were the NFS version but I had a pair for a while. Light and comfortable (and easy to break in), my only complaint was the durability. They lasted from Airborne through CAQC (about 18 months total), but by that point the sole and worn all the way through, exposing the compartments inside (and collecting small pebbles). The soles are glued on such that they can't be resoled. If I were looking for a lightweight 670-1 complaint boot, I'd buy them again, just knowing that longevity isn't an attribute to expect from them.

The NFS sole vs the standard T8 sole may make a difference.

Re: replacing soles. I had a pain of Corcoran II field boots. Very soft upper leather, easy to break in and just an outstanding boot for me. They lasted my last two years on active duty, and another six before the sole began to seperate from the boot. I took them to a cobbler that I know well. He is noted for boot and hiking shoe repairs for hikers along the Apalachin Trail. It was not uncommon to see a group of Trail hikers clustered around in his store, swapping stories, lore, and tips about hiking the AT. The cost would have been around $80.00, but he reccommended not doing so because the boots would be hard to live with after a full heel and sole replacement. I took his advice discarded the boots.

My $.02.

 

[SpongeBob*24]

Nike - garrison
Oakley - field
Solomon - deployment

Good luck............

 

[ThunderHorse]

Rocky S2Vs are similar to Oakleys...but Oakley doesn't make their old SI boot anymore which is brutal. Never had the chance to wear Solomons.

 

[The Accountant]

I actually have a question for those of you with cold weather experience.. At what temperature do you recommend using a Gore-Tex lined boot? If recommended at all, or are thick wool socks a better method for cold climate.

The attached photo is what my weather will be about while out in field.