March Contest Roundup

I came across a couple of contests that would be of interest to Grey Ops readers.

First, Paintball equipment retailer PBL is holding a "Win Free Paint for a Year" contest, until April 17th.

A-TACS Danner FTX - Testing Update

Just a quick update on my testing of the A-TACS Danner FTX (GTX version). I ran them through what I've dubbed Montreal's "desert simulator", aka Action 500 Paintball. As you can see from the above picture they got a thorough covering in sand, and I have to say the match between them and the grimy sand of the indoor field was superb. Not an ounce of sand found its way into my mouth and they had terrific grip on the slimey paintball-infused sand coated concrete floors. So although this may not mean much coming from a Canadian, they've got my approval as a footwear choice for a desert camouflage set-up. 

A-TACS Danner TFX - Initial Impressions

This marks my first boot review for Grey Ops, and I'll try my best to acheive the same level of detail that Mike has set the bar to, as I bow to him as the resident boot expert. A-TACS has been kind enough to supply us with a first run sample of Danner's unreleased (due out in July) Desert TFX® A-TACS® GTX® Uniform Boots. That being said, keep in mind that these are not the final production boots (which Danner says will be improved upon, although I don't see a lot of room for improvement in the first place!). 

Ordering Tactical Boots on the Internet - Boot Week

Although great deals on tactical footwear can be found online, choosing the right size is often a gamble. Dissatisfaction with boot sizing is probably THE #1 complaint when ordering boots from Internet vendors!

To avoid disappointment when ordering from that great discount site you came across, here are some tips on selecting the right size:

Surplus Military Footwear - Boot Week

A Grey Ops reader recently posted some comments regarding the practicality and value of US military surplus footwear, and I wanted to repost them here so that this information gets proper exposure to our readers.

"Anon 2 here - Don't rule out surplus for boots or anything really...Surplus is actually a great source, provided you do your home work and shop at US surplus stores. Usually the best ones are located next to US bases, such as Bradley's Surplus at FT Drum NY ( Watertown NY). Bradleys is also where the 10th MTN guys buy all their extra kit..and sell their old stuff.

Crush Fetish?? - Boot Week

Sometimes when researching post ideas, you come across some knowledge that you wish you could just UN-LEARN. This is one of those times!

I was researching some topics for Boot Week, and apparently, there's a select group of people out there who get sexually turned on watching things getting crushed underfoot. On the benign side, some of these people get a rise out of watching vegetables or invertebrates (bugs) getting squished. On the darker end, others enjoy watching small animals getting stomped to death.

As you'd expect, usually the footwear involved are shiny latex stiletto boots, or strappy heels.

Up Close and Personal: Danner Striker GTX and Danner Telson GTX - Boot Week

Recently, I was able to get my hands on a nearly-new pair of Danner Striker GTX boots in Size 9 for a teammate, as well as a new pair of Danner Telson GTX boots for myself. With both boots being highly suited to Milsim paintball, I thought I'd do a review on them for Grey Ops' Boot Week.

Low-Cost Tactical Boots (repost) - Boot Week

This is repost of an older review, following the theme of Grey Ops' Boot Week. Although this post is old news, the Vipers are still going strong at a low price, and I wanted to showcase them for new readers.


Footwear for paintball doesn’t have to be complicated. Basically, any shoe or boot meant for hiking or the outdoors will work well in a paintball game, and depending on how well-kept your field is, you might even be able to get away with cross-training shoes or cleats. But as a Milsim player, not only do you want capable footwear, you want something that completes your “tacticool” look as well.

These days the “holy grail” of footwear for Milsim paintball and Airsoft players is the Oakley SI Assault Boot. But as I mentioned in my recent review, the $200 price tag on them puts them out of reach for practical paintball players who aren’t made of money. If you’re not willing to pay the cost of a brand new marker for something you put on your feet every couple of weeks on the field, you’ll have to look around for something less costly.

(Not to mention, the Oakley boot isn't really holding up that well after some mild wear. See the update for more info).

Oakley SI Assault Boot Review Update - Boot Week

Back in June I reviewed the Oakley SI Assault Boots here on Grey Ops. In a nutshell, I remarked how the boots were extremely light and comfortable, but pricey and probably not that sturdy. Since then, I've had the opportunity to wear both the black leather and tan suede versions many times, and want to provide an update on them.

Tactical Boots Use and Maintenance Guide - Boot Week

PIcking up a good pair of Milsim footwear is only half the battle. Certain steps need to be taken to keep them in good condition so they'll last, and to prevent them from causing problems for your feet over time. This post will cover some basics about how to care for your new boots.

Original SWAT Classics Review - Boot Week

Original SWAT markets several models of tactical boot, with their entry-level model being the 9-inch Classics 1150. The 1150 is a good value tactical boot, with an average price of $80-100 USD. They're available in black, tan, or coyote brown. In this review we'll take a look at the black version.

Black vs. Tan Boots - Boot Week

With most tactical boots being available in black or tan/desert (and with some models being available in as many as 4 different colours), you may be wondering whether you should buy the black or tan version of the boot of your choice.

Rocky S2V "Special Ops" Boot Review - Boot Week

Rocky Outdoor Gear is an American company headquartered in Nelsonville, Ohio. They've been producing footwear for over 70 years, and produce boots for hunting, work, Western enthusiasts, and of course duty wear.

The flagship of their duty line is the Rocky Special Ops S2V Boot. The S2V is available in black, tan, sage green, and olive green, which is a welcome change in a market full of boot models sold in only black or tan. This review will examine the black version.

Grey Ops' Boot Week Kicks Off!

As a keen Milsim paintball player, you've no doubt invested a lot of money in a top-of-the-line Milsim marker, as well as all sorts of "tacticool" accessories to make it appear even more realistic. You've probably also sunk some decent coin into an air tank with a remote line to power that marker, as well as a tactical vest and pouches to hold it. And that's not even getting into the cost of a good mask! All told you've probably spent hundreds of dollars on paintball gear to accomplish the task of getting your paintball out of the gun and on target. But how much have you invested in your footwear?

Low-Cost Milsim Boots

Footwear for paintball doesn’t have to be complicated. Basically, any shoe or boot meant for hiking or the outdoors will work well in a paintball game, and depending on how well-kept your field is, you might even be able to get away with cross-training shoes or cleats. But as a Milsim player, not only do you want capable footwear, you want something that completes your “tacticool” look as well.

These days the “holy grail” of footwear for Milsim paintball and Airsoft players is the Oakley SI Assault Boot. But as I mentioned in my recent review, the $200 price tag on them puts them out of reach for practical paintball players who aren’t made of money. If you’re not willing to pay the cost of a brand new marker for something you put on your feet every couple of weeks on the field, you’ll have to look around for something less costly.

Oakley SI Assault Boot Review

Thanks to the Oakley Forces Program, I was able to pick up some 8" Oakley SI Assault Boots recently at a great price. I got a black pair for business, and a desert pair for pleasure (and by pleasure, of course I mean Milsim paintball). Both are nearly identical except for colour and the materials used, and throughout this review I'll be focusing on the black version.