Combat_boot

Black rough-out combat boots as worn by the Bundeswehr

Sole of modern German combat boot

Combat boots are military boots designed to be worn by soldiers during actual combat or combat training as opposed to during parades and other ceremonial duties. Modern combat boots are designed to provide a combination of grip, ankle stability, and foot protection suitable to a rugged environment. They are traditionally made of hardened, and sometimes waterproofed leather. Today, many combat boots incorporate many technologies originating in civilian hiking boots, such as Gore-Tex nylon side panels, which improve ventilation and comfort.http://www.special-operations-technology.com/print_article.cfm?DocID=875 They are also often specialized for certain climates and conditions, such as jungle boots, desert boots, and cold weather boots as well as specific uses, such as tanker boots and jump boots.http://books.google.com/books?id=IA20xVTl-nEC&pg=PA318&dq=combat+boot&lr=&sig=6sOkd9SN1rRJIWgsMVv-FXmMlRY#PPA318,M1http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E0D9103CF93AA35751C1A9679C8B63

History

Pair of hobnailed boots

Early military boots

The first soldiers to have been issued boots were the foot soldiers of the Roman legions, who wore hobnail boots called caligae to war. Hessian boots were used during the 18th century.

Trench boots

Main article: trench boot

The 1917 Trench Boot was an adaptation of the boots American manufacturers were selling to the French and Belgian armies at the beginning of World War I. In American service, it replaced the Russet Marching Shoe. The boot was made of tanned cowhide with a half middle sole covered by a full sole. Iron plates were fixed to the heel. It was a great improvement, however it lacked waterproofing.

It soon evolved into the 1918 Trench Boot, also called the Pershing Boot after General John Pershing, who oversaw its creation. It used heavier leather in its construction, and had several minor changes from the 1917 Boot.

Boots, Service, Combat M-1943

The first true modern combat boots, the called the "Boots, Service, Combat M-1943 (Double Buckle)," were issued with the M-1943 Uniform Ensemble during World War II.http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_combat_ww2_combatboots.phphttp://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/WWII/shoes_and_the_army.htm They were modified service shoes, with an extended, rough-out or more commonly, a smooth leather high-top cuff added.http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_combat_ww2_combatboots.php The cuff was closed using two buckles, allowing the boots to replace the existing service shoes and leggings worn by most soldiers with a more convenient and practical solution.http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_combat_ww2_combatboots.php The boots, and the service shoes they were made from, had a one piece sole and heel, made from molded synthetic or reclaimed rubber.http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/WWII/shoes_and_the_army.htmhttp://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_combat_ww2_combatboots.phphttp://books.google.com/books?id=Lita2OQpHDsC&pg=PA241&dq=combat+boot&sig=Dvn3w6vX5RgjYjX5FXt4NedQ8BE These "double buckle" boots were worn through the Korean War and were issued at the beginning of the Vietnam War.http://books.google.com/books?id=VMpB4qCuwxIC&pg=PA13&dq=combat+boot&sig=qH2RMF_IiMNmTL3VyYAyMi29DxU#PPA13,M1

Shined black combat boots as worn by the IDF

Shined combat boots

In 1957, the US Army switched to shined black combat boots, although the transition to black boots was not completed until late in the Vietnam War, which also saw the introduction of the jungle boot.http://books.google.com/books?id=MKWV45JxCP8C&pg=PA59&dq=combat+boot&lr=&sig=3-uey64ksDA9cQQpgvwDfpHVLzY#PPA60,M1http://books.google.com/books?id=VMpB4qCuwxIC&pg=PA13&dq=combat+boot&sig=qH2RMF_IiMNmTL3VyYAyMi29DxU#PPA13,M1 Both of these boots had a direct molded sole.http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0666756 The jungle boot had a black leather lower and an olive drab nylon upper.http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_jungle_boots.php Black boots continued to be worn following Vietnam, with the M81 BDU, although non-shine boots were considered by the Army.http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E10F7355D0C718DDDA80994D9484D81http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30917FB385C0C708DDDAF0894D9484D81http://www.princeton.edu/~armyrotc/670-1/extract670-1pg5.htmhttp://books.google.com/books?id=paTolFtLi28C&pg=PA148&dq=combat+boot&sig=CcNErQ8jVJwnkEu2Wgsx9RKAFRE#PPA9,M1 As the BDU was replaced with the MCCUU, Army Combat Uniform, and Airman Battle Uniform the services transitioned to more practical, non-shine footwear.http://books.google.com/books?id=vQhOZ4F_mWIC&pg=PA48&dq=combat+boot&sig=Hqg3j1RKZTlliaZvejOfU88UTw8#PPA48,M1http://www.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/hires/AFG-070509-005.jpg

U.S. Army soldiers are issued their boots

Current American combat boots

As the United States Marine Corps transitioned from the BDU to the MCCUU, they discarded shined black combat boots, and switched to more functional tan rough-out (non-shine) combat boots, with either hot weather or temperate weather versions. Commercial versions of this boot are authorized without limitation other than they must be at least 8 inches in height and bear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on the outer heel of each boot.

The United States Army followed suit in 2005 with the introduction of the Army Combat Uniform, which also switched to tan rough-out combat boots, called the Army Combat Boot, and moisture wicking socks.http://www.special-operations-technology.com/print_article.cfm?DocID=875 Commercial versions of this boot are authorized without limitation other than they must be at least 8 inches in height and are no longer authorized to have a \'shoe-like\' appearance.http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/uniform/docs/Army%20Combat%20Uniform%20(ACU)%20Ensemble.pdf Two versions exist, a 2.5lb temperate weather boot, and a 2lb hot weather (desert) boot. Popular manufacturers are Corcoran and Belleville.http://64.23.83.237/ACUresourcepage.pdf

The US Air Force uses a sage green suede combat boot with its Airman Battle Uniform, although a tan version is authorized until 2011, when the green boot will become mandatory.Air Force Instruction 36-2903

Current United Kingdom combat boots

In 2006, the British Army elected to replace the "Direct Moulded Sole" boots that were in service. They conducted trials in Iraq, Afghanistan and Cyprus during autumn of 2007, and are now issuing new boots made by Meindl and Lowa, including boots specially designed for women\'s feet.http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article620206.ece Elliot, John & Main, Graeme (2008), "Kitstop: Walking Back to Happiness", Soldier Magazine - Magazine of the British army (no. February 2008): 44-45

Combat boots as fashion

Combat boots worn as fashion apparel

Combat boots are also popular as fashion clothing in the goth, punk, heavy metal, industrial, skinhead, and BDSM subcultures, however, they are becoming more and more mainstream.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6D7113DF93BA15755C0A964958260 Beyond fashion as such, many individuals choose to wear combat boots simply due to durability, comfort and other utilities, as the boots are specifically designed to be comfortable to wear in a variety of changing conditions for long durations without significant long-term wear. For these and other reasons, they can be purchased in almost every moderately sized city at military surplus stores.

See also

• Jackboot

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia