Combat boot
Combat boots are military boots designed to be worn by soldiers during actual combat or combat training as opposed to during parades and other ceremonial duties. Soldiers have worn boots in battle for much of recorded history; early specialised boots included the hobnail boots of the Roman legions.
Modern combat boots are designed to provide a combination of grip, ankle stability, and foot protection suitable to a rugged environment. They are normally made of hardened and/or chemically-treated leather and can be waterproof. Variations on the basic lace up combat boot have been designed for special types of troops (tanker boots, jump boots) and special environments (jungle boots, desert boots, cold weather boots). Recent combat boots are beginning to integrate kevlar and nomex within their side panels to provide better protection and ventilation for the skin of the soldiers who wear them.
Although combat boots have a reputation for being uncomfortable and even painful, this has been improved. The modern Infantry Combat Boot, in the U.S., incorporates new civilian boot technologies to good effect, including Gore-Tex waterproofing and heel/ankle support, making it highly wearable and effective.
Combat boots as fashion
Combat boots are also popular as fashion clothing in the goth, punk, heavy metal, industrial, skinhead, and BDSM subcultures. Beyond fashion as such, many individuals choose to wear combat boots simply due to durability, comfort and other utilities, as the boots are specifically designed to be comfortable to wear in a variety of changing conditions for long durations without significant long-term wear. For these and other reasons, they can be purchased in almost every moderately sized city at military surplus stores.