Researchers are working to determine if Army women need different boots than their male colleagues.
“The goal … is to improve the fit of combat boots for female service members, ultimately improving soldier performance, enhancing comfort, and preventing injuries,” said Anita Perkins, a footwear research engineer with the Soldier Protection Directorate at the Natick, Massachusetts-based U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC).
“Fit is a significant factor in footwear comfort,” Perkins said. “Improperly fitted boots can play a significant role in soldier performance and increase injury risk, ranging from blisters to stress fractures.”
The research will entail evaluation of four types of combat boots – unisex, soft-toe (non-safety), female-specific soft-toe, unisex steel-toe, and female-specific steel-toe. Testing will involve having soldiers carry out a series of real-world activities. This would include walking on wet and dry surfaces made of a variety of materials, and at different speeds. Test subjects also will run, climb on and off a two-foot-high box, go up and down stairs, walk up and down an incline, take a knee, and do squats.
Other tasks are service-specific – such as run-and-cut, marching while carrying a loaded rucksack, and walking on metal surfaces commonly found on Navy warships.
The research team also will gather specific information about foot anthropology, to better determine correct boot size. Fitting, comfort and the number of sizes test subjects try on also will be considered. Soldier feedback will play a key role.
“Data will drive recommendations for future military footwear requirements to ensure female warfighters are issued combat and safety footwear of appropriate size and fit,” Perkins said.
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