What Are Jump Boots?
Jump boots are specialized footwear that were first designed for use by United States (US) Army paratroopers during World War II. The jump boot, also referred to as the paratrooper boot or the Corcoran, was specifically designed with parachute operations in mind. For instance, the heel of the boot was beveled to prevent potential snags on parachute lines, and the jump boot was fully laced from the instep to the top, as opposed to the ankle-to-top lacing of that era’s standard-issue combat boots, to give the extra ankle support needed for parachute landings. Development of the US Army jump boot began in 1940, with designers drawing ideas and elements from equipment used successfully by other forces, including US Marine Corps parachute units, German parachutists and US Forest Service “smoke jumpers.” The first design was a shoe worn with customized braces, but it failed to provide sufficient support for the paratroopers. Designs that featured straps and braces fared no better, but by Aug
