Combat Boots vs Kirza Jackboots: What Soldiers Really Chose in War

Combat Boots vs Kirza Jackboots: Real Experience of Soldiers

Combat Boots vs Kirza Jackboots is not just a debate about comfort. It is about real war experience, climate, and mass production. In this article, we look at what soldiers actually used and why they made their choice.

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Today, this debate is almost gone (or maybe not?), but when combat boots first appeared in the Russian army, it was a big argument.

Even today, when most Russian soldiers wear combat boots, the debate is not fully over. People were divided into two groups. You could call them “foot wrap guys” and “sock guys.”

One side supported jackboots with foot wraps. The other side supported combat boots with socks.

Check guide:
How to use ‘Portyanki’ foot wraps of Soviet boots sapogi: Practicality and Convenience

foot wraps portyanki how to wrap Soviet army foot cloth tutorial — How Soviet soldiers wrapped portyanki (foot wraps) for use with boots

Soldiers used foot wraps instead of socks

Soviet Military Portyanki

Traditional Soviet army foot wraps used for comfort and durability inside boots. A must-have for authentic Red Army gear.

View Soviet Portyanki

Arguments between them were often heated and emotional. People didn’t try to find a middle ground – it was always one side or the other.

Let’s try to look at this question calmly.

For example, in the US Army, lace-up boots have always been standard. American soldiers were already wearing them as early as the War of 1812. Later, many models appeared, but they were all lace-up boots – from Civil War boots to World War I trench boots and World War II combat boots.

WW1 trench boots US army leather boots soldiers footwear — Trench boots (Pershing boots) worn by soldiers during World War I

WW2 combat service boots double buckle US army improved design — An improved version of Combat Service Boots from the end of World War II – the difference from earlier trench boots was not radical

Vietnam War combat boots US army leather lace-up boots — Combat boots from the Vietnam War – clear continuity from earlier World War II designs

If you look at the history of US military footwear, it’s clear they stick to their traditions. Modern combat boots are just a continuation of old lace-up designs. Americans simply believe this type of boot works better for them.

Because of this long history, the debate between combat boots and jackboots is not really about what is better. It’s a clash of traditions.

US influence also played a big role. America supplied gear to many countries, including boots. Over time, these boots became common all over the world – both in allied and enemy armies.

USSR lend lease propaganda poster WW2 US Soviet союз poster — Soviet propaganda poster about Lend-Lease – highlighting alliance with the United States during World War II

After the Cold War, the US became the strongest military power. This created a global trend – many countries wanted to copy the American style, including military gear.

At the same time, the Soviet system collapsed. Jackboots and foot wraps, once standard in the Soviet Army, started to disappear.

So in the end, this debate is not only about comfort. It is about tradition, influence, and even psychology. Some people support combat boots simply because they are associated with the stronger side.

Personal Experience

Here is a short personal experience from Dmitry Verkhoturov.

He wore different types of military boots: kirza jackboots, chrome boots, and combat boots. He used both foot wraps portyanki and wool socks.

Surprisingly, he liked chrome boots the most. They were light, comfortable, and kept feet dry in any weather. You could even step into water up to mid-calf without getting wet. The only problem was the smooth sole – it could be slippery. But this problem could be easily fixed by adding a special rubber pads to the leather sole. It is called ‘Profilaktika’ – ‘Prevention’

Check guide: How to Add Rubber Soles to Soviet Boots (Yuft & Officer Boots Guide)

Kirza boots were heavier, but stronger. They protected the foot better and worked well in rough terrain. They were also waterproof, just like chrome boots. For comfort, thick foot wraps worked best with them.

Combat boots were okay, but nothing special. He did not see any big advantages. They were less waterproof than boots and could get wet quickly. Laces were also a weak point – they wear out fast.

In general, kirza jackboots gave better protection and durability. Combat boots were easier to wear, but not clearly better.

In the end, the choice between jackboots and combat boots is not simple. Even the Soviet Army had experience with both, but finally chose kirza jackboots.

Soviet soldiers marching in formation wearing jackboots Red Army parade — Soviet soldiers marching in formation wearing classic jackboots

Soldiers chose classic kirza boots like these

Soviet Kirza Boots

Classic Soviet military kirza boots inspired by the simple footwear worn by Red Army soldiers.

View Soviet Kirza Boots

During World War I, Russian soldiers wore leather jackboots.

About 63 million pairs were produced, plus large amounts of leather for repairs. But it was still not enough.

Because of mass mobilization, poor supply, and waste, boots quickly ran out. By the end of 1914, there was already a shortage. In 1915, the army received only about 65% of the boots it needed.

By 1916, the situation became worse. Some new soldiers were sent to the front wearing simple bast shoes (lapti). Others used leather versions called “opanki.”

