SA Firefighter
Equipment => All Equipment discussion => Topic started by: PF_ on March 21, 2006, 04:28:36 PM
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Have been browsing thorugh various distributor sites and have seen "structural boots" tha are the lace and zip style. Does CFS use these or have normal boots when going to structural fires? Also, why dont the CFS use the MFS style pull on boot, is that no different to what we have. With the new PBI gear it would look more (whats the word Im looking for...) finished. :|
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what do you mean??? i dont think there is really any such thing as "structural boots" - there are boots that are suitable and boots that are not... i dont think there is really any reason why we dont have "mfs style" boots, and i dotn really see a reason why we would need them.
i wear a pair of blundstone zip up[ boots to every job, rural fires, urban fire, structure fires and VAs... doesnt make a whole heap of differance... theyre comfy as. and tough as nails.
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my boots have the lace and zip thing, but i don't think they're structural boots. taipans with a steel cap. dunno. are the MFS boots slip ons are they?
on a side note, went to a job last night and pulling my boots on at the station, the filtered sole inside crumples up at the toe end of the boot. annoying as! i had to wait like 20 minutes before i could take my boots off and fix it!
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http://www.fireandrescueaustralia.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=91&category_id=460d6b97d0c8a859c956a5f296aa3f02
Im not having a go at CFS or anything, just an observation. I got no issues with my taipan zip ups. But trialled the structural's at FARA when getting my size for the brigade to order me boots and tried on the "structure" ones. They had padding in the toe (as well as stell cap) and were very comfy. Thought maybe that theres advertised 'structural boots" CFS might have used them.
As for the pull on boots, that was just thinking out loud, they must have something going for them, especially since PBI has been brought in, why not other boots.
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hmmm well those boots are what my whole group crank to everything... theyre all we've ever had issued.
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structural Taipan fire boots have the metal strip right through the sole of the boot. Taipan Wildfire boots don't have the metal strip. Both have steel caps and are very comfertable. Thats what our Group think any way.
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We used to run with the Redback bushfire boots, but weve now got almost everyone fitted out with the Taipan Structural boots. A couple of members have a pair of Harvik (sp?) Rubber pull ons, and I think once my PBI Gold comes through Ill probably grab some Haix pull ups, and leave the zips for the wildfire work.
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Would you try and get them through brigade or buy them yourself
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i'd try the brigade, unless you want to waste $250(?) on something that, at the end of the day is just a luxury. If the boots we are issued aren't suitable, then they wouldn't be issued would they?
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I wouldnt have an issue buying gear out of my own pocket (or parents, I dont have a lot of money :-P) If its for safety it is worth it. (Im not saying the zip boots are unsafe, I feel very safe in them) But especially now that PBI and flash hoods have been introduced, pull on boots should be the next thing to be instated in. Would not be surprised if it was, after all they are specifically made for structure fires.
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i see no obvious benefit of pull on boots... i have tried them on as well, as my brother is in the Mets, and they are a PITA in my opinion to wear, they are just as difficult to pull on as zip ups are to put on, and then you have to pull your overpants over the boots as well, which is not terribly easy, considering we will not be allowed to 'bunker' our new PBI pants...
plus they aint that comfortable IMHO
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Is bunkering where the pants are stored with the legs over the boots so you can put on your pants and boots at the same time? Cant see an issue with that, if its in your locker no-one will see it :wink:
I've never tried them on, but honestly would not be surprised if CFS did intorduce them. I dont have an issue with putting on my zip up's, but theyre a PITA (assuming that means what I think it does) to take off as the little velcro tag gets stuck there and not easy to undo. The blundstones I used when first joined had a nice big velcro tag that was easy.
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Is bunkering where the pants are stored with the legs over the boots so you can put on your pants and boots at the same time? Cant see an issue with that, if its in your locker no-one will see it :wink:
yes it is, i currently do it with my nomex, but apaprently it will damage the fibres in PBI if stored this way...
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Thats fair enough, I guess its okay for MFS cause it is only bunkered while theyre on shift then stored away properly in the lockers.
