Belleville 390DES 8 Inch Hot Weather Combat Boot - AR 670-1 Compliant Desert Tan Cattlehide Leather Army Boots for Men with Vibram Sierra Outsole and Vanguard Premium Cushioning

I first bought these boots in 2006 when the Army began authorizing desert boots stateside. They performed marvelously. In fact, I still have that pair, they are just too gnarly looking to be worn in garrison. However, they are excellent field boots. I just bought this second pair, and I have to say that, out of the box they are as comfy as new boots can be before being broken in and the quality seems every bit as present as it was 7 years ago. At $106 the price can't be beaten. Ranger Joe's has these for $132, and I spent about $130 seven years ago at Mil C&S. Anyway, for a good, solid boot for Army personnel, these can't be beat.

On a Brannock shoe device (went to a boot store, used theirs), my foot measures to size 11.25 (just between 11 and 11.5). My foot width as measured is a B width. In this particular boot I ordered a 10.0 Narrow. The fit is exactly right for my foot when wearing Thorlo Light Hiker socks.Inside the boot I have 1/2 thumbs width between the end of my toe and the end of the boot. The toe box is slightly roomy in the top (toes can move up and down quite easily). Through the sides of the toe box both sides of my toes are in full contact with the boot interior.The width across the arch is exactly right for my as-measured B width foot, the entire foot is in contact with the boot across the arch and there is no extra width inside the boot. There is a small amount of arch support in the boot, and the supplied insole is only only for cushion (it is a significant amount of cushion!), no additional arch support is given.I require additional arch support in my shoes, same for these boots (my arches are considered "medium profile" by insole manufacturers). I removed the supplied insoles and did a drop-in replacement with Superfeet "Carbon" insoles, size "E" (Mens 9.5-11). These Superfeet insoles are the same length and width as the supplied insole, so the insoles are a no-modification-required swap. However the Superfeet insoles are not as thick (nor as cushioned) as the supplied insole; and putting the supplied insole on top of the Superfeet insole left not enough height for my toes in the toe box.My heel fits snugly in the boot, and does not wiggle/move up and down when I walk. Nor does my foot slide forward at all, so my toes never bump the end of the toe box. This is after pulling the laces quite tight; however the sides of the boots do not gather up and touch. When laced this way, my entire foot is fully encased in the boot, with the aforementioned room to wiggle my toes up and down (and just barely side to side, but not enough to cause blisters with the socks I'm wearing.)A note on ankle support: With the boot top being mostly 1000-D Nylon, there is little additional ankle support. It is comparable to that provided by 1/4-height hiking boots.Also, the toe of the boot is almost as solid as a Composition Toe (the boot is not listed as having a Composition Toe). So your toes will be protected from forward impacts with rocks or anything else. Your toes are also safe from being crushed if you kneel in the boots, as the toe box does not collapse like a typical soft-toe boot will do.Breaking in the boots: To be determined. I'll update this review after I have the boots broken in.And the only reason for 4 stars, is so this review wouldn't be lost in the mass of generic 5 star reviews! These boots are fully 5 stars.Edited 12/27/2020: I switched insoles, I'm now using Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Insoles, size "E" (Mens 9.5-11), the ones with the green-colored foot beds. These were also a direct drop-in replacement like the Superfeet Carbon's. These insoles are thicker and more padded than the Carbon's, have more arch support, and have a deeper heel cup. They also claim to conform to your feet after wearing them for a while.With these insoles my toes still have some room to wiggle up and down, they are not crammed against the top of the boot.The boots still aren't completely broken in, I'll continue the process with these new insoles.Edited 1/07/2021:Along with the new insoles, the boots have now been broken in. The insoles make the boot very comfortable to wear both for walking and standing. Breaking in the boots has taken some 21 days of everyday use, though only about 4 - 6 hrs per day. Just wearing the boots as everyday footwear (walking, running, standing) is what it has taken. No blisters during the break-in with the Thorlo socks I wear; some hot spots on my arch and side of my little toe on both feet, however. But all that is now gone.

Normally in every boot I own it's either a 13 EEEE or a 14 EE...That in mind I ordered a 13.5 EEEE (was on sale for $70 something, couldn't pass it up). Nothing wrong at all with the quality of these, just that they are HUGE for their marked size. The boot that showed up I swear was a 15 or 16 even though the size was exactly as i had ordered. I looked like a mosquito standing in two shotgun shells...so needless to say I had to send them back. If I could give one word of caution it would be to Order down a size, maybe even a size and a half?

I got these boots in time for the last day of my work week. I work ten hour-four day shifts at a supply chai warehouse for a major home improvement retail chain. I split my time between driving power equipment (standing up) and loading trailers. A previous pair of shoes wore out after 9 months, and the construction was simply unable to hold up to the amount of use. I decided to look for something with solid sole/heel construction, was designed for hot weather use (my workplace is not climate controlled), and had been reviewed and well rated in tough conditions over several months. These boots fit my needs, fit my feet, and I am looking forward to using these through the coming year.

I have been a long time wearer and user of Belleville boots, dating back to my time in the service. This pair in no way lived up to my expectations and the quality that I was accustomed to. Speed laces were not spaced evenly, giving the boot an awkward and poor quality appearance. Additionally, this caused the shoe to fit strangely. Further, the sole was separating in places before even wearing the shoe. It arrived that way. The sole is hanging over the midsole and was adhered lopsided to the boot. The box the boots arrived in was severely damaged, and the toe box of the right boot looks larger than the left. Overall, this pair of boots appears to be factory rejects that have been returned dozens of times. There was even excess cement from where the sole was adhered to the midsole all over the shoe.This was by far the worst pair of Belleville boots I have ever received in my life. I seriously question their quality. I have no idea how this passed quality control and I have no clue why a vendor would send this to me as acceptable.

Had them while I was in Germany and loved them there, now I'm in a forward deployed location and these boots are absolutely perfect for the conditions here.Moon dust sucks! But these boots keep it out :)Basically they are light weight simple design combat area boots. They feel like tennis shoes except for the extra ankle support, and they keep out moon dust, etc, they are fairly water resistant so if you accidentally step in a mud puddle your feet will usually stay dry (unless the water is really deep and goes above the toe of the boot). Just generally very adaptable light weight comfortable boots. Highly recommended.