Jungle boots,what do you wear??

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The last time I did any jungle it was on a mixed jungle and urban visit to Thailand and I needed boots that would work both for touristy visits to temples, working in an orphanage and for jungle bashing.
I chose Magnum Amazon hot weather boots in black leather - not the suede desert version - and they were magnificent.
Mind you - it was the LAST time I do jungle - I hate the jungle now - leaches, sweat, mud, leaches, rain, thorns, leaches, sweat and mud!
 
I took some Altbergs to the jungle (that's the nice jungle with no leaches in Guyana Mr Fenna) ;-) Still plenty of mud, heat, humidity, spikey things and those little fish that mistake wee for gill excretions.

Very light - and I enjoyed every minute of that after more than 2 weeks of hard work.

Mine did not have panama soles, so they didn't unclog themselves as quickly - but very good all the same. Some of the guys with us also had the same - with no problems.

There seem to be a lot of Mil looking boots out there. Some of them really don't hold up to much use in the actual jungle - these are often the cheaper versions that you can find out there.
 
Do the Florida Florida swamps count as jungle? It's where the Army Rangers do their jungle training. I wear Corcoran's model 1944. No that's not the year they came out. I din't know what it represents. Lug soled (not a Panama lug but the current issue style) padded 1000 denier uppers. I've worn them as my swamp/woods boots, flightline boots when I was active duty and duty boots when I was a cop. Now that I'm retired I think the next pair will be a color other than duty black though.
 
I'm using Magnums too.

I have worn Magnums too and I like them. I just remembered what you do though. The military switched to suede for a number of reasons but the pertinent one here is their low I.R. (infrared) signature. That may or may not be helpful to you around serpents with heat sensing organs. Also if I.R. is a concern avoid using laundry soaps that contain Borax. Just thought I'd pass it on.
 
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I have worn Magnums too and I like them. I just remembered what you do though. The military switched to suede for a number of reasons but the pertinent one here is their low I.R. (infrared) signature. That may or may not be helpful to you around serpents with heat sensing organs. Also if I.R. is a concern avoid using laundry soaps that contain Borax. Just thought I'd pass it on.

Just slightly too late as he left today but Im sure he already knows anyway.

As for jungle boots, you cant really beat magnums IMO. :)
 
Just slightly too late as he left today but Im sure he already knows anyway.

As for jungle boots, you cant really beat magnums IMO. :)

I like them. I haven't seen any with a Panama sole though. It seems like they mainly design for Military or Police duty and neither has used a Panama sole for a couple of decades now.
 
Magnum Panama jungle boots exist alright but maybe are not in the US with all that surplus stuff around

L to Right

Magnum panama, M panama and old Altama boot (courtesy of Jungle Re and 2 RGR respectively).

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Will has been trialling his Magnums in all environments (bar snow) with good results. And he does get around

I have been trialling the second pair in tropical jungle with great results.

Silvermans should be OK. Remember to claim the VAT back!
 
Magnum Panama jungle boots exist alright but maybe are not in the US with all that surplus stuff around

L to Right

Magnum panama, M panama and old Altama boot (courtesy of Jungle Re and 2 RGR respectively).

P2281597.jpg



Will has been trialling his Magnums in all environments (bar snow) with good results. And he does get around

I have been trialling the second pair in tropical jungle with great results.

Silvermans should be OK. Remember to claim the VAT back!

I like the soles. Are those look like the old unpadded style uppers like used to be on the GI type in the Vietnam War era? The Magnum High Tech is the most popular model here now. They were the issue boot for a while until Corcoran got the contract back. They (Corcoran) became legendary in WWII when they designed and produced the paratroopers' jump boots. I like them (The High Techs) too as they give much better ankle support but they are hotter. The old GI jungle boots were a lot cooler but they fell apart on us in Saudi. I suspect that wasn't a design flaw but because the boots issued while I was in Saudi were made under contract by Prison Industries; Unless you were in an elite unit that bought outside the GSA supply chain.
 
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Get some Altama mils spec jungle boots direct from Altama on t'internet. They do a variety of jungle boots but the milspec ones although more expensive are the sturdiest. They have a leather midsole, over which you have a removable insole - cheaper ones have man made.

I have had some non milspec junglies and the shank broke in Borneo just as I got to Mt Kinabalu - result: didn't climb the mountain.

Had some Altberg junglies, but sent them back when some of the cordura started fraying badly. I WOULD consider buying some again as the design's changed and I have had a few pairs of Altbergs in Defender and Peacekeeper. Bloody good quality control, so I think I had a one off. The advantage of Altbergs is they are UK based, and easier to exchange.

I have milspec Altamas with panama sole - no complaints. Think carefully about sizing - US sizes are bigger than UK sizes, but the fitting of the jungle boots is smaller than normal US sizes. eg I take 8 or 8.5 UK, and have 8w Altamas, but worn with a thinner sock. Next time I might get an 8.5w and wear them with a thicker sock for wear in NZ.

Steer clear of Silvermans unless you have more money than Bill Gates.
 
Jungle boots are great.

But I have learn to love 'Adidas Kampung' (village Adidas).
Made entirely of rubber, worn by rubber tappers, indigenous people, fishermen...you name it.

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Price? About RM10...maybe around 2.50 pound.
 
Sorry I'm a mong - didn't see you are based in KL - sourcing US boots might be easier.

LOL. I make those mistakes often myself. Whenever I can I try to go on base at Eglin Air Force Base to buy my boots at the uniform clothing store. I'm retired military so I still have Base shopping priveledges and they long ago switched back to Corcorans. My only problem until recently was that they had switched to green issue (although I could get black Magnums in the Base Exchange) boots while I still needed black ones for my new career (cop). That's not an issue now since I've retired from that also. I've read a lot of good things about the Altima but haven't tried them yet. Thanks for the info.
 
I've worked with a bloke who's a big fan of the Altama junglies with panama soles not just for tropic use but for summer UK type conditions too; and have also heard good things from another fella who wears a light pair of Altbergs (don't know the model, not their jungle boot, but a lightweight non-waterproof type), but I've not used them myself - apologies I can't be more useful!

The only time I ever went to anywhere tropical rainforesty I wore a suede pair of goretex lined Berghaus hikers since that was all I had - sodden stinky hot feet all round ;)
 

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