german jackboots

[waffenman1945]

im looking to buy a pair of jackboots with hob knails and heil irons but im on a budget so can any one help?

[Nimlas]

Save
Your
Money

Buy a good pair.

[2ndranger]

Or just get some low boots....

Schutze

[Russianboy]

I use east german jack boots, there some what close....

[mikkel]

Some reenactor suppliers sell west german paradeboots, with converted soles.
Not very expensive (100$ max.), and look really nice.

[Jager.Drü]

You would be wearing low boots and gators, not Jacks.

[indy]

Let me advise you, that low boots are MUCH more comforable than jackboots.
However, if you still insist, At The Front has some for a great price(at least when compared to Grigsby and Lost Battalions, who were pretty much the only source a few years ago). I think they are only about $200, sometimes you'll see them on sale or on ebay for less.

[waffenman1945]

i might just get low boots and gators if they would be better

[Russianboy]

I'm told the real and repo jackboots are real slick and are hard to wear on like tile and such... The post war jack boots have some grip.

[Jager.Drü]

Yes, hob nails suck, they aren't for traction they are to protect the leather bottoms of the boot making them last longer. For jackboots I would get E.German ones because they look the same and actually have grip on the bottom.

[Russianboy]

One thing that sucks about east german boots is that you cant find them over size 11

[indy]

drewb said:

Yes, hob nails suck, they aren't for traction they are to protect the leather bottoms of the boot making them last longer. For jackboots I would get E.German ones because they look the same and actually have grip on the bottom.

They didn't have grip on the bottom then, why would you want what they did not have? That's what I do this for....to get in touch with what they felt.

In my opinion, the 3 most important items in German reenacting are.......(not in particular order)

-helmet
-tunic
-boots

You'll be surprised how much better your impression will be if the items I mentioned you own are top of the line.

[CharleyNovember]

As far as boots go I would rather not bust my ass at an event and be out of work for a few weeks to a few months because I had to wear what they had then in the boot area. As far as helmets and tunics I think if you are serious you should get good repros of those items. If you want to go with a plastic german helmet that is fine but you will probally feel kind of silly and it will not look the greatest. Footwear I'm going to err on the side of safety for that one.

[mauser98k]

East german jackboots have almost no resemblance to the real things, they are leather, and they are called jackboots. That's about where the similarities end.

EG jackboots:
have pebbled leather
The toe/heel isnt reverse upper leather.
the toe/heel is on the inside compared to the originals being on the outside on the leg part.
They have rubber soles
no hobnails or heel irons, plus it is impossible to hammer in hobnails to them.
Have sole patterns.

You can tell a pair of east german jackboots a mile away, if you really want to have the safety on your side, get ATF jackboots without the hobnails. It's just as fine as having ATF jackboots with them, and it isn't as bad as EG's.

Now that is just talking from a historically correct perspective, if you aren't into the whole 100% correct thing, then get some cheap jackboots. Even so, jackboots shouldn't be your problem since you are portraying the SS.

[Nimlas]

wait,
blankfire guys wear hobnails, and I don't hear about to many of them killing themselves in hobnails. They're not that hard to get used to....just don't run on tile.

[indy]

Safety?

I have never heard of a reenactor being injured from wearing hobnailed boots. Do I detect a poor man's excuse?
Mauser....even if they WERE unsafe, why would removing hobnails make them safer? You would contribute to the ruining of your leather sole. The only thing I can think of is if you're walking on wood or tile. I admit....at an event I was in the bar when I sliped and fell on my a$$. However.....there's hardly ever any circumstances while reenacting when you're going to be walking on that type of floor. Especially for airsoft reenacting, I'm sure there's no barracks style events.

Anyways, if someone wants to use E. German jackboots it's not my decision, it's just my opinion that they shouldn't be used....however I've never been to an event yet (airsoft or real) where I haven't seen a pair of them.

[mauser98k]

Sorry Indy, I meant that if they are so concerned that they could hurt themselves, you could order ATF jackboots without them. I myself don't see the reason for doing it, and agree that nobody has died from hobnails, but they think it isn't safe. :/

[indy]

mauser98k said:

Sorry Indy, I meant that if they are so concerned that they could hurt themselves, you could order ATF jackboots without them. I myself don't see the reason for doing it, and agree that nobody has died from the hobnails, but they think it isn't safe. :/

Nothing to be sorry about mate. lol....no body has died, I like that.

