Post by lew on Aug 11, 2015 7:35:26 GMT -5
I ordered my Sturm-Miltec Pataugas a while from ASMC.de. First the company, then the wares:
ASMC's ordering process was straightforward. Use Google Translate if you can't read German. The first package they sent was destroyed in transit. I let them know and they sent another order without protest. The second one arrived with a few holes in the box, but the shoes were just fine. I contacted them to let them know they need to beef up their packaging. Shipping on the second, successful order took two weeks. The customer service folks were really easy to deal with, especially considering that English is not their first language (although almost everyone knows some English over there). Big thumbs up to them.
Sofmilitary.co.uk offers the same shoes, but the sizes are in the UK system. I have not done business with them, but have heard that they're fine. More options are better for us.
Now, the shoes:
Price: 24.99€, which is half the price of the former Palladium Hi Pampas. Shipping was 32€ via DHL for two pairs to Southeast Michigan.
Sizing: I wear a US size 10/Euro size 43. I ordered a pair of 43's and a 44, and I am glad I did. The 44 fit like my size 10 Palladiums do: perfectly. The 43's are too small, so order a size larger than your nominal foot size.
Construction: No problems with the construction. The stitching is fine. The sole is solidly attached to the canvas upper. There are some flashes on the sole left over from the injection molding process, but these will wear of quickly with use. The canvas/foam insole has some cushioning and is removable. The tread pattern is identical to that of Palladium's. There are five black eyelet grommets on each side of each shoe.
Authenticity: The light olive drab coloring is just fine and the soles have more shine to them than Palladium's. This is just perfect for Indochina. The rubber ankle disk is molded with "Sturm-Miltec", but a quick second with a grinder- Dremel or the like- or a hot object to melt it flat would be no trouble, and blank disks would be historically accurate.
The laces are modern nylon, so, to be totally authentic, replace them with green cotton laces. Laces are dirt cheap on Amazon or your local sewing store.
To summarize, these are a good buy, and, just as importantly: they're easily available. Palladium seems to have gone full hipster and dropped their Hi Pampa offerings in the correct colors. Asian distributors and stores seem unreliable or downright shady. These shoes look great to the two pairs of Palladiums I already have.
www.asmc.de/en/Clothing/Footwear/Shoes-and-socks/Shoes/Canvas-Shoe-p.html
ASMC's ordering process was straightforward. Use Google Translate if you can't read German. The first package they sent was destroyed in transit. I let them know and they sent another order without protest. The second one arrived with a few holes in the box, but the shoes were just fine. I contacted them to let them know they need to beef up their packaging. Shipping on the second, successful order took two weeks. The customer service folks were really easy to deal with, especially considering that English is not their first language (although almost everyone knows some English over there). Big thumbs up to them.
Sofmilitary.co.uk offers the same shoes, but the sizes are in the UK system. I have not done business with them, but have heard that they're fine. More options are better for us.
Now, the shoes:
Price: 24.99€, which is half the price of the former Palladium Hi Pampas. Shipping was 32€ via DHL for two pairs to Southeast Michigan.
Sizing: I wear a US size 10/Euro size 43. I ordered a pair of 43's and a 44, and I am glad I did. The 44 fit like my size 10 Palladiums do: perfectly. The 43's are too small, so order a size larger than your nominal foot size.
Construction: No problems with the construction. The stitching is fine. The sole is solidly attached to the canvas upper. There are some flashes on the sole left over from the injection molding process, but these will wear of quickly with use. The canvas/foam insole has some cushioning and is removable. The tread pattern is identical to that of Palladium's. There are five black eyelet grommets on each side of each shoe.
Authenticity: The light olive drab coloring is just fine and the soles have more shine to them than Palladium's. This is just perfect for Indochina. The rubber ankle disk is molded with "Sturm-Miltec", but a quick second with a grinder- Dremel or the like- or a hot object to melt it flat would be no trouble, and blank disks would be historically accurate.
The laces are modern nylon, so, to be totally authentic, replace them with green cotton laces. Laces are dirt cheap on Amazon or your local sewing store.
To summarize, these are a good buy, and, just as importantly: they're easily available. Palladium seems to have gone full hipster and dropped their Hi Pampa offerings in the correct colors. Asian distributors and stores seem unreliable or downright shady. These shoes look great to the two pairs of Palladiums I already have.
www.asmc.de/en/Clothing/Footwear/Shoes-and-socks/Shoes/Canvas-Shoe-p.html
