Left my s/h pro boots in a shed for a year still working fine.

Yep - Been there. Both my issue Assault Boots and pro boots have done this in the last 12 months.

The Assault Boots are 11 years old and the proboots are 6 years old. As to why they've gone to shit at the same time? Go figure.

It was a good choice to go pro boot though. Lowa's and Altbergs weigh as much as a Golf GTI and cost a little bit more.

Do they still issue pro boots?

Yes they have a shelf life - I think it is around 5 years. Hit me with a NSN and I'll see if there is any other details.

Like lots of rubber; use it all the time and it will remain flexible and comfortable but inevitably wear down, use it and then leave it for months it will perish. (Think push bike tyres that haven't been used since the last New Years resolution was shit-canned.)

As for polishing them - don't! Use dubbing instead; it's better for the leather and the goretexy type stuff underneath.

I had been blaming a Portaloo related incident ( jolly japes resulting in spillage of blue fluid for this )

Originally Posted by Hexitele

Yep - Been there. Both my issue Assault Boots and pro boots have done this in the last 12 months.

The Assault Boots are 11 years old and the proboots are 6 years old. As to why they've gone to shit at the same time? Go figure.

It was a good choice to go pro boot though. Lowa's and Altbergs weigh as much as a Golf GTI and cost a little bit more.

Do they still issue pro boots?

It's a damn shame as they are the best boots i've ever had. I don't like the vibram soles on other boots. I seem to think the company was taken over, was somewhere on here I think I read about it. They also don't re-sole the boots.

Thanks all. Sounds like it is a recognised problem; both build quality and simple age. Resoling would have been a great idea, that's what I did to my favourite old Jungles, but probably not worth it if the man at Q&M will let me trade up to something more up to date.

Here's a link to the original thread on this issue.Kitmonster gave some good advice on it.
Also a quick one.Isn't Dubbin an animal fat?So it wont soak into leather like polish.If that's true it will just sit on the surface of the leather and act like a barrier.Great for keeping water out.No good for breathable membrane boots though.
Disintegrating BCH Sole

Originally Posted by Hexitele

Do they still issue pro boots?

We're about to get issued them for winter issue - they're still going strong!

Originally Posted by Ned_Seagoon

Recent weather and a marked lack of comms with my toes for the last week have finally persuaded me that the ubiquitous jungle boots might not be so ubiquitous after all. So, early this morning, I dug out the Pro boots that had served me so well on many a winter exercise, albeit several years ago; I did remember them being particularly warm and reasonably waterproof. However, having pulled them on and laced them up and set off for the back door, far too late to bother with polish!, I found that the soles were not only sticking to the lino but leaving substantial “blobs” behind. Closer inspection showed that the soles have become tacky.Is this a recognised phenomenon or am I just an unlucky Arrser?

Those boots are on their last legs.

Same thing happened to me. Had a really well broken in waterproofed pair that all of a sudden just disintergrated on me. Not impressed as my current job doesnt warrant forking out £120-130 for Lowa's etc