December 13, 2007: The U.S. Army is developing one boot to replace the four different types (desert, temperate, cold and very cold) it currently issues. The new boot is a "boot system" with inserts and external "over boots" to make the basic boot (similar to the current desert model) suitable for wet and cold (or very cold) conditions.

This sort of thing has been tried before, with mixed results, and the army developers know it. But the current situation, with troops often having to take care of several pairs of different boot types, is not popular either. And it's expensive to have four different models of combat boots. The army believes that realistic tests will accurately determine if the new system is up to the job. That's not an idle pledge, as the troops use their own Internet network to discuss such matters, and compare notes. Because of that, it's a lot more difficult for the army to OK some half-assed product and force it on the troops.