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Nope, well at the MFS stations Ive there have been many off shift persons gear still left bunkered.
If you are putting on the boots, then pulling the pants on... I think you may have things the wrong way around...
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If you are putting on the boots, then pulling the pants on... I think you may have things the wrong way around...
hahaha good memories....
i was at the CFS comps once as a cadet, and my partner in the alarm drill (get dressed stretch a line) put his pants on first then tried to pull his pant on over the top.... we lost because of this. mind you he was actually a mentally retared person...
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Nah, I put my pants on first then the boots, any other way would be a bit odd.
Please do not take this the wrong way, but was this mentally challenged person part of CFS cadets or was he just someone in your team helping. Would mentally challenged (have to be politically correct here) people be allowed to join CFS, I wouldnt have thought so.
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oh, i can hear the hornets nest buzzing over the horizon!
Personally, i think that having a mentally disabled person in the CFS is fine, as long as they aren't involoved in operational things such as hose drills, callouts, etc.
By all means, i think it would be fine for them to help with things like weekly and monthly checks and basic helping hand stuff. At the end of the day, for them to be there they are probably CFS nuts anyway, so they would probably jump at the chance to do things like wash the trucks, help with station maintenance and so on.
As long as they aren't too much of a hassle for captains and so on, i think retarded people in a non operational role in the CFS would be fine.
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Yeah, non-operational is fine.
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yes he was a cadet. too be honest im not sure exactly what happened to him, he left cadets around the same time i did, but went to a differant brigade where i presume he only takes part in non-operational activities... there is no way he had the capacity to assist at calls...
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Yea so back to structural boots.. A plus in my book.
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i'm indifferent. However, i know little about structural boots, so yeah!
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I'd like to see the pull on's brought in to be used with PBI etc. It can only be a good thing.
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They are striclty for that, Structural Fire fighting. They are useless in incidents like running grass fires, most rural jobs actually, as you need alot more free ankle movement at rural type jobs.. (climbing hill faces, more walking etc etc)
But... how many more items are we going to get where we have two sets of everything ??
Counting Currently on my hook..
PBI / NOMEX
Structure Helmet / Grass Fire helmet
(In T/O Gear and on hook)
Structural glove / Rescue golves / Rural gloves
Oneeeee day, there might be a piece of equipment, or a standard developed where 2 helmets won't be required, or multiple sets of t/o gear... one day...
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Two helmets aren't necessary at the moment.. just make sure you take off your structural lid every 45mins!
Just something to note as I think the discussion is going a bit skewy, there are two types of zip ups around, both structural AND rural. I believe the structural type have more metal in the sole and a steel cap, rather than just reinforced. Its not Pullups = Sturucture \ Zips = Rural
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Trust me, the Bushwacker has never come off the shelf :D ..
You are correct bout the boots, but if i was to wear Structural boots, i would wear non zipped ones...
Many a reasons..
My current boots, Blundstones, are capped, not just re-inforced.
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I have worn both the structural and rural (leather lace/zip combination) boots - for a range on incidents - both rural, structural and training. Ultimately in the terrain of the Adelaide Hills there (for me at least) was little difference between them.
I have also worn the pull up rubber boots (Skellerup fire fighters) - and won't go back to them in a hurry - except in winter in flooding incidents (I like dry, warm feet) I have worn these several times in Compartment training and cooked my feet hence now back to the trusted, tested and proven leather combination with zips! Also wore the rubbers at a structure fire - everything except my feet got wet, but walking through and across debris was an uneasy feeling!
The leather lace/zip combo have my tried and tested vote anyday!
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How did you get to wear them at a structure fire? Didnt think anyone in CFS had them.
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Have a pair in my crew bag (had them for years), when the pager went, got to the station, got dressed and put them on my feet - then got on the truck, got to the incident, was assigned BA crew ..... the rest is history!
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Are people allowed to wear them if you have them or can you only wear the CFS approved zip up leathers?
Wouldnt they be better when walking across debris cause they have full leg support, I know the zip-ups go past the ankle but they could still bend and cause a sprained ankle.
