Boot Suggestions

[Switchback]

I have these:
Seeker Desert PT


and the Seeker GTX in brown. I can't find them online, though.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I'll fill you in on my research.

I badly wanted a pair of Danner Acadias. Then, I was told about the Lowa boots. Both are expensive, although I believe the Lowa boots cost more than Danner. In addition to Danner boots being kick-*** boots (now officially approved for use by the U.S. Marine Corps), many of them can be resoled. If you purchase Danner Acadias you can get different levels of insulation including NO insulation and Danner will resole and recondition them for you (of course, for a fee) if/when needed. Lowa will do the same thing. However, for Lowa, you're supposed to turn them in to your closest Lowa rep and they ship them back to the factory for you. With Danners, you ship them directly to Danner and they send them straight back to you.

Sounds great, I know. But there's a catch. Ahhhhh, yes. You have to be careful WHICH boots you purchase if you're looking at keeping them and getting them resoled in the future. For instance, the Urban Police boots BP348 posted have a sole that is NOT replaceable. Basically, if you have "tennis shoe-type" soles, it most likely can't be replaced. If you have standard "boot" soles, they probably can.

Here's the info straight from Lowa:

The possibility of resoling a Lowa boot or shoe primarily depends on its “design type”. If the soles are glued in place, they can be replaced easily. This is normally possible in the case of all Lowa alpine, backpacking and trekking boots. If so, your Lowa specialist dealer will take your boots in and forward them to us, where they will be re-soled using original parts at cost price. It may be possible that the relevant original soles are no longer available, in which case they will be replaced with materials of at least equal quality.
By contrast it is not possible to re- sole our shoes which are moulded directly onto the upper (All Terrain Collection, Outdoor Fitness, Trek & Travel).

And here's Danner's recrafting page:
Boot Recrafting - Danner

Why have I never bought either one? No friggin' dealers around that ever had the boots for me to try them on. However, due to the reputation, pricing and availability, I'd take the Danner Acadias any day. I WILL be getting desert rough-out Acadias in the next year or so.

[Legoate]

On the cheap not.... most people I know with Danners have gotten resoled without a problem- most boot places can slap on some new vibram soles for around $50.

If you send them to danner they will send them back in like-new condition, however it can cost you almost the price of a new pair of boots. I was sort of amazed at how much they charge for their services.

[MikeG]

I bought two pairs when I graduated the NYPD:
1) Danner's for summer that were waterproof ($185)
2) Rockey's that were insulaed and waterproof ($225)

It is now 9 years later. Those boots are still kicking after every day on patrol.

$410 for 9 years of warm feet in the winter, cool feet in the summer, no blisters, no corns, no callous, and never wet. Assuming weekends off and 4 weeks of vacation a year, those puppies have been worn about 2,169 and cost me about 19 cents a work day. I spend more on pens I lose than that a day.

9 years??!?

Joey, your patrol beat doesn't end at your door handle. Walking from brief to car doesn't count.

[BP348]

I have these:
Seeker Desert PT


and the Seeker GTX in brown. I can't find them online, though.

I spoke with a rep at Lowa. The reason you can't find the Seeker PT in a duty black is because they stopped making them.

I did find a few pair on line for about $150 including shipping and I'm thinking about ordering a a pair. I'm just wondering how they would hold up in the brush.

I badly wanted a pair of Danner Acadias

These boots are on our uniform web site and we can use our uniform allowance for them. Great boots but not the best if you're standing a lot, I'm probably going to order a pair of the uninsulated when we get our next uniform allowance

[Switchback]

My seekers have been through some nasty brush and held up just fine. I have put a lot of miles on them in central Louisiana for sniper training, as well as an operation or 2 in the woods... among many other training events here and there.

[BP348]

I did find a few pair on line for about $150 including shipping and I'm thinking about ordering a a pair. I'm just wondering how they would hold up in the brush.

Ordered a pair. I'll let you guys know what I think

[Switchback]

Keep us posted on what you think.

[CelticSmackdown]

I bought a pair of Danner Striker II GTX Side Zip for $172. They felt great when I put them on and didn't feel heavy at all.

After deciding on those, I also picked up a Streamlight DS LED and a Blackhawk off duty holster for my Glock 17.

Nothing quite like Black Friday, law enforcement style! Only 9 days left until graduation.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

They shouldn't feel heavy. They're designed to have that lightweight, "tennis shoe" style feel to them.

[nate1]

Has anyone here worn the Oakley assault boots? They look comfortable enough, but for the price I'd almost just rather pay for Danners.

[BP348]

Has anyone here worn the Oakley assault boots? They look comfortable enough, but for the price I'd almost just rather pay for Danners.

I've had several pair of the Oakley boots. Not sure if Oakley offers a LEO discount or just a Govt discount but I get them for about $100. They are pretty good boots but I could only get about a year out of them. Of course I was doing a lot of walking at the checkpoint. They are not brush boots.

My biggest complaint is that the toe is glued so it can come apart. Not good on a $100 pair of boots and if I paid full price ($250??) I'd be pissed!!!

[Sgt. Slaughter]

You can get the Oakley boots through their government website. LEO/Fire/EMT/Military all qualify.

[BP348]

Keep us posted on what you think.

Got them in last night but I'm on vacation this week (got to love that 208 hrs of vacation a year ) so it will be next week before I try them out.