Five Ten is well known for their climbing shoes. They also offer Guide Tennie and Water Tennie which are quite popular with SSD readers. Here at Warrior East, they are giving us a preview of a couple of new models hitting the market next Spring.
The big story is the introduction of Gore-tex models into the line. This includes models of the Guide Tennie and Camp Four.
Look for additional, in-depth coverage during the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City next month.
Last week we showed you the new Recondo jungle boot from Bates Footwear. There was a lot of interest but some readers were concerned with the MultiCam colorway produced for SOF customers. Never fear, Bates has anticipated your concerns and produced prototypes of a wide variety of models including the Coyote model below.
They’ve also made models in the entire MultiCam family including Arid, Black and Tropical.
They’ve also looked at offering camouflage color soles for some customers.
Bates Footwear just gave us some great news. Named in honor of the Viet Nam War-era Reconnaissance Commando program, the Recondo Jungle Boot from Bates Footwear will make its debut at this week’s Warrior East expo. I’ve had a couple of chances to check the boot out over the past few months and it’s exciting to see what footwear manufacturers has developed to satisfy SOF requirements for a boot for hot-wet environments. The Army also has a requirement for a jungle boot which it is investigating via the resurrected Soldier Enhancement Program. Already, they have issued a Sources Sought Notice to industry and this is the Bates entry. I like what I see in the Bates Recondo. They’ve integrated several new materials along with a linerless design for quick drying and a new proprietary outsole.
ROCKFORD, MI (July 7, 2014) – Bates Footwear, a division of Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW) announced today the launch of the Recondo jungle boot, a low-absorption, quick drying, durable solution designed to provide secure footing in multi-terrain jungle regions. Named for the Reconnaissance and Commando Training Course developed in the 1950s at Fort Campbell, the Recondo meets the need for a Berry Compliant jungle/tropical combat boot for today’s warfighters and peacekeepers.
To meet the demands of today’s evolving asymmetrical threats, Bates partnered with the United States Army Special Forces Command (USASFC) to develop the Recondo. Bates received valuable performance feedback after the 75th Army Ranger Regiment tested the Recondo in Central America during the winter of 2014. As a result, the Recondo boot delivers an exclusive lighter weight, quick drying durable leather and textile upper and has been designed to provide the best breathability possible for the spectrum of jungle combat situations.
“The Recondo provides a much needed jungle boot update for the next generation of our armed services,” said Bates Footwear President Onder Ors. “Based on the specific feedback we received from our development partners in the Special Operations Forces, Bates has created the only boot specifically engineered for hot, wet and humid combat environments common in tropical regions.”
The Recondo boot is made with Wolverine Warrior Leather™ which is lightweight, durable, breathable, and is water, stain, and oil resistant. The MultiCam® ripstop nylon fabric enhances performance as it is lightweight, abrasion resistant, and highly durable. The blended upper material is light, strong, comfortable and has near infrared properties (NIR) making the boot less visible in low light environments.
The Recondo utilizes a unique lacing system developed based on feedback from operators and incorporates Bates’ many years of experience with lace-to-toe styles. This assures that all users can easily utilize the speed lace system and achieve proper fit and closure.
The design of the solid rubber outsole is the Vibram® Mutant, which has a deeper, more aggressive lug depth for off road traction, a multi-directional leading edge that enhance slip-resisting properties, and a rounded heel for natural touch down. This sole design has also incorporated a customized rubber compound that is durable enough to withstand Special Operations Forces use in hot weather, temperate weather, and mountainous operational environments.
The Recondo boot is being officially launched at the ADS Warrior Expo East in Virginia Beach, VA, on July 10th and 11th. This premiere industry event brings end users, program managers, and procurement specialists together with industry-leading solutions providers in an environment designed specifically for government and defense organizations. The Recondo will be available for purchase beginning Fall 2014. Visit warrior-expo.com for more information on the event.
TacLace is a device designed by two US Marines during a deployment to Afghanistan. It functions as a method of cinching boot laces in a quick and secure manner to any footwear with a neck, while staying within the uniform regulations of every US Military branch.
