Inspired by the unmistakable silhouette of the GSG 9's favorite boots, our KS Sport spin on a pre-millennium classic is the perfect urban warfare boot.
Prior to the 80s, many special forces had a problem - their footwear couldn't keep up. With antiquated world-war-II thinking only barely starting to improve, many units came to the realization that something a lot more tennis-shoe like but with the durability of a boot was needed. So, after the GSG 9 was founded following the Munich massacre, they too asked similar questions.
A certain three-striped footwear Juggernaut came into play, and it only made sense. A German company should be more than happy to make boots for the GSG 9 and they sure were. The boots were sleek, stylish, professional, and anything but the old standard-issue marching boots of yore. They featured a low drop & sneaker like feels and became an instant hit. Word got around, and people from other militaries clambered to get their own.
They'd be seen on famous photos of Navy SEAL VBSS units training on ships, SWAT team members all the way back in the states, and even in helicopters above Mogadishu. But the OGs, the GSG 9, got the namesake and the fame of the original boots.
Of course, nothing's perfect. The sole construction left a little to be desired and wore down quickly with use, and a large section of the upper was pleather. Lastly, for reasons we still don't fully comprehend, European shoes and boots run pretty narrow - presumably for Scandinavian elven DNA, but we're not quite sure for who else.
We were dying to make these, because the used market is dead, and even if you get them, they're anything but combat ready after 20 years of sitting on the shelf.
Starting with custom lasts, we greatly expanded the toe-box to be a much more "modern fit" following our feet's desire for more room and the footwear industry slowly gravitating to more anatomical shoes.
We then scrapped the pleather and went 100% full grain cowhide for the construction. This'll guarantee easy maintenance and durability for far longer than the originals. It's paired with the strongest adhesive we could find for the outsole, so it doesn't fail like the original glue-downs did.
Finally, we gave it a few design upgrades. we expanded the footprint of the suede anti-scuff toe cap, our signature quadruple-mockba-stripes, and a donning assist with a large pull tab on the back of the boot upper.
It's the sleek styling of the original, backed by a long history of special forces pedigree, now in a form you can actually buy and wear without treating it like a collector's item.
Specs
- Made in Vietnam
- Classic 90s 'counter-terror' silhouette inspired by GSG 9 style boots
- Lightweight full-grain cowhide leather construction
- suede anti-scuff toe cap with reinforced double stitching
- flat, aggressive outsole with low drop - feels like a pair of tennis shoes!
- KS SPORT exclusive fit with wide toe-box for all-day comfort
Sizing
For the foot-size conscious, we're doing things a little differently - by providing exact measurements of the inside of the boot. In general, keep in mind you may want to go a half size to a full size down due to the last's length and width.
The main 3 measurements are Last length, last width, and last girth at the widest part of your foot. For length and width, the best method is to trace your foot with the socks you plan to wear on, standing on a piece of paper to derive length and width.
For length, measure from heel to toe in a straight line in millimeters from end to end (not diagonally) and for width simply measure the widest part of your foot. You'll want to add 5mm to your length measurement for toe room and then compare to the chart.
Girth around the "ball" of the foot is another important measurement as it's the most common area of irritation for shoes that don't fit right. take a measuring tape (or string if you don't have one) and measure around the widest part of your foot.
You should have all the measurements you need to buy the correct size after those steps, but for even more advanced feet-havers, we provide two more girth measurements, at the "Waist" and "Instep". The instep is (generally) the area that the laces will rest on top of the foot before the ankle, and the "waist" is between the ball and instep.
