Tactical Tuesday: Footwear

Even fashion can be deadly

It's Tactical Tuesday!!
After sifting through numerous interesting and pertinent topics I've come to rest at: FOOTWEAR!!!

Now I recently purchased myself a lovely pair of lavender Reebok Trails. As a female, I am allowed to wear purple so I fell in love with them almost immediately (especially since my Korean friend picked them out for me). This got me to thinking: what types of footwear would be appropriate after the world has come to an end and there are no more Footlockers?

I heart my shoes

There are a couple different kinds of footwear (appropriate kinds, I won't be discussing the differences in slingbacks and stilettos) to chose from and depending on the kind of footwear you yourself are used to wearing and the terrain you plan on traversing your choices will be made accordingly. I will provide a rather unbiased opinion (being no great shoe enthusiast myself) and based on my own preferences. Feel free to make your selection on your own merits.

Now judging from personal experience, I feel that the applicable shoes for this scenario (that is the end of the world) can be divided as follows:

1) Running Shoes

2) Hiking Boots

3) Safety Shoes
3) Military Issue

Athletic Shoes

Adidas Running Shoes

Now this section can really be divided into further distinctions: All Terrain and Sports.
Sports shoes (for example running shoes or cross trainers) are meant to be used for athletic purposes, most often involving running and or playing sports indoors (ex: basketball). This means these shoes are especially suitable to provide for the wearer a comfortable fit. This comfortable fit means that the wearer's feet won't be sore after long periods of time on their feet (thus my preference for wearing them at work) and also give lots of air to the feet to allow perspiration to evaporate (thus preventing foot fungus or Trench Foot--ew). 

ASICS All Terrain Running Shoe

All Terrain is fairly similar, with a few exceptions.  These shoes are meant to be more durable for wearer and generally meant to be used for those who wear there sports shoes outside. They tend to provide more support (because of the wearer's tendency to run on more uneven surfaces than a basketball court) and have reinforced edges with PVC to prevent mud or water (like if you were jogging down a muddy street for example) from getting into the shoe.  All in all these shoes are made to be comfortable but are often more stylish than long lasting. The cloth sides and upper are very vulnerable to water damage over time and it is easy to imagine a nice sharp piece of glass or metal piercing right through the soft materials. While not a terrible choice, these shoes are not ideal in the advent of the apocalypse.

Hiking Boots

Mountaineering Boot: notice the tall, rigid heel.

Hiking Boots are a specially designed shoes to use for hiking (duh). There even further distinctions in Hiking Boots but I won't go any further than explaining that of many types I've selected Mountaineering Boots as the ideal example of hiking boots (many hiking enthusiasts would argue that Mountaineering Boots are not technically hiking boots but whatever) due to the fact that the other types of hiking boots are meant for lighter hikes that are not often more than a few days excursion (much shorter than the constant wear someone experiencing the apocalypse would expect). Mountaineering boots are used for those who hike and backpack for weeks at a time over rough terrain (these shoes can come with clasps for crampons, which are used to climb glaciers). The shoes themselves are devised to provide adequate support for the ankle (thus preventing the wearer from twisting it on uneven surfaces) without totally impeding movement. Mountaineering boots are also very durable, strong and have very stiff soles to give good support and protection on long difficult trails. While this type of boot seems ideal for an extreme terrain environment, these shoes are extremely stiff and may be impractical in the regular environment of a demolished suburban or metropolitan environment. Even for just basic daily use these shoes may be cumbersome and uncomfortable.

As you can see there are many options for safety shoes.

Safety Shoes are shoes used by those who perform construction work where large, heavy and or sharp objects may come in contact with the wearer's feet. Often called "Safety Boots," these boots have a steel toe reinforcement that prevents the wearer's toes from being crushed or severed in the advent of an accident. The steel toe reinforcement also protects from punctures from below. The shoes come in dozens of styles, from clogs and sneakers to high tops and knee-high boots. The boots can also come with additional protections like rubber linings (to prevent electrocution and water penetration), heat protection, and insulation against cold conditions. These shoes are often used by firefighter and swat teams (my dad has a pair he uses to mow the lawn). These shoes are nothing if not durable and judging by several safety legislations in the United States are just as safe as their manufactures claim. The only real downside to these type of shoes is their price which can be on the steep end of "kind of expensive." But what does that matter in the advent of a Zombie Apocalypse!!


Military Issue

USMC Combat Boot

Sage ABU Combat Boot

The Standard Issue boot for the US Military (starting with the Marine Corp when it switched to the MCCUU in '04) is the Belleville 500 Waterproof USMC combat boot or the Army Combat Boot (ACB) both of which come in two shades of brown: a desert tan or a temperate tan. The ABU (for the Air Force) has the same boot but is switching to a sage color.   All of these boots are made to be durable and waterproof while being comfortable and safe for a soldier to wear (they match their camouflaged uniform). The boots themselves are very heavy (2 lbs each) but receives a moderately positive reception among those issued them. The only real problem I foresee is that while these shoes are meant to last they aren't meant to last forever. Those who made them made them with understanding that the soldier would have a lovely Quartermaster to hand out new boots to those whose boots are unsuitable for wear. So while the boots are durable they won't last forever, especially with the rubber sole under constant wear. But to be honest that is true of any footwear you select.

Well there you go! I hope the information I've provided helps you in your quest for suitable footwear to wear to the end of the world party!

Happy Surviving!