Combat Boots
From The D Archives
I've had the (un)fortunate chance to use 5 different combat boots in my life. The following are:
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French army boots
I had them in something like size 46, and I'm normally a 43 or 44. Oddly enough this didn't seem to bother me too much, since the soles of the boots were sturdy enough and and had a reasonably good grip on the ground.
Finnish M/91 boots
I was dumb enough to buy a pair of these several years before going to the army. They are horribly overpriced - something like 140 € a pair, and nothing in them is truly exceptional from other normal combat boots, either. The soles suck, they are too hot to use in warmer climates and don't dry that easily. Sold them away in 2006, if I can remember correctly.
Had to use them again in 2008 during my service, and quite frankly the two pairs I used sucked just as much - not to mention that there had been at least a dozen other users for that specific pair of boots before me.
Finnish M/05 boots
Supposedly a better version of the M/91 boots. I only got use them as part of the leave uniform, so no field experience was collected with them. The soles of these boots are better than their predecessors, but the boots still seemed kinda shitty and too hot, as well. I also managed to break one of the shoelace holes manufactured out of metal on the boots by simply tugging the laces tighter. I've seen a better model of these boots being issued to some guys, but where I did my service mostly the enlisted personnel (instructors) only had the better boots - and naturally us conscripts were issued the (in my opinion) subquality boots. I suppose the difference between a good and a bad pair of M/05's was the manufacturer (Jalas or Sievin Jalkine). I think Sievi did the enlisted personnel boots, and us sorry-assed conscripts got stuck with the Jalas models.
Simply put, the M/05 ain't much better than the older M/91's, but some improvements are included. Wouldn't pay over a hundred €'s over em', though.
British Desert Boots
Didn't have much use for these, so sold em' away pretty quickly after obtaining them. Enough said.
Haix Airpower P3 boots
Currently the best boots I've ever worn. They've got a Goretex-layer and are well ventilated and very lightweight. The soles are pretty OK, too.
