21st Century Shinobi Boots
Light steel-toed tactical boots, that look fairly "benign" when covered by a pant?? Take my money.I wore during non-winter weather the Nordiv8 light tactical boots, and they held super well and are comfy, but they don't make this particular model anymore. They are getting to the point where they may fail any day... So I was looking for alternatives.I knew of Marugo and have a few cotton-upper split-toe boots from them, due to my fascination with Japanese Swordsmanship, and the practicality of the design in warm weather.... The cotton-uppers are amazingly comfy and good in hot weather, but no steel toe..I had a "Dual-Hoves" non-Marugo tactical steel-toed and split-toe design, but they developed a hole near the sole. It took only a couple of years for that.. Though the shop that sold them to me were extremely awesome, including a post-card with a hand-written thanks, Japanese-style bandana and a pair of split-toe socks featuring a samurai painting... I would be back for them, if they only could last longer... Especially if SHTF (I am a bit of a prepper...) -- I want to rely on my footwear, while also having a spare (like a heavily discounted surplus RAT boots, heavily oiled and with a great sole).Marugo boots/shoes seem to better built. I have about 3-4 Marugo boots and shoes, already for a couple of years, and they still last and don't look battered. It's pretty impressive based on the simplicity of the design...So, I gave a shot with these more conventional looking light boots, yet featuring plenty of modern synth materials along with real, quite thick, actually leather.I normally wear 11 with a nice sole, and these are fine for such purposes. Without a sole they got the vibes of "bare-foot" shoes, but I do prefer a nice sole to help a bit my joints. With 11 I can fit soles AND be able to wear a thicker winter socks with them, without running out of space and losing comfort. They are fairly space-y, don't anticipate the sizes being smaller than expected.I can't tell how well the sole will hold, but based on my other Marugo boots and shoes -- it should hold well.It seems they are very good for the price and fill in the niche of light tactical steel-toe boots that don't cost hundreds of dollars. Nordiv8 moved toward very thick soles, which I am not a huge fan of. Marugo has a thinner soles, gives a very nice feeling of the surface your are walking on, but not quite a pure bare-foot type footwear. These are 100% made from top rubber.I applied Mink Oil to the leather surfaces and let it absorb over-night, but the leather came in a good shape, not overly dry and likely already factory-treated... But if you want your leather to last longer and stay stronger, Mink Oil (or even gun oil lol, though it can be a bit toxic...) -- does the job well.I am extremely satisfied with the design, quality per price, comfort and the looks that are not screaming a tactical boot or that you are an anime fan. I can certainly see myself wearing these to office covered by dress pants or jeans, and not get too much unwanted attention. A lot of boots for a low weight, I held popular brands without steel-toes, reg shoes, and they were heavier than these guys.Nice work, Marugo. And thanks to the vendor for not overcharging them too much ;)Now these are my "mains" for wearing around my humble property, home with some killer-stairs (literally lol). driving, shopping (will make the experience a bit less painful), sneaking like a 21st century Shinobi ,and "light" hiking on non-rocky ground.P.S. The Velcro seems well-implemented, no need for laces at all! It feels liberating. And while technically 11 is a bit large for me, without beefy soles, I could still adjust the boots in a way that they are not going anywhere, comfortable, having a bit of extra space for the toes, and thus more air, holding my ankles well. Which makes them true boots and not some kind of a gimmick.