Footwear.

[Ken]

Hello All,
I am looking for some advice and some suggestions.
I just have been hired by the CHP, and I am just waiting to get an academy date. However I need to get some footwear. I am looking for both a good boot and a good shoe. That match this criteria:
"Entire boot or shoe to be smooth finish, accepts polishing. Toe to be plain or cap toe, with no ornamental stitching, bentilation holes or seams. Soles not to be more than 3/4-inch thick. Heels shall not be more than 1-1/2 inches think. No pointed toes, squared or beveled heels in excess of 1/4 inch. Spur straps or non-functioning buckles are not allowed."
Okay that's the CHP's criteria.
But I have the following to add. Comfortable and holds it shine.
As I read the criteria, I take it that my Jungle Boots and new ICB's aren't authorized. And my Cadillacs, well they hold the shine but aren't the most comfortable things to wear. Other than Corcoran's that I wear(but have stitching), I have no real first hand knowledge of after market boots.
I also have no idea about the dress shoes, besides coroframs.
Can you recommend a good boot and a good shoe. Price really isn't an issue, as these are my feet.
Thanks.

[FLLawdog]

Hi-Tech has a Magnum Trooper boot now. Good quality, comfortable, not bad price, but I'm not sure if they have an all leather version. Rocky, Hi-Tech and Bates all have leather versions of their cordura/leather boots. With enough work, any of them will shine.

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FLLawdog
"Never try to teach a pig to sing...it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

[PelicanDriver]

Danner also has some good boots. There expensinve, but the ones I had were very comfortable.

Bates makes a good uniform shoe with a relatively high top. The advantage to this is that it's easier to run in. You'll have to pass the agility tests in full gear; it's
easier to run in a shoe than a boot.

Forget the corfams. They're useless for police work and they don't breath. Your uniform inspections won't require the plastic shoes.

[Sparky]

I can tell that you have already spent a good deal of time in the old LPC's!!

Personally, I like the Danner boots. Especially the Acadias. (I notice the USMC recently went with a design similar to the Acadia for issue.)

However, these boots are a little heavy. If you want something lighter, the Rocky 911 is a really nice boot. If you like the Rocky stuff, but need a winter boot, the Eliminator might do the trick. (I think I have that right..one is lighter than the other..)

I used a pair of my Go Devils for winter wear, and used my Acadias with a ribbed sole for anything other than real cold temps. Although a little heavy (comparitively), the thicker soles help keep your foot from soaking up heat from the hot tarmac or asphalt if you have to stand in the heat all day, and since there is a little insulation, the tops of your feet don't get hotboxed like jungle boots will if you have stand around in the sun.

I also like the fact that once you break them in, they fit great. You get them resoled when you need to for, like, $25.

With Hi-Techs and those type boots, when you wear out the sole, you have to buy new boots and break them in all over again!

Danner is a great compnay. If you get a tear in the leather or in the gore tex bootie, you ship them over to Danner, and they recondition them for, like, $50 or so. They come back like new...but they are still broken in!! A little pricey, but they will last you a lifetime!! They also have a quarter boot.

Hope this helps!

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-Sparky

[Explorer Chief]

definately go with rocky alpha force. I have those boots and they are great in every aspect!

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Explorer Chief
Streamwood, IL

[Ken]

Thank you all.
Time to go shopping.

[resdepmark]

I am in the same predictament...

I am not having good luck my Original Swat boots... I haven't had them very long and last week when I went to put them on for work, the cloth part pulled right off of the leather...

Oh well.. I should have guessed as much due to their low price...

[unhappycop]

Hitech Magnums are the go. I've had several pairs and have never had a problem with them. The last for ages, are tough, light, have a good non slip sole, all leather (polish up okay) and are really comfy.

[Campus]

Ken,

Just curious. What did you end up getting?

[Ken]

I have not gone and purchased boots just yet. I have beenl ooking around the internet, comparing different brands, bouncing them off the suggestions I received. I have come to the conclusion that Danners are the way I will probably go. However I am not going to order my first pair off the internet.
Which leads me to my next question. Can anyone recommend a good uniform store around the 29 Palms area? (Southern California)

[DeputyDan]

I used Thorogood uniform shoes when I was at the Academy. Now I have two pairs of boots for wear at work. I have Danner Acadias and the Magnum Storm. Both are waterproof, with the Danners using Gore Tex and the Magnums using Symptex or something like that. They both wear comfortably and offer great ankle support. I can run in them pretty well when I need to, but the Danners do weigh a more than the Magnums. Both are great shoes but are a bit on the pricer side than other brands or models.

Good luck at the Academy! Take it one day at a time and keep your mind on your goal...GRADUATION!

[Terri Brown]

Check out esecurityschool.net for all your police products online. The site was created by current and retired law enforcement officers. If it's not shown on the site - they will find it and get you the best price available.

Go to the site and then email devon@esecurityschool.net - former chief of police - 27 years Florida

[Bonk]

I have been wearing Hi-Tec's of some sort for nearly ten years. I wore Magnums and Super Magnums (now discontinued I think) while in the USMC, including three CAX's at 29 Stumps. As a street cop I wear Midnight's, same material but hiking boot height. They break in quickly, are light enough to run in, and polish up well (Kiwi!). Never had a problem with either.

[Campus]

I've finally retired my G.I. Full leather Combats and replaced them with Red Wing Fire Boots. Steel toes and a puncture resistant steel mid sole. They took a long time to break in, but now they are very comfortable.Good traction on and off pavement. They cost about the same as the Danners and are also fully repairable.