Canadian Forces MK IV Combat Boots (aka the Black Cadillacs)
I am posting this partly for a laugh and partly to take a jab at a buddy in the reserves. Anyone who has spent time in the military or is a civilian with a reasonable amount of bush time knows that boots are a contentious subject that can consume hours of debate and ridicule. I always think of Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder “Tires Cole, Tires are what wins a race.” Well, Boots Cole, boots are the same.
In the last few years, particularly post GWOT I have noticed there has been a lot of focus towards lighter more breathable lightweight warm weather / summer-ish boot with cordura that dries quickly etc. An uparmoured running shoe of a boot. These aren’t bad, I have a pair of Ultimas that are pretty solid. However, this trend had made me realise, much to my shock and dismay, that I am now an old fudd. Personally, I have always held a special place in my heart for the MK IV even through it seems I am very much alone in this opinion, but it’s a hill I’ll die on.
Hear me out, they are full grain leather, waterproof and four season capable. They are stitched onto a Vibram sole that can be replaced when it wears out. Is there something better you could wear?…in the summer I begrudgingly admit that yes there is. Outside of the I’d still say they are epic boots, and with proper care they will last years. I bought the ones in the pic at SAS in Kingston in 2014. They were ‘surplus’ but so unused that the soles still has the stippling on the rubber. They are dirty in the pics but a bit of polish and they look brand new. For that reason these are still my go to boot, I basically live out of a pair for a good 6-8 months of the year. I have owned several pairs in my life, I still use them (outside of the height of summer) as my everyday boot. It is the only boot I take into the bush and have never worry about water being an issue. To be fair if they do get wet, they take some time to dry but I honestly can’t remember the last time I actually had to dry them. I never get soakers in them and there is plenty of swamp I trudge through in the bush back behind my place in Halton Hills. The winters in southern Ontario are pretty mild by Canadian standards and these with wool socks are more than enough. I have worn them working security and put countless miles on them. I also lived out of them when I was in London and found them great in an urban setting with old uneven concrete, cobblestone, and mud. 
Still not convinced you say? Any surplus store like Hero Outdoors, or SAS will sell you a pair for $40 – $80 CAD … for that price come at me with something better. To be fair the supply is drying up and the pickings are slimmer than they used to be. Last time I was at SAS (probably 2015-ish) they had racks of them. With many of these places it’s better to go in or call then just troll the website. The guys at Hero for example walked me back into their warehouse when I was looking for some boots and let me take my pick (shout out to Sheldon). My biggest regret when I bought my last pair at SAS was that I didn’t get three or four pairs…I’d have been set for life.
I know very well that ‘military quality’ rarely means best quality, but I would argue in this case, like a few others (sleep system, mukluks, arctic mittens), the CAF actually got it right. I am also apparently a fudd and actually like surplus gear so maybe you should be weary. I still swear by my SKS (aka Canadian freedom stick), although I am not delusional about how it stacks up compared to other options out there, especially since they jumped from $200 to $600, but I digress. The point here is that good kit isn’t the same thing as Gucci kit. Surplus can offer a lot of affordable options for decent kit.
Feature Photo: Canadian Forces MK IV Combat Boots. Photo: Chris Murray, 2024
Inset Photos: Canadian Forces MK IV Combat Boots. Photo: Chris Murray, 2024.
DefenceReport’s Kit Corner is a multi-format blog that is based on opinions, insights and dedicated research from DefRep editorial staff and writers. The analysis expressed here are the author’s own and are not necessarily reflective of any institutions or organisations which the author may be associated with. In addition, they are separate from DefRep reports, which are based on independent and objective reporting.