(Top 3) Palladium live up to French Foreign Legion legacy? 

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If you're looking for canvas French legion boots they're called Pataugas, leather ones on the other hands are made by Marbot and are called Brodequin de marche Modèle 52, later on they switched to the BM65 (Brodequin de Marche 65) made by Marbot, when the factory closed they switched to Argueyrolles which is a boots made for the ceremonies

I have 3 pairs of Palladiums...black, tan, & a leather pair & happy with all of them.... Trivia, not that I would buy them because of this, but Palladiums were what Will Smith wore in I Am Legend... To me they're less boots than they are Converse Chuck Taylors on steroids...

Chuck Taylors with a hiking sole. Best shoes ever if you live in a hot climate. Price is pretty good comparing to everything else out there. The only negative stones, gravel will get caught in the lugs. Light, cool and they dry fast.

I think the modern ones differ from the ones produced in the 80s. They were a big fashion item in the late 80s and clubbers wore them, often with the top few inches rolled down and their jeans/dungarees or trousers rolled up.

"The greatest summer adventures never have a plan!" Sounds like those old French Foreign Legion soldiers were just these fun-loving guys always ready for a hip adventure in the sun without a care in the world! 😂

I have a pair that I got over 15 years ago, they are made in France. They do not have a foam insole. The insole looks like a weave with a type of cork bottom. The rubber bottom also seems to be thinker and stiffer than what you show on current day. They have been on many a dog walk on beaches and are always comfortable

Hello from France. La marque Pataugas, Wizard furent aussi parties de l équipement de nos militaires, dans mon Bataillon ( 27 BCA) nous avions un petit musée représentant les équipements qui ont fait notre histoire. Merci pour cette vidéo.

10:24 gets to main reason modern ones are not as durable, the originals were vulcanised whereby the rubber outsole was melted onto the canvas, like the us jungle boots. Modern ones seem to use glued or cemented construction. This has been hard to verify as the company released a video discussing the original construction, direct vulcanisation, inferring this method was still used. The matter is further confused by the website referring to vulcanised outsoles where the rubber may be indeed vulcanised separately and then the sole unit glued to the upper. Further research (yes I looked into this considerably) indicated that the change in construction method occurred in the early 2000s from direct vulcanised to glued where many seem to be referring to quality decline.

I love my pair of Pampa Hi so much I bought a second pair in a different color! Almost got a third a couple weeks ago lol they are lightweight, comfortable as hell, are quality shoes, and look good. You can get them at Marshall's somewhat often, usually around $30 instead of full price. They blow Converse out of the water in basically every regard, because they are almost everything you want in a Converse but better. For anyone that wants the All-Stars look but can't stand the shoe itself, like me, these are a perfect substitute without adding a ton more weight or bulkiness. You can walk all shift or all day in these and not have foot pain, unlike Converse 🤷🏼 the biggest downside for me is the fact that you can get pretty bad traction on smooth, hard, wet surfaces (like tiles).

Thanks for including metric weight in the description, alongside imperial one

I have 2 pairs of Palladiums, one of which are "waterproof". Both pairs' outsoles got worn within 1.5 years and the waterproof ones started letting water in when dipped in water after a year or so. They are OK for casual walking, I really like how the canvas looks in a boot-like form factor, but with how simple their constructions are they are like 70-120 USD at full-price at which I can buy canvas shoes that are both a lot more comfortable and a little bit more long-lasting. I bought mine at an outlet store for ~35 USD apiece and I would probably not buy another pair if they are not at sub-50 dollars.

They are also called "Pataugas" in France and were very popular with kids going in holidays summer camps in the 70s.

I had a pair of Palladiums years ago. They are exactly as you've described: A sneaker that looks like a boot. I found the construction to be very similar to that of a pair of Chuck Taylor's. Are they a boot? Well, they look like one. And that's why I bought them. I'd buy them again, I got what I paid for. Plus I think they look really cool, and they're pretty cheap.

