Tanker boots were originally designed for military use and are secured with leather straps instead of laces. They are made of leather to withstand harsh conditions and are designed for those who ride in tanks. They have metal reinforcements on the heel and soles and can be waterproof. The origin of the boots is unknown, but some military groups have a tradition of earning them.
Tanker boots are a form of footwear that originated in the military. They are distinguished from other types of boots by being secured with leather straps, rather than laces. Military tanker boots are extremely durable and are used by the US, German and Israeli armies.
Since they were developed for the military, these boots are built to withstand and protect the wearer from many harsh conditions. Traditionally, they are worn by those who ride in tanks and other vehicles with treads. Therefore, the boot is designed to allow circulation in the feet when the wearer will be sitting for long hours.
The main material of the boots was chosen with a specific purpose in mind. Unlike many forms of footwear, tanker boots are always made primarily of leather, rather than nylon or other synthetic materials. Leather is less likely to catch fire or melt when exposed to harsh chemicals, such as fuel. Using leather straps also prevents the possibility of the laces breaking or becoming entangled in machinery.
In addition to the distinctive leather straps that fasten them around the ankle, the boots have many other details that help the wearer walk safely in various climates. Originally, they were designed to be completely waterproof, with the boot’s tongue being sewn in so there was no gap where water could seep through. Desert tanker boots are no longer designed to be waterproof, in response to increased desert combat in the Middle Eastern country of Iraq.
Tanker boots can also be forced or not with metal fingers. Metal reinforcements on the heel and soles are common to provide durability and protect the foot from being punctured or crushed. Metal dropouts were not added to early versions for fear that a serviceman’s fingers could be cut off when enough pressure was applied.
The origin of the tanker boots is unknown, but there are many romantic stories about how they came to be. In a variation, a squad of tanker personnel in World War I lost their bootlaces when they froze in the snow and broke. American Captain George S. Patton, Jr. handed the straps of his cocky pistol holster to the younger soldier to secure his boot, and the idea of the tanker boot was born.
Whatever their actual origin, some military groups have a tradition of earning their boots rather than receiving them outright. A tanker can only get the boots from him after completing his first tank mission. Other times, a tanker is issued to them after successfully completing a training course rather than engaging in actual combat.
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