Soviet Combat Boots Afghan War – M69, M88 and Lightweight Boots Comparison

Margelovki (M69), Derevyashki (M88) and Lightweight Boots

Hey Comrades.

In this article Soviet combat boots Afghan War, we will compare three boot models from the Afghan War period.
There will be a little history, a quality comparison, we will find out which sole is better, and at the end we will check the weight of each pair.
Read till the end, it will be interesting.

Margelovki Boots (M69)

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M69 with Stalinka sole on white background — Soviet Afghan war combat boots M69 (Margelovki) with Stalinka sole

The first type, and the longest-living boots in Soviet military footwear history, are the so-called Margelovki boots.

First, in the Soviet Union they were made in limited numbers and were mostly used by special units and airborne troops.
Second, very similar boots can be seen in drawings of planned airborne uniforms from 1965 to 1967, during another uniform reform.

Most likely, this is why they later got the name Margelovki. At the time they were actually in use, they didn’t really have an official name.

Why are they called Margelovki?

Vasily Margelov with Soviet Airborne Forces VDV during military inspection — Vasily Margelov and the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV)

The name Margelovki is informal and is linked to Vasily Margelov, the legendary commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces. It was during Margelov’s time that the airborne troops started moving away from traditional kirza boots and began experimenting with more comfortable footwear. Paratroopers needed boots that worked better for jumps, long marches, running, and combat tasks. Because of that, leather combat boots of this type first appeared on a larger scale specifically in the Airborne Forces, and over time these early boots became closely associated with Margelov’s era and were later nicknamed Margelovki.

Outside the USSR, these boots are better known as Botas Rusos, which literally means “Russian boots”. In the 1960s they were issued to the Soviet limited contingent in Cuba, and also to the Cuban army. They were produced in the Soviet Union and shipped to Cuba until production ended, after which the Cubans copied the design themselves.

By design, these boots are basically a Soviet interpretation of American combat boots. They appeared in the early 1960s, roughly between 1961 and 1963, and were originally designed for uniforms intended for hot climate regions.

During the Afghan war, Margelovki boots were actively used in the early stage of the conflict together with the M69 uniform. That’s why it’s absolutely fair to call them M69 combat boots.

Soviet combat boots with Stalinka herringbone sole and brass nails — Stalinka sole with herringbone tread and brass nails

What makes M69 boots easy to recognize is the sole pattern, known as herringbone ‘Yelka’, ‘Stalinka’ or ‘Stalin soles’ Brass nails were used across the entire sole. Another very noticeable detail is the stitched seam on the toe.

Margelovki M69 combat boots toe stitching detail — Toe stitching detail on Soviet Margelovki M69 combat boots

The whole boot is made from solid leather and built to survive tough conditions.

Soviet M69 Afghan war combat boots leather quality close-up — Leather quality and inner construction of Soviet M69 combat boots

Because good leather was expensive, these boots were never truly mass-issued. Still, they became the starting point for everything that came later in Soviet combat footwear.

Check Soviet Afghan combat boots M69 ‘Margelovki’ here: ( Soviet Afghan combat boots M69 )

Derevyashki Boots (M88)

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M88 on white background — Soviet Afghan war combat boots M88 (Derevyashki) on white background

The next step came in 1981 with boots that soldiers nicknamed Derevyashki (Woody). They were produced until the early 1990s and became the most common boots of the Afghan war era.

Why were they called Derevyashki?
From the word “wood”, meaning hard. When brand new, these boots were really stiff and needed a long break-in period. At first they could feel uncomfortable, but once broken in, the leather softened and the boots became much more comfortable. That’s exactly why, after some time, Derevyashki were appreciated for their comfort and reliability.

Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan during the Afghan war in field conditions — Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan with combat boots M88

These boots were actively used in Afghanistan together with the new M88 uniform, so they are often called M88 combat boots. This model became the most legendary footwear of the 1980s and a true symbol of the Afghan war.

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M88 pointed toe design — Soviet M69 combat boots have a rounded toe with stitching, while M88 combat boots feature a pointed toe design

They have a simpler and more utilitarian upper, without heavy reinforced stitching. The toe was usually made from rough-out leather, which gives it a sharper, more boot-like shape.

On the M88 Derevyashki boots, a new Tractor sole was introduced. Both steel and brass nails were used. This sole replaced the earlier Stalinka sole. The old sole did not provide good grip, especially on rocks, dirt, and uneven ground. The Tractor sole was made with a deep and aggressive tread, which gave much better traction and stability.

