Give ‘Em The Boot!

If your chosen foot-gear is sandals or flip-flops or tennis shoes or Crocs or maybe like Cody Lundin, no shoes at all, then you need to re-think your survival strategy!  An emergency, is by definition, something you don’t expect.  Survival is largely mental preparation and learning skills, but when it comes to your feet, it could be a life or death situation, if getting to safety means you have to walk there.

In WW1, many soldiers lost their feet or were crippled horribly for life from a condition known as trench foot where the feet are wet for days on end and not allowed to dry out.  You might say that your sandals or flip-flops will let your feet dry out and you are right.  There is nothing wrong with that type of foot wear in certain situations and in some cases like river or stream crossings or really hot environments, might actually be preferable.  It is a good idea, in my opinion to pack some alternative lightweight shoes like sandals etc. in your pack to give your feet a rest when you get to camp, to let your boots dry out or if you need to use the privy at night.  However, these type of shoes don’t really protect your feet and that is of utmost importance in a survival situation and really should not be your main foot wear.

The point I’m making is this: if you’re in a survival scenario and there is a long distance to walk, the grass or foliage is damp,  or there is broken glass or rugged terrain; there is no substitute for a good pair of leather boots.  In my opinion, boots should be of smooth leather for ease of cleaning and re-treatment,  have Gortex or some other waterproof membrane, should be at least 6 inches tall to provide ankle support, as well as to ford shallow streams or walk through soggy soil or mud and must have laces that you can switch out for para cord for extra cordage that you can have with you at all times.  Just like we say about the best knife for a survival situation, the best shoes for an emergency are the ones you have on or with you, so choose wisely.

If you work in an office environment or other job that doesn’t allow you to wear boots to work, then make sure that they are in your car, or put them in a gym bag, duffle bag or shoulder pack that you can carry in and put in your employee locker space or under your desk.  If there is a terrorist attack or some other national emergency where you might have to walk a distance to safety, you really don’t want to  be wearing uncomfortable shoes.  On September 11, 2001, when many people had to walk for miles to get out of Manhattan, I’m sure they wished they had on better shoes than the dress shoes or heels that they wore to work that day!

As a Christian, we are always to have our feet shod with the shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.  In other words, we need to be willing to take the message of God’s Saving Grace to others.  Often, those who are lost in sin will not seek us out.  We must be like Jesus and go out to seek and save those who are lost.  Many church pews sit empty on a Sunday morning because no one is willing to put on their Gospel shoes and go find a lost person to bring to Jesus.  How about you?  What’s on your feet?  If you’re not wearing the Gospel shoes, give ’em the boot and put on the foot gear of the Christian witness!

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PS. You can check out my website where you can set up training for many of these skills at www.waypointsurvival.com and look at and order my custom knives at www.benderknifeworks.com.

James B.