More Boots on the Ground
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James Joyner | Friday, April 10, 2009 |
The Army has ordered 165,000 pairs of waterproof, harsh-weather combat boots at a price of $13 million.
At $78 a pair, that’s a pretty good deal on Gore-Tex boots; I paid something like $130 back in 1989. Of course, they weren’t standard issue then, either.
Presumably, though, this means the Army expects to have quite a large number of soldiers in an environment calling for said boots.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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At $78 a pair, I wonder how long they will last. I also wonder where they are coming from? Everything is made in China anymore, and my last pair of Redwings ($120) are just about shot after 1 year.
They're from Bates, an American company that's made military footwear for generations.
"...environment calling for said boots." The North
Korean environment?
Afghanistan or Pakistan, I would think.
I also wonder where they are coming from?
I know "some" Bates boots are made in the USA but I don't know if the military boots in the award are or not.
As for other "domestic" boot manufactures, I was able to find one pair of leather Red Wings with 400g thinsulate that are made in the USA. All others are overseas and the same goes with Rocky, Lacrosse, etc.. That said, like many many other things awarded by low bid, Chinese items are becoming the norm.
If you buy boots 165,000 pair at a time I'll bet you can get a better price too.
Or maybe $13M is a cheap way to make someone think we'll need these boots somewhere they may not be...
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