In some areas, like Galicia, units even had to organize their own small factories to produce boots.

opanki traditional leather shoes WW1 Balkan footwear museum — Opanki shoes from the museum in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Russia had to buy boots from abroad. These purchases started in 1915. From 1916 to 1917, about 5.8 million pairs were ordered.

Because Allied countries did not produce jackboots, Russian soldiers started using lace-up low boots with puttees. After the Revolution, this became standard in the Red Army.

Soviet soldiers boots with leg wraps early Red Army footwear — Soviet soldiers wearing boots with puttees – common infantry footwear before jackboots returned

For about 20 years, the Red Army used boots with wraps, even though they were similar to American trench boots. But later, they returned to traditional jackboots.

Why? There were two main reasons.

First – climate. Russia is much colder than Europe or the US. Winters are long and harsh, often lasting 5–6 months. Boots with puttees were not warm enough. Jackboots with thick foot wraps were much better for cold weather.

Second – materials. Leather was limited. Boots needed a lot of high-quality leather. After war and economic problems, the number of cattle dropped significantly, so leather became scarce.

Red Army soldiers boots with leg wraps early Soviet infantry footwear — Red Army soldiers wearing boots with puttees – standard infantry footwear before kirza boots became widespread

Red Army used low boots early in the war

Soviet WW2 Combat Boots (RKKA)

Authentic style Soviet Red Army combat boots with lace-up design, used during WW2 for mobility and versatility.

View Soviet WW2 Combat Boots

Because of this, the army first used boots to save leather. But later, with new materials like kirza, they could produce strong and cheap jackboots again.

At this point, kirza appeared.

There is an interesting document from 1935, where a Soviet supply officer showed new boots made from a special fabric instead of leather. Soldiers had already started rejecting boots with puttees, so the army looked for a better solution.

The new boots had shafts made from layered cotton fabric with a special coating. They looked like leather and were strong enough in tests.

This shows that the decision to introduce kirza boots was made at the highest level. The first test batches appeared in 1935, but mass production came later.

The delay happened because the technology was not ready yet. It took time to improve the material, so during World War II the army switched to kirza boots step by step.

Kirza itself is not leather. It is a treated fabric, coated with a mix of rubber, chemicals, and oil-based materials. After processing, it became strong, cheap, and suitable for mass production.

This allowed the Soviet Army to produce large numbers of boots without relying on scarce leather.

Red Army soldiers wearing kirza boots WW2 Soviet footwear — Kirza boots were quickly introduced and became standard footwear for Soviet soldiers

Like any rubber-based product, the quality of kirza depended on the chemical mix and production process. It was not simple – developing the right formula took years.

Kirza boots were an important economic solution. Only about 15% of the boot was leather (mainly the sole and lower part). The rest was kirza. This reduced the need for leather even more than regular boots.

Another big advantage – kirza did not depend on livestock. It was made from industrial materials like synthetic rubber. The USSR started producing synthetic rubber in the early 1930s, using alcohol from grain, wood, and later from oil. After the war, kirza became mostly an oil-based material.

This meant the army could produce huge numbers of boots without worrying about leather shortages. In theory, they could equip an army of almost any size.

During World War II, the Red Army received about 63.8 million pairs of footwear, including 12.5 million pairs from Lend-Lease (mostly American boots).

Unlike World War I, there was no major shortage of boots. Soldiers no longer sold equipment, and repair systems were well organized. About 61 million pairs of boots were repaired during the war – almost every pair was used and fixed multiple times.

army boot repair workshop soldiers repairing boots military cobbler — Boot repair in an army workshop – most military footwear was repaired and reused multiple times

Large wars need huge amounts of footwear.
In World War I, Russia needed about 65 million pairs of boots.
In World War II – about 63 million pairs.

The US produced even more. In 1941, they made 15 million pairs, and in 1942 – 41 million. In total, about 190 million pairs were produced during the war.

This shows one important thing: choosing army footwear is not only about comfort. It is also about how easy it is to produce in large numbers.

Soviet soldiers sitting wearing jackboots USSR military uniform — Soviet soldiers wearing classic kirza jackboots – standard footwear of the USSR army

In peacetime, a 1-million army needs about 1.5–2 million pairs per year. But during war, when armies grow to 5–6 million soldiers, demand increases very fast.

The Soviet Army finally chose kirza boots mainly for economic reasons. They were simple, cheap, and easy to produce from synthetic materials.

Also, real combat experience showed that jackboots had no clear disadvantage compared to lace-up boots. This decision was based on the experience of millions of soldiers.

Today many armies use combat boots again. But the debate between boots and kirza jackboots is probably not over – and in a future war, it may come back again.

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The history of military footwear

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