Recon Marines sport SEAL-designed boots

From: Marine Corps Times

A new boot designed by a former Navy SEAL has caught the attention of elite operators across the military including some West Coast reconnaissance Marines and members of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

LALO Tactical's Shadow boots are tailor-made for the types of missions the nation's most elite fighters conduct. It aims to be light, quick drying, durable, comfortable, and efficient under heavy loads.

Its creator, Nathanael Roberti, started LALO Tactical in 2009 after leaving active duty where he served with SEAL Team 10 and participated in Operation Red Wings to recover SEAL Marcus Luttrell when a 2005 raid in Afghanistan went wrong.

Roberti found that footwear was consistently the most lacking piece of gear he had in the field, so he partnered with experts from the athletic apparel industry and sought the input of operators still on active duty with the goal of offering SEALs and other troops new options.

Now the company's Shadow boots have been ordered by hundreds of recon Marines, MARSOC operators and SEALs, said Jay Taylor, LALO Tactical's CEO.

When Roberti was a SEAL, the boots available to them didn't drain well, were uncomfortable and weren't compatible with other gear. They were too beefy to fit the rungs of caving ladders used by operators during ship boardings or standard flippers, Taylor said.

That forced many to bring their personal hiking boots to battle. Some SEALs have even been photographed wearing Converse Chuck Taylors for certain missions.

"When you see special operators, the difference between them and NHL or NFL athletes is pretty minimal," said Taylor, who has spent years working for athletic shoe and apparel companies. "They are athletes, but they are not afforded all the gear and technology a professional athlete is. Well, we have tactical athletes — we are figuring out how to treat them the same way."

In addition to being light and streamlined, the Shadow boots incorporate a host of features that make them more comfortable, durable and efficient.

The low-profile five-inch boot weighs 1 pound, 3.8 ounces. They are breathable and incorporate anti-microbial and hydrophobic materials that prevent the boot from soaking up water and make them quick drying. For durability, there is a toe cap with ceramics embedded into the material. They also have a notch at the rear to secure fins and cleats on the arch for fast roping, among other unique features.

That is all built atop an innovative sole designed to be quiet and slip resistant. Inside is a plate to give the sole structure that adds a rocking motion to a wearer's stride. Taylor says that increases walking efficiency by about 20 percent without wearing additional gear.

That made them appealing to some recon and MARSOC Marines, Taylor said. Between members of MARSOC and 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, the Marines have purchased a few hundred pairs of the Amphibian version, he said. The boot also comes in an Intruder version, with the only difference its lack of drainage ports.

In all, they have sold nearly all of their initial production run for 3,000 boots and have 8,000 more on the way, Taylor said.

At $325-350, they aren't cheap. The company spared no expense in creating what Taylor called a "game day" product. He said there are plans to make a less expensive version using different materials for the sole.

Navy operators have also shown a strong interest in the boots with SEALs already wearing them and plans to ship more overseas to SEAL Team 5, which Taylor said is already deployed. They've also received keen interest from troops in the Coast Guard, Japanese Defense Forces, South Korean SEALs and Israeli forces, he said.

Line infantry might not see these boots as part of their standard kit anytime soon. Apart from being expensive, they are not compliant with the Berry Amendment which requires most military purchases to be made from U.S. manufacturers using U.S. materials. But, they are available for purchase by those looking for a high-speed hiking boot and LALO has plans to eventually make an 8-inch uniform boot.

In March, LALO will further expand its offerings with a less expensive athletic line of shoes for running, physical training, CrossFit and aquatic sports. Most are about $130 and were also developed with feedback from SEALS on the West Coast. Taylor said were looking for something they could work out in or wear around town.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/01/04/marine-corps-operators-wear-navy-seal-designed-boots-for-war/21104651/