Tanker boot

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• The single biggest advantage is that tanker boots use leather straps, rather than laces, to fasten to the wearer's feet. The problem with laces is that they can become entangled in the many exposed, moving parts of a tank, for instance the turret ring, and drag the wearer or part of his body into the machinery.

• Many boots have nylon or canvas panels in their uppers and also nylon laces which will melt if exposed to fire. Melting boots and laces will serve to further injure a crewman and make his evacuation of the vehicle more difficult.

• Tracked crewmen typically find themselves working in very muddy environments. Another advantage of tanker boots is that they are much easier to loosen than a regular laced boot when caked in mud.

• Also, today's modern tankers are exposed to many harmful chemicals - Flame-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid (FRH), turboshaft transmission fluid, grease, oils and various fuels. The all-leather construction of tanker boots prevents absorption of these chemicals into the boots and coming into close and prolonged contact with the wearer's skin.

• Tanker boots also allow for improved circulation to crewmember's feet, as they may be sitting or immobile for long periods of time. Tank crewman during the Gulf War reported remaining seated at their gunners', drivers', and commanders' stations for periods up to the entire 100 hours of ground combat.

• Tanker boots, unlike most traditional combat boots, have the tongue sewn into the boot up to about 1 - 1.5 inches shy of the top of the boot, to make the boot more readily waterproofed (up to 14" of water depth can be stood in without ingress of water when sealed/waxed properly, depending on the height of the boot design); the tongue is made with excess leather left and right that doesn't require it to separate to remove the foot.

• Tanker boots are normally equipped with steel toe guards, steel or plastic shank/heel guards, and in at least modern variants, steel or other protective metal inserts in portions of the sole as well, as befit a boot intended for an operating environment filled with metal hazards that can be accidentally kicked/dropped/stepped upon/et cetera (as opposed to the traditional combat boot designed for a sandy or muddy battlefield environment).

• An unauthorized variant of the tanker boot is the cav boot which is higher above the ankle
  Ankle
  
  In human anatomy, the ankle joint is formed where the foot and the human leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot....
   (in imitation of riding boot
  Riding boot
  
  Riding boots are boots made to be used for equestrianism. The classic boot comes high enough up the leg to prevent the leathers of the saddle from pinching the leg of the rider, has a sturdy toe to protect the rider's foot when on the ground, and has a distinct heel to prevent the foot from sliding through the stirrup....
  s worn by the old horse cavalry
  Cavalry
  
  The Cavalry is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat, it represents the mobility and offensive power of the armed forces....
  ) and might be worn by soldiers assigned to divisional cavalry squadrons and scout units.

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