Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan

Half Combat Waxi Boot, Tan

$179.99 USD
/
Rated 4.8 out of 5
Based on 487 reviews
Size chart

 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.

  • Last One!
  • Backordered, shipping soon
  • Free Sizing Exchanges
  • Backed By Our 30 Day Return Policy
  • Ships November 22nd


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 487 reviews
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487 Reviews
Reviewed by Joseph R.
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

Awesome boots

I’ve done 2, 4 mile rucks in them since I got them at the beginning of the week. They gave me no issues and are quite comfortable. I would recommend some new insoles because the ones they come with are quite stiff. Overall very impressed with these boots. They do indeed run a size large, so heed the warning.

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Reviewed by Randolph H., from United States
Verified Buyer
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Cognac Brown
Reviewing
Half Combat Waxi Boot, Cognac Brown
I recommend this product
US Foot Size
8.5
Foot Width
Regular
US Size Purchased
7
How It FIts
A Little Big
Rated 4 out of 5
Review posted

Light and comfortable, great for running!

These run WAY big, got a 7 and they look like my 9s from Jim green and Salomon, but that means I got it just about accurate. I cut and added in some leather kelties and they fit better. I’ve run a total of 5 or 6 miles in these, and they’re loud but good.

ONLY ISSUE, the simple braided laces are not fit to “exit this world” with (they snapped after getting stuck). Swapped them with some cordage type laces and no issues since.

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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 4 out of 5
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Reviewed by Reiben Z.
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

Good Boots

Boots. Good. They feel nice and are rugged.

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Reviewed by Stephen R.
Verified Buyer
Full Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
Reviewing
Full Combat Waxi Boot, Dark Brown
I recommend this product
Rated 4 out of 5
Review posted

Hard to get on, won’t want to take off.

Comfortable, lightweight and flexible. They’ve started breaking in nicely after only a couple days of continuous wear. The only problem is how long it takes to don or doff them. I’ll put it this way: if you are the kind of guy to pester your wife while she takes an hour to get ready in the morning but will wait until she’s walking down the to put your shoes on, you’ll want to think twice with these. They’re tight to put on, take awhile to lace up, and difficult to strap in.

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Reviewed by Dylan M.
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

Good boots

Love muh South African shit kickers, sized down from a 8.5 to a 7.5 and they fit perfectly, good lightweight boot that for me was comfortable even before braking them in.

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