Bates Boots

Xclimation

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Aug 17, 2016
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Ft. Worth, Texas
Yep, in the 80s when In USMC I wore Bates coraframs or some called them "patent leather?" for everyday not in the field shoes....Always wore real leather with a nice shine for inspections to impress whoever was doing the inspection!

They aren't a cheap copycat company. They've been around for 130 years now. I was wearing Bates duty boots back in the mid 80s.
 

RCinNC

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Aug 30, 2014
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North Carolina
I never had corfram boots when I was in the 82nd; too expensive. I did have a pair of spit shined Corcoran jump boots for inspections, and just regular issue combat boots for day to day.

I still have a pair of Bates oxford low quarter shoes that are at least twenty years old, and still in great shape. I liked their tactical and duty boots when I was a police officer; they were a little lighter than army issue combat boots, and they had a sneaker-like sole that was a little quieter than the standard Vibram heel and sole. They were relatively inexpensive too, compared to something like a Danner boot.

I haven't bought a pair of their boots in quite a while; I've been wearing a pair of Altama military spec combat boots for years, and have even had them resoled. I don't know what their quality is like now, though they're owned by Wolverine, a fairly reputable brand. I didn't know Bates even made a "motorcycle" boot, though to be honest, from looking at their website, their motorcycle boots don't look much different than their regular boots.

Boots are a safety compromise for me. I wear either the milspec Altamas or a pair of insulated Danners for colder weather. Better than sneakers or engineer boots, but not as good as a true motorcycle boot with ankle protection. I need a pair of boots that I can walk in, so I can get off the bike and go see stuff. I did some hiking in Arches National Park two years ago, and a stiff motorcycle boot may have been a bit much for that.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
I forgot about those boots in the Sea Bees. I had both corfam for dress and leather boots I polished for inspections. I had no idea Bates was the maker of those.
 

Xclimation

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Joined
Aug 17, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Ft. Worth, Texas
I never had corfram boots when I was in the 82nd; too expensive. I did have a pair of spit shined Corcoran jump boots for inspections, and just regular issue combat boots for day to day.

I still have a pair of Bates oxford low quarter shoes that are at least twenty years old, and still in great shape. I liked their tactical and duty boots when I was a police officer; they were a little lighter than army issue combat boots, and they had a sneaker-like sole that was a little quieter than the standard Vibram heel and sole. They were relatively inexpensive too, compared to something like a Danner boot.

I haven't bought a pair of their boots in quite a while; I've been wearing a pair of Altama military spec combat boots for years, and have even had them resoled. I don't know what their quality is like now, though they're owned by Wolverine, a fairly reputable brand. I didn't know Bates even made a "motorcycle" boot, though to be honest, from looking at their website, their motorcycle boots don't look much different than their regular boots.

Boots are a safety compromise for me. I wear either the milspec Altamas or a pair of insulated Danners for colder weather. Better than sneakers or engineer boots, but not as good as a true motorcycle boot with ankle protection. I need a pair of boots that I can walk in, so I can get off the bike and go see stuff. I did some hiking in Arches National Park two years ago, and a stiff motorcycle boot may have been a bit much for that.
No...I didn't know they even make corafram boots!? When I was not in the field, and not in BDU's I'd wear the regular corafram shoes.
 
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