I am retired US Army, I have a pair of the tan Pampa Hi, minus the insole (I replace all the insoles with ones I like)I really like them. I also have 2 pair of the Altima Maritime (one hi, one low), and the discontinued Go Ruck Jedburghs. I really liked the Jedburghs until discontinued. I do a lot of hiking and rucking. For a lightweight warm weather boot the Pampa Hi works for me. Just my opinion.

Ask anyone who visited South Africa in the 1990s and they will tell you those are security guard boots.

I had a pair of these ~10yrs ago. The pampa with the roll down shaft. They were definitely more stylish than a functional boot but I wore them all the time and they were comfortable and held up really well. My biggest gripe was that the lighter colors (mine were a bluish light grey) stained around the toe cap if you had sweaty feet. I completely agree that they wore more like a shoe. Got lots of compliments on them, probably wouldn’t buy another pair though just on my changing preferences.

I have a unused pair of the old boots (MLE 52 Rangers marrons) in size 46, we can get in contact if you want to buy them, they do not really fit me. I am located in germany though.

Like converse, but you can walk on wet grass without slipping over. A most recommended summer boot of a British music festival. However, where the toes bend, always a hole develops where the canvas meets the rubber.

Wes, I truly thank you for your in depth reviews over the years. I am now the proud owner of some JKs (300s), and JG African Rangers in zero drop. Nice additions to my stable of boots. Only regret: not buying your first collab. Boy I wanted those, but couldn’t hit the buy button.

Boot suggestion: The Corcoran Tanker boot.

Nice to see u review budget boots. A lot of us use boots for casual, dress or just for the looks. If you could do more of these....maybe X-ray boots or even Cole Hans....keep up the excellent work.

Many years ago I handled a pair of pristine Palladium boots from the 1960's that belonged to a militaria collector, they were the authentic article as issued to French Foreign Legion troops stationed in tropical regions, looked very crudely made with flashing here and there from the rubber injection molding and were definitely tougher and heavier than the mall Palladiums I had.

I love the Rose Anvil advert!! I think it was hilarious and informative. I don’t like boot pockets but for some reason, I seem to want one now..

I've owned two pairs, both leather and weather proof. Used them daily as a mail carrier. The tread seems to wear out after a year an a half and they stay waterproof for almost a year. Definitely not heavy duty but if you just want something casual and good looking go for it. Personally I'm going to be looking for something heavier duty from now on. Nice in-depth review! Keep it up.

I love the look of Palladium baggy pallabrouse with the turn-down look but they don't hold up super well. Around the little toe the canvas and rubber separates. I got the Nylon ones and they've held up better but they don't breathe as well. I love the look and they aren't the most expensive. I'll still buy them.

Bucking the trend I have a pair of these and really like them.

I was so excited to buy a pair of these boots, and I found them at a local store. I bought the brown ones and they were great for about three months and then the fabric started to rip. I’ve never had a boot/shoe fall apart so quickly on me.

FFL are not Special Operations Forces, they're a combined arms expeditionary force, which are a cut above typical ground forces. The French army, and the FFL itself, have special operations units. They're most comparable to the USMC or the expeditionary forces of the US Army, such as the 82nd airborne.

I have been waiting for this for a long time! I own the tan and the green, and they feel and fit slightly different, never knew why. They also made all leather ones too, but never tried it.

I LOVE my Palladiums! Have an absurd amount of them, will take them over running shoes or Converse anytime!

I have the black ones and the tan ones just like in the video. I'm surprised you didn't mention the extra strips of material sewn into the sides of the uppers. That's a definite difference between the version. I've found the black ones (which I was under the impression were a special anniversary edition) fit much looser than the tan ones. Perhaps that's just the difference in size standards in Vietnam vs. China. They really are like a Converse and a combat boot had a baby. I find them very comfortable.

i have some grey ones from 4 or 5 years ago, they're really really nice if you want a boot to wear in the summer like you'd wear a pair of chucks. Nothin' fancy but not bad to wear.

I was looking at these before, but because I saw their advertising on Instagram I just assumed they were a cheap Tek wear/Mall ninja brand/shoe. Knowing that they're the real deal makes it a little easier for me to potentially get a pair.