[Russianboy]

mauser98k said:

Now that is just talking from a historically correct perspective, if you aren't into the whole 100% correct thing, then get some cheap jackboots. Even so, jackboots shouldn't be your problem since you are portraying the SS.

Are you trying to say the SS did not have jack boots? Because, thats very far from the truth...

I know next year I'm going to have to get some jack boots from ATF because I cant find a EG over size 11.

[mauser98k]

No I am not saying, but last time I checked, Waffenman wears Pea dot, and after 1943, the majority only wore the low boots. So in his case he wouldn't need them.

[Russianboy]

Page 74 of "The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror" there are 4 Waffen SS troops all in Dot44, from the shoes I can see (2 pairs) both pairs are jack boots. The pic was taken in 1945.

[CharleyNovember]

Do I detect a poor man's excuse?

You can detect or infer whatever you like......None of your business how much money I make. My job is somewhat labor intensive, my family depends on me staying healthy enough to do said job. You yourself just posted you fell on your ass wearing them. I have heard others doing the same thing. I'm not willing to take that chance just to have proper 100% jackboots.(My impression doesn't use them) I'm not willing to buy proper hobnailed jumpboots either also for the same reason.

I'd like to add the cavet that I think hobnailed boots are cool and if I were to try a pair and not feel too uncomfortable in them I would be happy to shell out 200 bucks for a pair.

[CharleyNovember]

RB~

the majority only wore the low boots.

It is acceptable for him to wear low boots, and not jack boots if he would find it easier on the purse right now is what they are saying..

[Russianboy]

Also on page 130 of "The SS: Hitler's Instrument of Terror" there are 2 men. I cant see the 2nd mans boots but man #1 is wearing jack boots. This was taken in late 1943 fighting the soviets.

[mauser98k]

It's the exception in a war. There is always photographic evidence of everything. I am in no way saying that the germans did not use jackboots after 1943, but a large majority did. If he does low boots it is more appropriate for the time.

On page 667 and 681 of ww2 a photographic history, there are photos of german soldiers marching in surrender in 1945. You can clearly see the majority in low boots.

Also the second page you stated, the low boots weren't very common then, as the low boots weren't even out for a year yet to get to all the troops.

[Ungar]

Jackboots became rare towards the end of the war.

But most Jackboots went to Elite troops first.

Soldiers hated lowboots, not really that, they hated gaitors.
They tried avoiding lowboots.
Many soldiers tossed their gaitors away and just tucked their pants into their socks. I've seen couple of pictures like that.

I presonally hate gaiters/lowboots since the damned thing keeps sliding off whenever the combat picks up. And the pants become "untacked". I can't stand if my trousers are not tacked.
Although when the gaiters are on properly, they are quite comfortable.

This was my 2 censt CDN.

[indy]

allamericandan said:

Do I detect a poor man's excuse?

You can detect or infer whatever you like......None of your business how much money I make. My job is somewhat labor intensive, my family depends on me staying healthy enough to do said job. You yourself just posted you fell on your ass wearing them. I have heard others doing the same thing. I'm not willing to take that chance just to have proper 100% jackboots.(My impression doesn't use them) I'm not willing to buy proper hobnailed jumpboots either also for the same reason.

I'd like to add the cavet that I think hobnailed boots are cool and if I were to try a pair and not feel too uncomfortable in them I would be happy to shell out 200 bucks for a pair.

So you're going to be walking on tile while playing airsoft? I doubt any airsoft reenactment will have a mess hall.
I don't care if you and anyone else wears E. German boots do whatever you want. Smiles, as I said in the PM indicate my tone of voice, which was sarcastic and not meant to be rude.

[Russianboy]

The place were Dan and I play has slick areas and wood bridges. When they get wet they are REAL slick.

[spitfire740]

I have never really had a problem with hobnails. You can get the Mountain cleets added to the edges that could help provide more traction, or ridge the edges. I personally think the hobnails are fine as they are, and I haven't slipped around too much. Also, the big toe is usually left 'un-hobnailed' which I'm not quite sure the reason for that, maybe to provide better balance or traction as well. But, they are mainly for harsh terrain, so I can see hwo they would be rough on hard floors.

[CharleyNovember]

Indy: no prob hard to tell peoples meaning on the web sometimes.
RB is correct we have some slippery places like the wood bridges, or if they were to throw a WW2 shindig at a MOUT site the concrete floors in buildings might be a problem as well. In the dirt I imagine hobnailed boots are just dandy.