Boots Boots Boots... 62 boot threads in one

I'm probably gonna appear to be stirring the sh*t, but I carry loads up to and exceeding 80lbs on a very regular basis up and down mountains... in trail runners. I don't believe in ankle support, because IMHO it's a marketing thing. Your muscles in your ankles provide ankle support.

I think ruckmarching on tarmac does a TON of damage compared to cross-country rucking/tabbing. I can carry a very heavy pack for say 15 miles in the mountains and feel OK, but 15 miles on a tarmac road and my feet feel like they've been hit with hammers.

Again... not trying to start sh*t, just trying to share my two cents.

[QUOTE=teehee;6026049]I'm going to the ganny again soon. Looking for a good pair of lightweight, yet durable boots. I'm restricted to scarpa, asolo, and merrells only. Anyone have any recommendations based on their personal experience? I've seen a bunch of boots that I like, but I want some input from someone who has actually used any of them.[/QUOTE]

Just my opinion, but Scarpa and Asolo are in a class well above Merrell. My Scarpas were handmade in Italy, and the several pairs of Merrells I've had were mass produced in China. You get what you pay for (not that Merrells are bad or anything...)

I still have a pair of leather Scarpas that I bought 25 years ago. They've been resoled a couple of times and to be honest I wear fabric boots more now, but they get an outing every winter. Equally, my ice boots were always either Koflachs or Asolos - and the latter were far better. I've worn fabric Asolos ever since my KSBs died in the early 90s.

Merrells are light and comfy, but they're the equivalent of Magnums - they fall apart after any real use.

As to ankle support, I disagree with you totally Taco. I've broken both ankles and the only footwear I own that doesn't have a degree of ankle support is my Asics trainers - and if someone made decent running shoes as a low boot I'd probably get rid of them too.

How did you break your ankles?

Hitting the ground too hard. Both after an air steal and one with a lead fall where my gear unzipped.

[QUOTE=Soldat_Américain;6059815]The hate on magnums in this thread is bad...I had black pair back in the day that were solid.[/QUOTE]

You should take them back to the company, they'll be wanting to know how they bolted those ones together, they've totally cocked up every other pair I've ever seen.

[QUOTE=TacoDelRio;6059958]I think ruckmarching on tarmac does a TON of damage compared to cross-country rucking/tabbing. I can carry a very heavy pack for say 15 miles in the mountains and feel OK, but 15 miles on a tarmac road and my feet feel like they've been hit with hammers.

[/QUOTE]

Can't argue with that.

[QUOTE=Royal;6060074]Hitting the ground too hard. Both after an air steal and one with a lead fall where my gear unzipped.[/QUOTE]

That sucks. :-( Did it ever heal back 'right', know what I mean? Seems when ankles break, they don't get back to 100% once they've healed.

I noticed a long time ago that when I stopped wearing boots with ankle support/high top/whatnot, I stopped rolling my ankles. Obviously more a civilian application than military.

Tis bed time. Seeya guys later. Cheers

I served for another 15 years and I can still run, so kind of I guess. The one I broke twice tends to ache more than the rest of me when I'm fatigued and in extreme cold.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy - I look at my most serious injuries as luck - things could have been a lot worse....

[QUOTE=TacoDelRio;6059958]I'm probably gonna appear to be stirring the sh*t, but I carry loads up to and exceeding 80lbs on a very regular basis up and down mountains... in trail runners. I don't believe in ankle support, because IMHO it's a marketing thing. Your muscles in your ankles provide ankle support.

I think ruckmarching on tarmac does a TON of damage compared to cross-country rucking/tabbing. I can carry a very heavy pack for say 15 miles in the mountains and feel OK, but 15 miles on a tarmac road and my feet feel like they've been hit with hammers.

Again... not trying to start sh*t, just trying to share my two cents.[/QUOTE]

My right ankle exploded about a year ago and now has two plates and thirteen screws... I am a big believer in ankle support.

As for hiking cross country vs. on road, I agree, and I think most people would.

[QUOTE=Royal;6060074]Hitting the ground too hard. Both after an air steal and one with a lead fall where my gear unzipped.[/QUOTE]

Ouch! My first two jumps had me landing on the runway......thank god I got lucky with both and didn't bounce or get dragged.

I'm cool with rucking on asphalt....as long as I'm not wearing J Boots....anything but J boots on asphalt or thick shingle......I'd rather walk 50km on asphalt than 25km on thick shingle......

I ordered a pair of Lowa Uplander GTX's from rvops (can't be found in Belgium) so I'm looking forward to wearing them. I hope they'll be a good light/quick alternative to my Lowa Combat GTX's during spring/summer. By the way, having boots shipped in from the UK is still TONS cheaper than buying them in Belgium!

Does anyone have Danner Rivots...I don't want to splurge the $200 bucks if I buy them online...$30 maybe even $40 less at AAFES.

[QUOTE=Royal;6060133]I served for another 15 years and I can still run, so kind of I guess. The one I broke twice tends to ache more than the rest of me when I'm fatigued and in extreme cold.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy - I look at my most serious injuries as luck - things could have been a lot worse....[/QUOTE]

True... I know what you mean there.

James, for sure. I have been lucky enough to be ankle-injury free so it's never been an issue for me.

[QUOTE=Soldat_Américain;6059815]The hate on magnums in this thread is bad...I had black pair back in the day that were solid.[/QUOTE]

I had a pair back in the day too; I used them in uniform patrol. The soles lasted about 7 months and the stitching around the laces came undone. The only thing I liked was that they were light. I replace them with Rocky 911s with the flat sole. Far better boot.

[QUOTE=TacoDelRio;6059958]I'm probably gonna appear to be stirring the sh*t, but I carry loads up to and exceeding 80lbs on a very regular basis up and down mountains... in trail runners. I don't believe in ankle support, because IMHO it's a marketing thing. Your muscles in your ankles provide ankle support.

I think ruckmarching on tarmac does a TON of damage compared to cross-country rucking/tabbing. I can carry a very heavy pack for say 15 miles in the mountains and feel OK, but 15 miles on a tarmac road and my feet feel like they've been hit with hammers.

Again... not trying to start sh*t, just trying to share my two cents.[/QUOTE]

I agree with the asphalt vs. trail part absolutely.

[QUOTE=digrar;6060085]You should take them back to the company, they'll be wanting to know how they bolted those ones together, they've totally cocked up every other pair I've ever seen.[/QUOTE]
Everyone i know that ever bought a pair of Magnum boots had to return them.

I even had a pair of their Duty shoes (dress-shoe type with a composite safety-toe) where the soles came loose so they were just hanging on at the toes and the rest was flopping around below the shoe. Those shoes never even saw hard use, i used them while i had a job onboard a cruiseship.

Magnum Boots are total garbage.


On the other side of things my Meindl Sweden i bought in the mid nineties are still in basically perfect condition.

You get what you pay for i guess.