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M88 with Tractor sole — Tractor sole on Soviet M88 combat boots (Derevyashki)

Because of this, the Tractor sole quickly proved itself in real conditions and became a true trademark of Soviet military footwear. It was not used only on combat boots. The same sole design was widely used on kirza boots, yuft leather boots, low combat shoes, and other types of army footwear. Over time, the Tractor sole became one of the most recognizable elements of Soviet boots.

Soviet Afghan War VDV boots M88 with straps, rare airborne leather combat boots — Afghan War VDV boots M88 with straps. Rare version used by Soviet Airborne Forces.

There was also an M88 version of derevyashki boots with two straps. These boots were used by the Airborne Forces (VDV). The straps helped to fix the boots tightly on the leg during parachute jumps and sharp movements. With straps, these boots look quite stylish. They were produced in very small numbers, so today they are rare and very hard to find.

Check Soviet Afghan VDV combat boots with belts here: 42 size 45,46 sizes

Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan during winter of the Afghan war

Afghanistan was not always hot.
During winter, especially at night or high in the mountains, it could get really cold. Temperatures often dropped below zero, and strong wind made it feel even colder.

Because of this, Soviet soldiers used warm gear. They wore insulated Afghan jackets, ushanka hats, belts, and winter versions of M88 combat boots with fur lining inside.

Check winter version Afghan combat boots here: 44 size 47 size

Derevyashki became the most widespread boots in airborne units, internal troops, and many other formations, and later became genuinely loved by reenactors and collectors.

Looking Soviet Afghan combat boots? You can get them here all sizes→[Soviet M88 combat Boots]

Lightweight Combat Boots

The last type is the lightweight combat boots, which appeared around 1985 to 1986, already during the Afghan war. By that time it was clear that combat boots were more practical than kirza boots, but they were still heavy and hot, especially in the mountains.

While the Americans reduced weight by changing the upper part of the boot, the Soviets decided to make the sole lighter.

The main thing about this model is the polyurethane sole. It’s very light and very soft. These boots are genuinely comfortable for running and moving in the mountains, and in terms of comfort they clearly outperform earlier models.

But there was a downside. The materials of that time were far from modern. Polyurethane would dry out in heat, and over time the sole could crack and crumble. Because of that, these boots were less durable.

Even so, lightweight boots were popular thanks to their low weight and comfort. They were actively used by airborne troops, special forces, and marine infantry.

Check Soviet Afghan combat boots ‘Lightweight’ here: ( Soviet Afghan lightweight combat boots )

Weight Comparison

Now let’s compare the weight of all three models.
For clarity, all boots are size 46.

M69 Margelovki boots weigh 934 grams.

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M69 weight on scale — Soviet M69 combat boots 46 size is weigh 934 grams per boot

M88 Derevyashki boots weigh 1024 grams and are clearly heavier.

Soviet Afghan war combat boots M88 weight on scale — Soviet M88 combat boots weigh 1024 grams per boot and are the heaviest

Lightweight boots weigh 703 grams.

Soviet Afghan war lightweight combat boots weight on scale — Soviet lightweight Afghan combat boots weigh 703 grams per boot and are the lightest

The lightweight boots turned out to be the lightest option, and that’s exactly what they were created for.

Comparison of Soviet army boots toe shape: M69 with rounded stitched toe, M88 with pointed toe, and lightweight combat boots — Toe shape comparison: M69 with rounded stitched toe, M88 with pointed toe, and lightweight combat boots

Upper leather and lacing comparison of Soviet army boots M69, M88 and lightweight combat boots — Differences in leather quality, boot height and lacing between M69, M88 and lightweight models

Rear and heel comparison of Soviet army boots M69, M88 and lightweight combat boots — Rear view comparison showing massive heels of M69 and M88 and lighter construction of lightweight boots

Thank you for your attention!
Which boots did you like the most?
Have you had boots like these before, or which ones would you like to buy?
Write your thoughts in the comments.
See you in the next article!

Soviet Boots Commander

More articles about Afghan period:
Soviet Spetsnaz Uniform in Afghanistan (1979–1989)
How the Soviet Army Uniform Changed from 1955 to 1991
Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 1

Looking original Soviet boots and accessories? Please visit here: Soviet Boots Store

Soviet Combat Boots of the Afghan War: Testing 3 Designs