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Archive for the ‘Boots’ Category

Darn Tough Vermont Socks

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

A relative newcomer to “tactical” hosiery, Darn Tough Vermont makes one heck of a sock. For over 30 years the Cabot Hosiery Mill in Northfield, Vermont has made socks, but for everybody else. Five years ago they decided to launch their own brand and within a year the “Darn Tough Vermont” brand hit the market. They immediately began to work with members of the military to develop socks that meet the unique demands that service members face each day.

They have a sock for everything from PT to mountainous cold weather environments. They have filled both individual as well as unit orders for both conventional as well as special operations forces of all services in addition to Federal law enforcement agencies.

Three components make Darn Tough Vermont socks stand out: premium quality yarns, exacting manufacturing standards, and unique knitting techniques. Merino wool is their material of choice. They can be worn in almost any climate and will keep the end user comfortable no matter how hard he sweats. Additionally, Merino is naturally anti-microbial, suppressing the growth of foot fungus, is warm even when wet, and naturally Flame Resistant. The consumer line is knit with 100% 21.5 fine gauge Merino wool from New Zealand but any of the socks can be manufactured to Berry compliance. For example, their Army Aviator sock on the RFI program is Berry Compliant as well as the Marine Corps sock.

When we spoke with Darn Tough Vermont they made an excellent point. The modern Soldier wears and carries over $11,000 worth of equipment. So why would you provide low-quality footwear? The foot is the foundation of the Warrior and our Warriors deserve the best.

Merino Wool Micro Crew Cushion

For more information contact Darn Tough Vermont. Additionally, the entire Darn Tough Vermont line is available on GSA.

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Bridgedale Special Operations Sock

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

The Special Operations Sock is fairly thin but the padding is designed specifically to support certain areas of the foot. Think of it as the 330 Revolution for the foot. It’s great for hot weather and Bridgedale recommends you use it as a liner sock for extreme cold weather. Designed to be worn with 8″ boots, it features Bridgedale’s WoolFusion blend and a 3 year guarantee.

Available from Extreme Outfitters.

Tags: Bridgedale, Socks
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Omega Aquatics Amphibian Fins

Friday, July 11th, 2008

While this isn’t the type of thing one would normally expect to see on Soldier Systems Blog, equipment for Maritime Operations is pretty important for our Warriors who spend lots of time in the water. Anyone who has ever worn fins knows what a pain they are. They do exactly what they are designed for in the water but on land or transitioning through the surf zone they are mobility killers. Required for water jumps, fins normally must be taped to the leg and put on once in the water. However, the new Amphibian fin may be the answer to some of these problems. Omega’s Aqua-Hinge mechanism allows the fin blade to be folded up for moving in and out of the surf and snaps back into position with the first kick.

As for the fins themselves, I will just let this diagram explain all about them.

Interested parties contact Omega Aquatics.

All photos property of Omega Aquatics.

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Mountain Boots

Friday, July 4th, 2008

The history of dedicated footwear for mountain warfare traces its way back to WWII. A square toed, brown, smooth leather boot with tongue and groove on the sole for ski bindings was issued to the 10th Mountain and First Special Service Force. Mountain boots would remain a Special Forces standard issue item up until today.

Although members of 10th SFG(A) stationed in Bad Toelz, Germany privately purchased mountain boots from local cobblers in the 50s and 60s, the issue Mountain Boot remained relatively unchanged. The infamous “Chips” or Chippewa Mountain Boots were a Special forces staple up until the late 80s. They were also issued to the 10th Mountain Division during their initial stand up. Featuring bright steel speed lace hooks, thick felt insoles that never dried out, and a sole with a tongue and groove to fit the old issue “suicide stick” skis, the design had barely changed from WWII. Wearing them was like walking around with bricks strapped to your feet but no self-respecting member of 10th Group would be caught without them.

But as the 90s wore on the US was without an issue Mountain Boot. Influenced by 1/10th SF’s experience at Bad Toelz and later in Stuttgart, over time SOF units issued boots from Koflach, Raichle, Lowa and eventually La Sportiva who manufactured a special black version of the ever popular Lhotse for US forces operating in Afghanistan. Ironically, the brown leather Lhotse was better suited to military operations than the black model. But the major weakness that all of these highly specialized European brands was just that; they were European. The Berry Amendment requires that US forces must use US textiles. Unfortunately, at the time there was no US manufacturer of hard core Mountaineering Boots.

