>>2311173>>2310261French foreign legion boots.
People dislike them for their lack of support but it's exactly why I like them. They are really just beefy chuck Taylors - they weigh very very little (I think 400g for my baggies), the upper flexes like you're wearing only socks, and the sole is quite a uniquely simple and effective thing. It's very very thin rubber with lugs added - check out Rose Anvil's breakdown as
>>2311173 says. But this is their strength - the thin rubber is protected by the lugs, and the lugs act as a very stable platform with a decent heel for descending grabbely hills, and the toecap is very protective for innawoods tromping. The lugs under the mid foot act as arch support too.
So if they're so thin, are they comfy?
Yes!!! These are ridiculously plush, like stepping onto a mossy hillock. This is because the entire stack height (quite low) is 90% EVA foam. Now usually I am allergic to EVA as it compresses like a bitch and is quite a consoomer item, but here almost all of it is removable, so you can simply swap insoles at regular intervals while the harder rubber lugs persist for many more miles than shitty trail runners, while giving the same flex and comfiness, or you could put in gel, leather, cork or PU insoles depending on your tastes. Adding in a rock plate is easy too if they're too flexy for you.
They're basically ninja boots - very flexy, no support, very light, stable and grippy sole.
Lace lugs are rivets and reasonably durable, I had one pull out after a year, but swap the spaghetti laces for something better.
As for the rubber compound, it's decent in wet, not brilliant, but this owes to their durable nature. They last decently. The uppers come in canvas which is quite tuff, they're glued but with a small rubber rand keeping them together longer (but no welt so these are disposable in the end), and they also come in leather and suede and I think they put out some nylon models. Israelis make some called (((commando boots)))
