The Marine Corps has a consistent, pervasive problem with one of the most critical pieces of gear that a Marine uses: the boots.
Boots aren’t sexy or high-speed like new rifles or vehicles; they are boring, but they are critical to conducting operations. The infantry lives on its feet, and the USMC prides itself on the fact that “Every Marine Is a Rifleman.”
Good boots make a huge difference. Marines will always walk more than they shoot, so their boots need to be as capable as their weaponry.
The Norway incident
According to a recent report from Norway, during exercise Cold Response 26 of March this year – a Norwegian-led exercise that involved more than 30,000 personnel – U.S. Marines trudging through the snow-covered country quickly discovered their Belleville cold weather boots weren’t up to the task.
Their boots’ soles were falling off and breaking apart, letting freezing water seep in. The boots quickly became painful, rubbing the Marines’ feet raw and leaving many without capable footwear.
Reportedly, in response, the Norwegian military helped supply the Marines with M77 boots from the Norwegian firm Alfa, but a resupply ship had to remove other mission-critical items to make room for the M77s.
This isn’t the first time the Marine Corps has issued boots that have fallen apart.
I wore the first generation of RAT boots, or Rugged All Terrain boots, on my deployment to Afghanistan. They fell apart almost immediately, with the sole separating from the rest of the boot. I wasn’t alone in this experience, as the same happened to my squad.
Originally, the RAT boot contract was going to be awarded to Danner, but somewhere along the way Bates made a better offer – but produced a worse boot.
In 2013, more than four years after we deployed with the new boots, the Marine Corps recalled 8,000 pairs of boots and issued an emergency contract to Danner.
And in 2025, the Optional Boot Program found that 25% of boots on Marine Corps Exchange shelves were faulty, so they were returned to the manufacturers.
Evidently, there is an inherent problem with the Corps boot regulations that goes beyond specialty boots offered to Marines.
Laws and regulations
The Marine Corps effectively limits the boot options Marines can purchase to just a few brands by requiring a heat-embossed Eagle, Globe, and Anchor logo – a legally protected trademark – on the boots’ outer heel; it also requires that the boots be USMC certified.
Companies seeking to make boots for Marines must submit their design to Marine Corps Systems Command for certification. Once approved, the boot maker agrees to the USMC Trademark Licensing Office’s terms and pays licensing fees and royalties.
Further, for military-issued boots, federal law mandates that 100% of the materials used to make the boots be domestically sourced, and all labor be U.S.-based.
While the idea of U.S.-made gear is commendable, the best option isn’t always American. For example, we don’t have the same experience as a country like Norway in producing cold-weather boots.
These licensing and legal requirements severely limit the boots Marines can wear, and immediately cut off some of the better boot brands, like Salomon and Merrell, as well as foreign brands.
Boots on the ground
As a result, Marines are left with just a few brands to choose from, and they pay a hefty tax for that limited selection – it’s almost a mini-monopoly.
A quick online search shows that Bates boots with the USMC logo and certification retail for over $200. On the other hand, Bates boots without the logo retail for half the price.
Having a limited selection also makes it extremely difficult to find the right boots for the right job, since you can’t be as selective in targeting high-tech boots made for specific environments, different foot shapes, and other needs.
In contrast, the U.S. Army handles boots much better.
Army boots have to meet the AR 670-1 Standard which provides a clear matrix of what must comply with uniform regulations. As long as Soldiers meet that standard, they can purchase any boots they want, be it from Bates, Nike, Under Armor, Salomon, Merrell, or another brand, and they can also opt out of using issued boots.
And when it comes to military-issued boots, the Army still has a much wider range to choose from should a particular model fail.
On your feet
Most Marines buy their own boots. I was only ever given boots right before and right after deployments. In every other situation, I had to purchase my own.
Having a wider range of boots to choose from would be extremely beneficial to individual Marines. It would aslo make logistics much easier, since Marines stationed outside Marine bases often don’t have an easy way to get new boots, leaving them stuck with broken ones, especially when deployed overseas.
The military moves on its feet more than many people realize, and good boots are an absolute must.
Some might argue that the Marine Corps uses logos and certifications to ensure that Marines wear only good boots. Yet, the Cold Weather Boots, the RATs, and the 25% of boots removed from Marine Exchanges would beg to differ.
The Marine Corps needs to focus on solving its boot problem. As we integrate drones, robots, smart sights, and more, we can’t lose sight of the fundamentals.
Feature Image: U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Jayden Brooks with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion holds out his boots during Pick-Up Day at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, Jan. 31, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Genaro I. Valdez-Sepulveda)
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