posted 12-27-2001 01:46               

I have never had a pair of these before, and now I know what all of the fuss is about. They are quite simply superbly crafted boots.
Comfortable right out of the box, lightweight, plenty of support, all leather. Gobs of arch support. Comfort, and lots of it.

The only other combat type boots I have had for the last couple of years are the less expensive Bates Dura Shocks, which are very comfortable and have served very well indeed.
The Adidas have better support, better insoles, and better leather by far. They are a bit slower to lace up and do not breathe as easily as the nylon topped Bates, but I plan on installing side vents and D rings on the Adidas. The Adidas offer a LOT more support than the Bates did.

The soles of the Adidas, as new, are a might slippery on wet tile but I am told that they settle down a bit after they scuff up. My sneaking suspicion is that the mold release on the sole will get cleaned off with a bit of hot soapy water or naptha, and render them more tractile on the tile.

Anyway, I have GSG9 happy feet, and I highly recommend the experience.

posted 12-27-2001 07:32               

1) Once they are broken in, which doesn't take long, they are probably the most comfortable boots you'll ever wear.

2) The soles wear out way too quick. They do provide good traction over most surfaces once broken in.

3) Thay are RUDE expensive - I saw a pair for sale in Berlin for way over $200 - no where near worth that.

4) Quickly befriend somebody that can DX them for you or don't wear them that often or you'll be shocked how quick you wear them out - so will who ever purchased them for you ( get ready Steve )

Think of them as high performance car tires - expensive, don't last long but nothing else is the same.

They do have a high neato - torpedo factor ( which fades quckly if you have to buy them yourself ) and I'm sure Adidas thinks there famous because of the GSG9 but in fact the group that made them famous is on this side of the pond.......

posted 12-27-2001 09:20            

I feel like a Ballerina in them compared to
Danner's, Bates etc .et al.

Wish I could figure out how to resole them.

I'd be SO BUSY......

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"Our own life is the instrument with which we experiment with truth."

posted 12-27-2001 10:48               

The mental picture of my good friend Kensho, heavily armed but pirroetting in a tutu to the strains of Swan Lake lept to my mind, and there it nearly caused me brain damage.
Sorry Kensho, but that caused too many mental gears to grind.
Imagine a 200 pound pitbull with a machinegun, wearing ballet slippers, and you are halfway there...

posted 12-27-2001 11:11               

Rock and Resole, in Boulder Colorado can resole GSG9s.

posted 12-27-2001 12:10            

As a very flat footed knuckle dragger, I have avoided the Adidas because I go through the soles of boots so quick. I would be very interested in any info on resoling them.

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He who advances is sure of heaven, he who retreats is sure of eternal damnation.

posted 12-27-2001 14:27               

Steve: Do you know if R&R resoles the Adidas GSG9's with the factory "rubber nubbies" sole or something normal like the regular Vibrams?

posted 12-28-2001 15:45            

Many of the good resolers out West can put on a sole made by Vibram that is very impressive. It is a moderately lugged item that is made of climbing rubber, a.k.a. "sticky" rubber. It is hardwearing and provides surprising traction. I have them on some various low-cut shoes.

You get good traction from 1) the physical configuration of the sole and 2) the special chemical composition of the rubber.

posted 12-28-2001 17:34               

I used to work at an address where we were issued two pair of the current boots every 6 months or when they wore out- which was usually sooner then later.
Then again a CO at another unit refused to allow them to be worn, a decision that all but some of the MFF instructors agreed with. It just isn't a good greenside boot.
There is a mystique about the boots of course. I remember reading a story in one of the gun rags whereby the author deemed an instructor to be extremely capable because he was wearing them.
Sigh....
Extreme Alpinist and genuine hard guy Mark Twight has had several pair resoled with the sticky substance mentioned in some of the preceeding posts. I know that he sent me the address but i misplaced it.
Then again, i don't wear them anymore.

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S/F

posted 01-01-2002 00:11               

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To Some They Are Accessories... To Others They Are Necessities™

To win one hundred votories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. -Sun Tzu 500B.C.

posted 01-02-2002 06:53               

Also NuShoe will put a nice Vibram sole on them for $65.00.

I fell one to many times on wet tile with pair number 4 circa (97) and I had the soles replaced with the Vibram chemical sole available by special order.
The safety sole is highly slip resistant, puncture resistant with an ANSI safety insert and designed for high chemical resistance with an OSHA approved slip resistant tread compound.
The soles cost me $100 then and still have 80% tread remaining.

I laced in covered black zippers and have not tied or relaced my boots in years.
For use in the muck and jungle travel I use Rocky Gortex socks over my boot socks with taped openings and my feet stay clean, mostly comfortable and bug free.

When the locale turns to ice and snow these boots are not very good, but a pair of Atlas Snow Trackers fit like a glove and offer a quick solution while allowing you to stay in "lightweight" quick boots.

posted 01-04-2002 20:59               

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"Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety."