Bates | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Posts Tagged ‘Bates’

Bates Footwear

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Bates developed both the Tora Bora Alpine Boot and M-8 Tactical Boot to support Special Operations Forces requirements.

The Tora Bora Alpine Boot offers ultimate protection for advanced mountaineering and high altitude operations and was engineered in partnership with the US Special Operations Command. This USA manufactured boot contains 200 grams of Thinsulateâ„¢ insulation and a GORE-TEXÂ® lining, as well as a multi-terrain VibramÂ® rubber outsole for compatibility for crampons, skis, and snowshoes. It is quite a feat that this boot is Berry Compliant. Bates made a serious investment in building the infrastructure to build a technical mountaineering boot domestically.

The Bates M-8 Tactical Boot provides enhanced durability, stability, and traction in urban and field operations. Also manufactured in the USA, the M-8 features a VibramÂ® Mutant outsole for traction on wet as well as dry surfaces. For maximum cushion and durability, the M-8 features a direct-attach construction. An anti-bacterial, abrasion-resistant Dri-LexÂ® Camo lining delivers enhanced moisture management to ensure feet remain cool, dry, and comfortable. many do not know that the M-8 was actually developed to satisfy a SOCOM requirement for an assault boot. Bates answered the call with a modified version of their popular M-9. In addition to some minor modifications including a slightly shorter upper, Bates had to be prepared to produce the boot in various color schemes in order to support SOCOM’s individual service components.

You can see these and the entire line of Bates boots at the Soldier Equipment and Technology Expo and Conference November 17-18, 2009 at the Crown Convention Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Tags: Bates
Posted in Boots | Comments Off on Bates Footwear

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
Posted in Boots, MARCORSYSCOM, PEO-Soldier, PM-SSS | Comments Off on Mountain Boots