Hi there, I normally wear British Army Assault boots for hiking but now need to buy a new pair as I managed to stab a hole in between where the sole meets the leather and they are letting in water.

Not a very good situation as I took them to Snowdonia without realising and got wet feet and a blister on my heel which took a fortnight to heal.

Anyway since my feet were cold in Wales I was thinking of making my next pair Pro Boots rather than the standard Assault Boot.

Now I normally wear size 13 shoes but size 12 Assault Boots fit me great 13s being far too large. I am unsure whether to go for size 12 or size 13 assault boots, am I right in thinking all the Thinsulate and Goretex would make them a tighter fit?

I’m just worried if I order size 12 Pro Boots they will be too tight, how does the fit compare between the two boots, or are they the same?

Cheers Graham :)

I wear a size 9 Medium in an assault boot and a 9 Large in the Pro-Boot, but to make sure I would go to your local military type shop and try a pair on, with think socks.

Are think socks for brainy people?

Oh no, not another pro-boot thread ! !



I take a size 9. I have both the assault boot and the gore-tex lined pro boot.

I must say I find the pro boot a tad too big. Even with thick socks. The reason I dont wear them much anymore.

I should have got the smaller pair.

All I can say is that when you are on the hoof and your feet swell you will be glad of the extra room, trust me! But if you want to stand around in them and there is not much chance of getting hot and sweaty keep to the same size.

Thanks for the advice :)

This is complicated I never knew all the sizes were also available in S M L. My current assault boots have 12 M on the bottom and they hurt my feet when walking long distances.

I think ill get 12 L or 13 S pro boots, as I can always fit an insole if they are too small.

The S-M-L indicates the width of the boot and of course gives a tiny bit more room for the toes but if you need a lot more room it would be better to go a size up.

John! why are you wanting to use a military boot for Hiking/Mountain walking? you won't find many military personel doing it. It might be more prudent to purchase a boot designed for the purpose. However, with all these things it comes down to personal preference.

>>>Why are you wanting to use a military boot for Hiking/Mountain walking? you won't find many military personel doing it.<<<

I have always liked the Army boots, very hard wearing and comfortable. Besides the army often march all day carrying a heavy load and are still expected to fight after that. The boots must be good.

Ive ordered a pair of Pro Boots in size 12 as they were on special 12s and 14s only for £60. Hopefully they will fit or ill have to send them back.

BTW are the pro boots that much more comfortable than the assault boot?

Just wondering, what do the army actually use the pro boot for, why are they issued over the assault boots?

My issue high-legs just destroy my feet. That's why I don't wear them in the "great outdoors".

Graham, you sure the boots don't have L and R on them? :-)

"Just wondering, what do the army actually use the pro boot for, why are they issued over the assault boots?"

Graham! the Pro-Boot is issued as a cold climate footware, the assault boot is for temperate climate such as north west europe However, winters in Germany can be cold enought to see the pro-Boot worn. Any other region will see the issue of other boot types: desert, jungle as an example.

Or the non-issue....that guy who was killed after having been ordered to give his protective vest to someone else 'cos there weren't enough to go round lives near to me.
Big hoo-hah.

"Or the non-issue"

Jeannie! The sad fact is soldiers have never been given all the correct kit and it is one of the reasons the British army are so highly respected by other military forces throughout the world. It's because we are so used to coping with what we have and not what we would like, that is of course, no excuse for a soldier dying whilst ill prepared/equipt to carryout a task/mission, but sadly a factor in any military persons career. The truth is poor kit or not soldiers love to be involved and you won't find many that wish to be left behind when an operational tasking is being given. An earlier thread made reference to the saying "All the gear! no idea" The british Army cannot be labled with that one, can they?

<<<Graham, you sure the boots don't have L and R on them? :-)<<<

Hope not ;)

http://www.allthingsmilitary.co.uk/ishop/800/shopscr2048.html

Robbie, it's a funny thing, but there WAS a nagging doubt at the back of my mind in January this year...I sort of wanted to be sent back out there, even though I really detested the idea of what our guys (and my friends) were being sent out there for.

I have done one war (and I am sure most of the military types here have done at least one too) and have no love for it. Indeed I think it made me the anti-war lefty that I am now, but still, I sort of felt like I had to go...

Isn't the human mind a funny thing?

"Isn't the human mind a funny thing?"

Very strange indeed! and I know what you mean.

You would have thought the 2 most important pieces of gear issued to a professional soldier would be his boots and his rifle.
The SA80 assault rifle is gash.
The issue boots are the same.
Issue boots from my experience are almost one size fits all, true you have narrow/wide fittings ect........
Still everyone mentions blistered heels!

HEEL LIFT: We never knew what heel lift was 10 years ago!
Not much has changed, a good fitting civvy boot is in a different leauge.
As for descent body armour they cant afford descent boots.
Pro boots are for colder weather, gortex is gash for mild uk conditions when will the public wise up.
Some people obviously dont walk very far, in there gortex lined boots in the uk.
Well used boots lined with goretex will need to be replaced annaully, is that why the shelves are full of them?

I wont make any comments about having your body armour plates taken from you. Of course I am refering to the story in the news.

or the issue or non-issue of the SA-80.

I have no experiance of any of the above.

Ditto. Never even worn CBA.

I can't hit anything with the bloody gun anyway. At least it's more comfy to hold than the blunderbuss it replaced!

My exploits with a gun are legion at work. Here's a couple of my faves:

Failing a guard shoot with a Susat fitted.

Empting a mag (on auto) in one pull of the trigger-thingy.

Shooting (and hitting) a target in the next person alongs lane.

Still I can do drill with it, which reminds me, ohhhhhhhh joy a drill lesson doing arms funeral drill tomorrow morning first thing. Yippee.

LOL

Don't panic Captain Mainwaring.

I've done the next target along bit in my CCF days. All down to an eye dominance problem