Gortex Pro Boots

[hantslad]

Hi

Hopefully someone can assist?

I was issued with a pair of Gortex Pro Boots when I was mobilised (in the Territorial Army) for Bosnia in 2001. They were the bet boots I have ever had, but they finally died the other weeekend.

Now that I am in the RAuxAF, do you know if I could be issued another pair or if I could swap them for a new pair?

Or do I stand more chance of platting fog?

Cheers

 

[box-of-frogs]

Unless you know someone in stores, then i'd guess you've got about as much chance as swapping them for a new pair as i have of winning the lottery. I was told that until you do I another OOA that is in the cold weather, then i could ram it. DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[duffman]

'cold weather' does that include down south?

 

[Wing boy]

'cold weather' does that include down south?

Nope. I think you need to be going to Afghanistan in the winter to get them nowadays. Hot in the summer -15 and below in the winter

 

[irishlogster]

I got mine through a med chit from SMO.

 

[The Helpful Stacker]

When you say you Pro Boots have died, died how? If its the soles that have gone you can get them resoled somewhere like this which gives the benefit of not having to break them in again.

I still have a pair of Matterhorns which I was issued on TSW back in '97. Been resoled 4 times but still great boots.

Oh and if you do manage to charm the pants off your local clothing stores supplier then try and get the 'Czech' cold weather boots that were brought as a stop-gap after the MoD contract with Pro-Boot went tits up. They are basically a copy of one of Altberg's products and are far superior to Pro-Boots.

I gave my Czech boots to my nephew when he joined the Army Cadets (having an ex-Supplier as an uncle means he has all manner of Gucci kit), but I still have my Altbergs, Matterhorns (already mentioned) and a couple of pairs of Magnums. God knows what I'm going to do with them all now I'm a civvy but I wasn't about to hand them all in when I left.

Come to think of it I don't believe I ever used standard issue boots again once I had left basic/trade training.DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[tag_lincoln]

Hantslad, If you want new pro boots then you need to become a supplier, then it comes with your SAS smock, Leatherman, commando knife and lots of other stuff.

Down south the only people who were allowed to exchange Pro Boots were those who were required to be out in the elements, RIC, Police Dog Walkers etc. And of course those employed in clothing stores.

 

[DrunkenMonki]

When you say you Pro Boots have died, died how? If its the soles that have gone you can get them resoled somewhere like this which gives the benefit of not having to break them in again.

I still have a pair of Matterhorns which I was issued on TSW back in '97. Been resoled 4 times but still great boots.

Oh and if you do manage to charm the pants off your local clothing stores supplier then try and get the 'Czech' cold weather boots that were brought as a stop-gap after the MoD contract with Pro-Boot went tits up. They are basically a copy of one of Altberg's products and are far superior to Pro-Boots.

I gave my Czech boots to my nephew when he joined the Army Cadets (having an ex-Supplier as an uncle means he has all manner of Gucci kit), but I still have my Altbergs, Matterhorns (already mentioned) and a couple of pairs of Magnums. God knows what I'm going to do with them all now I'm a civvy but I wasn't about to hand them all in when I left.

Come to think of it I don't believe I ever used standard issue boots again once I had left basic/trade training.DT_Xtremez_14:

Thanks for the link, my Matterhorns are on their last breath too!

 

[hantslad]

Thanks top man! I shall get them re-soled!

 

[Gillo]

I,ve got nice warm feet ( Pro Boots) sitting in my NATO office because the Winters' are cold in Souther Germany. Sorry mate but like everything the wrong people always get them. I think most Harrier pilots were issued them at Cott as well.

 

[The Helpful Stacker]

Hantslad, If you want new pro boots then you need to become a supplier, then it comes with your SAS smock, Leatherman, commando knife.....

SAS Smock - No such item. I assume you mean smock, windproof, arctic? I have two, both issued to be because funnily enough I was on my way to places that required them (Bosnia in Winter and Norway for AST).

Leatherman - You'd be lucky. Gerbers have been known to be purchased as LPO items in some operational areas but Leathermans are like hens teeth.

Commando Knife - Fairbairn Sykes knife you mean? Haven't been officially issued in the British military since the 50's.

.....And of course those employed in clothing stores.

Techies get to go home with fat wallets and spend time at work fixing their cars, suppliers occasionally get first dibs on kit when they deploy overseas. All trades have their perks (its called knowing the system). No it shouldn't work like that but being only humans it does.

If you too want first dibs on kit then you should have joined the Supply trade, either that or quit your whinging and be happy with what you get.

 

[FootTapper]

Leatherman - You'd be lucky. Gerbers have been known to be purchased as LPO items in some operational areas but Leathermans are like hens teeth.

Leatherman? C stores I think - got bored of them filling my draw at work. Sadly the issue ones are rubbish (older ones) so still better off buying one from a BX

 

[The Helpful Stacker]

Leatherman? C stores I think - got bored of them filling my draw at work. Sadly the issue ones are rubbish (older ones) so still better off buying one from a BX

Shhhhh, I was trying to play down their availability. Give you who still serve a quiet life.

You just can't help some people.DT_Xtremez_32:

 

[The Loan Ranger]

The PRO-BOOT stocks ran out a couple of years back, the old really good ones with the burgundy lining, the RAF switched to a similar version with grey lining but they have almost all gone as well, what you can get nowadays is the ECW (extreme cold weather) boot which is Gore-Tex and is comfortable when you break them in, only issued with a DWR chit when you go somewhere cold funnily enough, winter issue of ECW clothing is now on hold until Oct (I don't make the rules I just follow them)


Cheers for the link Helpful Stacker my old PRO-BOOTS are on the way to be refurbished as they are the best boots ever, well best free issue ones


Just for info all units should now be issuing the Combat Windproof Smock as a 1 for 1 exchange as the old style Field Jackets are only going to TA and Cadets, so even though we never had SAS smocks and some people say we did have Combat Windproof ones and now so will everyone else out there

 

[duffman]

Smocks for field jackets which one is best in your opinion ? is it a better bit of kit?

 

[The Loan Ranger]

The 'NEW' Combat Smock Windproof (as per label) is essentially a decent Field Jacket with hood sewn in and not the button on version which was cr@p

The 'OLD' Windproof was by far the better jacket but are like Rocking Horse P00 so I guess we've all got to settle for this new one, unless you go on the likes of flea-bay and bid on a 'Genuine SAS Smock' am sure they still get listed but are probably the new version so don't get caught out

 

[The Helpful Stacker]

Are the new windproof jackets still being issued with the avalanche locator in the little pocket on the right sleeve or have they stopped handing them out now?

 

[box-of-frogs]

Are the new windproof jackets still being issued with the avalanche locator in the little pocket on the right sleeve or have they stopped handing them out now?

Both of my new ones have the little pocket thingy-me-bob.

 

[monobrow]

what you can get nowadays is the ECW (extreme cold weather) boot which is Gore-Tex and is comfortable when you break them in, only issued with a DWR chit when you go somewhere cold funnily enough, winter issue of ECW clothing is now on hold until Oct (I don't make the rules I just follow them)

Not sure about only being issued for cold places. I recently was issued a pair to go to the sandpit.... Winter months possibly for there but I don't think of that as Extreme Cold

 

[The Loan Ranger]

Someone somwhere wrote that if going to Ops during winter months you should get ECW clothing which comprises of Boots, Mittens Inner & Outer, ECW socks and hat, not having the book to hand but memory serves me that they deem winter moonths to be Oct-Mar so should be issued them if your tour covers any of that period



however a winter in the Falkalnds gets you no extra kit unless you can blag it down there