Flight Equipment

[wink]

I'm loving my Rocky S2Vs

Wore the Rockys for both patrol and flying duty when I played cop in Sheriff's Air Support. Most comfortable boot I ever owned.

 

[Swanee]

But the cool SAR dudes on the boat in the pic are clearly not wearing steel toe boots . . .

Those boots are marketed by Altama towards the guys who work in wet climates- they have soles that are very similar to high performance boat shoes. They also fit really well in the mil standard swim fins.

A couple of guys wear them here.

Edit: here's a link

Men's Altama Maritime Assault Mid Boots | TacticalGear.com

Originally designed for Navy SEALs, the Altama Maritime Assault was made for tactical water operations, but is versatile enough for everyday wear. These are equipped with high-abrasion and quick-drying Cordura quarter panels that are rugged enough to withstand repeated heavy-duty use. Air mesh...

tacticalgear.com

 

[Swanee]

One of the many epiphanies at being in AF Land the last 6 years - steel toes are a joke. AF aircrew footwear standards are incredibly flexible and geared to mission accomplishment and comfort regardless of aircraft type. I personally believe NAVAIR insistence on steel loes is silly. I have a Reservist colleague, F-22 guy who wore Oakley boots.

I'm a big fan of my Merrell boots. A lot of guys fly real airplanes in them.

 

[hscs]

There is (was) a flight clearance for certain non-steel toed boots due to toes freezing as the driver.

And to tell a story - knew an AI in the squadron who was missing part of a toe. Did it while cutting his lawn. Docs said if he was wearing steel toed boots that he would have lost all 5 toes based on how the blades got him.

 

[Peekskill1941]

But the cool SAR dudes on the boat in the pic are clearly not wearing steel toe boots . . .

They are required when not enroute or coming back from a flight. I.e.: you aren't supposed to be going to chow in them, walking around the ship in them, etc.

I've seen this enforced pretty well by Ship Safety-O clamping down on the helo squadrons.

 

[hlg6016]

Hard toes have saved me from damage from dropped engine components and getting my foot run over by a tow tractor. But a frozen fish head fell out of my freezer broke my toe one morning. Go figure.