Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black

Half Combat Waxi Boot, Black

$179.99 USD
/
Rated 4.8 out of 5
Based on 478 reviews
View Size Guide

 Finding Your Size

To size your boots, please use the sizing chart we have provided below. Waxi boots are a size larger than regular boots so please order one size down from your regular boot size. For example, if you are normally a size 9, we recommend you order a size 8.

Being leather boots, expect them to need a little bit of breaking in. After a few days of wearing them around, the heat of your feet will cause the leather to expand and fit the shape of your foot a lot better. 

If you find your boots still aren't a perfect fit after receiving them, you can use our Returns & Exchanges form to send them back for another pair. Please note that on-hand color and sizes may be limited. 


UK

US

EU

4

4.5

37

4.5

5

37

5

5.5

38

5.5

6

39

6

6.5

39

6.5

7

40

7

7.5

40.5

7.5

8

41

8

8.5

42

8.5

9

42.5

9

9.5

43

9.5

10

43

10

10.5

44

10.5

11

44

11

11.5

45

11.5

12

46

12

12.5

46.5

12.5

13

47

13

13.5

48

13.5

14

48

14

14.5

49

14.5

15

49

Ivan says: Double check your sizing!
Waxi boots run larger than most boots.

  • Low stock - 2 left
  • Backordered, shipping soon
  • Free Sizing Exchanges
  • Backed By Our 30 Day Return Policy


The Standard Lug Sole, reminiscent of a lineman's or logger's sole.
Great all-weather, all-terrain performance.

The Anti-Track Sole, a completely flat sole and South African military legend. Widely used in the Border War to conceal troop movement, it has no tread.
This results in footprints which appear washed-out, older, or too light to be visible, confusing would-be trackers.

• Made by original South African manufacturer
• Thin, breathable cowhide leather
• Wide toe box accommodates foot swelling during long hours of use
• Sturdy, easily replaceable Goodyear-Welted soles
• Half-gusseted tongue
• Double stitching and metal eyelets for durability

More Colors & Styles Available

View All Boots

The Background

The Waxi boot is an enduring icon of the Border and Bush Wars — Conflicts which dominated South Africa and present day Zimbabwe during the Cold War. Outside of Africa and certain military circles both of these wars have faded into obscurity. Don’t get the wrong idea though, they were anything but boring.

At the height of the Border and Bush wars, both South Africa and Rhodesia found themselves geographically, economically, and diplomatically isolated. They would be facing off against the best efforts of the USSR, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, and several members of the Soviet Bloc. All of whom would be providing training, arms, logistics and advisory support to a rainbow of communist terrorists, militant groups, and Sub-Saharan nation states. The resulting violence was characterized by its fast pace and indiscriminate brutality — with frequent attacks on public infrastructure and civilian populations.

This period of counter-insurgency combat in the African savanna and wildlands forced tactical and material improvisation. Scrambling to stay competitive, South Africa and Rhodesia would develop doctrines and equipment that would stay relevant for decades to come.

The Boots

Like many South African designs, the Waxi Boot is essentially a standardized field improvisation. Fighting in the bush necessitated two things, long term endurance, and bursts of high mobility during close contact. Traditional combat boots provided neither — especially when you consider the sweltering heat of Africa. With this in mind, many South African and Rhodesian soldiers opted to wear their physical training footwear instead of their issued combat boots. The most popular choices were takkies (hockey shoes) or commercial high tops from Converse and others.

This philosophy would eventually give birth to the Waxi or “Half Combat” boot. Sitting halfway between a high-top sneaker and a combat boot, the Waxi runs, jumps and flexes like a tennis shoe while delivering the protection and durability of a boot. The "Full Combat" variant has a taller profile with an extra buckle but sharing the same design as the rest of the Waxi.

Our Waxis are manufactured by hand, by the same family owned company who has supplied them to the SADF for decades. They are lightweight and strong, with a full Goodyear welt and double stitching on all load-bearing seams.

For the uninitiated westerner several things about the Waxi will come as a surprise. The first and most noticeable is the fit. The Waxi is built with an extra wide toe box. A feature which increases airflow and accommodates swelling from extended marches. We suggest you wear yours the African way: thick wool socks, regardless of the weather.


Which brings us to the second thing most people will not expect; the thickness of the leather. Without a doubt the Waxi is a durable boot, however it does this without the weight and stiffness you might be used to out of a pair of Red Wings. This makes sense when you consider the Waxi’s parentage; it is a desert boot, not a logging boot for North American forests.

This thin flexible leather performs two important tasks. It significantly reduces the time required to break in your boots and it increases comfort in hot weather. Spend a few days outside and will find that your pair readily shapes, creases and forms to match your feet. It’s also great for moisture transfer. You will find that you sweat straight through the leather of your boots instead of swimming in them.

