Safety flash: Proper footwear


When should you wear proper footwear and boots?
Even though most Air soft clubs do not require you to wear boots or certain footwear,it is still a good idea to wear sturdy boots for proper ankle support and protection of the foot.
It is prudent to protect oneself as much as possible.
Boots offer a protective boundary between your skin and whatever would damage your tissue.
You should wear boots whenever there is a reasonable possibility of injury to your extremities such as your feet, ankles and toes. A high legged boot can also protect your calves.
Injuries to these areas can be prevented or minimized by wearing protective footwear.
Carrying your gear, weapon, accessories and lunch all day can eventually add up in weight. An improper shoe fit can cause wearing away on the skin of the foot causing blisters.
If left untreated the condition can grow into something requiring medical attention.
Crawling around on the earth and pushing thru the weeds and brush can have unexpected consequences such as running into poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac and an enormous amount of other plant life or even encountering unexpected wildlife.
Steadying or balancing oneself, grabbing at or holding on to miscellaneous things, stepping in ruts
or holes or walking thru tight grass or shrubbery can cause undue stress to the ankles. You may want to buy ankle supports and wear them under your boots. Keep that in mind when finding the right boot size. Ensure that your boots are laced properly for the best support.
There are many terrains and areas used to play Air soft.
Clubs range from having indoor games to outside games.
Observe your environment and landscapes. They can range from anything to flat land,
elevated grades, rolling hills, to the inside of a building ,walking on concrete.
There is also a wide variety of foliage, forestry and shrubbery you may have to traverse. Also consider things like rock, sticks, bbs, nails in old wood, critters or anything else that could make contact with your feet, ankles, calves or shins.
Wear boots when roaming thru areas that would call for proper foot protection.
Comply with rules in any areas designated by the Game Master as requiring such protection.
Each person who doesn’t want to injure themselves while playing the sport of Air soft should take the proper protective safety measures.
Regardless of age, everyone should always use the maximum amount of protective gear and caution.

Choosing the proper protection
You should have no trouble in finding good quality boots that offer protection without
sacrificing mobility and dexterity. I have found Army surplus stores offer the greatest selection. Keep
in mind the color of your uniform matches your boots if you are into trying to be authentic as possible.
A shoe store would be my second choice. Sporting good stores would be my third choice.
You can always use the web as a great resource and an easy way to comparison-shop.
Remember things like color, slits, holes, durability, mobility, fit, material and price, all of which
are important factors when choosing the best boots for you.

Maintaining and preserving your footware
Always monitor your equipment for wear and tear and anything else that has been damaged or worn or will no loner offer the original protection it ounce provided.
As you use this equipment, periodically it becomes necessary to clean it. Mild soap and water are usually effective. Make sure everything is dry before you stow them away. Nothing worse then moldy gear.
Depending on the product special solvents or applications may be necessary for long life of the merchandise. Remember to check the nooks and cracks for dirt, sand and debris that would shorten the life of the product and the elements that hold it together.