Great review as always sir! I posted this on another video but thought I'd share it here too... TLDR: Bought my first pair in 2014, still in great condition, I still wear them regularly, and just bought my 5th pair this month. All are US size 8. I bought my first pair in Nov 2014, the all-black leather and nylon Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 on sale for $70 CAD. They're very comfortable, my most worn pair and they're still going strong. The sole has held up great and they look like they've still got many years of life in them. I wear them year-round and they've been my go-to winter boot since I bought them. For context, I'm in the Toronto area. My second pair is another all-black leather model, the Pampa Sport BaggyWP purchased in Jan 2015 for $78 CAD on sale. These are the ones with the fold-over collar to make them shorter or taller. I've only worn these a few times but plan to make more use of them now to give my Pampa Sport Cuff WP2 a break. This one feels a light tighter in fit. My 3rd pair is another all-black leather and nylon pair, the Pampa Thermal which is a real winter boot. Paid $120 CAD on sale in 2015. These are used mostly on heavy snow days, mostly for shoveling the driveway. My 4th pair is the Pampa Hi Mono Chrome in the Olive Night colorway. These are the non-waterproof canvas boots made more for summer but I sprayed them with waterproofing. I got these in Nov 2022 for $85 CAD delivered. I've only worn these a few times also. These fit a little looser than the others, mainly because they don't have the additional lining. These are basically like high top Converse Chuck Taylors but with a knobbier grip. I just received my 5th pair, the leather and nylon PAMPA SHIELD WP+ in the "Dear Brown" colorway (a light caramel color) for $121 CAD delivered from the Palladium online sale currently going on. Haven't worn them yet but am confident they'll be another great pair of boots for beating around town in.

great video i love the look of the canvas on those. keep it up dood

I own a pair of Pampa Hi Seeker Lite Waterproof and they look better than the hi Chuck 70 that I used to have. Like he said, the design on the outsole on these boots are really nice, the grip you get from walking on snow is one of the reasons I'm glad I got mine over another Converse when it started to snow a few months ago. The comfort on these, at least for me is okay. I did replace the insole for a more firmer one (Superfeet blue) but I've had no complaints especially with the side zipper that makes wearing it slightly more faster but keeps its waterproof feature in mind with the design. It's definitely not a "Boot", but it's good enough as a casual street shoe and better than a Converse in terms of design and comfort.

In 1990, I was at US Army Airborne School and some BUDS candidates were rolling through. In the barracks, A few of them wore Israeli combat boots that have the same canvas exterior as the Palladium but in olive drab. Those are the best looking of the French foreign legion style canvas boots

The leather, waterproof baggy is the best boot I've ever owned. They're lined with wool and keep your feet comfortable no matter what environment you're in. I wore them on a 40 km backpacking trip through the Continental Divide in the Canadian Rockies mid summer. They performed excellent in the rain and on steep inclines. I've also worn them on numerous hikes in minus 30 Celsius during the winter. They were incredibly warm paired with wool socks and my feet never got wet. Ended up liking the so much I got 2 more pairs.Some people people might find them a bit heavy But I'd still highly recommend them.

I got a black pair brand new at a thrift store. They are so comfortable. I have wide feet needing a stiff sole. They fill all the gaps. I think mine are from 2017or so.

I have some full leather boots from them will wool lining from 2015 and they have held up great. I think they are plenty comfortable.

Living in the hot and sticky US Southeast, these are my go-to hiking trail boot. Lightweight, supportive enough in the ankle, rugged but flexible sole. I've only owned a couple of the single color versions, and they lack the contrast of something like Chucks, so not the most fashionable with jeans or whatever, but not embarrassing. The only place I've had a pair fail was the glue holding the upper to the toe "cap" part. The sock liner held it together, but I stopped wearing that pair, especially for hiking.

I wore Palladium boots for a few years for work (maintenance crew on a golf course) They were pretty comfortable, but barely lasted a year before the sole started separating from the canvas. They are good for casual use, but not for hard work. I’d love to see a more rugged, solid built Palladium, because I do like the look of them.

I have a waterproof purple pair that are a mix of leather and synthetic canvas I think. I’ve had them about 8 years and they are just starting to wear out. I love them and knew nothing about them when I got them. Now I need to inspect them more closely.

I love these boots I have 2 leather 2 suede and 3 canvas in hi lo and shoe type, wear is not a problem with them they last a long time and have survived the washing machine (canvas) without any problems I do swap around then change insoles tho. Some fade differently one black canvas faded grey and another black canvas faded brown from the sun.

i've always had my eye on these and never pulled the trigger. I typically like canvas shoes/boots too.

I call them my adventure converse and basically wear them like sneakers, maybe for walks in the grass or generally the countryside. They're great for that purpose but of course not more!

My friends and I do open top vehicle expeditions in Tunisia and Morocco. We mostly wear the Baggy version of these. They are good in the big dunes (would be better if the tongue was webbed) and great in hot weather. Yes, they catch gravel in the heels all the time. I do wish they were better quality as I would be very willing to pay for it.

I have a pair of the taller ones in suede which I don't believe they sell any more. Same design but far more durable than the canvas ones. They have held up for close to a decade of pretty continuous "medium duty" use. I also had the tan pair shown here that went on a trip to the middle east as my "civilian shoes". Light and easy to pack. They are some of the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. If you just want a comfortable, light weight, general use boot, you really can't go wrong. One thing to consider: The tongues aren't attached to the upper part of the boot, which makes for less material folded up around your ankle. But it also allows for crap to get inside. If you're going to be exposing your feet to things like chainsaw chips, grain, deep sand, etc., it's getting inside.

Bon Chance Mon Ami. I had a pair when we would do patrol exercises in the Marines. We called them Ninja boots, VietCong boots and Israeli commando boots. They were as comfortable as sneakers but only lasted a few outings.

I’ve been buying them for years… Great summer footwear. I like to wear boots and I used to wear Converse all stars. But their quality went to crap a few years ago. I love them. I like the leather ones too. Can’t go wrong with lightweight boots that are breathable. They pound the concrete well.

These look interesting as summer "boots". The best I've come across are the Astorflex Greenflex, which essentially seem to be clark's desert boot with fewer corners cut.

Hey! I really was rooting for the black ones, I really liked those. Reminds me of the green military-style Converse but looking much more durable. Please do the Belleville 790 boots, those are one of the favorites among the military and camo dudes I've crossed over the internet. Cheers!

Saw these online. Intrigued. Looked cool. Like the idea of a real canvas boot. Kind of what I was afraid of.

I've been wearing Palladium boots for 20+ years and love them. That wear includes 2-3 in the Northern Nevada desert every summer. Also, they were worn by the Israeli military for decades and back in the day you could but those versions at surplus stores for under $20!

I was issued a pair of gray "Coral Booties" for swimming as a US Marine in 1984. Flat, slick soles. We were told they were WWII surplus. Terrible. Next, they issued us green high top Converse. Slightly better, but the soles had no grip and the insoles took forever to dry once you got on the beach. We all started buying tan Palladiums while overseas in the Med. They had a woven insole back then. Well suited for the task. LL Bean started selling them, which made them easier to get. I had a friend pick a pair up for me in Europe about 10 years ago. They still had a woven insole. I still wear them for finning in warmer weather.

Nice video. I would rather buy these than Converse all day long. And I agree, Palladium needs to make a real boot that costs more.

I love my palladiums. I only wear boots so to have something lightweight and breathable for the summer they sre perfect

I've owned one pair of Palladium boots years ago. I liked the style, fit, and comfort. Mine had the same wrap around rubber outsole as the ones featured in this video. Unfortunately, they only lasted about 1.5 years of daily city use before the rubber started separating from the rest of the shoe. Shoe goo could only do so much before water, dirt, and grime kept getting in and the separation kept growing. They had no warranty. Just another piece of junk for the landfill. I never bought another pair.

