Me again chaps, sorry...

It would appear that they used genuine jungle boots for ALIENS... As I've already said, i want to get it RIGHT...

Any specific tips? Are 1980s ones right? Are there decent repros in production? Do I need to search for genuine 1960s/70s ones?

Many thanks,

2-1-6

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

age old question dude. the soles on the jungle boots in the film are 'vibram' which was on the early Vietnam boots, the 80's ones have 'panama' soles, same as late war ones, the only difference between the late and early uppers is a small seam on the rear heel of the war dated boots. when worn you can't see the soles so the difference is almost impossible to see.
Repop boots are availiable and cheaper but you get what you pay for, cheap nasty looking boots!

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Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

Which may be uncomfortable to wear too.

I got an old used pair from eBay and they're great.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Agreed with Gunny here,

You need 3rd Pattern Vibram soled junglies, if you're going down the screen accurate route. And NOT the Panama soled ones.

If you look here, you'll be able to see the differences.
http://www.mooremilitaria.com/reference.htm (scroll down).


It's likely you'll be trying to score some old issue stock with these and the Vibram soles are a bit hard to come by, so expect to pay good money for them unless you get lucky.
Most (if not all) of the Repro boots, and more common surplus stock are of the Panama soled ones.
Now, if you don't mind the sole not being correct and as Gunny notes, you're standing on it for most of the time so may or not may be an issue.
(I suspect from our conversations, the fact that you know it's there will cause you an issue! I understand.)
You can go for repro boots or modern issue ones, but buyer beware you do get what you pay for.

I've seen some repro boots that are actually pretty decent, and some that are really nasty.

I've plumped for some modern Austrian Issue jungle boots (I'm not too much of a stitch counter, but I can empathise with those who are). They are a sort of hybrid between the 2nd pattern and 3rd pattern boots. They have a leather back-strap up the rear and a sole that is closer to the Vibram (whilst not identical). The main differences are they have a small detail on the heel and toe of the sole that is not present on US jungle boots and the sides are nylon and not canvas, although the canvas reinforcement is present.

For me, whilst not totally screen accurate, they are good enough and of an acceptable standard to look the part.

They were reasonably priced and are as comfy as hell. I've worn mine pretty much every day for since I bought them, about 4 months ago.

I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

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You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

Here is a pair of 1965 dated boots from my collection. As you can see, there's a small seam on the bottom of the heel.




The repro ones made in China that sell for $20 or $30 are worthless. They'll likely give you blisters, and are horribly uncomfortable. I ended up giving mine away and buying some 1980s boots. I have bins of them for sale, but it's one of those things that I want people to try on, rather than order through the mail.

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BANNED USER

Interestingly Aaron, some of the very late war dated Junglies were also missing this heel detail, and a lot of post war boots still had them.

useless trivia, but true.

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You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

I managed to get a pair of genuine vibram soled boots from Evilbay for £5 a while back. One of the biggest bargains I've ever got my hands on, so it is possiple to scoop up a pair for a very decent price.

Price also depends on what size you are from what I've found, miniature feet tend to make the price lower.

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AKA: Simon

so these wont be suitable then

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Sexy-Wome ... 111wt_1002

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Cpl Ade Philpott
A08/TQ1.0.62145E1
UKCM XO 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

"Game over man!"

I will if you will Adie!

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You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
http://www.chefs-creations.co.uk/shop/index.php/colonial-marine

http://www.kgbairsoft.com/wordpress

Please make sure you shave your legs

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

Wahey pmsl

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Cpl Ade Philpott
A08/TQ1.0.62145E1
UKCM XO 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

"Game over man!"

Hi all... I've seen my size in 100% correct 60s dated boots going, with postage, for around £100... It looks like that's a sword I might have to fall on... Unless anyone has any ideas...

Beltring this year perhaps?

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

FYI: The war and peace show has moved venue.

But yeah you should be to find them cheaper at the show or another militaria fair.
Plus you'll be able to try them on

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AKA: Simon

I was hoping to be up and about in a full set of BDUs all badged up and boots and a cap for 'Beltring which isn't at Beltring' this year...

But perhaps I just need to be patient...

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

It's not useless, if you're like me and try to find these items for friends and Reenactors.
I was told that the Vietnam boots all have that seam. And the post-war ones don't. I found out myself that there are some boots that are dated 69 and 70 that don't have the seam, and some dated 74 or later that do. It's really just a variation between manufactures. It's not like it was an ordered change, it was something that was cut out of the manufacturing process, overtime, to save on labor and costs.

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BANNED USER

as with a lot of things we tend to generalise, the boots with the seam are 'iconic' Vietnam, same as the vibram sole, but by '69/'70 there are a lot of images showing panama soles.
In the Vietnam group I am with as with most groups the seam is the one to look for.
Just out of interest, how do we know the ones in the film are Vietnam boots and vibram sole? is there an image of the heel of all the boots? or even the soles of them all? The famous close in image is of Hicks' boot and I gotta say, they look very much like a pair of repros!! leather is too 'shiney' the canvas is coarse and the heel leather is straight down, EVERY pair of genuine boots i have seen have a slight curve to the heel leather, so you take your choice!
I have a pair of Vietnam vibram boots AND Vietnam panama boots AND post war panama boots and I would say that I know jungle boots as well as you can and from a normal distance you cant tell the difference with the genuine ones, but you can spot repop boots miles away at night in a dark alley with the boots in a sealed box!!
Until someone can produce every pair worn in the film to prove what they are I would say you are safe to use ANY pair of US army jungle boots.

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Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

Ah - now that is a relief for the wallet!

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

Not for your feet though mate!

Aslong as they're proper US surplus you'll be fine

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AKA: Simon

Just don't get the $20 panama sole repros, they're awful. The rubber stinks and they fit terribly. The ones with Vibram soles from Moore Militaria are very nice, and comfortable. They also make a nice hiking boot, if you're into that sort of thing. Either those or genuine US surplus are the way to go.

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Sir, does this mean that Ann Margret's not coming?

As long as said boots can fit up a Xeno's ass, then i'm good.

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Cpl Damon "Bombs Away" LeMay
-"Feelin' good's good enough"

There is also the option of all leather boots that would be screen accurate too. Personally I usually opt for all leather boots unless I know my feet will be getting wet a lot.

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SSGT "Giggles" W.A.L.
SN A11/TQ2.0.72140G1
USS Columbia, Heavy Weapons Section
"If you are going to die, die with a real weapon. Not a little sissy gun like that. "

It was only the ladies and Gorman who wore the all leather boots I believe

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Cpl Ade Philpott
A08/TQ1.0.62145E1
UKCM XO 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

"Game over man!"

There were other squads that may have worn the same as Gorman and the ladies, it is after all the Colonial Marine corps we are portraying not

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SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

I agree with Kris there in principal, but it depends if you want to be 'Screen Accurate' or 'EU'
I know the argument can be that you are only Screen Accurate if you do the armour of a marine in the film and then you have to look like him/her too, however, I personally like my kit to be as film accurate as possible (yes I do have the right boots and patches! lol) but both arguments have validity, its a personal choice.

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Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads