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They say an Army marches on its stomach, which is true. But when an Army just marches, the British have a chequered history when it comes to military boots. When I joined up (1981) it was boots DMS (Direct Molded Sole) and 1937 short puttees 
stop laughing at the back
stop laughing at the back
These replaced the Ammo boots from the SWW, & were surprisingly comfortable once worn in. Though with their short length and no waterproofing they were as much use as sandals. You could run 9 miles with kit in 90 minutes in them, as long as it didn't include a puddle or swamp 
Ammo boots were great for square bashing and marching in step. But less useful in sneaking up on enemy positions. The DMS boots and puttees were finished off with rubber bands to tuck the trousers in. Or for those in the know & better still the rubber rings from 81mm mortar cases
The DMS boots performed really badly in the 1982 Falklands conflict, with trench foot rearing its ugly head in the wet boggy conditions. Soldiers and Royal Marines struggled to keep their feet dry. The irony that the Argentinians had better boots was not lost on them.
In 1984 we were issued with the new Boots Combat High, dispensing with the need for puttees for the first time since even the RSM could remember 
Ironically we were wearing them on a tour of the Falklands in 1985. They performed just as badly and were still not waterproof 
Ironically we were wearing them on a tour of the Falklands in 1985. They performed just as badly and were still not waterproof
I instigated an Exercise called Fond Memory (still going decades later). This was a march, yomp, tab (delete as required) accross East Falkland from Port San Carlos Water to Stanley via Douglas and Teal Inlet settlements. A distance of around 110 km/68 miles across boggy ground
We got dropped off by Chinook. The RAF enjoyed flying over the Falklands, as at that time there were no flight restrictions. i.e. no corridors or heights, apart from over settlements. We contoured the whole way, its odd looking up at sheep grazing as you fly low down a valley 
It's fair to say our new boots did not perform well. My fellow officer and I had carried extra first aid kit. But with our evening foot inspections and subsequent treatments we were rapidly running out. All of our feet suffered in the wet boggy conditions, tracks were minimal
Officers treating soldiers feet may sound odd and it might be in other Armies. However Brits seem to take feet care very seriously, except perhaps when procuring the right boots. Since the Iraq and Afgan campaigns boots have moved on and there will be newer soldiers who know more
All I know is that in my time we were always looking at other Armies boots. I served with German, US, Dutch and Canadian forces and theirs always looked superior to ours.Time was often spent sourcing civilian goretex or waterproof boots from companies like Altberg and others.
Perhaps the @WeHaveWaysPod @James1940 and @almurray could discuss the whole issue of Allied/Axis boots on the Pod. There were certainly different approaches, some good, some bad Might be boring to some, but for anyone that's marched any distance it makes a world of difference
Might be boring to some, but for anyone that's marched any distance it makes a world of difference
