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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Equipment Discussions
Danner Combat Hiker military boots
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<blockquote data-quote="FAL Shot" data-source="post: 591051" data-attributes="member: 27328"><p>I have long used the insulated Danner Ft. Lewis boot as my cold weather hunting boot. Also makes a good cool weather motorcycle boot.</p><p> </p><p>I recently snagged a pair of Danner 6" Combat Hiker "Afghanistan boots" at Shipton's Big R for $99.99. They are uninsulated Gore-Tex, high randed, toe capped, Vibram Bifida sole, snoeshoe compatible. These are surplus boots, never released to the general public, and sold to military for $310 per pair. The closest thing to them in the catalog is Improved Combat Hiker at $380, a taller 8" boot but otherwise the same.</p><p> </p><p>They are patterned after the Danner Talus GTX but with military modification such as higher rand, D-ring loops instead of open hooks, etc. The insole is rather thick in mine, compared to my 6" Italian hiking boots made by AKU and sold by LL Bean as Cresta Hiker. Rand is bonded AND double stitched, which I don't remember seeing on any of the European import boots. The Vibram Bifida sole is durable AND climbs like a mountain goat. After 6 hikes through rough terrain, almost no visible wear on the soles. Seems noticeably better than the Kletterlift or Fouda PU style of Vibrams on my other boots.</p><p> </p><p>After 6 afternoons of hiking in rough terrain, I have never had a bootlace come loose. I don't think I ever had that happen before. By double looping the high D-rings, 5th and 6th, it seems the bootlaces would stay tight even if the bootlaces came untied. Top lacing point is a small hole, which allows you to knot your bootlace end and never have it slip through. I just double loop the 5th D-ring now, as it is adequate as a stop for downhill hiking. The D-rings are bigger and the laces thicker than on my Danner Ft. Lewis boots.</p><p> </p><p>The Iraq desert boots were blowing out in as little as 2 weeks in the mountains of Afghanistan, so Danner developed this boot to hold up in the roughest mountain environments. This is equal to the most expensive European Mountain hikers, but the D-rings are stronger than open hooks which most hikers come with, just slower to lace up. Since they are sized for thick wool socks, and I haven't gotten cold feet yet, I would say they are good down to zero F temp. One piece wraparound THICK nubuck construction means no boot seams to wear on sharp rocks and blow out.</p><p> </p><p>You can find closeout prices on eBay still yet. I have my bid in on an extra pair, as I like this boot so much I decided to get an extra pair while the getting is good. The Wellco boot is rated almost as highly as the ICH by army troops, and sells for a bit less money at retail than Danner, around $100 less, and is still available. This is the only 6" Afghanistan boot I know of. All the current boots from Danner, Wellco and Belleville are 8", and you can't buy the Belleville 950 or 990 yet as they have the army contract and are filling army orders only. But the other two brands are better liked by the troops. You get what you pay for. Belleville is a cheaper boot, and that probably explains the army contract. Wellco goes for about $275 straight from Wellco.</p><p> </p><p>If you need a "combat tough" hunting boot of mountain hiker one-piece leather construction that climbs like a mountain goat, all the above boots have the Vibram Bifida sole and should get the job done. I can give up the extra height as this is the stiffest 6" leather boot I have ever worn and supports my ankle better than most 8' or 10" boots. I have gaiters for deep snow.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FAL Shot, post: 591051, member: 27328"] I have long used the insulated Danner Ft. Lewis boot as my cold weather hunting boot. Also makes a good cool weather motorcycle boot. I recently snagged a pair of Danner 6" Combat Hiker "Afghanistan boots" at Shipton's Big R for $99.99. They are uninsulated Gore-Tex, high randed, toe capped, Vibram Bifida sole, snoeshoe compatible. These are surplus boots, never released to the general public, and sold to military for $310 per pair. The closest thing to them in the catalog is Improved Combat Hiker at $380, a taller 8" boot but otherwise the same. They are patterned after the Danner Talus GTX but with military modification such as higher rand, D-ring loops instead of open hooks, etc. The insole is rather thick in mine, compared to my 6" Italian hiking boots made by AKU and sold by LL Bean as Cresta Hiker. Rand is bonded AND double stitched, which I don't remember seeing on any of the European import boots. The Vibram Bifida sole is durable AND climbs like a mountain goat. After 6 hikes through rough terrain, almost no visible wear on the soles. Seems noticeably better than the Kletterlift or Fouda PU style of Vibrams on my other boots. After 6 afternoons of hiking in rough terrain, I have never had a bootlace come loose. I don't think I ever had that happen before. By double looping the high D-rings, 5th and 6th, it seems the bootlaces would stay tight even if the bootlaces came untied. Top lacing point is a small hole, which allows you to knot your bootlace end and never have it slip through. I just double loop the 5th D-ring now, as it is adequate as a stop for downhill hiking. The D-rings are bigger and the laces thicker than on my Danner Ft. Lewis boots. The Iraq desert boots were blowing out in as little as 2 weeks in the mountains of Afghanistan, so Danner developed this boot to hold up in the roughest mountain environments. This is equal to the most expensive European Mountain hikers, but the D-rings are stronger than open hooks which most hikers come with, just slower to lace up. Since they are sized for thick wool socks, and I haven't gotten cold feet yet, I would say they are good down to zero F temp. One piece wraparound THICK nubuck construction means no boot seams to wear on sharp rocks and blow out. You can find closeout prices on eBay still yet. I have my bid in on an extra pair, as I like this boot so much I decided to get an extra pair while the getting is good. The Wellco boot is rated almost as highly as the ICH by army troops, and sells for a bit less money at retail than Danner, around $100 less, and is still available. This is the only 6" Afghanistan boot I know of. All the current boots from Danner, Wellco and Belleville are 8", and you can't buy the Belleville 950 or 990 yet as they have the army contract and are filling army orders only. But the other two brands are better liked by the troops. You get what you pay for. Belleville is a cheaper boot, and that probably explains the army contract. Wellco goes for about $275 straight from Wellco. If you need a "combat tough" hunting boot of mountain hiker one-piece leather construction that climbs like a mountain goat, all the above boots have the Vibram Bifida sole and should get the job done. I can give up the extra height as this is the stiffest 6" leather boot I have ever worn and supports my ankle better than most 8' or 10" boots. I have gaiters for deep snow. [/QUOTE]
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