Viper Venom boots, any good ?

[Tackle]

Hey guys, thinking about trying a pair of these, wondered if anyone on here has used them, if so what are they like, what's the fit/sizing like, & would you reccomend them ?.
My concerns are more regard the sizing, I'm usually a 10, but due to an injury I'm now buying 10.5 in most stuff, but these don't come in half sizes, so not sure if an 11 is viable ?

For once there's not a lot of reviews online i can find.
Thanks in advance ☺

 

[GiantKiwi]

I ran them for about a year until the sole started separating, but I did also have an early release pair and I was using them for site visits for my then workplace, so it might have improved (and I did relay the feedback to them, which they thanked and acknowledged receipt of, which is infinitely better than some more "professional" brands).

I also land between sizes and wearing slightly thicker socks (in my case, I wade alot, so sealskins) removed most of the movement, but not all of it - I have narrow, long feet - short of custom made, i rarely fit perfectly in anything so take that as you will.

Tread pattern favours drier environments/urban - so if you're regularly wading through quagmires or bodies of water, expect to still lose grip and adjust gait/speed accordingly.

At the price i've just seen online, its pretty hard to beat for plain colour boots (ie none of the neon shite that are put on hill/fell walking boots). To put into perspective the amount of wear I put into the soles before they separated, my walking tracked by smart devices in the period was just shy of 250 miles that year - so if you're using it just for airsoft, they will probably last a helluva lot longer than mine did.

 

[CamboL]

Honestly - for the price: no

At the retail price you can pickup a set of magnums brand new with a much better sole and made to a higher standard

For a bit more could get a new pair of Lowa’s/Meindl’s/Altberg

Or get yourself to an Army Surplus and get some G1/Supergrade AKUs, Altbergs, Haix or Lowas for less

Or if you really want to invest - cannot reccomend the Lowa Zephyr mk2 enough - comfiest tac boot have worn and spent a lot of time both airsoft but also professionally in different boots

After eyepro, my second preferred investment is boots. Protects your ankles and a comfy quality boot can make or, if not to your fitment, break your game day

Don’t skimp on socks either - good merino hiking socks will pay for themselves 20x over

 

[Shep120181]

Hiya tackle

I’ve personally had these a while back and didn’t get on with them too well for me the ankle support wasn’t as good as I hoped I ended up buying some merrell boots which are a bit more pricey but we’re by a long way better than the vipers

But based on your injury type they may be ok

Shoes are such a personal preference and fitment too but I found the merrells way more supporting snd forgiving size wise too

Hope this helps in even a small way pal

Shep

 

[GiantKiwi]

Honestly - for the price: no

At the retail price you can pickup a set of magnums brand new with a much better sole and made to a higher standard

For a bit more could get a new pair of Lowa’s/Meindl’s/Altberg

Or get yourself to an Army Surplus and get some G1/Supergrade AKUs, Altbergs, Haix or Lowas for less

Or if you really want to invest - cannot reccomend the Lowa Zephyr mk2 enough - comfiest tac boot have worn and spent a lot of time both airsoft but also professionally in different boots

After eyepro, my second preferred investment is boots. Protects your ankles and a comfy quality boot can make or, if not to your fitment, break your game day

Don’t skimp on socks either - good merino hiking socks will pay for themselves 20x over

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New magnums are shite. Pre 2015, they were all made in Northampton, now they're just mass manufactured sweatshop items.

Lowa's/Meindl's/Altbergs - only way you're getting those cheap is in sales, they're anywhere between twice or 3 times as much. So not just a little bit more.

Any feet/leg injuries basically take surplus boots out of the equation, as no matter how little they've been used, no foot is identical, and someone elses fit being in them first basically leads to fitment issues being guaranteed.

 

[Mtemprell]

I have the altburg sneaker boots and they are so comfy to wear. I use the standard insoles but been told by my mate currently serving that they are even better with a good pair of insoles.

Well built boots and made "Yorkshire" so happy to support a home grown company.

 

[Punisher3990]

Any feet/leg injuries basically take surplus boots out of the equation, as no matter how little they've been used, no foot is identical, and someone elses fit being in them first basically leads to fitment issues being guaranteed.

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I bought some Haix from a surplus store and ended up with massive blisters due to fitment problems like you mention, they were so bad the backs of my heels are badly scarred now.

More annoyingly. After a few games wearing them the soles under the rubber disintegrated and the the rubber started to peel off.

Luckily I noticed as I was about to use them for a game, could have done my ankle in if the sole separated while running.

Ill never buy used boots again, not worth the risk of rolling my ankle or getting more blisters just to save a few quid (have rolled it previously so it doesn't take much for me to damage it.)

PS : Moleskin tape is your friend

 

[Colin Allen]

I have the altburg sneaker boots and they are so comfy to wear. I use the standard insoles but been told by my mate currently serving that they are even better with a good pair of insoles.

Well built boots and made "Yorkshire" so happy to support a home grown company.

