Might look into Danner Marine RAT Temperate with Goretex. Ebay has dozens of listings for sale as low as $35 for "previously worn." I just bought some Hot Weather, a visually identical model, no Goretex. They tend to run normal American sizes for the American produced and well marked Made in the USA versions, which is now frequently photo'd in the ads.
Brand new they retail at some surplus dealers for $89, I don't understand why some are pricing them at $150 - 220. The Temperate zone models have Goretex (not my favorite). Add shipping as it seems to run $12 - 25. They are 1) Rugged 2) well made. Avoid the offshore imported ones even if retailed by Danner. These have been a hot item in some circles for a few years now, better boots stay in production for a long time and because of that develop a reputation, while flashy Chinese made boots come and go. There's no availability after a few months with their churned product cycle.
Belleville and Wellco also make identical issue versions, Belleville is decent and has been around. Online reviews claim they are hard to get on, I suspect the real issue is edema from obesity why they cant get their ankles in. An 18-24 year old Marine is usually in pretty fair shape even these days. As for why I bought Hot with vents, I can wear them year round, in winter, with Swiss wool gaiters for insulation which work well. Those are mid calf. As for freezing water, after a few hours Goretex trapping sweat inside the boot does the same thing. They never breathe enough for me. Matterhorns weren't fun in the day and I avoid "waterproof" for casual wear. I've also learned warm toasty feet are a impossible goal deer hunting, working outdoors for 8 hours in the day on a wrecker I got used to "cold feet." When you reach into a cooler for a can of pop and its 42F, it warms your hands. That kind of cold day in and out is normal.
Brand new they retail at some surplus dealers for $89, I don't understand why some are pricing them at $150 - 220. The Temperate zone models have Goretex (not my favorite). Add shipping as it seems to run $12 - 25. They are 1) Rugged 2) well made. Avoid the offshore imported ones even if retailed by Danner. These have been a hot item in some circles for a few years now, better boots stay in production for a long time and because of that develop a reputation, while flashy Chinese made boots come and go. There's no availability after a few months with their churned product cycle.
Belleville and Wellco also make identical issue versions, Belleville is decent and has been around. Online reviews claim they are hard to get on, I suspect the real issue is edema from obesity why they cant get their ankles in. An 18-24 year old Marine is usually in pretty fair shape even these days. As for why I bought Hot with vents, I can wear them year round, in winter, with Swiss wool gaiters for insulation which work well. Those are mid calf. As for freezing water, after a few hours Goretex trapping sweat inside the boot does the same thing. They never breathe enough for me. Matterhorns weren't fun in the day and I avoid "waterproof" for casual wear. I've also learned warm toasty feet are a impossible goal deer hunting, working outdoors for 8 hours in the day on a wrecker I got used to "cold feet." When you reach into a cooler for a can of pop and its 42F, it warms your hands. That kind of cold day in and out is normal.
