Golden Fox 6" Boondocker Service Boot Pro

Product Information

The metal eyelets give it an authentic service boot touch. However, having to perfectly and incrementally loosen the laces everytime I take them off is time-consuming. This isn’t a good rushing-out-the-door shoe. Om te passen bij de moderne slijtage, hebben we de zool verbeterd door anti-skid klinknagels te verwijderen en zorgvuldig een bepaald waterdichte suede leer als bovenwerk te hebben geselecteerd. Bovendien hebben we veters in drie verschillende kleuren opgenomen om verschillende stijlen te presenteren. The only thing I don’t like about this is that I often have to incrementally loosen the rows of laces to get it loose enough to take off. It’s not enough to untie and loosen just the top portion. So many of the M-43 boots were made and they were so popular that they became commonly available in military surplus stores as well as popular shoe brands adopting the style. While not the best, this insole turns out to be more effective than it looks, which I’ll cover in the sole section.

However, it was bendy enough on day one and is even more flexible now that I’ve worn it for a good week. This also surprised me since I couldn’t even bend the sole with my hand when I took it out of the box. The President’s comfort technology is worlds better, offering a cork midsole and an EVA-comfort footbed. This boot can handle occasional high-impact activity, but shouldn’t be used as an everyday work boot.

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To modern eyes these are toned-down, military-style, 6” boots that have a vintage air and look amazing with everything from khakis to jeans. You can basically wear these anytime you would wear moc toes. They definitely have more of a rough and rugged look, certainly suitable for casual adventures. In 2016, when Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced the Navy would ditch the “blueberry” NWU Type I uniforms he also vowed to deliver new and improved safety boots for the fleet. These boots are incredibly easy to take care of. Brush them frequently to keep dirt from wearing away at the leather and seams. Also, keep them oiled and conditioned and they will last a very long time. Consider applying some conditioner, like Cobbler’s Choice, once or twice a year. This confusing sizing also poses a problem if you wear a large size shoe, since Golden Fox doesn’t offer half sizes past size 11.

It’s also effectively slip-resistant. I’ve worn this shoe up and down slippery marble stairs at work and outside in the rain, with zero trips to the ground. The leather looks well-oiled and lush right out of the box, and has the organic hyde scent of full-grain leather. It does feel thin, especially at the tongue and at the sides of the upper. Between the solid footbed and the hard gum outsole, I was convinced that I’d need to break this boot in before it would give me any bend. To my surprise, it was comfortable and flexible enough upon first wear. These boots are also slightly bulbous in the toe. I wouldn’t say that they are full-on clown shoes, but these don’t have the tapered toe so common in boots with similar profiles today, like the Thursday President. These are constructed of a full-grain leather and have a nice tannic scent out of the box. They use Crazy Horse leather that is well oiled and waxed. The wax bonds with the fibers and so you can easily hide scuffs and scratches by just rubbing them, handy.These boots run a touch big, but they are not particularly wide, so if you have wider feet as I do, you may want to go longer to make up for the narrowness. I did find that they loosened up nicely and shrunk down where I needed them to except at the toe box, but that may be because there is a tremendous amount of room there. The eyelets are well finished and have no sharp edges. Around the eyelets on the inside is tough pigskin to reinforce them and this extends to around the collar. I appreciate this attention to detail and the strengthening at the wear points. Just be aware: these things are for real. They’re pretty darn heavyweight, and require a bit work to get some flex going. The flip of that is they’re one of the most wear-impervious outsoles on the market. And damn do they look so damn perfect for this boot. According to Golden Fox, the outsole is crepe rubber, which initially surprised me because it looks like standard gum rubber. Typically, I associate crepe with the lighter porous version that gets dirty easily and is hard to clean.

Mainly, the soft padding on the middle inner part of the foot combined with that solid footboard, makes for a good balance of support and comfort, for casual wear. Regardless, it isn’t just one of those affordable boots that looks strong and lithe, but will fall apart because of its budget construction. The insole insert, although not pretty, is very supportive and very comfortable. It has quite a pronounced bump for arch support that may not be suitable for all feet, but felt rather nice and supportive on mine. It comes out easy enough and you can certainly swap it out for something else once it wears out. I consider these casual boots and would not recommend them for work, hiking, or rough wear. They are heavy duty enough, but in that I-bought-some-boots-from-Eddie-Bauer way. Sure they look tough, but I wouldn’t bet my life or safety on them. They are based on military specifications, but I wouldn’t expect them to handle an enlistment. Chamois in general deserves its accolades as a do-everything rugged leather that’s still darned beautiful, and it rewards heavy wear about as well as anything out there. Especially when flipped to its reverse side, the “fat-liquored” leather has a truly unique feel to it, and is unafraid of basically any elements. It’s also legitimately self-healing—even nice big scratches will generally disappear just by…walking. And the nap only gets better with wear. Wonderful stuff. The Sole: Dr. Sole Raw Cord Full Sole

1. Golden Fox Boondocker Service Boot

Got somewhere to be? Here’s the long and short of this remarkable boot so that you can decide if it’s right for you. Pros The Service Shoes became the official working shoe of the U.S. Army during World War II. We have transformed this iconic boot and given it a modern twist, while retaining the essence of its functionality. Given the appearance of a fascinating boot, how it is constructed is more than you would expect from a mid-century style shoe. Several years after getting out of the Navy I decided to join the Navy Reserves. Most of my active duty had been with the Marines and I wanted to see more of the Navy. Within minutes after being sworn in I was informed that I would be assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines. Well that didn't work out as planned.

These boots are a bit of a project in putting on. I find that I need to loosen the laces or unlace them down to the 4th eyelets before putting my feet in. Once I l get my foot in there, the comically tiny pull tab is no help. These are not boots that you grab when rushing out the door in a hurry. Where the most confusion and grievances come from is with the sizing. Golden Fox recommends sizing down just a half. Some reviewers say they run extremely large, while others say they don’t run large enough to merit sizing down. It’s also this treatment that gives the surface a rich feel and look, despite how thin the actual material is. If you’re taking hours-long walks or have foot pain issues, you’ll definitely want to replace them with something fancier. Fortunately, that stable footbed will partner well with any insole. One of the strengths of these boots over many other brands at this price point is how easy these were to break in and how extremely comfortable they felt while wearing them.I showed him a picture and he was amazed....I guess I still need to teach the younger generation our Navy history...lol. Frankly, the insole looks flimsy and cheaply thrown together. If I wanted to, I could pull off the arch support material from its base since it’s just glued on, and there are several points of separation. The Pershing Boot, or trench boot, of WWI was replaced with a more pragmatic and comfortable boot. First the M-42 was released and this featured a cap toe, also known as the Service Shoe. This had a two-piece stitched sole and was often worn with a canvas gaiter, which is a strap over the boot and around the leg to offer protection from branches and thorns, and to keep mud and snow from entering the top of the boot. The inside of this boot is incredibly comfortable and I was amazed how they seemed to loosen up with my first few steps in them. Nothing pinched or grated against my feet. My foot also felt very secure and supported in them, which is reassuring. I never felt as if I was wearing bargain boots. If you’re seriously considering Golden Fox service boots, the two main things to think about are budget and what you’ll be using them for.