Santa was really cool this year and delivered me a new pair of jungle boots. Not the lame brown or all black ones that are forced on us from 157 years or the US military wasting its time in the desert. No, These are proper colored, OD green jungle boots. 

It was just in the nick of time too. I have been in a desperate struggle to keep my falling apart 20 year old Altamas together for 2 years. Re-soled rejuvenated by a cobbler, who did an awesome job, a year ago, last fall the leather started coming apart from the rubber soles. Gorilla glue is holding them together enough for light walking now. This is mainly out of sentimental reasons. I hate to give up on them. Sunk cost fallacy maybe. I have spent more keeping them from falling apart than what they cost new in 2002!

Anyway.. The new Bellevilles are nice. I can nitpick of course. But it is a case of one man’s gripes is another man’s gushing. I don’t like speed laces for instance. Not out of some weird hat but because i want jungle boots just as they were issued in ‘Nam. Of course the Panama tread is something I’d swap out of the original Vibram but that is a pipe dream.

The good news is, these are great. They made the soles more flexible and softer. You can run in these very comfortably. It feels like sneakers. They also didn’t need broken in. I notice this about most modern boots now a days. No complaints here.

One good thing about them not being 100 percent historically accurate is I won’t care how much I abuse them. 

Belleville’s specs. If you go looking for them, Belleville doesn’t call them jungle boots. they call them by the lame name ” the canopy boot” for who knows why.

Belleville Boot Company was one of the original American boot makers selected to produce the iconic Vietnam jungle boot. Returning to those roots, Belleville introduces its new “Canopy” boot for operations in jungle and tropical climates.

The Canopy features significant upgrades in construction and materials compared to the older jungle boot; including a dual density rubber outsole which provides better shock absorption and a new Puncture Resistant textile insole that provides superior puncture protection at reduced weight and increased flexibility.  It also retains the classic, non-loading Panama outsole…having long proved its worth in shedding mud and providing superior traction in jungle environments.

• 8” Standard Military Height
• Smooth, full-grain cattlehide leather & nylon fabric upper
• Dual density, rubber Panama outsole
• Single density, molded polyurethane removable insert
• Puncture resistant textile insole board
• ASTM certified, puncture resistant textile insole board
• Dual density, direct injection construction
• Highly breathable unlined upper
• Padded collar for added comfort
• Double & triple stitched seams for enhanced durability
• Medial side drainage vents
• Classic non-loading Panama outsole tread

https://bellevillebootshop.com/