Sock Monkey
The Wonderful World of Desert Boots by John Samual
Desert boots have many different names but generally military boots, monkey boots, and turf boots all refer to the same style of shoe. They are distinguishable from other types of footwear, firstly because they are a boot, secondly because they have relatively few eyelets, and thirdly because they manufactures model the boots on those worn by the British Armed Forces. As the name implies, the army developed this particular style of military boot for desert conditions, as such, they provide great comfort when worn in hot weather, providing a high degree of breathability as well as being extremely resilient and hardwearing. By way of fashion, these boots became popular after the WWII, they tend to wax and wane in popularity but today, they feature highly in contemporary fashions.
The desert climate meant that soldiers needed to keep their feet cool and dry during the day to avoid problems foot rot yet needed the shoes to be sturdy enough to endure hard wear and tear during their manoeuvres. The ankle height ensures that feet do not become excessively warm and yet equally ensure the shoes are well supportive of the foot.
These shoes now come in a wide range of styles but traditionally, the army used soft leathers such as calfskins or suede from which to fashion the boots. As a material, leather is extremely useful in the manufacturing of shoes, this is because it is malleable, breathable and yet it is also incredibly tough
