Why it took 57 years to replace jungle boots

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When I was young and poor and couldn't afford shoes that didn't have holes in them for the snowy winter, my Vietnam veteran coworker gave me his old pair of Jungle boots. Luckily we had the same size feet and I still use those boots today. RIP Jack, you really helped me out in my hour of need.

I was a Marine grunt in Vietnam (4/67-5/68) and I still have my jungle boots, and they have held up well after all these decades (though I don't wear them anymore). I logged many miles in those boots through the rice paddies and fields and had no problems. I found them to be a reliable and comfortable boot and I really liked the job they did. A great boot in my opinion.

My Grandfather was a green beret in Vietnam and wore these all the way till the end of his service in the invasion of Panama. He passed them on to me and I’ve worn them in winter and hiking and they show no signs of wear other than the lace inlets and the rear heel of the sole. One tough as hell boot for an even tougher man.

I used this in my citizen military training more than 20yrs ago - it's very famous here in the Philippines due to the fact that we are a tropical country. This is also our low-cost version of Punk Boots when we can't afford Dr. Martens 😅

For a boot that was made entirely for function over form, I feel like it still have quite the timeless look to it

I wore my jungle boots until they were no longer authorized, but one issue that you didn't mention is that if you're in a fire while wearing them, the nylon uppers can melt and meld to your skin, forcing the doctors to skin your feet to get them off. I'm my initial entry training we were told that for that reason we shouldn't wear jungle boots in mechanized operations. Of course, when I got to my first unit (mech infantry) everyone was wearing them.

I was assigned to the 82nd Airborne in the early ‘80s, and I was issued two pairs of jungle boots when I arrived. They were perfect for the swampy terrain that makes up much of the Ft. Bragg training area. But, in the cold North Carolina winters, the steel plates in the bottom of the boots caused a lot of misery.

Former Marine and Army long range surveillance infantryman and have attended three different official jungle warfare courses between both services. Plain Altama jungle boots with speed laces were absolutely the best footgear ever designed. Yes the vent holes worked to push water out and help dry out the boots. Always had two pairs, one was my highly broken in as a primary set for long field exercises and a secondary set in the process of becoming as broken in as the first set.

I remember doing construction work with my uncle over summer breaks from school. This was late 80s early 90s. My uncle was a Vietnam Vet and took us(my brother, my cousin, and myself) to the Army Surplus store before we started working and had us all get a pair of jungle boots. He told us to keep them on at the job site. We just thought it was to have sturdy boots, later on he told us it was to make sure we didn't get nails through our feet and that jungles were better than work boots for that... Nice to see he was right...

Was issued my jungle boots in 1968 when I joined Charlie Company 1st BN 1st Marines as an 0311 (Grunt). Didn't take too long to get worn in and look like I was an old salt. Loved the boots and planned to bring them home at tour's end. The NVA had other ideas for me and brought mortar fire in on our platoon, wounding a bunch of us. My clothes were cut away, along with my boots, never to be seen again. Your thorough piece on the jungle boot has inspired me to find a new pair. After all, it's only been 54 years since my first pair. Semper Fi!

I wore these for work boots for around 20 years. They were cheap at my local surplus store, and even if they wore out, I could afford to replace them. It was great to have my soles protected while walking around on re-bar and cut metal.

One of the best boots I had ever worn, spent 10+ years in a light infantry Div, I wore them in the jungles of Panama, Honduras, Africa, and road marched 1000s of miles in them.

My late brother served in Vietnam between 1966-68 when he came home he wore those same style jungle boots with the green they looked real nice he kept them wax down RIP big brother

Used to be able to buy them “used” at a local Army/Navy surplus store for around $15 during the early’70’s - best work boot anywhere for a cash strapped young man…lasted forever.

I first joined the Army in 1988. I wore these to Jungle Warfare training in Panama and as my first boots in Desert Shield/Storm. I (finally) was medically retired in 2022 and, while there were many outstanding boots and changes over those 34 years, I still miss those boots.

I use the US jungle boots for about 15 years now. I have a dozen pairs, some of them brand new. They vary from 1968 to 1988 and they are the best footwear for jungle warfare ever made. I wore them from the Northeast of United States to the jungles of Brazil. Great boots.

We had these issued to us for Desert Shield/Storm. What is interesting is that we sealed off the vent ports with SuperGlue to keep the desert dust and fine sand out of them. Fantastic boot. (edited)

I remember buying a set as soon as my unit ( active army: mid 80's ) was authorized to use them. After leaving the active Army I worked for a Land Surveyor in Michigan and I wore Jungle Boots 6 or 7 days a week Mid March to Late October for 3 years. I remember one day at work, one of my co-workers looked at my ( somewhat tattered ) Jungle Boots and asked me how long I had them. I told him 3 years. When I told him that I only paid $50 for them at the PX at Ft McCoy, Wisconsin, he looked down at his brand new LL Beans and said " I think I got ripped off ."

I was introduced to Jungles while serving in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Long hot summers and rice paddies like Vietnam. Everyone wore them. I bought my first pair and never looked back. Wore one pair so long during Desert Shield and Storm that they looked like they were grey suede and the soles were completely shot. Most comfortable combat boots once they are broken in. I’m going to buy a pair right now :-)