Army orders temperate-weather combat boots

ROCKFORD, Mich., April 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted Bates Footwear to deliver its combat boots capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions.

Michigan-based Bates was awarded a $13 million contract for the delivery of its temperate-weather combat boots. Under the deal, Bates will be expected to deliver approximately 165,000 pairs of the boots to support troop deployments.

The temperate-weather boots, widely deployed by the Army in harsh-weather combat environments like Afghanistan, are waterproof and have breathable Gore-Tex to meet demanding terrain circumstances.

"This contract represents an important win for Bates, as it continues domestic production of a high-performance combat boot for the men and women of the U.S. Army," Ron Woznick, Bates Footwear vice president and general manager, said in a statement.

"These boots are engineered to provide maximum performance in all combat conditions, from desert environments to mountainous terrain. We are honored to continue providing the Army with the boots our war fighters wear in combat."