Side-zip tactical boots: why?

I would say half the guys on the job wear a sneaker type uniform shoe that they can just kick off. The other half who wear boots almost all wear side zips.

Each our loved buy those who wear them.

If one wears boots the zippers are way faster, and if you ever tried to unlace your boots and didn't quite go far enough down and were hopping around trying to get it off and everyone else was on the load waiting for you, well you'd look hard at the zips next time.

Hard to make up time on the road, you got to get out of the barn fast.
 
As a non-emergency Reservist, I tried lace-up, zipper replacements, and side zips. The older lace-in zipper style didn't work for me, the zipper was high friction. I bought a pair of SW Asia Bates in the issue pattern; they worked well in the heat, zipped well and were never uncomfortable around the zipper. The upper flap got modified - they would snag open sometimes, and pressure at the calf would unzip them about an inch and a half by day's end, due to an inadequate lock in the zip head. No, they weren't $150 boots, but they delivered good performance, and were Ok for standing on pavement for hours.
For the troop who still does the West Point foldover tuck in the boot top, lace ups worked just as well. I still do that in SW MO all summer to stop the chiggers. Zips just add entry points.

The duty mindset I've experienced is that EMT/Fire, etc., need the zips - everybody else is posing. :D
 
Side zipper boots were used and still maybe by our Air Force,Strategic Air Command....so they could get to the planes quicker in an emergency.
 
A friend of mine (yeah I know I have a lot of friends) like the side zips because he ended up hurting his feet a lot and figured that if he needed first aid to be administered to him the side zips would keep him from having to get new laces (they would have been cut off to allow easier removal of the boot)
And some folks are just lazy...
 
K.V. Collucci said:
Unless you normally walk like you're legs are wrapped in cellophane, no.
Click to expand...

Many people's gait the ankle come close and sometines touch. Especially when running. Economy of motion..less side to side more fore aft. Stand at attention in the miltary and then take a step..Get my point?

Paul
 
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