Hello together,
i would like to have a discussion about combat boots. There are several kind of boots available. What i would like to know what are your problems with this combat boots in daily military life? What ideas do you have to solve this problems? How looks a perfect combat boot for you?
Please don`t talk about a boot you wear and you like alot but talk about what features make the boot perfect and what a boot should provide.
Hope i can get some feedback on this topic. Thanks so far.

This is something that doesn't get discussed enough.
What I want i the next generation of combat boots:

- Quick drying. Really, really quick drying.
- Quick draining.
- Very well ventilated so it doesn't get wet on the inside from all the foot sweat.

That's what I'd want on top of what they offer already.
Light weight is always a must of course.

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

This is something that doesn't get discussed enough.
What I want i the next generation of combat boots:

- Quick drying. Really, really quick drying.
- Quick draining.
- Very well ventilated so it doesn't get wet on the inside from all the foot sweat.

That's what I'd want on top of what they offer already.
Light weight is always a must of course.

That's pretty much it!
Water is THE biggest problem.

There's also the mud issue...many boots tend to get really hard and heavy once you expose them to mud....you need to give a full maintenance before moving on.

And remember boys..."Change socks whenever you stop!"
When I go to the field I always take talc in my backpack...it sure helps.

Yeah talc is a life saver.
Helps with the sweat.

What would you say on durability. Is this a problem in the field.

Do you have a problem with stuff (dust,...) getting into the boots.

What would you say on the topic of ankle support?

Which are the weak parts on your boots?

Is there a feature which you say boots should have when you think on the daily use in the field.

Thanks so far.

It's really tough to have a boot that's perfect for all environments. I've been in jungle environments where we needed water to drain quickly from our boots, we needed steel plates in the soles for booby trap protection. Durability was a concern.
In the mountains, we needed warm boots with soles suitable for slippery surfaces such as mud, ice and snow covered rocks (traction). Insulation was a must as well.
In the desert as you mentioned, keeping out sand or any other irritant would be a concern.
A boot that's not overly heavy is a must for all environments. I would also include a flexible boot that doesn't require "breaking in". Some comfortable inside sole cushion would be greatly appreciated as well. Whatever the boot is made from, it'd be good if it didn't need to be polished and shined (soldiers hate that).
These are just from my Infantryman's perspective. REMFs may have another viewpoint.

Hi Thanks so far. If you had the choice to build your own boot how would the boot look like? Are there thinks which a boot needs?

Out of your field experience is there stuff what you don't like or what you chance first when you get a new boot.

I know that a boot can't be used for all Teheran. When we try to make groups is it right when I separate them into Desert, Jungle and Mountain.

When you describe a boot choice a Teheran or do you think a boot should fit into all Teheran?

You can make a sucky version of an all environments...but they'll never be 100%
The best thing is to choose you boots acording to the environment.

Like said before, these are must for every combat boot:
-Light weight
-No shine
-Quick draining


About the ankle support...i've had some trouble with those. In some boots the ankle suport, after some time in use, tends to hurt your ankle with the friction, but that's easly solved by incorporating some couching to it.

As for the weak parts. In my experience, the frontal area is the first one to get busted.

Something very important is the size of the boot...those too long, that reach middle shin, are not very good for urban terrain but excelent to jungle. That's something you must check before going into the field...size.

Thanks a lot that was a lot of good information. Are there more people who have experience with boots in the field?
Problems you face or ideas you have what should be done to make boots better.

Like I said, water. That's my number one problem.