AR 670-1 Regulations For Army Authorized Boots

If you are in the military, then you are going to need the right equipment in order to be able to do your job. For army guys, being well equipped can make the difference between life and death. A bulletproof kevlar vest can go a long way in keeping you alive when you are being shot at. But if you’ve served in the army for only a few weeks, then you’ll realize that bullet dodging is fairly low on the list of frequent activities.

Then there’s standing and walking. Have you been doing some of that stuff as of late, soldier boy? Ofcourse you have. Standing and walking is pretty much all you ever do when you’re in the military. And for that reason, you’ve got to be wearing a good pair of tough quality combat boots. Because a pair of boots are your best friend, whether you like it or not. Doesn’t matter if you’re deployed or merely serving stateside. Standing proudly and firmly is essential to you being able to do your job as a soldier!

AR 670-1 Army Regulations

Since you will be wearing your boots for very long periods of time and often also under pretty harsh circumstances and in tough environments, you better search for a pair of combat boots that you like and that feel comfortable on your feet. In the army, you get to choose your own boots. But they’ll have to be in line with AR 670-1 Army Regulations.

These regulations are made with the soldiers’ safety in mind. If you stick to the regulations, your chances of surviving your next skirmish while being deployed, are going to be the highest. If you are a serving soldier, please take your own safety seriously and adhere to the AR 670-1 regulations when buying boots.

Without further ado, let’s have a look at what kind of requirements there are for your boots.

Minimum Length

Your boots must be between 8″ and 10″ tall. This will give you some really great coverage around your ankles, no matter what terrain you’re on. At the same time, you will still remain enough flexibility to keep you highly mobile. Mobility is easily as important as coverage when you’re deployed. The U.S. Army knows this, so that’s why they’ve included this regulation in AR 670-1.

No Zippers or Mesh Uppers

It used to be that soldiers’ combat boots were allowed to have mesh uppers. Many liked this, because it reduced the weight, while at the same time creating some breathability. These days, military personnel are required by AR 670-1 regulations to wear all leather boots that do not sport any zippers.

Tan Cattle Hide Leather

There are many types of materials that you can make a really decent boot out of. Think of pigskin, for example. However, pigskin in no way matches the quality of cattle hide, which is known to be much tougher. Cattle hide is very durable. Way more so than any other kind of leather you may come across. Cattle hide gives superior performance. Is it any wonder that the U.S. Army’s AR 670-1 regulations require every soldier boot to be made of cattle hide? Some non mesh fabrics are allowed. But cattle hide definitely has the preference.

Outsole Materials

The AR 670-1 regulations state that the only authorized materials for an outsole are rubber and polyether polyurethane. These outsole materials are known to have really great traction and will resist premature wear & tear in just about any environment. No matter how wet, hot or cold it might get. Their superior durability properties have made them a must-have for military personnel.

Plain Toe, Matching Sole

According to the AR 670-1 regulations, a combat boot must have a plain toe. And the soles must match the toe’s color. The outsole may not extend upwards too much. Also, outsoles may not be higher than 2″ in length.

Conclusion

When you are proudly serving in Uncle Sam’s army, then it is absolutely essential that you are donning all the right equipment in order to do the job. Your army boots are no doubt on the most important pieces of equipment that you can possibly own, since you’ll be walking and standing all the time, no matter which activity you are engaged in.

Your boots have got to offer just as much safety as they do comfort. A soldier can simply not afford to skimp on either one. Thankfully, many footwear manufacturers have already released plenty of AR-670-1 compliant boots, so if you are with the military and you’re looking for a good combat boot, then you should have no problem at all buying an AR-670-1 compliant army boot.

When on the lookout for compliant boots, and the boots aren’t specifically marketed as AR 670-1 compliant, and you can’t remember all the regulations off the top of your head… then just use your common sense. For instance, it’s probably not a good idea to go for pink ones.

On a final note, the army is okay with optional gear. This means you are allowed to own boots that aren’t AR 670-1 compliant. But you always need to own a pair of boots that is, in fact, compliant!

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