The Recces

The Waxi boot was the brainchild of South Africa’s elite Recce units (short for “Reconnaissance”). The cream of the SADF, Recce were experts in both long-range combat reconnaissance and counter-insurgency. In truth though, they did far more. Recce quickly became the “go-to” fighting force for nearly everything, from airborne raids to underwater demolitions.

Limited by attrition and embargos, Recce frequently purchased their own kit on the private market. This included the first Waxi boots, which were made to order for individual soldiers. Among these first purchases were many of the now famous “anti-tracking” boots — variants of the Waxi featuring a completely flat sole.

The anti-track Waxi replaced the Recce footwear of choice — black high top sneakers with the soles sanded flat. In the dusty conditions of the bush, the flat soles left faded prints, disguising fresh tracks as weeks old.

Where The Waxis Have Walked

See what hundreds have said about the South African Legend
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average rating 4.8 out of 5
Based on 479 reviews
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479 Reviews
Reviewed by Jarod S.
Verified Buyer
Full Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
Reviewing
Full Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

These Are Badass

I was hesitant to order a whole size down. I'm very particular about my footwear, and was worried they wouldn't fit right. I was wrong. These not only do they have serious drip, they're seemingly broken in out of the box. Excellent boots.

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Reviewed by Alex A., from United States
Verified Buyer
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
Reviewing
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
I recommend this product
US Foot Size
9.5
Foot Width
Regular
US Size Purchased
8.5
How It FIts
A Little Small
Rated 4 out of 5
Review posted

Nice lightweight flexible boots, very bizarre sizing.

If your part of the tldr gang I recommend a half a size down and a wide but the sizing is all over the place goodluck.

These are nice lightweight boots. Goodluck on getting the right size the first try. I guess sizes in south Africa are more of a suggestion then a standard. I took the sizing advice and ordered a size down from what I wear. The length was good but they were really tight width wise. The left boot was snug but comfortable, the right boot was way to tight. I got paranoid and measured my feet and they are the same, probably a difference in stitching or again the sizing is all over the place. The return process was easy but they were out of a half size up so I got my normal size I wear in wide. They are loose but comfortable. They actually feel like tanker boots if there are any 19k's out there.

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Sizing
Rated 2 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
Performance
Rated 4 out of 5
Quality
Rated 4 out of 5
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Reviewed by Mason H., from United States
Verified Buyer
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Reviewing
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
I recommend this product
US Foot Size
10
Foot Width
Regular
US Size Purchased
9
How It FIts
Perfect
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Great quality, lightweight, durable.

These are great boots. They don't weigh a ton, they break in easy and they are very high quality.

They run bigger, so buy a size down from what you normally buy. I usually wear size 10 in cowboy boots, or size 10.5 sneakers, so I bought a size 9 in these Waxi boots and they fit perfect.

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Sizing
Rated 2 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Image by Mason H.
Was this helpful?
Reviewed by Clark C., from United States
Verified Buyer
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
Reviewing
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
I recommend this product
US Foot Size
13
Foot Width
Wide
US Size Purchased
11.5
How It FIts
Perfect
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Excellent quality, odd fit for wide feet.

It took 3 tries to get a good fit, but the quality is so good I've already managed to trade the first 2 purchases away to fellers with bigger feet than me.

I'm a size 13EE normally, or a size 14 when EE isn't an option, I ended up with a 11.5 Wide that's still a hair snug on the width and long in length- but this is my new favorite boot for hikes, runs, rucks, and climbs. They advised to order a size small, and they were right, but wide feet apparently make it worse

The fact that my wife said "they look better than your old dress boots" doesn't hurt either.

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Sizing
Rated 2 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Image by Clark C.
Was this helpful?
Reviewed by Jason A., from United States
Verified Buyer
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
Reviewing
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
I recommend this product
US Foot Size
12.5
Foot Width
Wide
US Size Purchased
11.5
How It FIts
A Little Big
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Nice Boots - Gonna order a second pair

I got these last week and have worn them a little around the house. This is a first impressions review. Got the 11.5 Wide Lug variant. Typically wear a Red Wing 12.5 E to give you a comparison with a US-made boot.

Fit is perfect wearing with Fox River's Norsk Heavyweight Crew Hiking Sock. It is a lightweight boot (which I prefer as heavyweight backpacking boots seem to f___k my feet up) that I haven't tested outdoors yet.

The quality is very nice [good stitching, leather looks quality, no burrs on the eyelets, the REP (?) soles have aggressive tread] though I wonder about durability due to the lightweight nature of the leather.

The included insoles are very thin and look like it may be worth replacing right away. The strap and buckle is a new feature to me and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it can be a little tricky to undo if you've strapped them up tight.

All-in-all I'll be buying the next batch they do (or I might just order the last pair Kommando Store has in stock), cause as they say... "Two is one and one is none".

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Sizing
Rated 2 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
Performance
Rated 4 out of 5
Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
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