I know they arent rare, but im new on here and i had no idea that there was a link here littered everywhere to click on. I always just saw the exact ones on ebay for ridiculous prices. I was just super excited to finally get them while not having to pay a arm and a leg🤣
Well I haven’t seen many at all…?.
Sorry my friend, i thought you were being sarcastic…lol! Yeah, i actually found a thread on here for the vietnam jungle boots i posted the pics of for 50 dollars. If you go on here and search under vietnam jungle boots score, just scroll down the thread and you’ll see the links to click on. After you click on it, it takes you right to a surplus online store straight to the jungle boots. Just make sure if you order them that you order the ones with the regular soles and not that panama soles because it gives you the option. Another thing to, they only come in narrow and extra narrow sizes. I wear a size 10 1/2 shoe and i ordered the 11 narrows and they fit fine. Theyre a little snug but not uncomfortable
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Actually, i just saw that theres a link on this thread to bud…just scroll up and you’ll see it
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Thanks to everyone who had shared the link- I went with the 11N pair (I typically wear an 11 in boots) and they’re really not that narrow, or maybe I should have been wearing narrow this whole time! I swapped insoles and that helps with comfort. The tightest part was just above my toes, where the toe cap starts. I wore them and then put some wooden shoe trees in there to stretch it. They fit great now, I wear them all the time- I figure if they get scuffed up or worn, it’s just more authentic! The vibram soles in a close to wearable size (real ones, not the Chinese knockoffs) are pretty rare to find for a reasonable price, especially brand new!
Some guy on ebay has brand new 13N and 13XN Panama soles for $10 plus shipping, I used those for a life size and it works just fine if not completely authentic
Nice- they’re surprisingly pristine
YEAH! Killer boots man!
I found a similar pair; mine still has a lot of life left in them, so I opted for a good, affordable pair of orthotic inserts to ensure I don’t experience any discomfort later on.
Thats probably not a bad idea my friend. I thought about maybe doing that to
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If you’re talking about insoles/inserts, it’s well worth it. I just got some $1 foam ones at Walmart for now, and it makes a huge difference. They flatten out pretty fast, but replacing them is cheap. The stock insoles on real jungle boots is that yellow mesh stuff that has like zero support or cushion.
You can also stack insoles if the boots are too big, and then it’s really cushy.
Yeah, thats what i was talking about. Dont get me wrong, their not uncomfortable or anything…its just that a tiny bit of cushioning would be good. I don’t have alot of room to spare, but i could always pick some up the next time im at the store and if its to tight, than worst case scenario i waste a few bucks…lol!
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My Walmart has the regular foam insoles for $1 that are pretty thin and wear out quickly, but would leave more space. The “2x foam” ones are $2 but take up way more room, but are really really comfy! They might be snug for a bit, but they do flatten out pretty quickly.
For the $1 or $2, I buy a set or two anytime I’m at Walmart and use them in all my different shoes. Good insoles make a big difference not only in comfort, but I’ve gotten pairs that are a size too big to fit just fine with the thicker insoles.
If you remove that yellow stock “insole” (it’s barely an insole, it was more meant to allow water drainage) you’ll see that’s it, there is no real cushioning in the military boots. At least the thin cushy insole wouldn’t take up any more space than the yellow stock one if you remove it.
I also used a pair of XL shoe trees to stretch out my 11N authentic jungle boots- really cram that in there and then heat it up with a hairdryer to get just a tad for room above the toes where it bends. The narrow width was fine for me, but it was the volume being smaller where it pinched a bit. Using a leather conditioner (I like Bick 4 as it’s not greasy and doesn’t leave a residue) also helps soften it up and make them last longer, especially on leather that is sometimes 50 year old!
I might have to try getting some of that conditioner your talking about. I mean i havent even really got a chance yet to break them on as much as i wanted to. I was thinking about wearing them on a semi regular basis anyway because they are a really cool pair of vintage boots anyway.
I also wanted to say i checked out your coveralls, very nice man👍
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Thanks for the compliment on the coveralls! I’ve weathered about 10 pair over the years now and I feel I can do a decent job and I have a lot of fun doing it. Really takes a costume, life size, or bust to the next level! Of course I started with more common ones and haven’t touched my real vintage Sears yet, but maybe someday! I have “ruined” a few pair by not knowing what I was doing or using the wrong stuff. Or that one time I used black fabric paint that had glitter in it (even though it was NOT a glitter paint…) that sucked! Avoid Tulip soft black fabric paint- it’s glittery! And other reviews said the same
As for the boots, military boots are known to be a real pain to break it (and painful) but supposedly they’re super comfortable once they are broken in. One trick I’ve heard is to wear them in a warm shower, and wear them the rest of the day until they dry- but I’m not that adventurous. The conditioner is a good idea on any leather shoes/boots, but especially if they are decades old like a lot of jungle boots are. 2-3 coats of Bick 4 (Bick 4 is a non-greasy and mild conditioner that won’t change colors or leave a residue) and they should be good. I also put some inside the boot on the sole after removing the insole- it’s leather too and will be getting bent a lot.
Pair of insoles instead of the stock mesh things ups the comfort and wearability. I had to heat mine with a hairdryer and stuff XL wooden shoe trees in them to stretch them a bit (but you could stuff with many things- tissue paper, etc.), they were snug on the top of my foot. Once I found a comfy but thin pair of insoles, they’re great and I too love wearing them casually. And even if they get dinged up or worn, all the more accurate!
Im about to weather a pair of my sears work n leisure coveralls h2 style, so we’ll see how it goes. Ive weathered a couple of other coveralls with success but im going to be adding a extra touch this time to the blood to make it look fresh. As for the boots, i finally got some of those insoles and put them in my boots, and it made my boots impossibility tight wich shocked me a little because they are the cheap thin 2 dollar ones. I didnt think they would make them so much tighter, so i had to take them out and ive just been wearing them without any insoles. Im starting to wear them in a bit so they’re actually feeling much better. I still have to get that conditioner though.