I have their leather winter boots. Have been great for 3 winters.

My favorite pare of shoes of all time are the lowest end Pampa Travel Lites. They are incredibly lightweight and super flexible so it is almost like a sock with a boot sole. They fill a very unique niche that fits exactly what I want. For me I would rate them a 10 in every category except durability which I would give maybe a 4

I have had a pair of pampa hi originales for several years now with no noticeable damage. I usually only wear them casually once or twice a week. I don't have anything bad to say about them for what they're trying to be.

I used to wear the hi top leather version from 2019-2021 for police duty. I really miss those boots, sad they took the leather version out of production.

If they made one with a shank, a leather lasting board/insole underneath that foam insole, and added that reinforcement strip found on the black model on the other 2 models, these would be amazing canvas boots that I’d buy even at a higher price.

I've had a pair for years and made somewhat comfortable with a pair of good insoles. Without them , they're hard on your feet for a long walk or hike.

I bought a pair of PALLABROUSE online after being intrigued by the tread for mixed walking: Super Light Rather Narrow fit Nice Semi-firm soul for walking Super comfortable They probably aren't great for every occasion in all black because they do look like a Jack-boot, but I am a happy customer.

I waited for this for so long

Still have my Pataugas bought in Bangui during my two years assignment there in early 2000. OD color

I've had 3 pairs over the years. All leather 2 pairs of Pampas and a Chelsea style that they made 20 years ago. At the time I was bartending and these boots held up to beer, water and questionable decisions for far longer than Docs or blundstones. I have a tan leather pair of Pampas that I still love but haven't put them through much real work other than light hiking.

Ya Def want a quality version of this style!

I had been considering the model featured in the last Bond movie. Seeing this, I'll save my cash...Cheers for saving me money!

I'd love to see you review some of their other boots. The Pampa Travel Lite is a popular, more expensive model of theirs, and many of their waterproof boots have been praised. The Pampa Hi's are one of their cheapest models.

Got my custom wallet this week and it's finally starting to mold to my cards, very happy with the colors! Was wondering if y'all would ever consider doing leather insoles/footbeds. The keychain i got with my order is the perfect thickness for one!

A comparison between palladium and pataugas will be great 👍🏻

I started wearing these in the early 80's when L.L. Bean used to sell them. Eventually I stopped wearing them because my feets, by global and Waller standards, too big. Then they started making them in even larger sizes and I returned. Alas, they became a fashion item instead of a military supply/surplus thing and prices crept up, it seems. Great traction - soft rubber! And great tread. (Other than picking up rocks which you become aware of and cope with with ease, rocks come out just as easily as they get jammed into the gaps in the soft rubber.) Best shoe for walking around on a shingled roof. Flexible sole, very nimble. Chuck Taylors with traction. Great in the heat. Go without socks in the summer, very comfy. Get them wet, big deal, as long as its summer time and you don't care about wet cotton shoes. Light weight. Cheap. The bottom may get thin but you'll also get holes in the cotton by that point. I tend to wear mine in the shop, so I'm not getting much sand through holes in the fabric. Eventually just give up and buy another pair. Their strengths are also their weaknesses, but they are a disposable kinda thing. I now wear a knock-off of Palladium (Farm Blue) to get even more room inside for my feet in a certain big size. Even the shoe laces can die prematurely. I say toss them immediately and get smaller diameter round laces, which slide better in the eyelets.

I work in the woods for a living. I have great re-soleale boots. However I can’t wear them above 55 degrees. The rest of the year I’m wearing my 2 pairs of Palladium boots or Vasque hiking shoes. Disposable shoes have a use.

I have a pair like the tan ones. They are better over gravel roads than regular sneakers. I don't feel the rocks digging in my feet so much.

Lol the most cushioned military styled boots I have are the cheap Chinese suede ankle boots, the heel is made of light rubber that has rectangular cavities inside. For some reason they are very comfortable : )

Did you you post this video already? Anywho, right now is probably The Time to be picking up a pair of Palladiums or, like, mid-July. You're doing a service for humanity by posting reviews of the better brands out there, construction- & style-wise. I haven't picked a pair of Palladiums up yet, but have been meaning to. Maybe now is the the time...

