How is CTS addressing the slipperiness of the WWB sole?
Clothe the Soldier (CTS) discussed cold weather wear problems associated with the Wet Weather Boot (WWB) VIBRAM® Sierra 1276M sole in The Maple Leaf, Vol. 5 No. 45 (4 December 2002). CF personnel had reported that the WWB's "high wear" material sole did not provide adequate grip on ice and snow below -10°C.
Despite repeated bulletins issued by CTS staff advising that the WWB was not intended to be worn in extreme cold temperatures, soldiers continued to do so. Naturally, personnel continued to report that the WWB lacked "grip" on some surfaces in temperatures below freezing. In March 2003, the CTS Project Team and the WWB technical authority began looking for an alternative sole which would provide an increased "coefficient of friction," thereby providing better traction on slippery surfaces and extend the performance range of the boot.
In consultation with private industry and support from the Quality Engineering Test Establishment, a "compound" sole developed by VIBRAM® designated Traction Compound (TC) 1 was selected as a possible product improvement for the WWB. Based on industrial laboratory tests and research material, CTS expects that the TC 1 sole will provide a reduction in hardness in sustained cold and will increase the coefficient of friction. In addition, abrasion, i.e., durability, should compare favourably to the existing sole.
As part of an ongoing initiative to identify the best solution and a phased approach to mitigate "slip and fall" incidents, CTS has ordered 6,500 pairs of WWBs fitted with the VIBRAM® TC 1 sole. These boots are scheduled for delivery in early 2004 and will filter into the supply system as they come off the production line. While CTS anticipates that the VIBRAM® TC 1 sole will be an improvement, it may not be the "best" possible solution. CTS, in conjunction with representatives from the footwear industry, is continuing the search for technically improved composites. Plans to conduct local trials and cold chamber tests on two or three other alternatives are being finalized and will be implemented shortly.
Until such time as CTS can determine and implement the best possible solution, personnel are once again reminded that the WWB was never designed for wear below -10°C; - it is not a "Cold" Wet Weather Boot. Although the boot has exceeded performance expectations with respect to warmth and comfort below -10°C, the WWB is not ideal for wear in extreme cold temperatures. In conditions below -10°C, soldiers must consider switching to the mukluk as the preferred option.
