Customer Reviews

Altama US Military Specification Jungle Boot Mens - Black 8.5 R

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, this review is for 3 Altama boots- The Desert 9" Mil Spec (Panama Sole), The Black Jungle 9" Mil Spec (Panama Sole) and the All Leather Combat 10" (Lug Sole)

I'm new to Altama and after the first pair (3 months ago) I now own 3.

Sizing: According to Altama's web site and my own experience you should order down 1/2 size. I wear an 11 in Nike (Shox for running) and in most dress shoes and take a 10.5 in these. I have an extremely narrow foot and the regular size does just fine for me.

I originally ordered the non-mil spec and the insole was just a flat piece of polyurethane or something like that. NOW... with the Mil Spec you get an actual insole, like in a running shoe. I have actually run in these on concrete and did not have any blisters or hot spots. In the snow the leather's lug sole did great and the deserts actually kept my feet dry in the rain. We have crazy weather in the mountains of WV.

The Jungle boots drainage holes are a god send for wet weather and they dry pretty quickly, I was surprised how well they did dry.

The All Leather Combat boots handle snow like a champ and keep your feet warm and dry. We had some good snow falls this winter and these boots stood up to the elements.

The Desert boot is made for...well, hot weather. Now, I have worn them in 30F temps and my feet were not cold. I've worn them with jeans in 60F weather and they weren't too hot. I love the color, but do recommend you use some Kiwi water proofing. The spray will darken them, but the color will lighten back up overnight.

I would recommend these to anyone looking for a good boot and have done so (now some co-workers have purchased the same thing and have worn them daily in bad weather)

The all leather combat boot can be shined and worn to work and nobody is any the wiser that you're wearing combat boots with a nice pair of dockers. They also look great with Jeans and I've received many compliments on them.


To summarize... this is for the 3 basic style Mil Spec Altama boots. I wouldn't get something cheaper to save money. Spend the money, live in comfort and watch how these stand up. If they were any less they wouldn't be military approved by the DOD.

Order 1/2 size down from your size in running shoes and you're welcome (in advance) for the advice.

Enjoy.

There is nothing but good things to say about these boots. Over the last twelve years I've owned six different pairs (four desert and two black), and they've all been exceptional:

+ Durable. The first and only thing to ever wear out on these is the sole. You can't really fault Altama when you wear through the bottoms. Some people even resole them when that happens, and get another life out of them, but I usually just start fresh. The one time I did resole them, I eventually got some cracking in the leather around the forefoot long into the second life of the boots.

+ Comfortable. Right out of the box, these boots are really comfortable. The most comfortable combat boots that there are for warm weather. For running or for really long foot marches, you can put in a "aftermarket" insole, either to replace the one that comes from Altama or on top of it. Even without changing the insole, they are really comfortable.

+ Lightweight. These are well-made, heavy-duty, boots, but they are also the lightest MILSPEC combat boots that you will find. I think the reason, is that so much of them is fabric, instead of leather, but either way, on long movements, your legs will thank you for the ounces that these boots shave off compared to most combat boots.

+ Tread pattern. The tread is pretty basic on these boots, but it does the job. Some boots with aggressive looking soles end up getting clumped full of mud. When that happens, those boots weigh a ton. You are much better off with the less attractive, but just as functional Altama pattern.

+ Made in USA. Every pair of these that I've gotten has been made in America.

+ Look. These boots always look good. The black ones hold a shine very well, and the desert ones don't require any maintenance at all. Either way you go, they are a great looking boot with a lot of character.

I highly recommend that you consider these boots.

Altama makes some of the great looking army boots in the world at very reasonable prices. They're durable and heavy. I know this because I wore the Mil Spec for 4 years.
They also have a very professional customer service.
I would definitely recommend Altama but beware if you have wide feet, you might want to try a different brand as Altama doesn't REALLY offer a wide size.

I got these for rainy season use in areas with clay soil--the Panama sole doesn`t pick up the mud like regular soles. The boot doesn`t have quite the support of the desert boots, and the Panama sole doesn`t have quite the ``bite``, but in the mud it`s a good tradeoff.
Sizing is the same as it was 40 years ago-1/2 size less than my jogging shoe size.