Review spring court shoes! Summer is coming up and I need to decide which cotton shoe to buy!

I joined the legion 1981 where i joined up fort de nogent some of the old anciennes wore these as they were goingabout their dayon another note serving in british army in belize,unlike everyone else in my batallion i was issued an older british army jungle boot green canvas,rubber toe cap similar to the french,/palladium boot

I have several. Some the most comfortable shoes I have.

Great video, the presentation is very enjoyable. I have many of these boots because they look cool & feel decent enough for the price. If I want more comfort, I add new insoles. If I want more durability, I buy a higher quality-priced boot ;)

i tried a pair of the tan shoes and the heel caused instant pain before i laced them up. after lacing i took a few steps, unlaced them, put them back in the box, then left the store.

I had two pairs of Palladium boots. Really comfortable, but both failed where the canvas meets the rubber on the top of the toe.

you guys should do a video on the altima maritime assault boots. they are similar to these boots

I have had mine for 10 years and I love them I wear them almost every day. And through 3 pregnancies. I haven’t had a single problem with them. I live in Tokyo so we have high humidity so they are great for moisture. I love them. People who insult them either haven’t given a chance or have never owned a pair. So it’s easier to insult a country and their shoes and I have PF .

Own 3 pairs, ironically the travel lites feel most boot like. The hi line beought the best of a sneaker and military boot together. Just think of it as the smartest designed sneaker ever, you can do all the outfoor stuff you want thanks to the outsole

Prob the only shoe I ever bought that didn’t need to be broken in? It was kind of crazy, day one perfect fit and comfort. Perfect for day to day chicanery.

I really like my palladiums, they ARE NOT HARD WORKING boots, but if you work inside they are super comfy

I love em got 7 pair the leather 1z are way more durable

I remember similar boots in 90s in US Calvary catalog called Israeli boots. But I think they were taller.

The palladium is used in SOF of the IDF. I used them in the 70'

You should stop the ball drop test because the information it provides depends on many variables and you can't draw definite conclusions from it. An example is that one might think that because the ball bounced high, then the insole and sole are thick and bouncy. However, you could get the same result with a very thin insole and sole that allows the ball to rebound with the hard floor and get a lot of height. Whereas, maybe a shoe with a very comfortable and shock absorbing insole and sole, won't give a good bounce. One could judge that shoe as lower quality where in reality a comfortable shoe won't always give a good bounce. Since the experiment isn't correlated with comfort, you should think of a better test with more consistent results.

Love my beige canvas Palladium Pampas, they may be fashion sneaker/boots, but I can wear them all day and have no discomfort, even with my bad knees and ankles. The support is excellent. The only thing that gets me is the aggressive lugged sole picks up pebbles, but they're easily removed. Here are some quotes from African hunters on safari who swear by Pampa's (and Converse Allstars, believe it or not...) - Fred Bear, Wally Johnson, Buzz, wore Converse - many more wore Palladium - Tony Seth-Smith used to and Natasha Illum-Berg still does Palladium shoes were once very popular among east africa's hunters. They are essentially chuck taylors with a lug sole - and it's a damn shame they only make them narrow as a toothpick. Natasha Illum Berg wears them. For hot weather I have always worn Palladium Pampa Boots.

check out the altima maritime assault boots. kinda similar to these boots

From testing reviews it seems: + comfortable for light use, tropical conditions, grippy sole, some love them - the soles dont wear well for very long distance (damaged feet), not great with rucksacks long distance, may be slightly inferior quality to originals (vulcanisation) can be expensive.

I have 5 pairs and I use them riding around on my motorcycle. I had to get the soles stitched as the glue is not that reliable. I love the looks and comfort though.

I would be nice to see a recraft of this boot. Replace the cup sole and add a leather sidewall stich. Thoughts?

I have two pairs. Are they the best shoes in the world, no. But they are comfortable enough and I like they way they look.