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13th March 2008
Defence Clothing IPT to deliver new boots to the front line
Following trials last autumn, two new kinds of boot will be
offered to troops heading for front line operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The boots were part of a procurement process
managed by Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (IPT), who
will be using DVD as their annual stakeholder day for the first
time in June. The Meindl and Lowa heavy-duty desert boots will
cope with the desert heat, as well as being easier to wear and
break-in than traditional hard leather footwear.
“We were looking for boots that would minimise the impact of
working in temperatures as high as 50 degrees centigrade,”
explains Colonel Silas Suchanek, leader of Defence Clothing IPT.
“As well as the high temperatures we wanted boots that would
provide adequate support to the foot when carrying heavy loads
and could withstand the rigours of operating in conditions
ranging from sandy deserts to very abrasive stony ground.”
Twenty two different makes of boot were tested, with the final
choices giving troops a good compromise between support and
comfort. Two makes of boot have been selected to give troops a
choice of the boot which provides the best comfort and fit.
The Meindl combat boot is already being issued to troops on
operations. It will now be joined in the inventory by the Lowa
boot which will become increasingly available as an alternative
choice to all over the next few months. A variant of the Lowa
boot designed specifically for women will also be available.
Until now, women soldiers have been issued with the same boots
as their male counterparts, which are often too wide at the
heel, causing discomfort.
Members of the Defence Clothing IPT responsible for the delivery
of the new boots will be at DVD on 25th and 26th June at
Millbrook. Visitors wishing to attend DVD must pre-register by
visiting www.theevent.co.uk. |
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