Lowa Task Force is exhibiting at Milipol in the Terrang MP-SEC booth and they showed us the new Ranger Green variant of the Zephyr Mid GTX which features a Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner.
Archive for the ‘Boots’ Category
Milipol 19 – Lowa Task Force Zephyr Mid GTX in Ranger Green
Thursday, November 21st, 2019Sneak Peek – Altama Maritime Assault Shoe In Woodland Camo
Monday, November 18th, 2019
Made in U.S.A. Woodland Camouflage Maritime Assault Shoe are going on pre-order next Monday, 18 November. These are limited edition.
www.originalfootwear.com
Ellsworth & Co – Tropical Mesh Sock
Thursday, November 14th, 2019At Modern Day Marine I ran across something different, socks of a new construction to be exact. Since then, I’ve worn a pair of their new Tropical Socks on several occasions, and I really like them.
Ellsworth uses a V Channel construction in the sole of the sock which is a 3-Dimensional design of knit-in Vapor Channels, offering sweat a path of least resistance to escape from under the foot. This they say, will help resist the formation of blisters. They’ve combined this with a mesh upper and non-slip top so they won’t fall down.
You can see in the photo below how distinctive the V Channel is compared to standard nap.
Here’s a video of a dye test they use to show how the sock moves moisture.
Danner Light – 40th Anniversary Edition
Saturday, October 26th, 2019
Forty years ago, Danner introduced the first boot with a Gore-Tex liner, the Danner Light. This 6″ boot combines the latest Gore-Tex liner with a full grain leather and 1000D Cordura upper for durability in Black and Timber colors.
The classic Danner stitch down construction incorporates a Vibram Kletterlift outsole. Inside, there’s a removable Ortholite footbed for comfort.
Be prepared, these boots are bomber so the 61 oz per pair weight shouldn’t surprise you.
Made in USA.
www.danner.com/danner-light-40th-black-timber
The McRae Industries Story – Part 2, Boots On The Ground
Friday, October 25th, 2019Crafting combat footwear for the Vietnam War
> American troops in the Vietnam War needed a better combat boot.
The year was 1967, and the Vietnam War raged on. With half a million American troops in South Vietnam, the U.S. was at the height of its combat operations.
One major challenge? The standard, all-leather boot issued to troops was falling apart. As America’s warfighters trudged through the dense bamboo, razor-sharp grass, and perilous swamps of southeast Asia, the stitching on their boots was rotting. The federal government sought a more reliable construction to withstand the hot, wet, and humid conditions troops encountered every day.
A shoemaker’s mission: Combat boots that prevailed in the hot, harsh jungle.
“When lives are on the line – as they were every day in the Vietnam War – no gear is more critical than durable combat boots.”
– Jim McRae, Vice President, Director, and Secretary, McRae Industries
Changing course
Responding to the call: McRae Footwear got its start as a government contractor by making boots for American troops in Vietnam.
More than 9,000 miles away from Vietnam, in tiny Mount Gilead, NC, a children’s shoe company had a solution to the military’s boot problem. Gro-Rite Shoes built its footwear following “Process 82.” Instead of the standard practice of stitching on soles by using the welt construction, rubber outsoles were molded directly onto the leather, yielding a highly functional and long-lasting boot.
Responding to the call: McRae Footwear got its start as a government contractor by making boots for American troops in Vietnam.
Functional and long-lasting: McRae’s olive drab jungle boot.
The U.S. Department of Defense asked Gro-Rite to consider producing combat boots for the Vietnam War. The company bid on and was awarded its first federal contract. The product: olive drab jungle boots, with a hunter-green canvas upper section and thick black rubber outsole.
The war order secured, the company changed its name to McRae Footwear and swiftly exited the children’s shoe business. Although McRae shared the jungle boot contract with 13 other government suppliers, work was plentiful. Jungle boot construction continued steadily in Mount Gilead until 1973, when U.S. troops left Vietnam.
