ISO boots

[Jeff K]

Went on a mission to find new boots. Having wide paddles makes it impossible to buy on line. Went to three different Army surplus places looking for wide waterproof tactical boots. no joy
If anyone knows of the mother load of in stock boots clue me in

[Jess from VA]

I'm not sure where you live, but if tack/swat boots (lacers) are what you are looking for, try looking to see if there are any police/fire specialty stores near you. (may have more selection to try on)

I have the same problem with boots, helmets and gloves.  If I cannot try them on, it is hit or miss. And any deal made on line is often sucked up in returns. 

Ideally, I am a 8 1/2 D (or wide), but sometimes it's a 9D, or 8 1/2 E (or EEE).  Plus, everything I wear gets Spenco Polysorb inserts..... which I take to the store with me for try on.  Virtually all stock inserts are 'el cheapo and not glued in.

I get my Cold weather boots (Sidi/Alpinstars) a half size large for the two pair of heavy sox I wear.

[Tundra]

Every brand of Tactical boots...pricy
http://tacticalgear.com/offer-details

Less expensive, good for riding.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/mens-boots-shoes-combat-tactical-boots.aspx?c=11&s=370&kec=2

[Jeff K]

Can't buy online
I tried on a bates 10 wide. not bad out a little long. 9 1/2 reg i couldn't even get my foot in.
Throughgood, I couldn't even get my foot in a ten is was so narrow
Went into Tampa,
Magnum 10 not wide enough

i'd go broke shipping these things back and forth
The waterproof is where i hit the hang up. Not a big call for it here I guess

[FloridaValkRyder]

Jeff, I wore Redwings my entire 28 career with the Fire Dept. I'm sure they have a store near you in either Tampa or Orlando. I wear a 12 EEE and they always fit me the best..and I tried darn near all of them.

[Jess from VA]

Best waterproof tack boots I ever had (have) are Danner Striker (now Striker II).  Yes, spendy.

Sizes are pretty true,  and unlike almost all cordura boots, the tongue is (mostly) leather covered to keep out the weather better.  Cordura tongues, even in waterproofs, don't do so well at 70mph.

http://www.galls.com/danner-striker-ii-gtx-8-inch-duty-boot?PMSRCE=20920090&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Footwear_NTM_Exact&utm_content=9O4X2FVi|pcrid|3582802794|pkw|danner%20striker%20boots|pmt|be

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Jeff, I wore Redwings my entire 28 career with the Fire Dept. I'm sure they have a store near you in either Tampa or Orlando. I wear a 12 EEE and they always fit me the best..and I tried darn near all of them.

 
I would definitely try out the Redwing Boots. I also have a EEEE Wide Foot with a Very High Instep and the Redwing Boots Got The Job Done.

[BF]

I take an 11.5 4E.  The last place I got boots was online at Galls.  Got a set of Reebok tactical boots with a side zipper. 

They're great....almost like wearing a pair of tennis shoes.....helleva lot better than the Bates boots I had before. 

[R J]

Jeff, I wore Redwings my entire 28 career with the Fire Dept. I'm sure they have a store near you in either Tampa or Orlando. I wear a 12 EEE and they always fit me the best..and I tried darn near all of them.

Jeff, I also wore Red Wings when on the Patrol.

My youngest daughter is a Construction Engineer for a Company about 32 miles North of us.    Her Company will pay her for the Red Wings if she buys them.  Some of her Job sites in the spring are mud to her you know what and they never seem to wear out the soles, but after about 6 years they seem to split the uppers, and Red Wing has taken real good care on replacing them.   If she gets in the mud, she will take  a garden hose, they have a lot of those around the job site(s) and she just sprays them off and heads for home at the end of the day.

After retiring from the Patrol, I almost always wore Red Wings whie riding.
I always sprayed them with a water proofing spray, that I bought from Bass Pro Shop.     They never leaked on me.

[Jeff K]

I have NEVER had good luck with RedWing boots or shoes. The last set i got cost me better than $200 with the shoes and the recommended inserts. I went back a few weeks later and said they don't fit anymore, they stretched and I had to pull them so tight to keep them from flopping around on my feet. They told me I should have done a better job of fitting them, HELL THEY did the fitting!!!
I told them they got the last of my money, and I am pretty good at holding a grudge. I used to buy RedWings when I worked the floor, they always held up well but were NEVER comfortable, they took forever to break in and even then the soles we so stiff.
Hated them

[R J]

Wow, I never heard of anyone having that much trouble.

I was gpoing to tell ya to come up here get fitted and buy the boots and break em in on the way home.

I always seemed to be able to break in new boots pretty easy.    Had to on the CHP boots or you would be riding in a wheel chair up to the stopped vehicle.

CHP boots, the fitted us with an xray machine, they came out pretty good that way.   After they came in, I  always soaked mine overnight in a tub of water, got ready to go on duty and I'd pull them out of the tub, shake the extra water off and put em on.    When I was assigned to Blythe, CA, they would be dry before I got to the Station.     It was ferking HOT down there.

[Jess from VA]

I just read several negative reviews on the Striker II in my Galls link above (go to reviews), and several said the originals, which I have, are better.  So now I am not sure of my recommendation for the IIs.

There's always their top of the line Acadias, for more money. (Mike - Hubcap has them)

http://www.galls.com/danner-acadia-waterproof-station-boot?PMSRCE=20920090&SESSIONID=000000057165007



Cheaper on Amazon.

I wore Red Wings in the steel mills, and they killed my feet too.

[Pappy!]

Jeff, I also have what I call Flintstone feet.
Wanted something comfortable. Went to Sears (really, I did) and saw the Cat boots there.
There is one called a Nitrogen that has a composite toe in it. Modern styling and very comfortable. I have about a year in mine now and they fit like a glove, were easy to break in and do the job nicely. They come in wide widths!

http://www.sears.com/caterpillar-toys-nitrogen-ct-men-s-work-boot/p-000000000000000266290000000000CAT-P89961P?prdNo=9&blockNo=34&blockType=G34

[Jeff K]

Problem solved. We rode out to Daytona Beach and went to GI Jeff's Army surplus. he had a great selection, pricey, but he had what I wanted. Bought a pair of Bates GX8 gortex boots. Fit nice. I like them so far