Whenever an "End-Of-Year" buy comes around (spending the last bit of Uncle Sam's money before the fiscal year ends), the guys all want "Oakley Boots". I think part of the reason is the tendency to want to look different than the "regular" Army guys. Other than that, they are pretty comfortable but most guys price them so much that they are afraid to punish the boots like they are meant to be punished.
That being said, I have two types of boots that I use a lot: one pair of Magnum Hi Techs and several pairs of regular issued boots. The Magnum Hi Techs is what I use for CQB and I have had them for five years now (yep, the same pair). True, I clean and condition the leather often, but I also beat the heck out of them. They have sped through the "fatal funnel" when the path was covered with splintered wood, broken glass, screws and nails. I have kicked furniture out the way with them, climbed fences and even fast roped with them.
The regular issued ones have never failed me either. If they are properly fitted, they do just as good, if not better than the more expensive "Gucci" types. Plus, they didn't cost me a thing. And the Magnums, well, they cost less than if I bought a new pair of "issued" boots and they have lasted through a lot.
So, in the end, I wonder why the whole thing with the "Gucci" boots. I remember that everyone wanted the GSG9 boots a while back because the "Boys Behind the Fence" had them. Since they fall apart all the time, mostly they sit in a locker until someone has to conduct a HALO jump. Now, the Oakleys are popular because, "I can wear them, and you can't." Still, as the team is currently fat with gear, if the extra money comes down our way, we are buying 12 pair of Oakley boots for the fellas. And, only because we can't allow the HALO team next door to get them first!
Hybrid Mode
