Military boots are great for many needs, which make them unique in their own way. By example, you can use them for work, everyday use, and for certain kinds of sports. Today they have also become fashion objects, and you can even find military boots for women.
Another modern trend is to find them in subcultures like goth, skinhead, heavy metal, industrial, punk, and BDSM. Here you’ll find military boots as an essential part of these cultures, where they are a part of the standard outfit equipment.
In the past, military boots and military combat boots especially, were only used by soldiers for war and parades as a part of their uniform. Back then, a solid and supportive boot was important for the soldier, as it is still today. Military boots can be tracked all the way back to the Roman times.
There are military boots for every need
They also come in many styles, designs, and variations. For example, you can get side-zip military boots. The zipper is actually very popular at the moment, as you easily can get in and out of the shoe quickly. And to mention some of the variations, you can get jungle boots, hiking boots, desert boots, logger boots, tactical boots, motorcycle boots, SWAT military boots, and weather boots. The list goes on…
regarding military boots and styles, you can get both full and half sizes, regular and wide, a high boot and ankle boots. So really, the limits are few.
Why choose a pair of women’s or men’s military boots?
The benefits are many, and it really depends on what you want to use them for. Here are some examples:
Work boots
If you want to use military boots for work as safety boots, they are almost born to do this job. Choose a pair of boots with boot steel. Never compromise the quality, as quality boots are a must when they are used for work. If you choose a pair of steel-toe boots which are too cheap, you risk them not protecting your toes and feet well enough, and you will also have tired and sweaty feet when you arrive home from work.
With the correct quality of working boots, you can be sure your feet will welcome them, and feel good and fresh all day long. Work boots are made for work. Don’t use them for everyday usage.
Fashion military boots
These kind of military boots are the opposite to work boots. Fashion boots are for everyday use, and they don’t need to protect your feet in the same way as the steel-toe working boots. Fashion boots also have the features of being softer and more comfortable to take a walk in. And lastly, they are made to look great!
Military fashion boots are made by some of the best and biggest shoe brands in the business. To mention a few, you can buy Diesel, Danner, Oakley, Rocky, Converse military boots, and other shoe brands.
Which kind of military boot should I purchase?
So the question is really, are there any kind of military boots I should avoid purchasing? And yes, there are. If you buy real military boots from the Army’s surplus store, then be sure to check if the boots are in good condition. Often you can get new boots here, but still, you should think about the comfort. Real military boots are not made to be comfortable. They are made to protect and support the soldier, keep water out, and be very durable. Therefore, if you think about buying boots from the Army’s surplus store, then be aware that you at least also need to invest in some more comfortable soles, compared to the rubber soles normal military boots have. Maybe you will also need to buy heel support for your new pair of military-style boots.
Besides these kinds of “real” military boots, most military shoes today are of good quality. And that is no matter if they are made for work, hiking, motorcycling, or fashion, and so on. Especially if you choose shoes from huge shoe brands like Converse, Danner, Rocky, New Balance, Bates, Belleville, Black Hawk, and more, you can be sure the quality will be good.
What should a good military boot cost?
Anything from about 100 dollars and up! If you see any military boots below this price mark, then beware. At least you should check the boot out and/or be able to ask the seller questions, if this is the case.
Where to buy cheap military boots?
You can, without doubt, find the best and cheapest military boots on the Internet. There are many Internet stores specializing in selling military- and combat boots for all kinds of use. These stores are the best to choose from, as they often will have many different boots to choose from. At the same time, they have specialized know-how about combat boots, so they know how to guide you, so you can make the right choice. You can often also be sure they don’t sell you crappy shoes, as they know which military boots are good quality and which you should avoid purchasing.
I recommend Internet shops like:
- militaryboots.com
- quanticoboot.com
- discountedboots.com
They are all e-commerce stores with a good reputation. Another option is to buy at Amazon.com. Here you’ll often find the cheapest offers for military boots, and you can actually also find offers from the stores mentioned above.
Best materials for military boots
The best materials for military boots are materials which are waterproof, durable, supporting, and protect your feet and ankles. Especially workers do need work boots for their safety to protect their feet against heavy objects which could drop on their toes. Combat boots with a steel toe are perfect for this job. Also, when you go buy a pair of work boots, be sure they are slip- and oil-resistant.
Military boots are normally made by rubber, grain leather, and nylon. They normally also come with a rubber sole. You can really find all kinds of military boots for sale on the Internet. The typical color is black, but you can also get them in green, yellow, and even in red with polka dots on, if you like.
Myths about the combat boot
If you never tried to take a walk in a pair of modern military boots, I am sure you think that they must be uncomfortable and maybe even painful to wear. But to tell you the truth, this was a problem in the past, but has now been solved. Modern battle shoes are very comfortable and made in a way so you can wear them all day long.
Thanks to good materials like Gore-Tex and heel-plus-ankle support, the manufacturers of these kinds of boots, are creating military style boots like your other everyday shoes. You can even get a soft sole in your shoes nowadays.
Are my boots waterproof?
Other benefits which you get from military boots are, as usual, the great thing, that they are waterproof. The Gore-Tex waterproofing system is a genius invention. Compared to other shoes, the Gore-Tex system will keep the water out and let your hot feet let the steam out.
How long will my combat boots last before I have to buy new ones?
Well, that depends on two things. If you bought a pair of quality military boots, they will last longer than cheap shoes, no matter what. The second thing which has influence on how long your boots will last, is how much you wear them every day and what kind of conditions you present them to. Normally a good set of quality boots will, at least, last for two years or longer with normal daily usage.
How to use combat shoes correctly for best comfort
Always wear a pair of socks, and it’s even better if the socks are thick, as this will make a walk more comfortable to your feet. Therefore, try to buy a pair of combat boots, which are a a half to one size too big, so there will be space for the thick socks. If the boot is for hot weather, then you should, of course, not choose a thick sock. Choose then a thinner sock, but do still wear socks.
Always keep your feet dry. If your feet get wet from water or sweat, you should change your socks immediately. In this way you will also avoid smelly feet as smelly feet often come from wet feet and wearing shoes where they can’t “breathe”.
How to keep your military boots
A military boot is made to stand tough weather and conditions. But to give them a longer life, you can do a few things to keep them in good condition. First of all, if they get wet inside, then let them have time to dry. Don’t put them on the heater, as this actually could dry them out so they lose some of their abilities and even may start to leak water in next time you are out in the rain.
Most military boots are made in leather. You don’t really need to do anything to keep leather, apart from polish them regulary with ordinary shoe polish. This will keep the leather fresh, shiny and good-looking for a long time. If your military boots have a zipper, then you can oil the zipper now and then so it will run smooth.
Military boots are great to wear, so check out my recommended stores and take a look at the newest models. Good luck with your military boots purchase!