Photo by Pike Bros
Prior to WWII, the United States' armed forces had engaged in a number of campaigns in jungle terrain. However, there were no specialised units for jungle warfare, and no special equipment had been developed. The constant presence of water, sand, heat, and various insects, fungal and bacterial infections characterises jungle conditions. To equip soldiers for that environment, lightweight, durable, quick-drying boots that provided protection from jungle hazards ranging from mildew to punji sticks were required.
Punji stick is a simple spike, made out of wood or bamboo, which is sharpened, heated, and usually set in a hole. Other additional measures include coating the sticks in poison from plants, animal venom, or even human feces, causing infection or poisoning in the victim after being pierced by the sticks, even if the injury itself was not life-threatening.
The first jungle boots were made of canvas and rubber and were used in the South Pacific. The first model was standardised on August 31, 1942, and went into production the following year. It had a canvas duck top and a tongue that was attached to keep mud and insects out. The corrugated rubber sole provided adequate traction, and a removable fabric insole kept the feet away from the rubber. When worn with cushion sole socks, the boot was lightweight and kept the feet and lower legs comfortable. It was simple to clean and dry. However, it provided little assistance, resulting in troop complaints of "aching arches." The high canvas tops chafed the soldiers' legs, so they were frequently folded over or cut.
During the latter stages of World War II, a modified jungle boot was designed and tested. It was made of spun nylon with a leather midsole and a full-length rubber outsole. Production did not begin until the summer of 1945, near the end of the war, and the design of a successful jungle boot was not completed as the war came to an end.
1965 Jungle Boots
1962 Jungle boots
The constant presence of water, sand, heat, and various insects, fungal and bacterial infections characterises jungle conditions. To equip soldiers for that environment, lightweight, durable, quick-drying boots that provided protection from jungle hazards ranging from mildew to punji sticks were required.
From 21 February to 21 June 1966, the US Army Tropic Test Center in the Panama Canal Zone service tested the Third Pattern Panama Sole (Boot, Combat, Tropical, Direct Molded Sole with Spike Resistant Sole Shield) on 85 pairs of boots. The boots were worn by personnel from airborne, mechanised, and regular infantry battalions, special forces units, and field cadre at the US Army School of the Americas and the US Air Force Tropic Survival School. Among the applications were local unit training and field exercises. Spike protection tests were conducted elsewhere in the Army and were not part of the Panama test.
