Military boots used to be the business of the soldier. Since the first Roman Centurion worn hobnail boots onto the battlefield – and felt all the better for it – armies across the world began to understand the importance of protecting feet from harsh and rugged terrain. An industry was born: weather-resistant, durable, outdoor footgear fit for the harshest of harsh environments.
Many people do not know or understand how tough soldiers have it on the battlefield. Many people do not want to. There are a few experiences the rest of us may have had that allow us to fathom the reality of the kind of harsh terrain soldiers are subjected to: the times we went hiking or trekking.
Some of us take our outdoor pursuits lightly, but more of us do not. High impact activities such as those that conventionally go under the 'outdoor pursuits' category are not for the faint hearted, or legged. Mounting climbing and trekking are often used by people to release significant emotional pressure gaskets. It's an activity used to burn up excess stores of energy. Bear this in mind before agreeing willy-nilly to take someone up on an offer to go 'hiking' with them.
The hardened hikers out there know that there's nothing worse than trekking for miles up harsh mountain edges with gradients as steep as right angles in crappy footwear. Indeed, the wrong footwear – or even poorly fitting footwear – will likely land a person in an emergency room. Try descending a steep glacial mountain with boots unfit for the purpose and you'll understand the importance of a high-quality rubber grip on the soul of your hiking boot.
Military boots are among the most robust, custom-designed footwear on the market. Considering their purpose, it's easy to see why this is the case. The makers of outdoor pursuits do closely consider practical design when inventing high-spec footwear ranges and can represent good value for money. However, with military boots, you know that you're going to be protected from the harshest conditions and elements. It's a sort of safe bet when you're unsure what to look for in outdoor footwear.