Steel toe is Mr.Worldwide for being one of the best safety features. And, military boots were made keeping the soldiers’ safety in mind.
But, are military boots embedded with this particular innovation?
This is exactly what we’re gonna find out. After careful research and detailed analysis, I’ve made this post just for you.
So, are military boots steel toes?
It’s a technical topic. Therefore, I’d urge you to read the entire post and I can assure you, by the end, you’ll know exactly where steel toe military boots are used.
Are Military Boots Steel Toe?| Answered
Military boots were made for the safety of the soldiers as they go on missions across all sorts of terrain, not to mention the treacherous ones. They’re embedded with multiple safety features. And, the steel toe is one of them.
But, you have to keep in mind that not all of them are equipped with this innovation. There are plenty of places where a soldier doesn’t need the steel toe. It mainly depends on the job a soldier is assigned to do.
Let’s take for example, the infantry soldiers. They’re soldiers who mainly engage in military combat on their feet. They need to travel long distances on foot.
They’re also known as foot soldiers. If you take their job in mind, you’ll realize military steel toe boots do not make any sense for them.
Steel toe boots are heavy and will affect their mobility and there will be other negative impacts as well.
Steel toe military boots are issued to those men whose job revolves around heavy objects, weapons or armaments. Tank operators or men in the service department are issued steel toe military boots.
Steel toe military is widely used in the navy as there are moving metal parts almost everywhere. Also, fighter pilots are issued this footwear as the majority of the cockpit is surrounded by metal.
In short, military boots are steel toes. But, not all of them.
Go through our epic guide on How Much Do Steel Toe Work Boots Weigh.
Steel Toe VS Composite Toe Military Boots
There are different kinds of divisions in the army. Some are in the infantry, some are in the intelligence, some are in the service department, etc. The type of boots issued is Military Occupational Speciality (MOS) specific.
In simple terms, I’ll tell you where the military use steel toe boots and where the military use composite toe boots.
Steel Toe Boots
If I’m not wrong, you just came from reading a portion of the article where I mentioned where military steel boots are used. But, this time I’ll give you a better insight regarding this evergreen footwear.
Military steel toe is made up of high quality leather, equipped with a steel toe and other safety features such as metal shanks and reinforced collars.
Steel toe military boots have great durability and the safety they offer is second to none. This is the reason they’ve stood the test of time and are still going strong today.
They’re issued to tank operators, aviators and those who are in the service department who work in an environment full of heavy metal objects, weaponry and arms.
Check out our separate post: Are Steel-Toe Boots Heavy.
Composite Toe Boots
Military composite toe boots are made up of various kinds of materials, which include leather, nylon, mesh, etc. Sometimes you’ll see them made with a combination of various materials.
The protective toe cap is made using hard plastic, kevlar or carbon fiber, which are light yet strong.
If you compare them with the steel toed ones, you’ll find them much lighter and agile. However, you won’t get the same amount of safety as steel toes. Isn’t it obvious?
Military composite toe boots are issued to those men who are on the technical side of the army. Generator mechanics and wire installers are issued these boots to prevent them from getting zapped.
Also read, Do Steel Toe Boots Make Your Feet Colder.
Anyone in the military will need composite toe boots for shop use for MOS’s of the 91 series.
Why Do Tank Operators Use Steel Toe Military Boots?
Tank operators use tanker boots, which is a form of military boots with no laces. No laces? That’s right! This form of military boots does not have laces to prevent the operator’s feet from getting tangled with any parts within the tank.
While the tank is a giant vehicle but the space inside is quite compact, so laceless military boots do make perfect sense
If you’re inside the tank and operating it, you’ll need to act fast. While you’re acting quickly there’s a very good chance you may bump into a metal part. This is the reason tankers are issued military steel toe boots.
You may also like to read: Composite Toe Vs Steel Toe Boots.
Yes, the Navy uses steel toe military boots. Navy soldiers are issued this footwear because a navy ship is a hazardous place to work; especially if the ocean isn’t quiet, there are moving metal objects everywhere. And, there’s a high chance a crew member may bump into a metal object.
Life as a navy is no walk in the park. It takes bravery, persistence and hard work. We’re land animals so when your job is in the sea, it’s tough. I’ve huge respect for them as there’s danger pretty much everywhere.
One simple mistake and you’re doomed. Let’s say you’re a navy soldier and you’ve been assigned to a battleship; you’ve to prepare yourself in the best way possible.
You literally have zero chance for error, especially regarding the gears you’re issued. You’ll need your steel toe military boots the most when the sea is in unrest and your ship is moving rapidly.
You’ll need to make quick movements to ensure the ship is sailing properly. And, this is a dangerous time as metal parts will be in motion and you’ll need to keep them in their right place.
Not only that, if you’re in a war you may need to fire machine guns or missiles. For that you’ve to act fast. And while you’re at it you know the danger you may come across. So yeah, these are the reasons the Navy uses military steel toe boots.
Check out our separate post: Is Non-Metallic Toe The Same As Steel Toe.
Do Fighter Pilots Use Steel Toe Military Boots?
A big yes, fighter pilots wear (military) steel toe boots which consist of leather. They’re issued these boots to prevent them from bumping into any metal object as there’s always the risk of something rolling over or falling over their feet when they ascend upwards.
Fighter pilots wear state of the art equipment to provide them with utmost safety. Like motorcyclists, they dress for the slide not for the ride.
Fleet issued military steel toe boots also protect their toes from tangling with something during an ejection. The boots also provide them with high ankle support in case there’s a rough landing.
A pilot’s safety is of paramount concern as their job is one of the most dangerous on earth. One simple mistake and the damages can be catastrophic.
Apart from the steel toe boots, they wear a G-Suit (anti-gravity), night vision goggles, safety helmet, oxygen mask, specialized socks and gloves. While it may sound really cool (about the things they wear) but all this is done to ensure proper safety.
Why Do Infantry Soldiers Do Not Use Steel Toe Military Boots?
By now, I think you may have a slight idea why infantrymen do not wear steel toe military boots. If you don’t then no worries, I’ll tell you all about it.
To begin with, infantrymen are foot soldiers who engage in military combats on foot. They may even need to cover long distances by foot. If you take these into account then you’ll realize steel toe boots do not make any sense for them.
Steel toe military is heavy, which will not only affect their mobility but also their performance. And, walking long distances in heavy steel toe boots? Their feet might literally get torn apart.
Agility is something that infantrymen rely on heavily and they’ll never compromise with it as it’s a matter of life and death. This is the reason infantry soldiers do not use steel toe military boots.
Final Verdict
Military boots are steel toe, but not all of them. It mainly depends on the job you’re assigned. If you’re an aviator or a tank operator or in the service department where there are heavy metal objects, weapons and armaments then yeah, steel toe military boots make sense. Otherwise no.
This is all regarding steel toe boots in the military. Do let me know if I missed anything important and feel free to spread this information to your friends who might need it. It’s a wrap for today.
Take care.
