Magnum Patrol Boots

Author's product rating:   

Durability	Excellent
Ease of use	Satisfactory
How does it compare to similar products?	Excellent
Value for money	Good

Advantages:	Comfortable; exceptionally hard wearing
Disadvantages:	Expensive; No Steel Toe Caps

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have had my Magnum boots, the Patrol version, for approximately twelve months, wearing them for approximately 40 hours every week at work. Before these boots I had a cheaper pair of non-branded boots which last two months before they scuffed beyond repair, the soles came loose and the laces broke.

Magnum boots are described by the manufacturer as the first choice for emergency service personnel, including the police and ambulance services. I use my boots at work with the ambulance service, working long twelve hour shifts - so a good pair of boots is a must.

When you first put on a pair of Magnums they do not seem to differ from standard boots - they have the usual reinforced toecaps, standard lacings and leather outers. When you first start moving however you notice how light they are, you feel more like you are wearing a pair of trainers rather than boots.

The patrol model goes above the ankle, which gives good support for you legs when crouching or moving around quickly, without causing any rubbing or discomfort. The soles are slightly padded, with no particular discomfort being felt after 12 hours on your feet. The reinforced toe caps, though not steel, have protected my feet from the brunt of some heavy things I've dropped on my feet (like stretchers, ouch!), though you do still feel some pain. I find if I crouch, balancing on the balls of my feet, for a prolonged period of time then the reinforced leather can dig into your feet, but this is easily rectified by shuffling your weight.

Wear and tear wise, the boots have help up well, with no discernable damage, excluding some scuffing on the tips of the boots. This looks a little scruffy, but has not compromised the waterproof linings. The area between the reinforced toe caps and the bottom of the lacing loopholes has also become heavily wrinkled, possibly because of the way I crouch a lot at work, and the heavy usage.

At over £60 per pair, Magnum Patrol boots are not cheap and I think I will try to replace mine for a new pair shortly, but given the amount of use I have had from them I think this is value for money. My feet feeling reasonably human after a shift is a god send too.

I would not recommend Magnum's for someone who is going to use these boots every so often or for general work wear, as cheaper alternatives may be more suitable. For those who regularly lift very heavy tools or use machinery I would recommend a boot with steel toe caps for added safety.

I recommend these boots for anyone who spends a significant part of their time in boots for a prolonged period and requires the added safety of reinforced toe caps - without sacrificing their comfort or ability to move freely and easily.

Magnum boots are available from a number or suppliers including:
Millets, SP Services, Galls and general work wear suppliers.

REVIEW UPDATE April 2009:

I decided to update this review as I have just bought a new pair of Magnum Patrol's. The previous pair have lasted a total of just under 3 years, being used for 12 hours a day at least 3 days a week. They have also been to several festivals, gigs and sporting events where they kept my toes safe! The boots themselves are actually still usable, I just can't get them polished to the standard I like so easily - pretty impressive durability for a pair of boots which I think may justify their price!