The history of Military Boots

The history of military boots is a quite interesting one and also one which spans decades of history. These boots have assisted soldiers in countless wars, and they evolve to fit the needs of the soldier. On the other hand, these same boots have had an impact on the fashion industry as well as the culture around it. Needless to say, military boots have an interesting story to how they are used and how they came to be.

Combat boots were worn during the English civil war, where the soldiers were issued three pairs that they would change after each march. This ensured that the boots would wear evenly and that they would be worn in and ready to be used when needed. These boots originally had buckles on them, but were switched to laced ones in the 19th century.

American soldiers in the 1820’s wore ankle-high boots, but they did not have a designated foot for each shoe. In other words, there was no left or right boot. The reason for this design was so that there was no way a soldier could confuse their boots, but it resulted in a rather uncomfortable experience, and even blisters, for the soldier until they could properly wear the boot in and make it fit their foot’s shape.

Moving forward to World War II, the US Army introduced the first official set of military boots. These boots used a pair of clasps to offer a quicker and more reliable solution to what the soldiers wore. These boots had one sole and heel, and were created from synthetic rubber. These boots were worn until the early years of the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam War, the US military was not satisfied with how their boots were performing in the jungles of Vietnam. They tasked a company known as Wellco with designing a pair of military boots that would be able to withstand anything the soldiers had to face in the war. Simply known as the “Vietnam Boot,” Wellco designed and presented the military with the type of boot it was looking for. The design was so successful that it was soon adopted into all of the boots that the military used.

While military boots have a very straightforward purpose for soldiers, they have also been used in fashion as well. Several subcultures, such as Goth and Urban, have adopted this footwear to project an image of fashion. These shoes are designed to be comfortable for extended periods of time, giving them a longer lifespan than other forms of shoes and boots.

Even though the initial purpose of military boots may have been different, there is no denying that they have continued to impact those who wear them. As the demands of the customer changes, whether for combat or fashion needs, these boots will continue to evolve and change. There is no denying the impact that military boots has had on both our culture and our soldiers, and that they will continue to do so.