Available in Black, Coyote Tan, Foliage Green, and Realtree Xtra. Made in the USA.
Yesterday, while I was touring the Danner footwear factory near Portland, Oregon, I noticed that they were producing a Black version of the Rivot boot. For those of you unfamiliar, it is a lightweight, Berry Compliant boot that incorporates the San Crispino construction. It’s a trademark construction used by Danner and features a unique stitching pattern between upper and sole.
The Rivot is already offered in both Tan and Sage Green so the addition of Black is great for LE and first responders. It offered in both Men’s and Women’s styles and incorporates a 100% waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex lining. Danner also worked with Vibram to introduce a proprietary outsole for the Pivot which features a 360 degree lug pattern.
You asked for it, so they built it. Italian brand AKU has been making some great militarized trekking shoes for many years now and about a year-and-a-half ago they teamed up with Trekkit Mountain Sports, an outdoor specialty shop in Hereford, UK to introduce the Pilgrim. Now, they’re offering up High Leg versions of the very popular Pilgrim.
Based on the successful NS564 Bosco (despite assertions to the contrary, the 564 was not designed for the SEALs but rather an Army unit), the Pilgrim is designed to carry pack loads over 55lbs and incorporate several technologies. This includes an Internal Midsole System which uses an anatomically shaped 3D midsole that mimics the natural foot shape to increase support and minimize slippage. Above the IMS midsole is a 3mm layer of high density EVA which protects the user from loading forces particularly when carrying heavy packs. It also provides a layer of protective support for foot rather than it resting on a hard material. Below the IMS midsole is a thicker layer of 5mm (under the forefoot) and 17mm (under the heel) high density EVA which absorbs impact forces from the ground. The Pilgrim continues to integrate the AIR8000 upper materials found on the Bosco. The two styles are designated by Pilgrim DS for dry, hot climates and Pilgrim GTX for wet, temperate climates. The real change here is the High Leg 9″ upper, making them more palatable for wear with uniforms and to provide increased protection above the ankle.
During his recent trip to France, SSD’s editor picked up a pair of these Salomon Speedcross LTR LTDs. Part of a limited edition run, the Speedcross LTR is a full grain leather version of the Speedcross 3 trail running shoe. Fearing a traditional lacing system in lieu of Solomon’s Quicklace system, the LTR comes with an abrasion resistant lining that allows for breathability and quick drying, a leather footbed, protective leather foot cap, and protective mud guard material all around the base of the shoe.
No word yet on a release Stateside, but they can be found online if you’re looking for a pair.
www.salomon.com/others/product/speedcross-ltr-ltd
I wanted to give you a couple of candid photos of the new Arc’teryx during my launch coverage last week of this new line of technical performance footwear. After all, what’s the point of flying all the way to France for a product launch and then only sharing studio product photos? I could have done that from my couch here in the States. But now, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of those Arc’teryx studio shots with you.
Models
Essentially there are two basic types (Alpha = Low cut and Bora = Mid cut) made into eight shoe models with five for men and three for women. These are ‘Arc’teryx Adaptive Fit’ (pronounced A squared) model is the top of the range combining a stretchable liner and single-piece, seamless laminated outer shell that are manufactured separately but worn together for improved comfort, climate management and durability. There are also Gore-tex models of both the Alpha and Bora as well a mesh variant of the Alpha approach shoe.
Here are some additional photos:
I also wanted to give you a peek of what the Alpha 2 FL looks like with the liner inserted and removed.
Colors and Styles
This graphic shows all of the styles as well as colors and sizing.
Price
Finally, the price. I don’t normally talk pricing but so many have commented that they are worried about high cost due to the brand name that I felt it was imperative to share this once. These boots are very reasonably priced. All are MSRP: Alpha² SL $270, Alpha GTX $220, Alpha FL $190, Bora² $320, Bora GTX $270. Additionally, there is an insulated liner available at $95. Sure, they’re made in China, but that makes complete sense as these are a commercial product and not part of the LEAF line. Additionally, production in China leverages construction techniques and lower production costs. The Bora GTX is the best value in the bunch and I am sure you will see these on LEAF customers once they hit the street in Spring 2015.
