Best/Cheapest Boots?

[GearGod]

Hey guys I may awnswer my own question here but any additional input from you guys that will help me would be cool and not mention cost me less money . I'm looking to just buy 1 boot for airsoft. Since airsoft terrains may vary I want 1 or 2 boots suitable for them all (soft/rocky/wet). So far I know about the following:

1. Army Combat Leather - Obsolete compared to Vibram or Panama soled boots http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/boots.htm

2. Jungle/Desert Panama Soled for soft jungle/sandy terrain, cant be used on hard terrain because it may wear out fast. Check out what happened in Afghanistan:

The body armor problem was one of several. Operation Anaconda was conducted at high altitudes, and Soldiers complained their desert boots were not suited to the task. [Editor they are HOT WEATHER not mountain boots!] Soldiers serving in Afghanistan have experienced excessive wear problems with the current desert boot. Some had desert boots that fell apart in a week or two. The sides of the boots ripped out. The sole was too soft for the rocky terrain.

http://www.geocities.com/usarmyafghangearproblems/

3. TacBoots such as Magnums/Adidas/Oakley for CQB and not outdoors

4. Vibram Soled GoreTex Boots for rocky/hard terrain. These are the same kind of boots that replaced the softer Panama Soled boots:

Air Force Flyer boots and a pair of marine corps desert boots. Both feature a more rugged sole than the current-issue desert boot. Soldiers serving in Afghanistan have experienced excessive wear problems with the current desert boot.

http://www.geocities.com/usarmyafghangearproblems/

So I've come to the conclusion that the Vibram Soled GoreTex boot is suitable for all terrain because 1)Goretex 2)Sole won't wear out as fast as panama - Since there are so many Vibram Soled Goretex boots which is the most cheapest one? So far I have discovered the $140 Belleville 700 Boots approved by US Army/Air Force/Marines:

Beatutiful Ain't She? http://www.bellevilleshoe.com/public/pubgtboot.htm

Of course I could instead get Panama Soled Jungles for all around wear, after all, it does work in rocky terrain (according to the below quote) just not for a long period of time. What about the fact that it's not waterproof?

Our battalion directed for every one to wear gore-tex boots [Intermediate Cold Weather Boots] during the mission, you can imagine how painful that was. I gave up my boots to a new Soldier who didn't have any so I wore jungle boots, gore-tex socks and a pair of smart wool socks and mv feet never got wet or cold even in the snow.

http://www.geocities.com/usarmyafghangearproblems/

Of course there's also the coldsock-bootsize issue:

White wool socks were worn with the Rocky or Matterhorn boots. Some were sized too small due to the thicker sock, which caused a lack of circulation. Socks were dried by placing in sleeping bag at night or inside Gore-Tex jacket against the body. Issue cold wx boots at least one size larger than normal boot size at try on with the sock that will be worn

http://www.geocities.com/usarmyafghangearproblems/

Think I'll do this. Since I'll play airsoft 2 to 4 times a month and I'm not using my boots 24/7 like the Army, I'll get 2 Wellco Panama Soled Jungles since they're cheap $50 each:



1 is regular size for hot weather. 2nd is 1 size larger for cold weather to allow for a thicker sock + goretex sock.

So should I get 2 vibrams or 2 panamas or would you like to suggest something else? I considered TuffKushion but I think I'd like to start out with what's the standard then "experiment" with TuffKushion later

Thanks
Adam

[BMF]

ive been using cheap PX bought jungle boots for damn near everything, and i think theyre great. they drain water out quickly which helps deal with blisters, and theyre much more comfortable then the issue ones. Since youre not going to be really using them all too much anyway, theres' no reason a cheap pair shouldnt last you for years, as long as you take care of them after use. If those don't do you well, matterhorn and danner both make good boots. matterhorns get expensinve though. If you do go with jungles, you may want to think about 1: putting some sort of gel insert in, and 2: cutting out the inside of the rear heel support. thats what usually causes the most discomfort, so a lot of ppl simply cut the dumb thing out

[JiJoMacLE45]

Bates!

[GearGod]

cutting out the inside of the rear heel support

Could you tell me more about that? I had the impression(after reading http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/boots.htm ) that the "center spines"(is that what it's called?) was only in the GI Combat Leathers and not in the Panama Jungles or Vibram soled boots.

