identify this boot? advice on online boot shopping?

June 27, 2005 8:04 PM

For six years I've worn a particular kind of black boot which has, understandably, succumbed to the ravages of time. It's kind of like a military boot and kind of like a workboot as this crappy cellphone photo demonstrates. My sister bought the original pair for me in Portland and doesn't remember any of the details: store name, brand name, and so forth. My guess is a place like GI Joe's. Any idea what this style of boot is called? And does anyone have a preferred online shopping outlet for kind of standard-issue apparel?
posted by dhoyt to clothing, beauty, & fashion (16 comments total)

Best outlets for this kind of stuff- uscav.com and sportsmansguide.com . Sportsmans Guide has a category search- check this...
posted by fake at 8:09 PM on June 27, 2005

We call them hiking boots.
posted by tellurian at 8:18 PM on June 27, 2005

Aren't there any tags or labels inside the boot that could give us a hint? Usually there's one on the tounge.
posted by SpecialK at 8:19 PM on June 27, 2005

Portland is the location of the only Danner outlet (Outstanding boots but expensive).

The picture you have looks like a pair of Rocky boots. Unfortunately it has been years since I bought a pair and can not reccomend an online retailer.
posted by MLIS at 8:24 PM on June 27, 2005

If you're buying army boots, you might as well buy a Wellco boot. They're the real deal (they made the desert storm boot, and maybe also the new Iraq boots), good-looking, and very reasonably priced.
posted by armchairsocialist at 8:45 PM on June 27, 2005

Hey, how about some Georgia Boot information ?
posted by hortense at 10:42 PM on June 27, 2005

Oakley tactical boot and 5.11 Tactical Footwear are both excellent tactical boots.
posted by tumble at 11:21 PM on June 27, 2005

US Calvary sells boots that look like that.
posted by 517 at 3:44 AM on June 28, 2005

That looks remarkably like the hiking boots I got from Vegetarian Shoes.

However, those particular boots did not last anywhere near six years for me.
posted by ursus_comiter at 5:23 AM on June 28, 2005

I've got a pair of these, the brand I have is Wolverine. I found them in a discount clothing store.
posted by odinsdream at 6:26 AM on June 28, 2005

Pretty damn good suggestions all around. From the links above I'm seeing a lot of boots similar to mine, and also getting some other ideas. Thanks guys.

Aren't there any tags or labels inside the boot that could give us a hint? Usually there's one on the tounge.

There was a brand name at some point the heel but it wore off in the first two years.
posted by dhoyt at 6:49 AM on June 28, 2005

They look like the boots I've seen in stores that cater to police and EMT types, or a uniform supply store or army-navy surplus. Maybe your town has one--ask a cop!
posted by scratch at 6:51 AM on June 28, 2005

I'll second tumble's recommendation on the Oakley Tactical Boot. I have a pair and they are far and away the best pair of boots I have ever owned. And, best of all, no break in time: comfortable from day one...
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 7:10 AM on June 28, 2005

Hi-Tec boot? Looks a lot like what a bunch of us subversive enlisted folks tried to sneak in as proper military boots back in the day when they first came out. This particular brand was once found in every military surplus store in the early 90's—not so sure about that now. Anyway, the linked model lacks the padded ankle collar but others do not. See also:
ankle collar, but not leather (suede perhaps?) and what we snuck through as combat boots
posted by Fezboy! at 9:40 AM on June 28, 2005

Like fezboy! my first thoughts were of Hi-Tec...but it should have a label on the tongue saying so (unless it's come off after all these years).

They LOOK like Hi-Tecs. Hi-Tec Magnums, if IIRC...some type of Jungle variation.

And Fezboy!, us subversive commissioned folks could sneak wearing some Hi-Tecs usually, as long as we were out in the field.
posted by taumeson at 10:14 AM on June 28, 2005

<chat-filter>
Damn you, taumeson! We would see you commissioned folks (well, one of our 2Ls at any rate) wearing these, shake our fists at the inequities of the military system, and follow that with some high volume, off-color Monty Python "being repressed"-type rhetoric. This, of course, tended to result in "remedial training" in the arts of protocol. Our track was generally one of the more riotous and contentious ones in the unit but we could all do hella push-ups.
posted by Fezboy! at 10:56 AM on June 28, 2005