wtf happened to the soles of my army surplus boots?

[thx1138]

The soles just fell apart today, as I walked along the seafront. Had them a while, used infrequently, unlike another pair ive worn out. I leave these at my dads house, so I have a clean dry pair to change into. Put them on today and they disintegrated. Any ideas?

https://s15.postimg.cc/62ilj927v/WP_20180611_13_23_35_Rich.jpg

https://s15.postimg.cc/jw6y87n2j/WP_20180611_13_57_48_Rich.jpg

[Bikeless]

Looks like the rubber is old and maybe the heat has killed them,I've got a pair of used pro boots,local cobbler resoled them with vibram soles for about £35.

[stinkwheel]

Remember there was a carry-on in the news a few years ago about squaddies out in Afghanistan/the Gulf having their boots falling apart?

Multiple choice question.

They collected all the boots in that batch and:

a) Re-issued them to other squaddies.
b) Threw them in a skip.
c) Put them in an army surplus auction.

I've had a pair of them too, soles came apart in huge lumps. Bin them, chalk it up to experience. Try to pull lumps out of the next pair before you buy. You can get Alt-Berg and Haix boots army surplus too. Search for "High liability boots".
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[Tankie]

I also had a pair of jump boots ,same result down to poor materials , bin job
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[Tankie]

I also had a pair of jump boots ,same result down to poor materials , bin job
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Always learning, everyday is a school day

[Rogerborg]

Ouch. I guess I got lucky, my last pair (the GoreTex lined ones) lasted 5 1/2 years of constant daily use before the soles finally wore through in a more natural way.

The replacements have been fine too, but that... wow. I see why folk don't trust them.
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[sickpup]

They look like old style pr-boots.
These have a date of manufacture on the inner tongue and those look like they are over 5 years old. The MOD disposes of them after 5 years on the shelf as between 5-10 years the rubber starts to perish which is what has happened to yours.

[stinkwheel]

[sickpup]

[Jmoan]

Polyurethane and hydrolysis is getting the blame for self destructing soles.

[wr6133]

[Triton Thrasher]

Looks like carpet burns to me.
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[Chuffin Nora]

^^
Get a grip, TT.
There's no need to go making a wisecrack at thx's expense.

It must be soul-destroying enough for him as it is.



Ummm . . .
But, hey-ho . . . best foot forward, eh?
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[thx1138]

Your talking cobblers, and that is the last I have to say.

[temeluchus]

Those are the old "Boots, Combat, Assault" I vaguely remember them being called.

The soles on them were often iffy and fell apart like that. I went through several pairs of them and they wore through very quickly.

I've just had a Google and a few companies seem to also be doing replicas, so they may also be a shoddier rip off of an originally iffy boot.
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