Does either the Belleville 700, Wellco Jungles, or Wellco TUFFKushions have that center spine I should cut out? That article also suggested "sorbothane-type cushion insoles" what are those? Which "insole" should I put in? Cushion or gel? Combination? Wellco pre-inserts a "Contour cushion insert" whats up with that? I'm confused. Thanks for the previous and future enlightments haha

Adam

[Beowulf]

man your posts are confusing as hell.....
I'll just mention a couple of things.

-Gore-tex/insultated boots get hot in the summer (I have a pair of matterhorns I love them but when it gets hot outside they make my feet sweat a lot more....that is bad.)
-Gore-tex/insulated boots are expensive
-nothing is truly waterproof

-the jungles are designed to allow drainage, they are a great lightweight and fairly quick drying boot.
-jungles aren't very expensive
-you can wear thicker socks/or a gore-tex sock in cold/wet weather
-you can treat jungles with neetsfoot oil, which softens them up and makes them more water resistant.

For airsoft I would suggest you save your money and just go with a pair of jungle's. I have a pair of the Wellco Tuffkushions, I like them. I think they run a little big though...
all for now,
-b

[GearGod]

Think I should go straight to TUFFKushions or start out with Jungle Panamas then try TUFFKushions as an experimental boot later? What are the pros/cons of both boots?

[Beowulf]

It's just a difference in the sole design.

Not much difference really, just comes down to personal preference.

The only sole that I don't really like is the ripple sole...IMO the traction isn't very good, and they are softer and wear down more quickly. They are great for qualification rucks on a road though
my .02
-b

[Haiw]

-Gore-tex/insultated boots get hot in the summer (I have a pair of matterhorns I love them but when it gets hot outside they make my feet sweat a lot more....that is bad.)

i know i'm the total newby on gear here, but... do u happen to use cotton socks? cus cotton + goretex = sweat... i got some special meindl socks (made with some other special threads called coolmax, and no cotton) and with those socks and goretex boots i was about the only person that didn't have sweaty feet at 40 degrees (celcius that is)

[GearGod]

Haiw: All I know is that the Ultimax Cool Light Crew Socks ( http://wellco.com/html/f6063.html ) is the best hot weather socks that I've read about in the history of hot weather socks. Hear this doesnt it sound good, look at the cool picture too! :

Lately the buzz word in our business is “WICKING.” Fibers that “wick” moisture from parts of the body to... where?

There are many fibers that are hydrophobic (water repelling), and many people feel that when these fibers are touted as “MOISTURE MOVING” that they are “wicking” moisture away from the foot. Just because a fiber repels water or is able to move moisture does not mean it, and it alone, can wick moisture from the foot bottom.



A foot bottom knit with a hydrophobic fiber like Olefin or Coolmax will repel and move moisture. But ONLY when combined with an instep and leg made of a hydrophilic (moisture absorbing) fiber such as Lumiza can the moisture actually be channeled upward and away from the foot bottom. The Lumiza PULLS THE MOISTURE through itself and away from the foot bottom to keep feet dry, guarding against blisters caused by moisture and friction. Combine this technology with thinner, high-density soles, smooth and flat toe closures and an anatomically correct fit, and you’ve got one advanced sock for the human machine. Nothing Earth-shattering, just THE ABSOLUTE BEST from the sock engineers at Wigwam.

So I mean since it sounds good I guess I'll get that but is that what you were referring to by the way? I think it is

[Gordon]

man your posts are confusing as hell.....
I'll just mention a couple of things.

yeh, and you forgot to mention the fact that he's only looking for 1 boot. What ya gonna do Adam, hop around the airsoft field ....

[Apogee]

I've got a pair of pair of US SOG black jungles, which were awsome until I destroyed the sole at CFT. But the uppers still rock, so I had some vibram soles put on them and they're even better than before.

[JiJoMacLE45]

Adam your playing airsoft for Chops sake, not climbing Everest or going through SFAS. Lace up your Nikes and cowboy up.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

I use black jungle boots for airsoft. They're great once they get worn in + they are cheap and make sure you get some soles in there for comfort.

[Micke]

jungle...boots...own. Cheap as **** too, atleast the ones I got.

[Skaman]

i second jungle boots.