I am reading a lot about the RU logistical nightmare during the current war in UA. With all those additional hundreds of thousands of troops being mobilized, it seems they cant even afford to properly equip the ones already on the warfare. I have even seen soldiers that are wearing sneakers instead of combat boots.
My question is, why does it matter? Especially in a warmer months. Why cannot all soldiers just wear the “trail running” shoes or basic “hiking shoes”. How can it be that worse then proper military boots? Cannot it be even better, since it is usually lighter and more comfortable?
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So a few things about combat boots from your friemdly mieghborhood jarhead. Military issue boots come in several varieties. Personally while I was in the Marine Corps from 2000 – 2005 I ised 3 different type of boots on a regular basis: combat boots, jungle boots, and desert boots. There are more types but we will look at these three for now to get a badic understanding and an answer to the question.
Jungle boots are lightweight, easy beathing, and extremetly hard soled. They like all military boots contain a steel shank in the sole that will protect you from a number of nasty things that you can step on. Jungle boots are the boot that I personally found the most confortable. With a roomy toe and effectively a drain in them so that water doesn’t get stuck in the boot once it is in there. These boots also typically lace to a bit higher than the other types I will talk about and like all boots they have a good lace setup that can be pulled extremely tight even to the point of tournequiet if that somehow becomes necessary. Tread pattern on jungle boots is extremely effective when walking in wet gross conditions, like a swamp. The boot will litterally shove mud away as you step down so yhat the boot os less likely to get squelched into gross.
Desert boots are another light weight boot. Even lighter than jungle boots, desert boots do not breathe as well, but are inherently cooler. They as quite nice for their heat disipation in hellish environs that try to mummify you when you think of going outside. I never personally liked the desert boots I was issued in Kuwait, as they had poor ankle support in comparison yo what I would have liked walking across sand. However I hear later remodels did much better. Desert boots would also get soaked with sweat in long days in the 125° sun. This was something that I initially found odd as the rest of me vasically sweated out pure salt. But it did keep my feet a bit cooler than they probably would have been otherwise.
Combat boots. Heavy, waterproof, these mudstompers are goddamned weapons. Really all three have many properties that make them potentially lethal to my enemies. Combat boots are the best for that though. Tough as nails and the best protection you can wear on your feet for a combat situation. These particular boots are very poor at heat dissipation and they hold water like a bucket. But they stomp, oh, boy does ot geel good to have a pair of Danner Combat boots on and just stomp some shit. Makes you feel like a warrior. Excellent tread and traction on a wide variety of surfaces. Also, they float. Which is just an interesting side note in the event that you ever go overboard, and are a shit swimmer, you can use a pair of combat boots like little floaties.
Now for why I dont want to wear my Js in a combat situation. They are comfortable as all get out, yes, they breath and are heavy enough that I feel planted on nice pavement or a basketball court. They are absolute shit in mud. They have no traction on natural surfaces. The ankle support I need in a badketball game is a far cry from what I want on a 25 mile hump or in a comvat situation. The heel is too soft to get a solid break kick out of. They absorb too much shock if I need to kick a door down. They do not have a steel shank to protect my precious footsies from nails, spikes and toe poppers (to some extent). That is the biggedt takeaway you should have though, different footwear for different activities. You wouldn’t wear wrestling shoes to play baseball, you wouldnt try soccer cleats to play ice hockey, why would you wear basketball shoes to fight in a war?
Edit: Seriously, thank you all for the gold, and awards. I do apologize for the typos. I wrote this laying in bed and was too lazy to go downstairs to my pc. Some people have asked about the “Js” I wasn’t referring to jungle boots, I was talking about Jordan’s, the basketball shoe. Once again thank you, and I hope you all have a wonderful day.
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