As an interim, both the Marine Corps and Army are issuing Danner Mountain Boots although they are different models. Danner has developed a dedicated boot for mountain operations for the Marine Corps that was unveiled earlier this year. The Mountain Cold Weather Boot is brown and features an abrasion resistant toe and heel cap as well as a Gore-tex lining. Each pair comes with a new sock system for cold weather.

The Army on the other hand has chosen to issue a commercially available Danner to members of the 173d and 101st. Combining leather with nylon fabric panels, the Army’s boot stops just above the ankle resembling a hiking more than a combat boot. PEO-Soldier officials have been very clear that these are an interim solution and in no way intended to replace the current issue boot. For that, the Army is hedging their bets on a new modular boot system set to debut in 2009.

Both the Army and Marine Corps solutions are really more trekking boots than actual Mountain Boots. To fill this void in the US military’s family of footwear, they have turned to Bates Footwear and their new Tora Bora model which they are touting as the Tora Bora Alpine Combat Boot. Originally a SOCOM requirement, the user community for the Tora Bora but it is expected to eventually include both the Marine Corps and Army.

For more information on the Danner Combat Hiker contact Danner.

For more information on the new Tora Bora, go to Bates.

Tags: Bates, Boots, Danner
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Air Force Reconsiders Black Boots

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

One of the major issues brought to the attention of the latest Air Force Uniform Board is the susceptibility of suede boots to the grease and other lubricants often encountered by maintainers. The new sage green boot has been singled out as looking particularly natty after just a few days on the flight line. Although many Airmen maintain that the tan suede boots currently issued for wear in the CENTCOM AOR are less likely to show stains.

Still to be determined is who will be allowed to wear black boots and under what circumstances. What has been made very clear is that the sage boot is here to stay but the material may change to something more robust or the suede may receive a stain resistant treatment.

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Nike Reenters the Tactical Market

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

We say “reenters” because Nike has dipped their toe into the pool a couple of times in the past, most recently developing a line of tactical watches based on their Oregon series. Initially produced in Black they transitioned to Coyote and eventually a digital print was offered. But now Nike has come back with their most ambitious project yet; the Special Field Boot.

Nike’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman served as a Major in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII. As a track coach he applied lessons learned on the battlefield to shoe design, making them lighter while maintaining stability and strength. As Nike researched the SFB they realized a fact that most of us have always known, that America’s Warriors are athletes and deserve the same consideration in their equipment as their contemporaries who take to the playing field rather than the battle field.

This isn’t some cheap knock off boot, it is seriously engineered footwear. Looking like someone mated a pair of desert boots with the natural motion of Nike Free running shoes, the Nike Special Field Boot is the brainchild of Nike’s Innovation Kitchen. Although Nike has integrated their latest technology into the SFB, they kept the requirements of AR 670-1 in mind so that it would be accepted for wear by military personnel. But please don’t feel that the SFB is intended solely for the military. Public service professionals, whether Law Enforcement or Fire/Rescue will appreciate the design as well. The boot has been in development since 2004 and undergone intensive testing by US Special Operations Forces. Weighing in at only 15.9 oz (size 10), the SFB is available in both Desert Tan and Black.

Available to qualified US purchasers exclusively from Niketown.

All images are property of Nike.

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OTB Sneak Peak

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Not being a company that rests on its laurels, OTB Footwear LLC is at it again. Three new styles will be released this summer.

The Thor TC was designed with feedback from the SOF community. It is available in Camel/Brown/Black as shown or in an all black configuration.

The Ferdelance is designed for use as a uniform boot for those that prefer the styling and comfort of OTB. It is available in Desert Tan as well as Black.

The Bushmaster is a rugged, mid height desert boot. It is also available in Desert Tan as well as Black.

Check out their current styles at OTB Boots.

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Canadian CTS News

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

The latest news from the Clothe The Soldier office is that the experimental CADPAT boot is out and a new smooth leather chocolate brown version is in. Aside from technical challenges facing the CADPAT boot project, the boots would have cost more as each Soldier would receive two colors of boots. The chocolate brown blends better with both the temperate-woodland and arid versions of CADPAT.

Tags: CADPAT, CTS
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