The Marine Corps is getting ready issue a solicitation for a full and open competition for both Temperate Weather and Hot Weather Rugged All Terrain Boots. Just a few years ago the Marines began their love affair with the retro look (and construction) of the RAT Boot. They’ve had a couple of contractors build the boots but haven’t been very happy with the product. Rather than look at the 19th century construction of the boots as the real culprit they decided to treat at least one vendor with disdain publicly and blame them. But, I’ve heard from more than one company building them that the boot’s design is the issue.
Originally innovated by Danner for the Marine Corps, the RAT is available in both Hot Weather and Temperate versions with the Temperate model incorporating a Gore-tex liner. It features a lace to toe system with a flex “V†notch. It also features a heel and toe counter that helps resist abrasion. Overall, it’s a great looking boot. As you probably know, Marine Corps combat footwear is “Olive” (originally Olive Mojave) in color but it really resembles Coyote. Additionally, he heel is branded with the Eagle Globe and Anchor insignia. The boot has a couple of great features but the stitch down construction between the sole and upper remains troublesome.
The Marine Corps anticipates a maximum quantity of 325,000 Boots consisting of 162,500 pairs TW and 162,500 pairs HW. With shrinking demand for military footwear it will be interesting to see which companies are willing to dance with the devil on this one.
The actual solicitation hasn’t been released yet but you can read the per-solicitation here.
Danner makes a solid pair. Granted I’m not a Marine, but I needed something for the Mountains Danner had pulled the Gen 1 out of the Catalog because they had received a huge order for the Corps yet I still was able to get them over the phone.
But remember friends, Danner is Gucci.
Danner makes a solid boot. But what makes Danner Gucci?
Not Gucci.
Discovered Danner back when their Fort Lewis boot was called the “Go Devil,” named for a Brigade of a Division that folded its flag long, long ago.
20+ years later I’m wearing Danner ICHs–thoroughly modern boots–which haven’t let me down yet.
I got a pair of Go Devils in 86 at Ft Ord. Great boot.
Later was issued Acadias at two different USAF Squadrons.
The Danner RAT is phenomenal. I don’t know what about it is 19th century.
Danner uses stitch-down construction in all their USA made boots, including the RAT.
It is a very old way to construct a boot – the upper is literally sewn to the outsole. It is labor intensive, but not very tooling intensive.
Most boots/shoes are cemented or welded; the outsole is (respectively) glued onto the upper or is injection molded directly to the bottom of the boot. These methods are require tremendous tooling expenses (each style of boot and size needs a mold built for it). They result in a far lighter-weight boot, but often times they are not as durable (the adhesive bond can wear out long before quality nylon thread).
I have a new pair of Danner Melees here, sitting next to my Danner RATs. The weight and heft differences are immense, but the RAT feels like it is going to last forever. I might get 2 years out of the Melee. The RAT can also be re-built, unlike a cemented or molded boot.
The other advantage to stitch-down construction is that the sole is replaceable. If it wears out, rather than getting a whole other pair of boots, you can go to a cobbler and switch out the sole. It’s less expensive, especially since the uppers won’t wear out. Danner does it right.
Actually other sole types can be replaced as well.
I have the Danner Rat boot and I am a Marine. I find the quality of the Rat Boot of the highest quality they are some of the most comfortable boots I have worn. I would say if anything makes Danner ‘Gucci’ it would he the $300.00 a pop price tag.
I really like the RAT! If you want to know what retro-crap is, look in a surplus store at the ’80’s thru 2000 issue combat boot. Absolute junk. USMC.
The price tag…you do get what you pay for though.
Im a Recon Marine with 3 tours.
These boots are shit. Trust me.
I agree with u brother. No tours with the RAT myself only with the acadias, but from what all my buddies that have deployed with them tell me, is exactly that. The RAT is crap…
Mac,
Did you wear the boots for 3 tours? Have heard nothing but good about the RAT’s. What did you not like about them?
The Australian Army now lets troops choose what brand of boot they want to wear from 5 (if I remember) brands.You are nevr going to make everyone happy with one for all>
The Danner was so hard for us to get in the 90’s that we use to put tape on our Danners with the words “DON’T CUT BOOT” before parachute jumps.On night jumps I can remember screams of pain and blokes shouting “Don’t cut my fucking boots off Doc..they’re Danners”
I bought a pair at the Danner outlet store in Portland last year for $79.00 very comfortable and has the MC on the side
actually light, and water proof, wore them in our recent flood,also easy to clean
Besides the issues with the construction how do they feel? They look durable bt are they heavy? I have worn Danners for years and they are top notch but I have had some come apart exactly like these are said to and I sent them to a good boot repair place and he used a heavier stitching that did not come apart when it gets wet and drys over and over. It might be Kevlar stitching. I would love to get a pair of these at a good price and have them rebuilt. They look as if they could go to hell and back. I would love to hear how comfortable these are? Are these being sold cheaper by adifferent manufacturer? Thanks
No boot will ever fit every foot perfectly. However the reason some brands are considered to fit better comes from the last that is used. Danner uses a more anatomical last, which is shaped more like a human foot. Other companies…..ah hem Bates…..do not use as sophisticated a last. So their boots are better suited to people that have feet shaped liked a soda can cut lengthwise. Having worked for a company that developed athletic footwear I can tell you an anotomical last costs thousands of dollars to develop. So not many companies take the time to develop them. I served in the Marine Corps from 1998 to 2005 and I can tell you every pair of Bates was of dubious quality. Colors were often mismatched, and it was obvious that the stitching was crooked. Bates, and others let other companies take the risk of developing a new boot, and then just wait and copy an approved design and produce it for as little as possible.
The point is, no boot is ever going to fit everyone perfectly, however be aware that not all boots are constructed the same way, even if they look the same on the outside.
On the stitched portion of my mountaineering boots I often run a bead of either McNett Free Sole or Seam Grip. Although it may help waterproof the seam, what the flexible urethane really excells at is better abrasion resistance. I will often use a 3 or 6cc syringe as an applicator to get a consistent bead.
AFMO is selling the Wellco ones for $140, They have the Danner one for $317.
This is as good a time/place to ask as any… I’m still wearing (as in, now, as I type this) a pair of old-school all black leather Altama Combat Boots, just like the “Cadillacs” they gave me at Paris Island. I’ve been wearing this same make and model of boot for almost 20 years (they wear out, I buy a new pair just like ’em) My other boots are WWII Jump Boots. I’ve not stepped up to the modern style of boots at all — I had one pair of HighTech Magnums back in the day, and wore them to shit within months. Garbage. Based largely on that, I’ve dismissed any boot that even resembled a sneaker.
So, seriously, given that point of reference, how do the modern boots compare? In terms of comfort, fit, durability, protection and support for the user — how do modern boots, both the Marine RAT and the sort of crap the Army uses, compare to the old-school, cold-war, all-leather Combat Boots?