New blogpost (Boots: Foundational Gear) has been published on My Emergency Preparedness Blog

Guest Post written by: Elijah Williams

As a nation we don’t spend much time on our feet in an active manner. Labor and skilled labor jobs see most feet on the ground. There are professions that have the potential for long hours on your feet, along with the possibility of sudden strenuous and athletic demands, like armed forces, law enforcement, and high level security.

We study prepping and self-sufficiency, and we practice these skills. But most of us probably don’t make these things our living right now. I’m willing to bet a lot of people would need some time to acclimate to the level of physical exertion. Manual labor will keep you fit, but it takes time to get used to continuous activity. A big part of this equation is how much time you spend on your feet. This affects not only your feet, but joints, bones, and overall frame.

This is why it’s important to provide a good foundation for your skeletal structure as it carries your body weight and whatever you may be carrying, lifting, pulling, etc. Having worked in many various fields where I was on my feet a lot, active or otherwise, or where I’ve been required to go from stationary to top physical exertion in a moment’s notice, I’ve found the importance of good footwear.

Having the right piece of gear for the job is half the battle. Like most things, I don’t think there’s one set of boots out there that does it all, but I think you can come close. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

Size

Whatever boot you choose, size may be the single most important aspect of the footgear. There’s not a lot that can make life more miserable than a pair of boots that fit incorrectly, particularly if you are required to maintain a level of physical activity. If your foot size matches nicely with a standard full or half size, that’s good. But if you run in the narrow or wide range, you need to make sure your boots are the correct size for your foot. It is very frustrating trying to maintain stable footing with a boot your foot is slopping around in, or the pain you’ll experience by cramming your feet into boots that don’t fit. It could even compromise your task or mission.

Tread

Generally speaking you want a tread pattern that will give you positive traction on a variety of surfaces, with a sole material that will provide support and wear well. I prefer Vibram® soles. They are sturdy and dependable, and last well, even on asphalt and concrete.

A traditional Vibram® or similar sole has other advantages. These boots generally can be re-soled. I have found they provide a better base than a rubber foam molded sole, which is common today. When I wear a boot, I don’t want a running shoe sole.

Upper Construction

Many boots today have a multiple piece construction design. This can be a combination of various materials whether it’s natural (leather) or man-made (Cordura® nylon, etc.)

Generally speaking, the less stitching there is holding pieces of material together on the boot, the better. Solid pieces of material are far less likely to fail than the thread holding them together.

Many boots can be had with water proof lining. This is worth including, because wet feet can lead to problems and injury like blisters as much as an ill-fitting boot.

A modern trend in less expensive boot construction is padding of some type incorporated into the makeup of the upper. I personally don’t like this. I find the padding material breaks down, and seems to be there as a fill in for the lack of quality material, or the structure that would exist if the boot was made of premium materials.

Cost

Like anything, you get what you pay for in a pair of boots. Your foot gear may go largely unnoticed day to day, but they’re one of the most important pieces of equipment no matter what your specific task. Don’t skimp when purchasing boots.

You can spend $250 to $500 or more on a high quality pair of boots, depending on the specific design.

The Danner Acadia and Danner Patrol boot to be the best all-around boots I have personally used to date, and run about $300. I have worn both for several years and have used them for backpacking, hunting, game packing, patrol work, firewood cutting and general manual labor, and tactical application.

I would recommend getting an 8” to 10” top, particularly if you spend much time scrambling around in the wilderness. It will keep debris from getting into your boot much better than a 6” top. It also lends ankle support. One reason I like the Acadia and Patrol boot is they are relatively light, while still sturdy. Other boots I have used that are very sturdy such as Whites smoke jumpers are much heavier and are not preferred for moving long distances on foot.

Also, I prefer a lower heel. A raised heel like in the smoke jumper or western packer style boot not only adds weight, it can greatly reduce lateral movement and stability, which are important factors, especially in combat or confrontation situations.

A neoprene or similar rubber foam pad can be added to the inside of the boot for additional comfort if desired, which is nice when carrying extra weight over long distances.

Choose your foot-gear carefully and it will be an asset to whatever activity you undertake for years to come.

 

 

 

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Boots: Foundational Gear

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