{"id":31181,"date":"2018-07-26T16:56:06","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T16:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/26\/the-army-wants-to-replace-the-mickey-mouse-cold-weather-boots\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:39:54","slug":"the-army-wants-to-replace-the-mickey-mouse-cold-weather-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/off-duty\/gearscout\/2018\/07\/26\/the-army-wants-to-replace-the-mickey-mouse-cold-weather-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"The Army wants to replace the \u2018Mickey Mouse\u2019 cold weather boots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The old \u201cMickey Mouse\u201d cold weather boot<\/a>, a rubber relic from the 1960s still in service with both soldiers and Marines, could be replaced if a recent Army posting proves fruitful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim is to reduce the weight<\/a> and bulk of the boot, which earned its nickname<\/a> for its white, bulbous size, like the famed cartoon rodent\u2019s feet. The boot does also come in black, and for a time, they were also called \u201cBunny Boots\u201d by troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, U.S. Army Contracting Command posted a special notice on fbo.gov<\/a>, a federal business opportunities website. The notice detailed the procurement of 150 pairs of three models of an Extreme Cold Weather Overboot to replace the classic version, called the Extreme Cold Weather Boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the post author noted the long-standing boot\u2019s deficiencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current Extreme Cold Weather Boot (ECWB) has remained largely unmodified since the 1960s and utilizes outdated technology and manufacturing processes which are no longer available within the U.S.,\u201d according to the notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdditionally, the ECWB is heavy, bulky, and difficult to pack\/carry when conducting dismounted operations,\u201d according to the notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The white, bulky boot provides a vacuum-type seal that maintains foot warmth in temperatures down to -60 Fahrenheit. So much so that troops often soak their socks with sweat while standing in banks of snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\t