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I'm in need of some new boots.
In the past I've had Cat Collarado's which seem pretty hard wearing and last for ages.
Last year I picked up a pair of Firetrap boots which have lasted less than 12 months - had to glue the sole on last week before we went away for Christmas.
So looking for something similar to Cats that won't break the bank - around £50.
Found some Cats on SportPursuit for a decent price.
Do they need to be safety boots?
No, just normal boots - I prefer wearing boots to shoes for the extra ankle support.
I'd go for some surplus german army para boots.
Look for Ex-Mill Lowas on Ebay?
Try Dune ..
Had my last couple of pairs ( none w.b's ) from there ..decent boots at a reasonable price ..
I bought some boots from Decathlon three years ago bloody amazing for £45, we walk a lot with the dog 3-5+ miles a day the boots are fully waterproof and i have done nothing to them apart from new laces, with a good wipe over they would pass as nearly new.
Far superior to my wife's £170 Meindl imo.
For general wear I have four pairs of ex-Army Meindl Desert Fox boots, only one pair had any significant wear, the others were like new. One pair have been worn almost continuously for around six or seven years, and have been resoled once, now the midsole is starting to break down a bit, but they’re still perfectly wearable. Amazingly comfy, I didn’t pay more than £35 for any of them, they retail for £169...
The only issue is they’re not really a wet-weather boot, but I’ve got some boots issued to me at work, which requires toe protection, just in case a car gets driven over yer toes, and those are Portwest FW57:
http://mammothworkwear.com/portwest-fw57-steelite-weather-boot-s3-p5384.htm
Really comfy boots, very soft leather on the uppers, grippy sole, and waterproof, proven after spending an entire eight hour day out in pissing rain. I’ve taken to wearing them when I’m not at work as well, they’re so comfy.
I have been very impressed with how long these have lasted me:
https://www.dickiesworkwear.com/uk/dickies-safety-dealer-boot-fa23345
Army surplus Altberg boots are worth a try. They can be found cheapish via eBay...
Good shout on the Altberg boots!
I’ve just found a suede/fabric ‘hiker’ boot version of the Portwest boot I wear, £30/pair. I might see about getting work to order a pair of these for the warmer months:
https://www.safetynetdirect.com/portwest-steelite-all-weather-hiker-boot-s3-fw66.html
I just buy Karrimor from Sports Direct. Their approach type shoes last a long time and don't fall apart. And I use their waterproof walking boots for wet weather.
Good thread!
Day to day I wear a pair of Decathalon waterproof hiking boots. Feel like trainers, but good grip and waterproof - only £27 a pair! Easy to clean too.
However I need comfy, waterproof steel toe boots as I will be starting work in a distillery soon, so lots of hot liquids and heavy things to watch out for.
My current pair of steel toes (Groudwork ones) give me aching feet after a couple of hours, so will be no good. Was looking at Sketchers ones (as I believe they'll be comfy), but they are >£80 and never on sale.
Those Portwest ones look good. I'm assuming they're comfortable for wearing 8 hours+ ?
Amazing how cheap some of those work boots are when the equivalent branded walking boot would be more than 5x as much....
Thanks to this thread - wore my eBay Altberg Defender boots tonight for the first time to replace my original Brasher Supalites.
Paid £35 for them off Ebay and they are like new- the only problem being they didn't have insoles or the spacers with them. Rang Altberg yesterday and they arrived today - £15.
Really top quality boot, even at £50 (with the new insoles) they are a bargain.
Got the seller to knock a tenner off a pair of pretty much unworn Meindl Desert Foxes (£40) for summer duties.
Good shout for the ex-mil boot!
Could you post an ebay link please.
The seller I bought from only had a few sizes but there are loads of sellers on eBay, just search for Altberg. I offered £35 (were £40).
https://www.altberg.co.uk/product/mens-defender-combat-boot-mod-brown-uk-military-issue-boot/
Check the sizing chart on the Altberg site as they use spacers depending on wide or normal feet and have two widths of boots.
They arnt a waterproof boot - as in they don't have goretex/membrane, they need waxing with Altbergs wax which makes them waterproof.
I was going to buy some Anatom but the Altberg are less than a third of price and pre-broken in!
Those Portwest ones look good. I’m assuming they’re comfortable for wearing 8 hours+ ?
Absolutely! My job involves me being on my feet pretty much my entire working day, out of doors, apart from two ten minute breaks and a thirty minute lunch break, my shifts at 07.00 - 16.00 and 10.00 - 19.00. I’m part of a yard logistics team moving cars around the site and to and from our remote storage sites, but I’m rarely in a car for more than five to ten minutes. I walk anywhere up to six and a half miles a day!
Believe me, a pair of comfy boots, along with waterproofs, have become a really important part of my daily wear, and I can’t believe a pair of steelies could be so light and so comfy.
I do genuinely wear them with jeans as casual wear, especially when it’s wet, the soles are really grippy, and they’re very quiet when you walk. The uppers are very soft as well, so there’s no rubbing where the leather creases, which I’ve often had problems with in the past.
Best thing is, I don’t even have to pay for them!
Fill yer boots 🙂
https://www.epicmilitaria.com/army-navy-surplus/boots-and-footwear/boots.html?product_list_limit=all
I wear Hoggs of Fife Saturn boots for work. Got two pairs, not had wet feet yet. Also had the Jason and Tornado boots but the Saturns have been more waterproof but a bit heavier.
this bloody thread set me off on a military boot buying spree!
Firstly I bought a pair of used Altberg Defenders as mentioned above, these have been my wet weather winter boot and have been great. I also bought some Meindl Desert Fox at the same time - these are my dry weather boots but are now grubby from getting muddy. Sooooo comfy now they've broken in!
However - I've discovered Haix boots, German company that has supplied the MOD with boots.
The first pair were their desert boot as they are suede upper but still have a goretex lining, brand new, boxed £32.
This morning I bought a pair of Haix high liability boots - leather uppers again with Goretex lining. Brand new boxed - £31.50 due to a 30% offer.
High quality really well made comfy boots with 30% off at the moment (limited sizes), these are ~ £150+ boots
I've been using Altberg army boots for a few years now, also the Meindl desert boots in drier weather. I've just received a pair of Karrimor SF boots (new, £39 delivered) from eBay, I'd not heard of them until a few weeks ago; another contract boot for the Army with Vibram sole, Goretex and Thinsulate liner and they're an inch or two higher up the leg than the Altberg. More of a wet and cold weather winter boot.
^ I've seen the Karrimor's, the Haix fit me well though as they are fairly narrow especially compared to my Altbergs. I'm keeping an ebay eye on a pair of the Haix cold weather boots to possible add to the collection!
How do those Haix size up?
The Haix are pretty much spot on sizing wise, the new boxed ones come with a spacer that removes a half size when fitted.
I'm a 11 1/2 so have a 12 with the spacer installed.
They come in a narrower M and a W wider fitting.
Thanks mate