Attacking Shoe Design to Solve Needs for Soldiers in the Mountains

“Rocky’s Mountain Combat Boots are a solution to a need we see in the market. Our team looked to develop boots that blend tactical necessity with outdoor performance, in a collection designed to perform in any environment,” Steve Nelson, Senior Designer Developer | Rocky Brands, Inc.

When building a military boot we need to explore more than the boot itself. It is important to have an understanding of what contexts will create or compromise our troops' security.From varying events and environments, our boots are a critical piece of equipment. When developing our new Mountain Combat boots, we spoke with our team, many of whom are veterans, as well as soldiers currently serving, to learn what is needed while in the toughest terrain. 

Attacking a prepared enemy position in mountain terrain presents natural hazards such as storms, lightning, strong gusts of wind, rock falls, avalanches, snow packs, ice, extreme cold,  glaciers with crevasses, and more. The general uneven terrain and the slow pace of troop and material movement are all additional threats to combatants. Movement, reinforcements, and medical evacuation up and down steep slopes and areas where even pack animals cannot reach involves an enormous exertion of energy. All of these threats become important considerations in developing boots built for soldiers. 

Rocky’s Mountain Combat boots are built to tackle the toughest terrain, and feature a TPU toe guard for protection, KulKote Thermal Regulating Lining for comfort and temperature control, and a fuschia insole for signaling.  Rocky® commercial military boots are designed for the brave men and women who are serving and protecting our country, and we develop our footwear as an expression of our gratitude and respect for the sacrifices they make everyday.