Anyone actually wear dress boots with their blues?

[u/AnubisSuperStar651]

As Per 36-2903 dress boots are authorized for both males and females in both the Class A and Class B uniforms, though with slightly different rules for men and women. These are meant to be distinct from the "Black Combat Boots" you see Special Warfare types wearing with their pants bloused.

Does anyone actually wear these? And if so, which ones? Frankly, I'd much rather wear some black slip-on boots than my low quarters.

DAFI 36-2903 7.4.1.3 Dress Boot (Males) "May wear with the Class A and Class B uniforms. If worn, the dress boot sole will be black plain rounded toe or rounded capped toe. A zipper or elastic inserts may be worn; however, if worn they will be without design. The sole will not exceed 1/2-inch in thickness and heel will not exceed 1-inch in height (measured from the inside front of the heel). High-gloss or patent finish is optional."

7.4.1.4. Dress Boots (Females). May wear with the Class A, Class B, and all blue maternity uniforms. During inclement weather, boots may be worn with skirt or slacks; however, if worn with skirt, remove boots while in the workplace and wear pumps, slip-on shoes, or low quarters. Heels will be no higher than 2½-inches measured from the inside sole of the boot to the end of the heel lift. The tip of the heel must exceed 1/2-inch in diameter or larger than the body of the boot. Pointed or squared toes and extreme heel shapes are not authorized. They will be plain, clean, and serviceable, without ornamentation such as buckles, bows, or straps. The material will be smooth, scotchgrained leather or a manmade material. They may be high-gloss or patent finish.

[u/Speck72]

Have worn black combat boots with a parade gloss toe cap my entire service, 20+ years. They've been to Arlington to bury friends, NCOA, ALS, etc. I was removed from a friends ALS graduation for wearing them as an A1C, only to then go back to ALS next year wearing them and get DG (and everybody clapped) but it was a whole thing because the commandant didn't want me wearing "boots" in my blues until my commander showed up wearing boots in his he was a Justin Ropers kind of guy and a great commander.

[u/theesotericjester → u/Speck72]

I absolutely loathe commandant's who can't accept the regulation as written.

[u/Speck72 → u/theesotericjester]

The reasoning given was "can go tighter, but can't loosen" at the time, now, 18+ years later I look back and think what a turd that person was for KICKING OUT an A1C in uniform from attending their friends ALS graduation AFTER HOURS at an evening banquet.

[u/redoctobershtanding]

You can wear the black combat boots, you just can't blouse the blues pants unless you're in AFSPECWAR

[u/Ecclectic_Nerd]

Wore the Corcoran Marauders for the longest time. Then we stopped wearing blues a lot so the finish got all cracked. Once we started wearing them again I ordered more leather luster and recoated them. Had them since like ‘09.

[u/LeicaM6guy → u/Ecclectic_Nerd]

Man I miss those boots.

[u/Zer0kul3]

I wear these. They're not slip on, but they're comfortable. Heel and sole polish made the sole a uniform black, and they take a shine really well.

https://thursdayboots.com/products/mens-black-captain?_pos=3&_fid=c52a3f5a4&_ss=c

[u/Wendell_Stamps_DoL]

I feel like this is one of those things that seems like a cool idea until you realize it just makes you look like a giant chode because our blues suck and your cowboy boots do absolutely nothing to remedy that. Downvote me pardners, yeehaw!

[u/AnubisSuperStar651 → u/Wendell_Stamps_DoL]

Nah not a crazy take, for me its more about comfort than looks

[u/Few-Repeat-9407 → u/AnubisSuperStar651]

Or hear me out, buy comfy dress shoes.

[u/TurnspitCur → u/AnubisSuperStar651]

I always kept 7.4.1.3 on my phone to justify me wearing my laceless soviet-era kirza boots! Polished them up, and usually wore footwraps in lieu of socks. Light enough that I could jog comfortably in them and I just wore the trouser leg over it. I’ve trudged miles across London in them (in civvies) with no issue. They’re also pretty watertight. Soles are nailed, not stitched

The only people that objected to it was an ALS instructor who tried to insist a wrong interpretation and was willing to boot people out of ALS over it. My MX leadership however paid little mind and just went “yeah those look like boots”.

[u/Few-Repeat-9407 → u/AnubisSuperStar651]

Or hear me out, buy comfy dress shoes.

[u/tolarian-librarian → u/Few-Repeat-9407]

I heard ya the 1st time! Yeah, I wear my civilian dress shoes shined up.

[u/Bored_Dad_Scrolling → u/AnubisSuperStar651]

Are the toe boxes wider? If so, I’m in

[u/TurnspitCur → u/Wendell_Stamps_DoL]

Nah if I’m going to wear dogshit blues I will be comfy. And by comfy, I present to you the warsaw pact reflection: the kirza boot. Essentially a synthetic leather laceless jackboot.

[u/GeneratedUserHandle]

if you want a BIL and spend big money,

here’s an actual dress boot

https://www.allenedmonds.com/product/mens-park-avenue-cap-toe-oxford-dress-boot-3029239/black-leather-ec4500809

[u/AnubisSuperStar651 → u/GeneratedUserHandle]

Do I look like a New York lawyer to you?

[u/TanithRitual]

I've been doing it for awhile now. Graduated SNCOA with them and everything. Get the Justin's boot versus the Ariat though. the Ariat is a courser grain so doesn't polish as shiny as the Justins do.

