Magnum Combat Desert Boots

I make no bones about it – I like Magnum Boots and wear various models just about all year round, finding them generally hardwearing, comfortable and well up to the usage I give them. I have worn various Magnum models in mountains, desert, snow, hills, bogs (and on the High Street) and have yet to encounter any serious problems.

The new Magnum Sidewinder Boots are the latest to hit the shops and are available in Black, Desert Tan and in genuine Crye MultiCam version. I have been trying out the Sidewinder Combat Desert MultiCam Hpi versions – as seen here - and have found them well up to the normal high Magnum standard, incorporating many useful features and technologies, and proving comfortable across a wide range of conditions.  The boots are tested and certified to European standard 20347:2004 for occupational footwear, giving you confidence in their performance.

Starting with the uppers, the boots use 2.2mm thick suede with Crye MultiCam pattern surface colouration and genuine Crye MultiCam® fabric. They also feature 1200 denier on the nylon side panels, leg panels and rear flex panel for extra breathability and coolness in hot environments.

Even the lacing system is in random camouflage colours with a fabric, bellows-type tongue made from 1200 denier nylon for breathability and toughness and 9 sets of tough metal lace tunnels the fourth set down incorporating a ‘lock’ to allow differential lace tensioning between forefoot and leg.

Sole and Heel

The sole system starts with an ergonomically designed ‘Ortholite’ shock-absorbing removable footbed and moves on through a ‘rigid flex’ insole board for support and comfort and a shock absorbing PU midsole, to a ‘Sidewinder’ Vibram outersole which curls up at the toe and heel for extra abrasion protection and grip. The sole incorporates a V4 rubber instep section which resists the heat and abrasion from fast-roping.

This all combines with a ‘rocker’ type last to give excellent grip and ‘self cleaning’ performance, along with comfort over even seriously rough and hard ground while carrying loads.

The MultiCam camouflage colours extend even into the colour of the sole unit for total camouflage colouring of the boots.

The boots do not incorporate a ‘waterproof breathable membrane’ but are rated as waterproof (and are very breathable too!) thanks to the HPi (ion-mask™ HPi Hydrophobic Surface Enhancement which repels water and dirt) nano-technology treatment that gives the boots a complete hydrophobic coating and waterproof performance. To a complete Luddite like me, this looks like magic … but – it works!

Field Results

I have been testing these boots in comparatively warm wet weather – in Wales – and have found them extremely comfortable, hardwearing and up to serious wear. They offer good water resistance with no dampness felt inside even when I was walking through soaking wet long grass – probably the most wetting terrain possible!

The silver based Agion anti-microbal and odour reducing insoles are washable, while the durability of the materials used means that you should not need to replace the boots too often – benefiting both the environment and your wallet!

These Crye MultiCam boots offer a real and substantial enhancement of camouflage potential for anyone who needs to blend into the environment, be they military, hunters or real serious wildlife observers. Designed to perform in the widest range of conditions and vegetation variables the Crye MultiCam formed the basis for the new British military camouflage pattern (MTP) and is almost indistinguishable from it to the untrained eye, so will co-ordinate well with uniforms of this pattern.

For civilian users it would also seem that the pattern has ‘fashion appeal’ on the street!

I think it can safely be said that with these Sidewinder MultiCam boots, Magnum have produced another real winner! Available in sizes UK 7-13 the Magnum Sidewinders MultiCam HPi boots cost around £190.00 and weigh approx. 1.5kg (in the size 9 on test).For more information visitwww.magnumboots.com or phone tel. 01702 541741