BW Haix Commander Combat Boots, Surplus

The Haix Commander is a further development of the KSK 3000, which we have sold before as surplus and factory new boots. These are solid and top-quality combat boots for difficult terrain. We got some German Bundeswehr surplus and a single batch - think fast, act fast!

• Hiking boot -like military boot
• Waterproof and breathable
• For toddling around in urban areas, choose something else!

As its predecessor, these are made of thick leather and have an overall strong construction. The sole is rather stiff to support the foot on uneven terrain while carrying heavy loads. The laces can be tightened separately around the foot and shaft. Gore-Tex and a steam-pumping Climate System keep your feet dry.

The changes include lace tunnels with bearings and a reduction of the protective trim to the front and heel of the boot, where it's most useful. The sole is this time made by Vibram; pretty much the better choice than anything else.

When new, these would be expensive boots but it makes sense to equip soldiers with the best footwear available for demanding missions. Being army surplus, the boots we are selling cost a fraction of the price and are far from the end of their service life.

Size info

Made to UK sizes in half increments. The US size is a whole step larger, I.E. UK 8.5 = US 9.5. Below, you'll find a rough conversion to EU sizes (as labeled by the manufacturer) and the recommended foot length. The boot is a bit roomier compared to ordinary Haixes so there's no need to size up for these.

Haix Size Conversion Chart

Materials and construction

• Top: Waterproof Leather 2.5 - 2.7 mm
• Outsole: Vibram
• Lining: Cambrelle
• Membrane: Gore-Tex
• Shaft height: 18 cm
• Insole: Haix
• Weight: 1.75 kg / 3.9 lbs (size 42 / US 9, pair)

These are considerably stiffer than regular army boots but not quite at the level of super-stiff mountain boots. On a scale from 1 to 4, the Commanders rank at 3. Think of these as hiking boots and you're in the right ballpark.

Care and maintenance

These are all-leather boots with a waterproof membrane. You can clean and polish or grease these as you would plain leather boots with one thing to mind: ensure your shoe care products are suitable for waterproof membranes.

It is important to remove the insoles and perhaps even the laces and let the boots air and dry for a whole day or two between uses.

To learn more about shoe care, read our in-depth but easy-reading article.

German surplus

These have been worn by professionals and are by no means new. However, the previous users have taken good care of the boots and these are in good working order.