ATF Sigma Boot - ArniesAirsoft

Author

Ghost_Rider

Reaper Man

Registered: February 2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 5,248

Review Date: 21/8/06

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: �34.99 | Rating: 9

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Comfortable, waterproof, good grip, sturdy
Cons:	Minor 'new boot' chafing....and that's it.

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When Gordon of highlander got in touch offering to send some sample items over for review, Marlowe had no idea how impressive some of the kit he would send him could be. And as Marlowe is a nice chap wih only one pair of feet, he sent the second pair of boots over to me to give a going over.

Marlowe's review of the �110 N.A.T.O boots can be found here.

First Impressions
Ok, so I open the box. Immediate opinion is that these boots are HEAVY. Not uncomfortably so by any means, but they've got a thick and chunky sole of some kind of rubber compound. They also look a lot better than most boots for the price tag - I was actually suprised when I looked up the retail price for this review that it was only �34.99. They look worth twice that, easy.

They've been well packed and handled being battered about by Parcelforce with ease. Hanging from the left boot is a dog tag style chain with three labels, pimping the various material qualities of the boot.

100% Waterproof breathable ab-tex membrane
Thinsulate Lining
Premium Quality leather Upper
Protective Toe Bumper
Improved slip resistance sole
Heel Energy absobtion

Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, let me tell you, I've not encountered better boots for the price in my time wearing such footwear, which runs to about ten years.

These boots are obviously designed with a military application in mind, as evidenced by the half-eyehole, half ski-hook design of the lace pattern. (For those without any military experience, this is so that a soldier holed up in a basher for the night can loosen his boots from his ankles whilst still keeping them on his feet ready in case of suprise attack.) My previous boots were Magnum SWAT style, which had eyeholes all the way up, which I found less useful.

The uppers are made of leather with 'ab-tex' breathable panels. The stitching seems tough and sturdy and is double stitched at every panel. The laces themselves also seem durable and after being under tension for 36 hours have shown no sign of fraying or other issues.

Testing
I've just ripped the upper from the sole from a pair of Magnum SWAT boots so this review pair arrive at a perfect time - I'm about to head down to London for an Electrowerkz 'Easy Sunday'. Electrowerkz is a paintball site in addition to being used for airsoft, which leads to the floors and other surfaces being kinda slippy. The major challenge for the boots would be the infamous 'Electro-plasm' left behind by the paintballs, plus water, dust, rubble, and general detritus you'd expect from a CQB site.

Not only that, but due to my living in Glasgow, they would have to endure another test - undergoing 36 hours of constant wear, as I was taking a bus down on Saturday night, playing all day Sunday, then travelling back Sunday night.

I have to say, I was impressed. I pulled them on and laced them up at 2230hrs on the Saturday, and didn't take them off till 0900 on the following monday, and bar a minor chafing on my right foot pinky toe, there was NO discomfort, and given as the boots were brand new when I put them on, that's damm impressive.

The boots coped happily with traipsing arund London, people stepping on my feet on the underground, and playing DDR in the Trocadero with equal aplomb. Once I actualy arrived at the site and began playing, I was further impressed. Not once during my frenetic charging about did I ever feel unsure of my footing - something that previous boot choices have not managed. The waterproofing happily stood crouching in a puddle for five minutes without a single drop encroaching upon my tootsies, and the AB-TEX breathable linign meant that my feet did not become overly hot and uncomfortable during play, another problem I've had with previous boots.

As Marlowe found with his NATO boots, whilst the boots inevitably became covered in dirt and gunk, once cleaned there was no permanent damage to any part of the boot.

Conclusion
For the price of these boots, you really cannot fault them. Ok, they may not be Marlowe's BMW, but you don't need a BMW to drive from A to B. I would have NO hesitation in reccomending them to airsofters or indeed anyone who needs a budget pair of combat boots.

These ones rock.

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