Beginning in February of 2011 you will have another option for barefoot running. The Evoskin from Inov-8 Ltd weighs a scant 3.5 ounces per foot. This light weight can be attributed to the material used to manufacture the Evoskin; silicone. As you can see, the toe pockets are molded directly into the footbed. What is interesting is that they have integrated a strapping system across the top of the foot.
via Gear Junkie www.inov-8.com
The Secret World of Extreme Militias – Now you’ll understand the rant on “clips”
10 Best iPhone Apps for the Outdoors
“Shadow Knights”: The real inglourious basterds
All of us have Five Fingers although quite frankly my pinky toe freaks out after awhile in them. We think this message speaks for itself. Support genuine products. Learn more about counterfeiters.
Early on, we wrote about the Salomon Quest. During the recent inclement weather here in Hampton Roads we wore them during our outings and it jogged our memories. Yes, literally “we”, as we all own a pair.
Quite simply, they rock. Ultra-lightweight, comfortable right out of the box, and waterproof they are favorites around the home office. The boot is built on the same last as the Salomon XA Pro 3D running shoe; their most popular footwear model and is a beefed up “light hiker†that is intended to protect the wearer’s foot in harsh terrain, even while carrying a heavy load. The sole uses Salomon’s 4D Chassis. The outsole has an ascending lug pattern in the front of the sole, and a braking pattern in the rear. Beneath the foot is a cushioning pad, while the chassis protects against twisted ankles, and then an additional cushioning pad to absorb rocks and roots underfoot (4 layers= 4D). In addition to the Grey shown above there is also an Orange variant that may interest Search and Rescue professionals.
The Quest is available from RP Tactical.
We spied these babies in the New Balance booth at Modern Day Marine. The Rappel from OTB Boots will be available in both low and high topped versions.
You may notice that the rubberized toe looks a little different than what you are used to. It’s because the rubber has been printed onto the toe which eliminates the glue and stitching that increases weight (and cost) and is vulnerable to wear. You will also notice the cut out breathing panels to increase airflow. Unlike other boots, the padding has also been eliminated from those areas.
While the low top version is a straight forward light hiker, the high topped variant sports a couple of features that make it a great candidate for a covert assault boot. The instep has integrated cleats to help retard descent while fast roping and the sides are covered in rubberized fabric that resists wear and increases friction.
Available early 2011 from New Balance’s OTB Boots brand.
We have a little more information on the new boots mentioned in military.com’s Kit Up!. These boots are actually manufactured by STC, a Canadian company with the tan model being called the ‘Zulu’, and a black full grain leather version being marketed to military and law enforcement agencies who still require black boots.
This new Gore construction technique that STC has utilized doesn’t have the bulky lining found on all other military/tactical type waterproof/breathable boots, and is more like the inside of a Gore-Tex jacket, so it means that the perspiration moisture escapes faster and more efficiently and will retain less heat. This also means that if the inside of your boot gets wet (from ops like river crossings, stepping in puddles/holes deeper than the boot, etc.) they can simply be drained and toweled out, and will be dry within a couple hours, as opposed to the few days it seems to take to dry with other waterproof/breathable boots in the field. Additionally, according to WL Gore reps at Modern Day Marine, a new DWR finish similar to that used on Gore-Tex outerwear has been applied to the boot to help bead water up on the exterior of the boot.
These boots are more like a pair of USGI Panama Sole Desert or Jungle Boots (without the drainage eyelets) in terms of breathability and heat retention. The Cordura nylon on Desert/Jungle boots is coated in a layer of polyurethane which provides water resistance and impedes breathability to a point, but both these models of boots are far more breathable and cool than the traditional Gore-Tex lined boot.
Another benefit to having a Gore-Tex lined boot for ops in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and most other areas where public sanitation consists of living upstream from the canal which your raw sewage drains into is that a Gore-Tex membrane can provide increased protection to your feet when exposed bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the local water.
It’s nice to see some real innovation being done in a boot which should pass the Command Sergeant Major’s interpretation of AR-670 approved footwear, but no word from STC yet as to whether they will be doing versions in Mojave Olive for Marines, or Sage for Air Force personnel. However, we do know that both Danner and Bates will be introducing boots with this new technology later this year.
We were able to try them out at the Modern Day Marine expo at Quantico, Virginia today in a special simulator developed to demonstrate the versatility of the boots across a wider range of climatic conditions than traditional boots. The whole point of the Extended Comfort Footwear is to combine the capabilities of both Hot Weather and Temperate footwear into a single boot. While the experience was far too short to really form an opinion, we get the concept and we like it.
Rhythm Footwear is now offering their Bagel traditional hi and lo tops in Tigerstripe and Desert Tigerstripe patterns. Available at Gettry.
-Tactical FanBoy
In collaboration with Extreme Outfitters, Bates Footwear will release its ever popular M-6 and M-9 boots with 400G of Thinsulate® insulation. Bates will produce two colors of these special versions of the M-6 and M-9. The Mojave version is due to ship the beginning of October, while the Desert Sand version will ship early February 2011. Both models will feature a breathable mesh lining, removable insole, slip resistant Vibram Mutant Rubber Outsole, and cement construction. Combine these boots with Covert Threads® Ice Military Boot Socks and ArchFlex® insoles for superior cold weather performance with added support and comfort. Preorders from now until September 30 will save 25% off the retail price. Go to www.tacticaledge.com for more information.
