marine hiking boots

HIKING BOOTS FOR THE MARINES

Just this past week the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) put out a sources sort notice for hiking boots. The boot described is a Salomon Quest 4D GTX Forces hiking boot. This boot contains a membrane; Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Footwear as a part of the lining. It also states the lining construction: waterproof bootie construction.

I find their request for a hiking boot of this construction ironic because about 6 or 7 years ago the Marines determined that the men in the field were developing foot sores principally due to wet feet. They then worked with a company to produce a material that would be put into the boots to absorb the moisture and dry the interior of the boots. I manufacture a boot dryer product today as a result of the Marine product. Of course they never addressed the root cause of the problem as to why there was water retention in the first place; Gore-Tex lining!

More recently as I reported some months ago the military started working on a new medium cold weather boot as I was informed by a technician at Bates Shoe Company that contained Gore-Tex and Thinsulate. When I asked about the water retention his response was that it was a problem. My recommendation was to eliminate both materials and use Lamilite; not a chance. The point being that the boot makers as well as the military know they have this moisture retention problem but blatantly refuse to accept the root cause; Gore-Tex membrane.

Now the Marines are looking for a new hiking boot and of course using the Salomon boot as a guide or example for anyone who chooses to bid if or when a solicitation is presented to the market place the boot will have to contain a Gore-Tex membrane.

Doesn’t any of the people at MARSOC ever take into consideration what has taken place in the past i.e. the monies spent to develop the shoe dryer product. Has anyone ever examined why it was necessary to develop due to foot sores as a direct result of feet that were continually moist, i.e. never having a chance to dry in the field? NO and NO.

My suspicion is that those given the responsibility to find a new hiking boot no nothing about the manufacture of boots so they take the path of least resistance and search the market place for something that may be popular in the civilian market that has components readily used in military boots and will fit their needs or so they think which I think they do not actually think about it. As I have learned over the years of dealing directly or indirectly with the military the individuals charged with acquiring products only last in their positions for 6 months to in some cases 2 years. These individuals simply put do not stay long enough to learn anything. Hence the reason they will take the course of least resistance.

The reality is the Salomon boot will more than likely get purchased and those to whom it is issued will have wet feet and if the temperature is in the 30’s and lower they will have cold feet principally because the moisture from their own feet will be trapped in the boot as we know is the case with every boot made with a membrane whether it is Gore-Tex or any other brand of film.