Building a relationship with the federal government
“The military boot business was a huge change for us,” says Jim McRae, vice president, director, and secretary of McRae Industries. “We had the equipment and we had the knowledge, but we needed to learn about government specifications and the ins and outs of being a government contractor.”
Sparked by the abiding tenacity of company founder Branson McRae, the company continued making military boots of various designs for the government using the vulcanizing/direct molded sole construction. Over the years, McRae has emerged as a trusted supplier of military boots.
The jungle boots were so successful that they remained a military-spec item until the mid-1990s. McRae still manufactures commercial versions of these boots using the same vulcanizing presses and molds from the Vietnam War era. Today’s boot is constructed of green canvas-colored nylon Cordura for light weight and maximum airflow.
“The Vietnam War had a huge impact on our nation,” Jim says. “It also had a huge impact on our family business. We started bidding for government contracts, and we have been fortunate ever since to continuously win government work.”
RPFMA Names Bill McCann of SMI, Inc. As New Executive Director
Monday, October 21st, 2019Domestic Footwear Manufacturing Association to Continue to Defend American-made Footwear
Washington, D.C., October 20, 2019: The Rubber and Plastics Footwear Manufacturers Association, RPFMA, announced that the association’s management and advocacy operations are now performed by SMI, Inc., a Washington, D.C. based federal marketing and government affairs firm. Bill McCann, COO of SMI, is the new Executive Director of RPFMA.
“There are a host of pressing trade issues that face our industry. It is a dynamic and shifting playing field. RPFMA is committed to protecting the domestic rubber footwear industry’s interests and viability. It is with this singular goal in mind that the board selected SMI. The association will remain laser focused on protecting our categories of footwear from imports,” said John Larsen, Chairman of RPFMA and the President Emeritus of New Balance Athletics.
Since the 1930’s RPFMA, and its earlier affiliation with the Rubber Manufacturers Association, has effectively protected the remaining U.S. rubber footwear industry against imports by maintaining the existing duty rates on categories of rubber (nonleather) footwear still manufactured in the US.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to work for and with the RPFMA members. These companies are committed to making footwear in America. In order to ensure that domestic footwear manufacturing is sustainable and indeed able to grow, our nation needs to commit to fair trade policies and investments in advanced manufacturing technologies and workers,” said McCann. “RPFMA will continue to the be the voice of all domestic footwear manufacturers and will look to lead on fair trade policy and other issues of importance to this industry.”
As Executive Director, McCann will act on RPFMA’s behalf in Washington. He will lead advocacy efforts with federal agencies and the U.S. Congress. McCann is a principal at SMI and previously served as a Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. He has both advocacy and management experience. McCann is well known for his lobbying efforts to require the DoD to comply with the Berry Amendment with respect to athletic shoes issued to enlisted recruits. Patrick Malloy will work with McCann on trade advocacy. Malloy is a former senior Congressional trade staffer. The SMI team will also provide event planning, website maintenance, communications, financial operations and membership services.
RPFMA’s official address is now 1020 19th Street, NW Suite 375, Washington, D.C.
AUSA 19 – Danner Fullbore
Thursday, October 17th, 2019Although it’s a TAA compliant boot, this is the first time Danner has offered a hiker-style in their military line.
Available in Black, Coyote and coming this Fall, Gunmetal Gray. The Black and Gray models are waterproof and feature smooth leather. The Coyote is suede and is only water resistant.
The Fullbore features a Vibram Fuga sole with Megagrip technology along with an Ortholite footbed for comfort.
AUSA 19 – WL Gore & Assoc Showcases New Temperate Weather Boot
Monday, October 14th, 2019The upcoming Terassault GTX from McRae Industies is a temperate boot with improved breathability range thanks to the Extended Comfort membrane from W. L. Gore & Assoc.
It is a very lightweight, low profile design. It offers extreme flexibility and doesn’t impede the design of the boot. In addition to less bulk, it offers at least 30% increased breathability over the Army issue temperate weather boot.
Coming Spring 2020 from McRae Industries.
