Footwear

[sandbender]

My Meindl Borneos are leather lined although some of the internal structure inside the boot is man made. Very tough boots, very easy to break in, very long lasting.



Meindl English Site

Meindle Borneo

 

[topknot]

Hi, try a pair of Rogue Ranger Boots, all leather with a rubber sole no man made lineing.
I wear mine all the time ,still going good after 3 years.
Topknot

 

[jimford]

I've recently bought a pair of Hi-Tec V Lites. It's early days regarding their claimed waterproofness and durability, but they have been fine so far. They were also completely comfortable out of the box.

Jim

 

[Paul64]

Reading this with interest Paul,looking to back my German para boots up with a bigger size ( for more socks!) for arctic travel. I have used a lot of expensive boots but for the money,if you can get a good pair (any ideas folks!?) they are great boots for the money!
My best.
Chris

Hi Chris,

Are these the ones, and does the price look right?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/German-Army-Combat-Para-Boots-Black-Leather-Toe-Cap-43_W0QQitemZ150333450010QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_Militaria_LE?hash=item230092671a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1684|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

What are they like on width?

Cheers, Paul

My Meindl Borneos are leather lined although some of the internal structure inside the boot is man made. Very tough boots, very easy to break in, very long lasting.



Meindl English Site

Meindle Borneo

These are very popular in Germany and were the boot to buy for hiking when I lived over there. However, as you say the inner section has a sort of memory gel/foam in. I tried several pairs on and they were very comfortable. It is just the heat factor for me. I am not comfortable with hot feet and when you are out all day on your pegs you need to be comfortable. This is purely a personal thing and I am sure these boots are top notch and will be good quality as are most things that are manufactured in DE.

Cheers, Paul

Hi, try a pair of Rogue Ranger Boots, all leather with a rubber sole no man made lineing.
I wear mine all the time ,still going good after 3 years.
Topknot

Hi,

Now your post has got me all excited as this sounds like a boot from the old school! I have just done a search online and found this review.

www.woodlife.co.uk/2008/02/07/rogue-ranger-boots-review/

Which boot in the range do you have, Ranger Boot, Half Boot, Desert Boot or Trans Africa?

Cheers, Paul

I've recently bought a pair of Hi-Tec V Lites. It's early days regarding their claimed waterproofness and durability, but they have been fine so far. They were also completely comfortable out of the box.

Jim

Thanks Jim,

I have had a look at these and they are certainly a possibility.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Chris the Cat]

Can't find that link! Google them,you will find them at most good surplus stores. £30 should see you right for a pair of grade 1's,they are nice and wide.Rogues are agood 3season boot IMHO! but the para boots are some of the strongest buiold quality out there and are suitable all year round ( I have worn mine with woolpower socks at -20 last year in the arctic.)
Good luck,let me know how you get on! (oh,buy the way,I replade the footbed with a wool felt one for cold weather wear!)
Chris.

 

[Joonsy]

My Meindl Borneos are leather lined although some of the internal structure inside the boot is man made. Very tough boots, very easy to break in, very long lasting.

I had a pair of meindl burmas, the area where they flexed at the toes where the leather meets the rand cracked very badly after only a short while with only light use, not what you expect from a very expensive boot so i was very dissapointed, i know lots swear by them maybe i had a bad pair, they were gore-tex lined but leaked badly, maybe due to the deep cracks in leather, once wet inside they took forever to dry out and remained wet for days, not good for extended trips, the trouble with gore-tex is it keeps water in as well as out as only vapour passes through (though my meindls let water in and kept it in !!), they were also hot and sweaty which i put down to the gore-tex liner and foam padding, the meindl borneo is the non-goretex version i believe which i have not tried so have no experience of, i do prefer boots without a waterproof membrane as they seem to dry out quicker, however boots without a waterproof membrane now seem in the minority with manufacturers.

