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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: 595453" data-attributes="member: 27328"><p>An update on Combat Hiker boots. I just snagged my second pair of new Danner Combat Hikers on eBay for $98.50 delivered. As usual, this was an extra pair of boots that a serviceman brought back from Afghanistan. Special Forces troops were issued two pair on deployment, at $310 cost to the government per pair. Many servicemen never wore out their first pair, and are selling them on eBay now, often through an eBay reseller at the military base. This is not a jacked up price. Bates currently gets $350 for nearly the same type boot.</p><p> </p><p>I have treated my boots with Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative, and they are extremely soft and comfortable, with about a dozen hiking trips on them. </p><p> </p><p>You will find about two pages of Danner Combat Hikers on eBay, and some guy with a good stock has a buy-it-now price of $150. Still an outstanding buy at that price. Wellco has recently dropped their version of the boot that looked like the Danner ICH, and have redesigned it with kevlar cloth to resist tearing and burning. Those boots retail for under $300, and look to be a bit lower than the ICH, but the waterproof membrane is not stated as being Gore-Tex. Thus, they are inferior in that regard. Kevlar cloth is better around fires and explosions, if you feel that might be in your future.</p><p> </p><p>Thus, Danner, Bates, and Wellco all have something slightly different from each other in an "Afghjanistan boot"and also different from the Belleville that is now standard issue for general troops. Bates also makes the Tora Bora boot for nearly $500 that can be used with Alpine Touring ski bindings and automatic crampons. A true mountaineering boot for the military, probably used by 10th Mountain Division, Marine Force Recon, etc. Probably stiff as a board in the sole.</p><p> </p><p>One of the surplus Danner old style Combat Hikers is by far the best deal going right now. I am seeing slightly used ones in excellent condition going for far less than $100. </p><p> </p><p>In the future, other brands will become available as the troops rotate back from Afghanistan. Since the Afghan conditions are so tough on boots, I would expect any of them would be a good pair of boots. You just have to find a pair that fits right.</p><p> </p><p>The last that the Danner Combat Hikers are built on is the 850 last, the same as the very popular Danner Pronghorn boots and Acadia boots. If those boots fit you, then the Combat Hikers will get you the same fit. The Danner website tells you what last your Danner boots are made on, so if you have Danner boots look up that info, because I know of at least 4 lasts that Danner boots are made on. The Danner website is very informative, with lots of customer reviews. Danner publishes the negative reviews as well, because if you are not satisfied they bend over backwards to make things right for you. Danner warranties their boots for a full year even to military users in the toughest conditions. If they fail, they fix or give you a new pair. This is where Danner can beat the Italian boots, because some of the Italian boots have poor importer support and no ironclad one-year warranty. Nobody is perfect, but Danner will set things right for you if you have a problem.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FAL Shot, post: 595453, member: 27328"] An update on Combat Hiker boots. I just snagged my second pair of new Danner Combat Hikers on eBay for $98.50 delivered. As usual, this was an extra pair of boots that a serviceman brought back from Afghanistan. Special Forces troops were issued two pair on deployment, at $310 cost to the government per pair. Many servicemen never wore out their first pair, and are selling them on eBay now, often through an eBay reseller at the military base. This is not a jacked up price. Bates currently gets $350 for nearly the same type boot. I have treated my boots with Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative, and they are extremely soft and comfortable, with about a dozen hiking trips on them. You will find about two pages of Danner Combat Hikers on eBay, and some guy with a good stock has a buy-it-now price of $150. Still an outstanding buy at that price. Wellco has recently dropped their version of the boot that looked like the Danner ICH, and have redesigned it with kevlar cloth to resist tearing and burning. Those boots retail for under $300, and look to be a bit lower than the ICH, but the waterproof membrane is not stated as being Gore-Tex. Thus, they are inferior in that regard. Kevlar cloth is better around fires and explosions, if you feel that might be in your future. Thus, Danner, Bates, and Wellco all have something slightly different from each other in an "Afghjanistan boot"and also different from the Belleville that is now standard issue for general troops. Bates also makes the Tora Bora boot for nearly $500 that can be used with Alpine Touring ski bindings and automatic crampons. A true mountaineering boot for the military, probably used by 10th Mountain Division, Marine Force Recon, etc. Probably stiff as a board in the sole. One of the surplus Danner old style Combat Hikers is by far the best deal going right now. I am seeing slightly used ones in excellent condition going for far less than $100. In the future, other brands will become available as the troops rotate back from Afghanistan. Since the Afghan conditions are so tough on boots, I would expect any of them would be a good pair of boots. You just have to find a pair that fits right. The last that the Danner Combat Hikers are built on is the 850 last, the same as the very popular Danner Pronghorn boots and Acadia boots. If those boots fit you, then the Combat Hikers will get you the same fit. The Danner website tells you what last your Danner boots are made on, so if you have Danner boots look up that info, because I know of at least 4 lasts that Danner boots are made on. The Danner website is very informative, with lots of customer reviews. Danner publishes the negative reviews as well, because if you are not satisfied they bend over backwards to make things right for you. Danner warranties their boots for a full year even to military users in the toughest conditions. If they fail, they fix or give you a new pair. This is where Danner can beat the Italian boots, because some of the Italian boots have poor importer support and no ironclad one-year warranty. Nobody is perfect, but Danner will set things right for you if you have a problem. [/QUOTE]
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