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Boots / shoes to wear with your flight jacket s...

Thomas Koehle

Well-Known Member
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Boondockers sold by “At The Front” with a “Made in China” label

I got them about 15 yrs ago so it is a very early production run - a thad too wide for me this is why they mostly sit on the shelve
 

Thomas Koehle

Well-Known Member
Thomas
So you’ve had some time to check out your RL boots . How do you like those ?

Completely different story …

Those Laurens are in my opinion times 10 better than the ATF … - I will post some comparison photos on the WE

I need to admit the boots i own are from a very early production run and I do not know about the current production batches which are currently offered on the ATF homepage …
 

LV426

Well-Known Member
Completely different story …

Those Laurens are in my opinion times 10 better than the ATF … - I will post some comparison photos on the WE

I need to admit the boots i own are from a very early production run and I do not know about the current production batches which are currently offered on the ATF homepage …
I heard and have read some reviews about the early ATF boots repros , made in China , about the Type 2 that were not bad at all . About the boondockers I must say that the pics shows an average quality service shoes. The constuction of the upper seems good , the soles ... well Not much . I agree that the RL must be far better. I think the quality has gotten better for ATF boots when they changed from MIChina to Corcoran Carolina. I own one of their Jump boots and a pair of rough out( no ATF but Doursoux , same specs and maker except no rivets on the sides that is also ww2 accurate) the quality is TOP NOTCH . Not the "de luxe" taste , just the US Army flavour and accurate US ARMY soles . By now that the prod is over from Corco I tend to be confident that the next issues will be at least as qualitative as the last ones. I saw that RL are sold out , to find some accuracy I would go to SM Wholesale . Good quality , the only thing is that the soles are not corded . For the price that is not prohibitive I would go for and to be really pleased I would resole them with Dr Sole rawcord soles and heels . Just my opinion !! The leather of the SMW is my brownish but , a rough out leather as to be dubbed , so it get darken anyway . Note that all the sizes are EE widht that is large but always better to wear these with good insoles.

https://www.smwholesaleusa.com/shop-footwear/wwii-usmc-boondocker-boots
 
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Chandler

Well-Known Member
My China-made ATF roughouts are a 10, so I won't make you an offer. ;)

IIRC they had no half sizes in those early boots and told customers to size down because they ran large. I normally wear 10.5 via the Brannock device, and the 10s work well for me.

As to quality, no -- these early boots aren't top notch, but serviceable enough for my use. And let's not forget they weren't priced like today's heritage boots -- probably half the price.
 

tjoenn

Well-Known Member
Completely different story …

Those Laurens are in my opinion times 10 better than the ATF … - I will post some comparison photos on the WE

I need to admit the boots i own are from a very early production run and I do not know about the current production batches which are currently offered on the ATF homepage …
I'm also very happy with the RL roughouts that Burt recommended. Comfortable right out of the box and very well made!
 

Chandler

Well-Known Member
A timely update from Rollin (ATF) today:

US Boots will happen: After reducing the tooling cost by dropping the very small and very large sizes, the boot cost got down to a tolerable level. The estimated prices will be $200 for service shoes and $220 for jump and combat service boots. Still not what we had hoped for but that's the best they're willing to do.

When? Hopefully sometime in 2025.
 

LV426

Well-Known Member
A timely update from Rollin (ATF) today:

Really hypped by the Type one leather soles . I appreciate is honesty by writing "Still not what we had hoped for but that's the best they're willing to do." . Well , at least Gina will always be there ;)
 
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