 

[sandbender]

"...It is just the heat factor for me. I am not comfortable with hot feet and when you are out all day on your pegs you need to be comfortable..."

I know that it isn't a particularly snake proof option, but what about a pair of all terrain sandals? no more socks to wash and your feet were never designed to be wrapped up anyway.

"...I had a pair of meindl burmas, the area where they flexed at the toes where the leather meets the rand cracked very badly after only a short while with only light use..."

That is a pretty miserable result, did you speak to Meindl about this? I purchased my first pair of Borneos in 1998 and walked nearly five thousand miles in them replacing the sole three times, I'm on my second pair now which I purchased in 2007, these are a slightly modified design called the Borneo-Pro which hopefully will be as well built as their predecessors.

 

[woof]

I've got a pair of borneo's as well, very comfy. Also got a a pair of altberg field & fells, which have a w/proof lining, and i've just had a pair of these made with out the lining.

Rob

 

[Joonsy]

That is a pretty miserable result, did you speak to Meindl about this? I purchased my first pair of Borneos in 1998 and walked nearly five thousand miles in them replacing the sole three times, I'm on my second pair now which I purchased in 2007, these are a slightly modified design called the Borneo-Pro which hopefully will be as well built as their predecessors.

Hi Sandbender, sadly i didn't take it up with meindl, i should have i know but just put it down to a bad experience and used them for work, i know lots swear by meindl so i probably had a rogue pair, other than problem stated the fit was comfy and if i was to try another pair i would go for the non-goretex borneos, when i last saw them some time ago the lining was leather as opposed to cambrelle on the burmas unless they've changed. The boots i purchasaed were some years ago around the late 90s.

 

[Paul64]

I know that it isn't a particularly snake proof option, but what about a pair of all terrain sandals? no more socks to wash and your feet were never designed to be wrapped up anyway.

Szia Sandbender,

Most vettem eszre,hogy Magyarorszagon elsz!

Cooling open toe sandals would certainly be most welcome! As you will know we get some pretty big vipers here, so I think I will stick with boots and heavy canvas trousers. Last year one of the villagers accidentally sliced a viper in half with a scythe. He didn't know what he had done and foolishly pulled the grass apart with his hands to investigate. The half with the mouth on it bit him!

Thanks also guys for all the fantastic feedback!

Cheers, Paul

 

[Mikey P]

Hi, try a pair of Rogue Ranger Boots, all leather with a rubber sole no man made lineing.
I wear mine all the time ,still going good after 3 years.
Topknot

Bum! I was just about to say that!

 

[sandbender]

Szia Sandbender,

Most vettem eszre,hogy Magyarorszagon elsz!

Cooling open toe sandals would certainly be most welcome! As you will know we get some pretty big vipers here, so I think I will stick with boots and heavy canvas trousers. Last year one of the villagers accidentally sliced a viper in half with a scythe. He didn't know what he had done and foolishly pulled the grass apart with his hands to investigate. The half with the mouth on it bit him!

Igen, de én nem vagyok magyar, Skót vagyok.

Boots and heavy canvas trousers are perhaps the best plan, I was wearing sandals when I met this guy, happily he isn't venomous.

His local name is Erdei sikló, (elaphe longissima).

 

[jimford]

Igen, de én nem vagyok magyar, Skót vagyok.

Careful of these guys, folks. A Hungarian friend of mine tells me that Attila the Hun is a Hungarian national hero!
;^)

Jim

 

[Goatboy]

Must say that I'm a bit of an Imelda Marcos when it comes to boots, and have many pairs of various weights. For general kicking about though I use these... http://www.shoeland.co.uk/html/body_classic_styles.html
Blundstone Boots, last for ages, never had wet feet, no-one hears you coming and quick to get on and off. No real ankle support to speak of - unusual for me but comfey as heak and are just all round "ginger-peachy". Just a good kicking about work boot.
Goatboy

 

[Barn Owl]

Must say that I'm a bit of an Imelda Marcos when it comes to boots, and have many pairs of various weights. For general kicking about though I use these... http://www.shoeland.co.uk/html/body_classic_styles.html
Blundstone Boots, last for ages, never had wet feet, no-one hears you coming and quick to get on and off. No real ankle support to speak of - unusual for me but comfey as heak and are just all round "ginger-peachy". Just a good kicking about work boot.
Goatboy

I use Hoggs 'Dealer' boots just like above.

