In late April I took a pair of Black Eagle Athletic VT Mid desert boots from HAIX out to KASOTC (King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center) and SOFEX in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to trial them in realistic hot & arid conditions.
Over the last three or four years I have both tested several different boot types from the Black Eagle range, visited both of the company’s manufacturing plants in Bavaria and Croatia, and watched keenly as this design has evolved into a second generation. The 2.0 in the name indicates this is a second generation boot.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/02-HAIX-9084.jpg)
Boots in use at KASOTC where shade temperature peaked most days above 36C and the stone quarry location was like an oven at times [© Bob Morrison]
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/03-HAIX-6051.jpg)
Latest generation (2.0) boot on left and original on right – there have been various minor detail changes to further improve an already good boot [© Bob Morrison]
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/04-HAIX-6059.jpg)
New (left) and old composite sole treads have many similarities – as you can see from the weathering and wear, we really do wear our test samples [© Bob Morrison]
The fast lacing system has five pairs of non-metallic lace tunnels with tapes at the base and near the top of the well-padded bellows tongue plus HAIX‘s unique fast lacing system with tongue pocket for stowing lave ends. I have been using this second generation lace locking system pretty much since its inception – I proffed a couple from the factory – and I really like it; note that the brown Nepal Pro and French Army combat boots use the first generation lock, which is larger though a little slimmer, and I have found that one to be long lasting, but whenever possible I try to fit the newer two-tone lock to boots I am wearing regularly.
![](https://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/07-HAIX-6085.jpg)
Again note minor detail differences between old (left) and new versions – I found the slightly lower and less chunky back to be better for driving [© Bob Morrison]
To buy online, go to the Athletic 2.0 V T Mid Desert page or click here for the Tactical 2.0 T Mid Brown Leather version of the HAIX Black Eagle.
![](http://www.joint-forces.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/05-HAIX-6066.jpg)
I really like the HAIX fast lacing system and lace lock – lace ends tuck away into pocket in tongue to reduce the chance of snagging [© Bob Morrison]