Posted on 08/26/2013 4:52:04 PM PDT by yoe
An Army survey of sore-footed soldiers has led leaders to take on a new mission: finding the perfect boot that withstands the weather but properly cushions across long treks and rough terrains.
And the Army has put a team of specialists on the job — footwear project engineers at the branch’s Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Massachusetts.
“The soldier lives in his boots,” said Bob Hall, one of the footwear engineers, in The Boston Globe. “If he’s having problems with his boots, he’s having problems with everything.”
Army researchers in Natick are winding down a two-year campaign — sparked by a survey that revealed soldiers’ core complaint, aching feet — to develop a boot for Middle East terrain. The military took prototype boot submissions in 2011, and now the field’s been narrowed to three potential companies with lengthy backgrounds making footwear for the military: Bates Footwear of Rockford, Mich.; Belleville Boot Co. in Belleville, Ill.; and Danner in Portland, Ore.
“We know who makes the best boots out there and we tap into the best technology the industry has,” said Sgt. Maj. Emmett Maunakea in The Globe article. “There’s so much science that goes into it.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I forgot to mention that Reebok took over the Converse boot line. Just bought a new pair last week and they are just as good as before with a slight improvement. They have jell cups in the heel!! Freekin’ awesome for a guy like mee who spends all day on his feet. They are the Rapid Response RB The stock number for them is RB8894. The website lists them for $150.99 but I get them at a discount for being retired military and another discount because I work for a Defense Contractor. They run me $119.00. I will never wear any boot but these again.
http://www.reebokwork.com/258/Reebok-Rapid-Response-RB-RB8894
In my firefighting days (mid-1970s to mid-1980s), I always wore Danner Smokejumpers. I usually didn’t get them resoled, though, because one good season would generally ruin the uppers. Heat is, indeed, hell on boots. It wasn’t just the Danners, either; those who wore expensive Whites and the like didn’t seem to get any more life out of a pair.
I love those boots. Worth every single penny...
...but there isn't much wear in spike heels.
I think the effort to get a one-type fixes all ills will be the problem. Narrow feet, wide feet, short feet, non-pronating feet all take different boots.
I bought the Zamberlains after trying new boots for a year. I plan to use them I pass away or no longer hike. When we get old we can plan to buy the best and never buy again if we save and wait. I think I got these on sale for about 230 instead of the 280 list. I will only use them for their intended use and use some Red Wings for casual hikes and daily.
With size 12 B ( with a 2 A heel) I have to have the right boot.
Bingo. I'm still looking for that perfect boot but I'm getting very close.
Bttt
I actually waited about ten years past when my heavy hiking boots were too short for fully padded wool socks. My arches had weakened or collapsed and caused my foot to go from 11 1/2 A to 12 B. I just kept using thinner socks when I needed the ankle support, or used work boots when I needed high tops.
I had a vasque low cut hiker/runner with a good shank so I got by.
I have been waiting to replace my stereo speakers for about 20 years waiting to get what I decide I want. I am hopeful that a Martin-Logan delivery truck will hit my car.
What the Army can now justify:
I hope the Army does a better job with new boots than it did with the last $5 billion camo uniform debacle.
Most of my firefighting is burn piles. In addition to tree tops, I burn about 10-12 cords per year of split oak in piles to make charcoal for incorporation into soil. That gets my boots so hot it sometimes melts the laces (I wear an aluminized nomex suit). Even then, I can usually get two years with one resoling. Lately, I've bought cheapo boots (Dickies) for weeding, mud, and fires and saved the Wescos for logging and high climbing. They have a Cambrel (kevlar) lining to protect from saw cuts, so they aren't terribly comfortable.
I had a pair of Bates with the zipper sides that felt like I’d been wearing them for twenty years from the day I bought them. They were my favorite riding boots. Dumped the bike last March and tore the left one all up. Broke my heart almost as much as damaging my ride.
Because the rest of the world had no shoes.
Look at what the VC did in 'nam wearing only their Ho-Chi-Minh sandals fabricated from discarded tires.
Russell Moccasin Boots. Army boots nearly crippled me during my career. I have wide feet but the Army only had skinny boots. The official remedy was get a size larger. Did not work.
Those are Birkenstocks for the masses.
No comment
A world without Nikes!!!? cries Shirley Ujest.
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