They died with their boots on a saying about the cavalry in the West, periodically warring with varying tribes of Red Indians.
Boots in fact date back many centuries. Certainly the Greeks wore them, and various styles have been available ever since.
The principle was warmth, comfort and protection, a very practical design for many activities in many different seasons of the year.
The US Cavalry wore black boots and uniform, at times in the most sweltering of conditions. The Red Indian was quick, elusive and experienced and military clothing in the heat of the midday sun was not to be recommended. Pursuits often lasted many days, water was often in short supply and many an excursion ended in tragedy, thirst and death.
Discipline dictated the uniform and footwear so that was the end of it. In Western and Northern Europe, the Dutch and the Scandanavians were the first to begin with a wooden shoe known as a clog, it evolved through the Industrial Revolution as the preferred footwear of workers in the more dangerous activities of heavy engineering, ship building, mining etc.
It offered protection both from something heavy falling from above but also anything spills, hot or chemical on the floor below. Its validity in the workplace remains even to this day in similar environments but also there are strong advocates within the Health Services and the Catering Industry, where workers are often on their feet for long hours, that the clog design is extremely comfortable and sympathetic to feet.
However, boots were also popular in the industrial environment. Steelworkers faced many dangers, not least molten metal and any extra protection of leg and foot was very welcome.
Boots also provided far more protection in colder climates than the clog and so they were very popular in Northern and Western Europe.
Cowboy boots, football boots, hiking boots, there is a design for every activity, job and past time.
Wellington boots were perhaps the first boot that many of us owned as children and are a simple waterproof kind of boot that everyone used to wear years ago.
They were simple black boots, but fashion dictated that the style could remain the same but colour had to change. Every colour and design imaginable is now available to satisfy our need to stay dry under foot, yet pay some regard to fashion at the same time.
Equestrian sports require boots. While riders wear the traditional
black boots, other sportsmen have different requirements from their footwear. Skiers, snow boarders and ice skaters are just three examples of active people with special needs when it comes to boots. They all require warmth and comfort but support of the ankles is particularly important. Tight and laced generally, they assist as the sportsmans ankles and legs take great pressure during the activity.