Comfy boots.

 

[Paul64]

Igen, de én nem vagyok magyar, Skót vagyok.

Szia Sandbender,

Mit csinal egy skot Magyarorszagon?

What type of snake is that? Oh, just seen your last comment under the photo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculapian_Snake

Cheers, Paul

Must say that I'm a bit of an Imelda Marcos when it comes to boots, and have many pairs of various weights. For general kicking about though I use these... http://www.shoeland.co.uk/html/body_classic_styles.html
Blundstone Boots, last for ages, never had wet feet, no-one hears you coming and quick to get on and off. No real ankle support to speak of - unusual for me but comfey as heak and are just all round "ginger-peachy". Just a good kicking about work boot.
Goatboy

Never tried dealer boots before. What are they like on width?

Cheers, Paul

I use Hoggs 'Dealer' boots just like above.

Comfy boots.

I was just looking at the Hoggs on a wesite and came across these http://www.country-catalogue.co.uk/footwear/shooting-bootstoggi-columbus-boots-tg41/prod_450.html They look impressive and would definitely keep the snakes off. Just a shame about the waterproof membrane!

Cheers, Paul

Careful of these guys, folks. A Hungarian friend of mine tells me that Attila the Hun is a Hungarian national hero!
;^)

Jim

He is more of a hero here amongst the Szekely of Transylvania! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sz%C3%A9kely

 

[sandbender]

Szia Sandbender, Mit csinal egy skot Magyarorszagon?

A feleségem magyar

Careful of these guys, folks. A Hungarian friend of mine tells me that Attila the Hun is a Hungarian national hero!

He does appear on quite a few t-shirts yes, however the adulation is somewhat unfounded, the Hunnic Empire covered a very large area, was an equal opportunity employer (you didn't have to be a Hun to be a member) and collapsed remarkably quickly leaving a fair number of Hunnic peoples spread across Europe, So although some Hungarians may have Hunnic ancestry and a few have even attempted to gain official recognition for such, there may be a little Hun in all of us.

Horseback Archery (something the Huns were known for) is still very popular in Hungary and there a few schools offering courses.

I tried to end this post on topic with a picture of some Hun footwear, sadly I couldn't find one.

 

[leon-1]

As far as army surplus you could do worse than try Endicotts, beyond that there are still a few that make good quality boots that are full leather. Lowa still have at least one boot that's all leather, you could also look at boots made by Altberg as they have a number which they make which are just full grain leather. They will also make to order.

 

[Goatboy]

Never tried dealer boots before. What are they like on width?

Cheers, Paul

]

Hi Paul,

Different manufacturers have differents lasts / fits.

I find Blundstone to be pretty wide and roomy and I have pretty standard shaped British feet ( European feet tend to be a slightly thinner more even width, UK feet tend to be broad at the front with narrow heels). One of the reasons good outfitters will wave boots from a variety of sources so that they can tweek fit.

Goatboy.

 

[BOD]

If you'd care to try Australian boots there are these -

http://www.rossiboots.com.au/catalogue/catalogue_details.asp?prodID=46

http://rossiboots.co.uk/product.asp?fldProductID=13

You could order from Oz or the UK. I think this is the only non synthetic style they have nowadays

I have a similar pair now discontinued called the Adventurer - all leather and robust. Just had it resoled after 10 years.

Should be okay for your terrain. I think these would be able to stop any snakes fangs we have here short of a reticulated python so they should have no problems with European snakes