Combat boots have not always existed in the same form that you know them today. In fact, the history of military boots is a long story, and it took a lot of evolution through the ages from soft leather held together with animal bones to end up with the comfortable, durable and supportive boots that we have today. In armies throughout the ages, the boot has been a prized possession. Weapons will only be needed in times of conflict, but boots are needed every single day.
Read on for a breakdown of the history of military boots and the different ways they have existed throughout time.
The Military Footwear In The Ancient World
The history of military boots can be traced as far back as ancient Rome, where, until the end of the 1st Century, lower-ranked foot soldiers and cavalrymen of the Roman Empire would wear ‘caligae’. A set of open hobnailed leather sandals designed specifically for long marches over rough terrain. They had heavy-duty thick soles that offered the wearer a lot of support and plenty of ventilation. In warm Mediterranean climates, Caligae would have been suitable and cooler on the march; however, in Britain's cold and wet winter climate, additional woven socks or raw wool wadding may have helped insulate the feet. Caligae seemed to have been abandoned in Britain by the end of the 2nd century AD, in favour of civilian-style "closed boots" called Calcei. They offered more warmth and protection and quickly became a staple both in Roman military and civilian life. Roman military footwear set the tone for footwear for several centuries.
Knights In The Middle Ages
Like many parts of life, the history of military boots in the Middle Ages is one based on feudal hierarchy. Early Middle Age boot designs were still influenced by both the Romans and European tribes. Footwear was usually a poor quality basic stiff leather shoe or even just stitched leather wrappings secured to the ankle with crude lacing, not much better than walking barefoot. In colder regions, these might have been lined with fur for warmth. Leather garments were slowly replaced by metal shoes. The footwear of Knights often featured a long metal toe. The toes of these ‘sabatons’ were pointed and elongated, with larger ones often being detachable. Knights often wore leather boots under their greaves, sometimes lined with fur for campaigns in the cold. Later sabatons had either round or slightly pointed toes, and they fell out of use in the second half of the 16th century.
The Beginnings Of Uniformity In The 18th And 19th Centuries
During the English Civil War, soldiers wore buckled leather shoes, whilst cavalry soldiers wore high-legged leather boots. The onset of the Napoleonic Wars and American Civil War saw the beginnings of standardised military uniforms in the armed forces. Naturally, footwear began to standardise in the same way as any other piece of equipment. The Hessian, Blucher and later the Jefferson Boot were popular. They were pull-on heeled leather boots, often unmarked for being left or right and therefore had to be very painfully broken in by the wearer. They were mostly known for durability and protection rather than their usefulness in supporting the wearer on a long march.
Boots For Trench Warfare
The history of military boots takes a sharp turn during the First and Second World Wars. The standard military boots of the 19th Century would no longer be sufficient, as the terrain was one of the most brutal of any conflict in the history of the world: the trenches. In World War 1, boots were neither waterproof nor insulated, so soldiers suffered from immersion foot syndrome or ‘Trench foot’. Soldiers often wore boots 2 or 3 sizes too big and wore multiple layers of socks to combat the cold. Thousands of soldiers died because of complications from trenchfoot, and thousands more were forever debilitated by the condition.
Ammunition boots (‘ammo boots’) were the standard combat boot for the British Army from the mid-1860s. By WW2, specialised boots emerged that included insulated and jungle boots. The U.S. developed the M-1943 combat boot and other equivalents at the time, which started featuring double-buckle ankle support and full leather construction. It was during this time that tactical boots took off as their own piece of gear rather than an afterthought.
Tactical Boots Today
Today, combat boots are the products of immense amounts of research and rigorous testing. LOWA military boots have been innovating for over a century to improve comfort, durability, weather-resistance, breathability and more in our military boots. Modern military boots are lighter, more breathable and have superior ankle support. Many countries have followed the US in switching the colour of their military boots. Materials like GORE-TEX and Cordura have revolutionised the construction of combat boots, and will continue to stand at the forefront of this ever-evolving scene.
