With my Danners looking a little the worse for wear I’ve been looking on and off for a replacement pair of boots for when the time comes and they finally leave me for that big boot graveyard in the sky. Last year I bought a pair of German Army Para Boots online I bought a size 12 (took ages to find someone with a size 12) they arrived I was happy until I put them on they were HUGE, so I sent them back and remained on the look out.
Last Sunday I found a pair of Haix High Liability Grade 1 used for £35, now I’ve always been sceptical of buying “used boots” I hear people say they’re great already broken in etc. BUT to my mind they’re broken in for someone else’s foot……….. regardless I thought for £35 it’s worth the gamble:
Official Blurb:
Waterproof full grain leather upper.
Gore-Tex lining making the boot waterproof and breathable.
Locking D-Ring system for increased security and stability.
Abrasion and water resistant high rand ‘skirt’ on sole to provide extra security.
Lightweight , durable, anti-static, oil and acid resistant, anatomic sole .
The boots arrived in good order and got their first real test this morning, I put them on and set out for a 3hr jolly with the dogs it’s been raining on and off for the last 2 days/nights and the majority of our walk is dirt/mud tracks and across fields.
Initial thoughts putting the boots on for some reason it felt like I was wearing a pair of platform shoes, I’m already 6’4” but felt like these added another inch or 2 (purely psychological I’m sure) psychological or not it took the first 30minutes until I felt comfortable walking.
Overall a well made comfortable boot, they have a nifty little locking mechanism for the laces on the one eye (In-between the 3 eyelets for the shoe and the 2 for the ankle support):
Remember these are Grade 1 used, there is every little sign of wear and tare the biggest give away was the wear on the heals.
Nothing much to worry about there are still plenty of miles left in these boots and for the price I paid I really can’t grumble. For some reason they don’t look like an army boot, I may be bias as in my day boots came in 2 colours black and parade gloss bulled black
, brown boots were unheard of but I actually prefer them.Out with the old and in with the new? Not quite, I’ll still be wearing my Danners but will alternate between the 2
Link to Blog with pictures: http://blackthorn-bushcraft.blogspot.co ... ility.html