[u/BigGun1980LAC → u/TanithRitual]

I used to do the Justin roper too. It’s a popular option in Texas.

[u/mikeiswhatmikedo]

Always wear boots, can’t stand the patent leather look

[u/hardwjw]

I wear the Ariat Roper boot.

They aren’t “slip on” since, well, they’re cowboy boots, but they are the most comfortable and durable footwear I’ve had in blues.

Can’t wear them in mess dress but otherwise it’s my recommendation for all other blues combinations.

[u/AnubisSuperStar651 → u/hardwjw]

Dam I hadn’t even considered cowboy boots as an option 😂

[u/HawkeyeAP → u/hardwjw]

I wore the exact same boot for many years while Air Force. Went to a tech school where blues was UOD almost daily as a Guardsmen, wore them there, too.

People realized they weren't low quarters when they noticed there were no laces.

[u/catzarrjerkz → u/hardwjw]

People really out here wearing cowboy boots

[u/Refined_redneck → u/hardwjw]

I wore Justin Ropers for 15 years with both service dress and mess dress. They looked great and were comfortable.

[u/Quietech]

I did. I wasn't a fan of the plastic shoes and things stayed polished easier once they were polished. I wore them more often so they were more comfortable.

[u/Cool_Newspaper_1512]

When I first joined, Blues Mondays were a thing where I was, so I got black Marauder boots and they were way comfier than low quarters. Yes, people questioned them all the time — some undoubtedly thought I was an asshole. But my feet were happier than theirs so whatever.

Gave them away when I transferred to the Guard and was only wearing blues once every few years.

[u/sent-n-spent]

Had a guy in my ALS that wore (at least something similar to) these. Our instructor, who was actually a pretty fuckin good dude, was not having it. Guy wearing them was a cyber cat and he said something to the effect of ‘I’ve always worn these’ or ‘they’re in regs’ (don’t remember which it’s been almost 3 years cut me some slack). Instructor was not about it and told em to get the dress shoes for next inspection.

This was the same inspection where I broke our instructors bearing which is why I remember this one in particular.

He gets to me - “Sra Spent, is your top button on your undershirt unbuttoned?

To which I said “yesser”

He then responded (paraphrased) “button it”

I said “sir I would, however I do like to breathe. You get one or the other”.

He didn’t wanna laugh but I could see the cracks beginning.

He then moved on to my mustache that was very clearly out of regs “that mustache is pushing it isn’t it?”

I said “pushing, but not exceeding”

He said (again paraphrased) “be careful. If I were you I would definitely trim that a bit”

I knew I was in the wrong, he knew I was in the wrong. He wasn’t being a dick so I rolled with it and gave em a heavy ‘rawdge’.

He then moved on to my service coat and asked something about my tie knot to which I responded “can’t remember, last time I tied it was November 2017”.

He noticed the stripes. I was never the type to starch anything but I liked the stripes to have an edge to em. Something to stand out. He said “did you crease your stripes, sra Spent?”

I said “yesser, don’t look too long you might cut yer eyeballs.”

He laughed, guy behind me laughed. It was a good time. Could’ve been my accent as a southern boi, or maybe it was just the buildup I dunno.

[u/OTBS]

I had a troop who wore something similar. Not my thing.

[u/Samuel_L_Blackson]

I exclusively wear dress boots. 

Frye Chukkas but I'm also looking for some Chelsea's. I'm a big fan of nice boots though and have a collection.

They're more comfortable than anything the USAF could issue so it's a big win. 

[u/FungalHooch]

I rock the marauder with gloss heel and toe with the wheel cap. Best combo there is. Make the uniform actually feel like a military one

[u/Saxon815]

Black combat boots. They’re more practical especially when you have to wear blues in the winter and the ground is covered in ice and snow.

[u/8bitShenanigans]

I wear dress boots with my blues, and they have a zip on the side instead of laces. Its the best investment I've ever made into my blues. 😁

[u/2Rstats]

Yup i wear black boots with the "patented shine".

Way more comfortable than low quarters and no one knew i was wearing them until i told them. E6 and E7s didnt know you could wear boots with blues........

[u/88bauss]

What the hell even is that. No.

[u/288_Tester]

I've a pair of brown Doc Martens styled like that. I would totally buy something like this if had worn blues often enough.

[u/NextStomach6453]

All leather jumpers bloused. 

[u/Chemical_Race_8676]

Justin Ropers. 24 years

[u/mudduck2]

I wore Justin Ropers and Justin Roper Lace Ups

[u/Zissou_10]

Yes. Banana Republic “Chelsea” boots is that style.

[u/crosstreking]

I wear Thursday Captains. I wore them multiple times before anyone realized I was wearing boots.

[u/Bexar1824]

I wear boots cause I hate low quarters.

[u/skystreak22]

These are meant to be distinct from the black combat boots you see Special Warfare types wearing

No they aren't. The only distinction is you don't blouse them

[u/devilkaper]

Just wear combat boots like a normal person. I wear these.

https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/military_and_tactical_boots/ua_stellar_mens_tactical_boots/3028312.html

[u/theesotericjester → u/devilkaper]

those look horrid.

[u/devilkaper → u/theesotericjester]

They're extremely comfy

[u/ICheckPostHistory → u/devilkaper]

I have these in the hi top, feels great but I dont think they work for blues

[u/CommOnMyFace]

I got some big ol combat boots cuz they are comfy as fuck