A word to men who wear high boots

[deadlyhandsome]

I've got some photos somewhere of me wearing a pair of vintage leather gaiters, lovely things. I've also got some of the WW2 style US paratrooper ones (repop this time) - nice, practical.... though in all honesty they lack the glamour of the leather.

Looking at it again, it's possible the pair on the right are like that, though I'm certain I can see the bottom of the gaiter on Hugh whatsit's boots, and the guy on the left. Of course, there were boots like these too, andc the overall look is pretty much the same. The brown ones you post above are extremely similar to US Cavalry M1940 boots, the last mounted cavalry boots issued by the US military. Very similar to civilian riding boots that were available in the same period. Interestingly, during WW1, US cavalry were issues with shorter boots and the M1911 leather gaiters (replaced in 1917 with leather-lined canvas gaiters). The M1940 boots, and civilian equivalents, very much have the look of a pair of shorter, lace-up boots with leather gaiters worn over the top: I have long suspected that the design idea was simply to combine the two. (In between gaiters and the M1940, the US Cavalry had the M1931, which was simply a knee-high boot that laced from the arch of the foot to the top, like a longer jump boot. I'm guessing the idea with the M1940 was to make it much quicker and easier to get on and off!). I love both of these looks - and the style of the black boot you posted as well. They make me think less of horseriding, more adventuring in jungles (like in King Kong - in the Peter Jackson Version, Jack Black wears boots very much like M1931s), and especially the early days of motorcycling, between the wars, before the engineer boot evolves into the American motorcycle boot of choice, and the Uk went for the slimmer, zip-up Lewis-style, which was less something 'new' in that sense, more an evolution of the riding boot as the 'horse' went from organic to mechanical.... Black boots like the one in the picture are, of course, still worn by some motorcycle police.

First, I bow to your much superior knowledge on the subject.

I know that in California the CHP officers who patrol on motorcycles (motor officers) wear the high boots (motor boots) with their breaches bloused. The motor officers are quite proud of their look and their black boots are usually well-shined.

If there is a purpose for the high boots I'm fine with it. For a fashion statement or casual look: not so much.

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[Edward]

First, I bow to your much superior knowledge on the subject.

I know that in California the CHP officers who patrol on motorcycles (motor officers) wear the high boots (motor boots) with their breaches bloused. The motor officers are quite proud of their look and their black boots are usually well-shined.

If there is a purpose for the high boots I'm fine with it. For a fashion statement or casual look: not so much.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The CHP use them; I beleive there are a bunch of other US police forces that still have these knee-high boots issued to their motorcycle division (some laced, some buckled). Interesting that they all seem to have stuck with the taller, slimmer fitting boots (similar with motorcycle police here in the UK, very much Lewis-style, with the buckles at the top and round the bsck of the ankle, zips right up the back), even as shorter alternative are available. Certainly echoes the original military cavalry dress uniforms to some extent.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

The California Highway Patrol has a uniform committee that meets regularly. Any suggestion of change to the uniform is considered an act of treason. Tradition trumps everything else. I like that and I dislike it at the same time.

 

[Edward]

The California Highway Patrol has a uniform committee that meets regularly. Any suggestion of change to the uniform is considered an act of treason. Tradition trumps everything else. I like that and I dislike it at the same time.

Ha, I know exactly what you mean! There's a wonderful elegance about old school police uniforms; I don't much care for the more modern style that look less civilian police, more combat gear. But yes, needs must and an open mind to something thatmight perform better in getting the job done I can see beingh important too.

 

[BlueTrain]

Technically (or strictly speaking), the boots worn by the typical German soldier in WWII and well into the 1970s, too, by the way, were not jack boots. I'm not sure of the term they used, maybe just marching boots. Russian soldiers also used essentially the same sort of boot, although judging from photos, the Russian version was a little higher, a little narrower in the leg and probably thinner, too. Only the Russians could have a full-length dance performance with everyone wearing boots.

Jack boots were, at least in one definition, specifically made for heavy cavalry (light cavalry wore something else) that featured very stiff tops. They're still worn by such heavy cavalry as still exists. But feel free to use the term any way your wish. Names change, too.

Marching boots with buckled tops, almost like the last pattern US cavalry boots, were introduced in the Germany Army in the early 1930s, possibly experimentally, but those on issue continued in use as long as they lasted, which was into the beginning of WWII. Riding boots were also widely used in the German army, too, of course, and they were a feature of the S.S. uniform for all ranks. Even though all of these various kinds of boots were military items, they were subject to fads and fashions as much as any article of civilian clothing. For active service, though, pull-on marching boots seem to have largely been replaced for military use by lace-up boots these days.

 

[MisterCairo]

I prefer the shorter boots of the infamous Black Shorts:

 

[draws]

View attachment 115614

I've got some photos somewhere of me wearing a pair of vintage leather gaiters, lovely things. I've also got some of the WW2 style US paratrooper ones (repop this time) - nice, practical.... though in all honesty they lack the glamour of the leather.

Looking at it again, it's possible the pair on the right are like that, though I'm certain I can see the bottom of the gaiter on Hugh whatsit's boots, and the guy on the left. Of course, there were boots like these too, andc the overall look is pretty much the same. The brown ones you post above are extremely similar to US Cavalry M1940 boots, the last mounted cavalry boots issued by the US military. Very similar to civilian riding boots that were available in the same period. Interestingly, during WW1, US cavalry were issues with shorter boots and the M1911 leather gaiters (replaced in 1917 with leather-lined canvas gaiters). The M1940 boots, and civilian equivalents, very much have the look of a pair of shorter, lace-up boots with leather gaiters worn over the top: I have long suspected that the design idea was simply to combine the two. (In between gaiters and the M1940, the US Cavalry had the M1931, which was simply a knee-high boot that laced from the arch of the foot to the top, like a longer jump boot. I'm guessing the idea with the M1940 was to make it much quicker and easier to get on and off!). I love both of these looks - and the style of the black boot you posted as well. They make me think less of horseriding, more adventuring in jungles (like in King Kong - in the Peter Jackson Version, Jack Black wears boots very much like M1931s), and especially the early days of motorcycling, between the wars, before the engineer boot evolves into the American motorcycle boot of choice, and the Uk went for the slimmer, zip-up Lewis-style, which was less something 'new' in that sense, more an evolution of the riding boot as the 'horse' went from organic to mechanical.... Black boots like the one in the picture are, of course, still worn by some motorcycle police.

Well, I'm going to jump into the fray. I have ridden horses since 1963 and specialized in hunter jumpers for a number of years along with my daughter doing horse shows etc. Back in the 80s, the required attire was flared breeches and knee high riding boots. As time passed, the styles of breeches changed to the tight fitting 4-way stretch fabrics but the boots remained the same. However, I preferred the flared style and have worn them up until I stopped riding horses last year. I have always ridden motorcycles as well and continued to wear breeches and boots as well. I still ride motorcycles and do still prefer the protection provided to my lower legs which the boots provide. As time passed, my traditional riding boots have worn out and I have a custom made pair of knee high 3-buckle Dehner boots which wear like iron. Wont ride without them. Here is an early photo and a few current photos. NOTE: many riders have commented positively that they would like to switch to this style but have difficulty finding breeches of correct size or a stigma about wearing riding boots/breeches in general.
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