Magnum Elite 3 Combat Boots, Surplus

La vache, what a find! Legendary “I am the Law boots” used by law enforcement and security folks around the world. These are French though. They don’t have any exotic gimmicks that fall apart easily. They are simply high-quality waterproof tactical boots made for professional use but that haven’t really seen much use of any kind. You can see that France is a democratic state because the toe caps don’t have any signs of kicking. In such a nice condition that the price starts to look silly cheap.

Features

Magnum is a familiar name for many people in military, law enforcement, first responder, and security businesses. They have made tactical footwear ever since the early 1980s and their boots are used in over 100 countries. Elite Force Series is the first ever globally certified tactical footwear collection and some consider it the most progressive line of tactical footwear in the industry.

In short, these are classic, very well made black high-cut combat boots. Sturdy leather, good ankle support, and comfortable padding to keep the upper edge from chafing plus the Vibram outsole that offers very nice traction. Inside you’ll probably find the Magnum’s M.P.A.C.T Plus insoles but if not, it isn’t a huge loss because you should probably get a new pair anyway.

These boots have the codes FO, HI, CI, HRO, WR, and SRA. Because these won’t probably be clear to everyone, we included the explanations below. Even though these are in good shape, they are still quite old, so we can’t guarantee that they still are according to these specs. But you’ll at least know what they had when they were brand new. Also note that the standard has been later updated, so some of these codes are no longer in use in this format.

• FO: Resistant to fuel and oil
• HI: The upper has been tested for heat insulation resistance against a minimum of 150°C.
• CI: The upper has been tested for cold insulation. Temperatures aren’t given but the standard level is -17°C.
• HRO: The outsole has been tested for heat resistance against +300°C on contact.
• WR: The boots have been tested to be fully waterproof using a flex test.
• SRA: Slip Resistance. The outsoles have been tested on a ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution.

Size info

The weight is c. 770 g (1.7 lbs) per boot (EUR 42 / US 9). The last is normal. In the chart below, you’ll find the insole length in addition to various sizing systems. It is measured from tip to heel, without pressing the insole flat. Magnum charts differ a bit from many other manufacturers, so the insole length is the most reliable measurement. Note that the length of the insole isn't of course the same as the recommended size. You want a bit extra toe space for your foot. The length doesn't increase evenly all the time.

Condition

Nicely used French law enforcement/security surplus. Some have hardly seen any use. There can be some dust and such on the upper but you can polish them quite easily. Note that the pair you get might not be an original pair. So one boot can have a bit more signs of use than the other one, They will be a real pair nevertheless: they are of the same size and one is left, the other right.