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A lot of Altberg boots are made in Italy and Romania, including the Defender.

 

[Mtemprell]

A lot of Altberg boots are made in Italy and Romania, including the Defender.

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I thought all civvy boots are Italian and most of the military and specialist boots are made in Yorkshire. I might be wrong.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

Or if you really want to invest - cannot reccomend the Lowa Zephyr mk2 enough - comfiest tac boot have worn and spent a lot of time both airsoft but also professionally in different boots

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still have my zephyrs, don't know when they moved from mk1 to mk2 but mine have to be getting near a decade at this point.

still externally in good order, had a little breakage at the toe but nothing crazy structural wise.

they've been retired to gardening duty now, being of the "jolly" body type i think the arch support has finally started to yeild to the pressure, but they were for years very comfortable and retained decent waterproofness for quite a while.

not cheap, but i'm very much a subscriber to the boots theory of economics doubly so when it comes to the topic of actual boots.

 

[GiantKiwi]

I thought all civvy boots are Italian and most of the military and specialist boots are made in Yorkshire. I might be wrong.

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Only the ones that require custom tailoring are made in Richmond now, the rest are Italy (Full leather uppers) or Romania (synthetic uppers). They're all prototyped in Richmond, if you must hang on to the supporting local companies thing

Edit: i've done the custom tailoring route, the process is fantastic, but I hope you have a mortgage ready, because by god is that process expensive.

 

[Tackle]

@CamboL , magnums are a firm no from me, I started wearing them as a work boot around 36 years ago, & i loved them, & continued wearing them for at least 15+ years, but i saw the decline in the build & material quality over time, & more than a decade ago said never again

To give some context, back in my youth when I served i could literally wear any brands, even the issued dms boots gave me no issues, but time & injuries have meant I'm now a lot more selective, ive owned most of the brands, including the more recent issued stuff such as lowas (didnt get on with them), currently I've got stuff by under armour (), 5.11's (), first tactical (), Merrill (), Bellville tru's (), regular us issue bellvilles (), & maybe some others ?
But as has been said, boots are very personal, especially if there are other factors involved, & for me currently its all about comfort, unfortunately I can't do great distances atm thanks to a missing toe & the other little piggies trying to compensate for it,, but im hopeful for the future.
Thanks @GiantKiwi , I know you're not a small unit (in respect to height), so are probably have to be a more careful with things like footwear, & i appreciate your feedback on yours.

I might just take a punt, worst case is I'll chuck them on the classifieds if their not for me

 

[Colin Allen]

I thought all civvy boots are Italian and most of the military and specialist boots are made in Yorkshire. I might be wrong.

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From the Altberg website:

"Where do Altberg make their boots?

Altberg make their boots in 2 factories - Richmond Yorkshire and Treviso Italy.

1). The Richmond factory makes all of the specialist boots and smaller quantity orders as well as designing and developing the new boot models.

2). The Treviso Italy factory - Makes larger orders in batches of 100prs+.

3) We also make a small range of softer, more flexible leisure/approch shoes in partner fasctories, which are based in Romania, but ran by our Italian partners, these would be the same factory in which the Defender boot, which is made under licence for the MOD is made."

This was confirmed to me by a member of staff.

 

[Mtemprell]

From the Altberg website:

"Where do Altberg make their boots?

Altberg make their boots in 2 factories - Richmond Yorkshire and Treviso Italy.

1). The Richmond factory makes all of the specialist boots and smaller quantity orders as well as designing and developing the new boot models.

2). The Treviso Italy factory - Makes larger orders in batches of 100prs+.

3) We also make a small range of softer, more flexible leisure/approch shoes in partner fasctories, which are based in Romania, but ran by our Italian partners, these would be the same factory in which the Defender boot, which is made under licence for the MOD is made."

This was confirmed to me by a member of staff.

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I did believe what you where saying. Was just the first time I heard it. Still a British company in willing to support.

 

[Colin Allen]

I did believe what you where saying. Was just the first time I heard it. Still a British company in willing to support.

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I would love to support them, but their boots just do not work for me . My son had problems with his issued Defenders; I eventually persuaded him to try Iturri CWW boots and he uses them all the time now for airsoft, reserves and hiking.

 

[Tank423]

Any feet/leg injuries basically take surplus boots out of the equation, as no matter how little they've been used, no foot is identical, and someone elses fit being in them first basically leads to fitment issues being guaranteed.

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I have dicky knees (lost a fight with a paving slab) and have used Iturri patrol boots, i have no issue with fitment or pain with them despite being a big boy.

When they wear out I'll stump up for a new pair knowing how nice they fit and comfortable they are.

Decent socks are a must whatever boots you have.

 

[Colin Allen]

I have dicky knees (lost a fight with a paving slab) and have used Iturri patrol boots, i have no issue with fitment or pain with them despite being a big boy.

When they wear out I'll stump up for a new pair knowing how nice they fit and comfortable they are.

Decent socks are a must whatever boots you have.

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They are nice boots, soft and comfortable.