History Of Combat Boots

History Of Combat Boots

combat boots are a continuing tradition and necessity of the army and have undergone a lot of modification over the years. These boots are designed to increase the combat comfort of the soldiers as much as possible by ensuring that they are least affected by the harshness of the climate and roughness of the terrain. Appearance and polish is of less importance in combat boots so soldiers do not use these during ceremonial occasions like military parades.

Some of the earliest specialties of combat boots were the provision of short nails known as hobnails that projected on the outsoles, and iron inserts in the shoes. The former was meant for overall reinforcement of the shoes, to provide good grip and traction during movement, and also functioned as a weapon for stamping. Iron inserts were more for heel and toe protection. These types of combat boots were in popular use among the soldiers of the Roman army and were called caligae.

Hessian boots were a type of combat boots used by soldiers during the 18th century and these were popular among civilians as well. Hessian boots were high boots that reached almost up to the knee and had a characteristic tassel at the top of the shaft. It was a type of low heel shoes and had slightly pointed toes. It was a pattern suitable for riding boots and so was good combat boots for mounted troops. Hessian boots were used till the First World War.

Some modifications of Hessian boots continued to be in use during the First World War as combat boots and in some countries there was also the practice of using galoshes. Galoshes are a type of shoes worn over regular shoes to minimize damage to the original shoes. Galoshes are in use even today though not necessarily as a part of combat boots and are always made of rubber. The term galosh may also refer to a strong piece of leather that runs through the lower part of the boots just above the sole.

Trench boots were a type of combat boots used during the First World War. It was designed to meet the requirements of trench warfare and was fitted with hobnails and iron heel plates more or less similar to those used by the Roman armies of earlier days. Trench boots were made of cowhide and were later modified with the addition of a thicker sole and waterproof capability.

Ammunition boots were combat boots used by some countries during the Second World War. The leather soles of the shoes were iron studded in a way slightly similar to hobnailed boots. There was iron on the heel side as well as on the toe side. Uppers and sides were made of pebble-grained leather and there were a leather toe cap as well as a leather heel cap.

Vietnam War saw the introduction of jungle boots as combat boots as the army had to fight many battles in swampy jungles. But this type of boots was not developed much further after the Vietnam War era. The type of combat boots most in use in the United State army today is the Army Combat boot.

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