Best boots for Combat sim, hiking, and general use?
A lot of people have a favorite brand of boot when it comes to military service, camping experience or outdoor activities.
I am one of those people.
I have some recommendations, tips, as well as complaints. Here are a couple of options that range for different price points. I have also thrown an easy Star rating in, * being terrible and ***** being top notch!
Lets jump right in.
Top Tier Civilian/Non Military Boot *****
– Salomon
The Salomon Quest 4s are my all time favorite footwear when it comes to anything outside.
The mid cut on them makes them comfortable, mobile and light weight. They handle rocky terrain and steep inclines like a champ and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. I have owned 2 pairs and both still look practically new after wearing them for 8 hour CQB games as well as 10 hour outdoor events in the desert. My only complaints would be the price, and the fact they are not AR 670-1 compliant. These run around $240 to $300 depending on where you look. Salomon also offers some fantastic trail running shoes and overall are well known for lasting an extremely long time. You will definitely get your moneys worth from this brand.
Top Tier AR 670-1 Compliant boots *****
These are my top pick of military boots. Rucking, vehicle operation, and general hiking around, these are light, dry quickly, and breathe during some of the hottest months in Utah. These offer fantastic ankle support and are priced at a reasonable level. These are soft toe, and run under $200. (As of 2024) These are definitely a must have for anyone working in hot conditions. The break in took about a week of general wear.
Rocky C4T Protective Toe Tactical Military Boot ****
The Rocky C4T’s are another solid choice for compliant military boots. These are comfortable, quick to break in, and offer quite a bit of breathability for your feet. The tan is a bit brighter than the Belleville boots and offers a bit less tread as well. Running in these boots is pleasant and out of the box they only took a couple days to wear in properly. These nor the Bellevilles needed an insert to be comfortable or support your arches.
They are comfortable, solid quality and not insanely priced. These run around $175-$200.
Basic Combat Boot *
Getting back to basics, pun intended, the basic
Issue combat boot. These are heavy, uncomfortable, and affordable if not free. These will last a long time, and work ok, but there are definitely better alternatives. If you do find a pair on the used market or thrift a set, they can be made less miserable. Upgrade the comfort level with a set of cheap inserts to help alleviate pain on your feet. Pack some moleskin, as these will give you blisters on a ruck, and will definitely weigh you down. A trick to breaking these in quickly is to get them soaked while wearing them with 2 pairs of socks, then wear them around as they dry a bit. after a few hours take them off and put them in front of a fan to dry them out, and they should be a good bit more comfortable.
These are on here because they are extremely affordable, and are available everywhere. A used pair goes for around $30 on Ebay. I still hate these boots for the nasty blisters they gave me.
The Classic ****
Holding it to your ear, you may hear Fortunate Son playing softly. The Vietnam Jungle boot. These have alot of style points, and will help you chase the VC out of the trees, but they do have a few drawbacks. Mainly these lack support for the bottoms of your feet. If you wear these without aftermarket inserts, you will definitely feel it after a little trek or hike.
Luckily these boots break in after a few days of normal wear. After adding some insoles to help give them much needed arch support, these are relatively light weight and fit many retro style kits. You can find them in green and black, or solid black. They also have vents that will drain water and help keep your feet dry in wet environments.
Beware, the Rothco reproductions tend to wear out quickly, and the bottoms will wear down making them uneven and lacking in traction. Rothco Jungle repros run around $45, but I would recommend you take care of your feet and get the $110 Militecs, that offer a much higher quality, longer lasting product.
Wrapping this up, take care of your feet! Be sure to throw in some boot powder, keep them clean and always pack extra socks to switch out on long treks and adventures.
If you have any recommendations for footwear you didnt see me do a quick review on, drop the description and name of the brand in the comments and Ill take a look!
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