Army boots aren't made for walking.

[Squatch]

I went for a brisk 5-mile ruck march in my new uniform boots. By the 1/2 way point, I could feel spots on top of my toes and the back of my heel start to get hot. By the end of the walk, I had 2 large blisters on my heels.

Additionally, the boot itself does not lend itself to natural walking. There's no "roll" through the step. Your heel comes down and then your toes/ball of the feet slap the ground immediately after. My toes (despite the large toe box) were completely numb by the end of the hike and are absolutely killing me today.

You would think that for a $120 boot, it would have been designed for long-distance comfort. So, now, I'm going to have to shell out some more money for an even more expensive boot.

Crap.

Here's the boot in question:

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Sure sounds like those boots aren't made for walking.

Nothing like finding that out halfway through a long march. You just know that you're going to pay for it even more the next day. Ouch.

[LeftyMom]

2. Seriously, how many retired military guys don't have bad knees and backs?

I don't know *any.* Get the best footwear you can, it may save your knees and back.

[AllegroRondo]

3. You really need to break those in

before you do a long march in them.

Get some good cushioned insoles, and wear them around for a week at least before you try a ruck march.

My best boots for long marches were a pair of the old green canvas sided jungle boots. Went through 3 soles/heels on those.

[Squatch]

4. I have a pair of those. They fit like slippers.

Unfortunately, with the Army going to the new uniform, black jungle boots are no longer authorized.

[underpants]

5. Got any specs on those boots?

If they are leather like the old ones-get in the shower with them.

That always worked for "cruit boots"

[Squatch]

8. No matter how tight I get the laces

I can't get the boot tight around my foot. For that reason, they're very comfortable for normal everyday wear, but murderous on long walks under any sort of weight.

I used to break in my old boots by soaking them in a bucket of water for 3 days, and then working in a can of saddle soap into each boot's leather, inside and out.

[AllegroRondo]

6. No more jungle boots? NOOOOO!

Another reason I'm glad I got out.

[Squatch]

10. On the plus side, the jungle boots make a damn fine pair

of workboots. True, no steel toe, but they are more agile than big ol' clod hoppers.

[DS1]

11. Jungle boots hurt the most, that steel plate in the bottom

never seemed to flex, ya know

I'd take full leathers over jungles any day

[Squatch]

14. The later models replaced the steel shank with a plastic one

so you still got some protection.

[BikeWriter]

7. Government Issue combat boots ruined my feet.

[Squatch]

9. Current GI boots are falling apart in the desert

so I wanted a pair that would last.

[BikeWriter]

12. They used to last for years, except in the boonies...

where it stayed wet all the time.

[Squatch]

13. When were you there and with whom did you serve?

[BikeWriter]

17. United States Air Force..My duty stations:

Lackland, AFB TX. 1965
Sheppard AFB TX. 1965-66
Ent AFB Colorado 1966-67
Pleiku AFB, Republic of VietNam 1967-68
Sparrevohn, AFS, Alaska 1968-69

[Squatch]

18. My Dad was there

from 1967 to 1968 with the 173rd Airborne Bde.

[BikeWriter]

19. We may have seen each other there. Airborne...

were respected by us all, but we didn't admit it back then. ;-)

[politicat]

15. Basic design hasn't changed in 80 years, unfortunately.

They still don't have even the same basic sole technology that nursing shoes, Danskos or Z-coils have. The heels and soles have improved a little, but the footbed is still flat and arch support is non-existent. And anything with padding on the footbed is a waste of time and effort - the padding is going to deform in the first 8 hours of wear and never recover entirely. The only positive improvements I see are the speed-lace hooks that don't snag on everything.

I think my leather-soled, nailed-heel business shoes are better for walking than my 'bats. Thinking back on it, my dress pumps were more comfortable in formation. (Drill, not military, but we used mil issue.)

[Squatch]

16. I wish they would use hiking boot shapes...

my Raichles are extremely comfortable over the miles and under a lot of weight. Something like this would be great:

[TheBaldyMan]

20. if you can, lay your hands on two pairs of German infantry boots

nearly indestructable. Not the paratroop cutaway pattern but calf length, sensible infantry dice-boxes. They are better than any military footwear I've worn. They take a bit of breaking in but are like second skins and with TLC last for years.
I used to get tons of shit for non-standard footwear but they were my feet.