I have never tried the pull on's so cant say if they would be good or not but am just wondering.
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Wouldnt they be better when walking across debris cause they have full leg support, I know the zip-ups go past the ankle but they could still bend and cause a sprained ankle.
Just for your info, the Taipan zip-up boots are standard PPE issue to SES. So this could be a cost exercise of standard equipment across multiple agencies.
The Taipan's are great across debris and unstable surfaces.
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Zip up leather boots provide far greater foot and ankle support than rubber/leather calf length fire fighting boots!
As I said, have worn both and have both however for everything bar flooding the leather zip up ankle style boots are far superior - hence I guess why CFS chose that style out of the many different types that were trial and used prior to a standard being reached :-D
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Yeah, they are good boots, I like my Taipans.
Just to clarify here I am not saying the zip-ups are no good cause I like them was just wondering about structural pull ups.
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There are people in the CFS that wear the pull ups. I intend to purchase some leather pull ons as soon as I get issued with new structure PPE. As far as Im concerned, if a piece of equipment meets all relevent Australian firefighting standards, and perhaps if other Australian Fire Services use them, Im happy to spend the money privately and use them.
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Never seen them for sale anywhere, where do you buy firefighting boots from, havent seen the pull on's at FARA?
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i got my boots (taipans)from evans safety on sir donald bradman drive. maybe they sell them there.
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There are people in the CFS that wear the pull ups. I intend to purchase some leather pull ons as soon as I get issued with new structure PPE. As far as Im concerned, if a piece of equipment meets all relevent Australian firefighting standards, and perhaps if other Australian Fire Services use them, Im happy to spend the money privately and use them.
Leather pull ons??????? There are very few fire services in Australia using them now!!!!
Most have transitioned or are transitioning to the ankle style boot with zip, due to their ability to be worn at a HUGE range of incidents and their better ankle and foot support
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Metro brigades use them
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Just for the record, had a look at some of Gawler's gear when they came to macca's last week. Had a squiz at their pull on boots and they looked pretty damn comfy. Also had a look at the stuff in their lockers.
IM pulling a thread out of the archives, some wont like that but oh well.. :| :-D
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Yes PF they are pretty comfy. Speaking from experience.
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Anyone using the Haix Firefighter boots?
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Soon buddy, soon...
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Metro brigades use them
mfs?
have worn my brothers... extremely comfy, but personally id still rather have my zip ups... they provide the same level of protection, but remain cooler (not that i wore my bro's to a job) when worn, and its not a PITA to try and pull pants down over...
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Metro brigades use them
mfs?
have worn my brothers... extremely comfy, but personally id still rather have my zip ups... they provide the same level of protection, but remain cooler (not that i wore my bro's to a job) when worn, and its not a PITA to try and pull pants down over...
Yeah MFS, as far as I know (maybe some CFS city brigades have some) Good point with the heat thing, they looked to be quite warm what with all the padding. Would be nice to use in winter as has been mentioned. Does anyone know where to buy these type of boots?
Where is your brother stationed?
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hes a retainee at pt pirie
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Do the retainees up there run to every job with the full timers or just some of them??
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By looking at my PDW apparently Pt Pirie have a different ID for full timers and retainers (response pages). Also some of their fire calls caome through on their local fire line. So no the retainers dont get told about all the jobs. Hopefully down here in Gambier we will get paged for everything when the day staffing begins.
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i dont reckon they will.....i think there is someone on the inside out to send you broke!
Evil Laugh
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Keep it on topic :-D
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Do the retainees up there run to every job with the full timers or just some of them??
They are meant to... however i think the MFS have there share of issues to. Just going by my brothers stories it would seem that the fulltimers up there are fairly determined to prove the existence is necessary... to the point of delaying retained response by any means necessary, even not responding them at all if there is a call on a local line.
Believe all pages from MFS comms adelaide and fixed alarm go direct to retainees as well as the full time crew. They have devised plenty of there own ways to slow retained responses... its quite amazing.
**sorry firefrog...