Customer Reviews

Magnum Men's Elite Force 8.0 Wpi Boot,Black,14 M US

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

 

 

I bought these boots as a replacement for my last pair of magnum boots which were fantastic. I had them for years and they were the best pair of boots I had ever owned. I am a construction worker so I am pretty rough on boots and I was really impressed with the durability and comfort of my first pair.
The last pair I had were the ones with the zippers on the side and if I had any complaint at all about them it was that the plastic zipper could have been made a little better.
I decided this time to go with the boots with no zipper and to get the waterproof ones.
I have been wearing then for a month now and although I thought they would eventually break in and get more comfortable, they have not. They are extremely stiff and mishapen. The left and right boot are shaped differently from each other. They both rub a spot raw on the back of my heels, but the right one is quite a bit worse. I can only stand to wear them for a few hours at a time.
They are generally stiff and uncomfortable and all I can think about while wearing them is taking them off.
They are also not waterproof. The left boot leaks badly where the sole meets the leather up by the toe. They are ok in wet grass or even snow for a little while, but if you step in an inch of standing water your feet are soaked within seconds.

I didn't do any research before I bought these because I was so happy with my last pair. Now that I have done some reading, I see that somewhere beetween my first pair and this pair they have moved their manufacturing process to china.
I guess that explains it.

I have used these shoes for a total of only around 50 hours, so can't comment on long term durability. The boots are quite comfortable and supportive except the solid inner heel can rub against your leg very uncomfortably or even a little painfully if you don't have thick socks or something to cushion the heel. My observation of comfort and support is based on experience with ergonomic shoes and the works of FM Alexander and Diane Watts, so in my mind these boots rank very high in ergonomics. During break-in, the top of the boots can damage your skin if you don't wear over the calf socks or you wear thin dress socks. Magnum's sf-3 or mx-3 socks are very well designed for this boot, overcoming the lack of heel cushioning, and wicking sweat and allowing ventilation in the full leather boots.

It really is waterproof, at least up to the first eyelets. The outsole is very slip resistant and also has very thick tread, the outsole will likely last a long time. I purchased these magnum boots because according to their literature it is heat resistant to 300c surface contact temperature, I'm not sure what happens in prolonged exposure at high temperatures, but I believe they should last a long time for walking on 95c metal roofs which is what I got this particular model for. They don't tell you on most sites, but the elite force 8.0 wpi also have ortholite insoles and ag-ion anti-bacterial feature. The weight is ~28oz, ~8oz higher than their spider boots, but it doesn't feel heavy, it is still below the average weight of boots.

In 30c weather these boots get pretty warm and toasty, 100% cotton socks can get soaked after several hours. With polyester socks, they are tolerable and don't feel all sweaty, haven't tested higher but I am guessing at 33c and up these boots may become uncomfortably hot. These boots are great in cold weather however, and I intend to wear them every day below 30c.

Cons: Solid inner heel requires cushioning, can get hot in really hot weather
Pros: Everything else

Used these boots for years. I had two pairs for over 15 years. One recently failed, thus I ordered the Elite Force.

They are great. No breakin needed just put them on and moved on.

Thanks MAGNUM.

If my other pair fail, I will order this boot again.

I have had these boots since the end of January this year! They have not held up at all, the seam on outside of toe started coming apart over a month ago, and where the boot is attached to the back kick pad, it pulled away and separated and left a hole about the size of a silver dollar. This is my second pair of magnum boots in 1 1/2 years, and I have spent well over $300.00 very discouraging! Before this pair of boots and the last ones, I bought some other magnum boots that are no longer available and I got over 2+ years out of them! In fact they were such good boots I bought a second pair later with the same results at least 2 years of use from them. They were awesome boots! Not to mention they were @ $30.00 less a pair! I would NEVER NEVER recommend these boots to anyone! I have seen better results from a pair of boots that cost $50.00!

The quality of MAGNUM BOOTS must be a thing of the past.

Ordered these boots for my husband because he needed a pair to wear riding motorcycles. His feet don't get cold and the boots are comfortable. I ordered them and they came in by the specified day. Exactly what I ordered.