Comparison of 2 Current-Issue Army Boots, 5 Prototype Military Boots, and 5 Commercial Hiking Boots: Performance, Efficiency, Biomechanics, Comfort and Injury

摘要

The experiment evaluated the physiological, biomechanical, and maximal performance responses of 14 male soldiers wearing 2 current Army boots, 5 prototype Army boots, and 5 commercial hiking boots. Physiological evaluation determined the rate of oxygen consumption for carrying a 60-lb backpack load while walking in each type of boot. Biomechanical analysis quantified gait, posture, and lower-extremity joint forces and torques. Maximal-speed runs with and without a 60-lb backpack were timed on both straight and zigzag 400 m grass courses. Comfort and functionality questionairs were administered to the volunteers after they walked 6 miles at 3 mph over pavement and wooded trail in each boot-type; blisters and other foot trauma were assessed post-march. Based on their overall performance, the boots were ranked from best to worst as follows: (1) Salomon Adventure 9 Ultralight, (2) Raichle Highline, (Tie for 3,4, 5) Prototype 3, Prototype 4, Asolo Meridian, (6) Asolo AFX 535, (7) Prototype 1, (8)Prototype 2 (9) Montrail Moraine, (10) current-issue Army combat boot, (11) current-issue Army jungle boot, and (12) Prototype 5. The performance of all the boots is summarized in a table, and a list is provided of the best performer for each major evaluation variable.