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Mobility is a key advantage survivors have over zombies. During a zombie outbreak, one will need to get around fast, across varied terrain and perhaps even climates. Proper footwear is an aspect of survivalism and warfare often underestimated by newcomers, but never by the experienced.

Contents 1 Sneakers 2 Dress Shoes 3 Slippers and Sandals 4 Boots 4.1 Combat Boots 4.2 Rain Boots 4.3 Hiking Boots 4.4 Designer Boots 4.5 Work Boots 4.6 Sport Boots

SneakersEdit

Sneakers are light, comfortable, easy to put on, readily available and are made to not only let you run well, some are made with supports that give you more bounce in your step. They do have their pros: comfort, aesthetics, and low weight, but they are also weighed down by a bog of cons. They offer almost zero protection, not being made of very hardy materials. The rubber soles are soft, and are not made for walking in for long amounts of time without discomfort on terrain. They are not waterproof, and will essentially be ruined by any water that has anything but pure H2O in it without immediate and thorough cleaning. Water will also make the generally non-textured bottoms squeaky and less able to provide traction. Sneakers are essentially only good for usage in dry environments with medium-to-high temperatures. However, these problems apply only to the cheaper sneakers. The higher end sports sneakers for basketball, running, and other such sports are made with copious amounts of movement in mind. The bottoms are sometimes even lightly armored. One of the better brands is Under Armor, which offers sneakers with many of these benefits- but shop around and see what you can find.

Dress ShoesEdit

Generally speaking, these shoes sacrifice function for form. Men's and women's dress shoes are usually quite painful after extended usage. Some shoes, like loafers, can be fairly comfortable, but generally speaking, these are poor choices, and finding something better should be almost as high of a priority as securing weapons and food. High heels should be abandoned for bare feet. Only a few brands of men's shoes offer any sort of good quality, but they are expensive. Get boots.

Slippers and SandalsEdit

Slippers and Sandals come in many varieties. Almost all are totally useless in a pinch. One notable exception are the thin, sleek Chinese slippers made famous by Bruce Lee and Kung Fu movies. For indoor use, these slippers are as light and manueverable as sneakers. Outdoors, they can take a very limited pounding, but substantially more than other slippers. They are completely inadequete for anything but a dry, mild climate, however. Sandals as secure and light as those used in ancient Greek and Roman times are similarly flexible, and good for short term usage, so long as the terrain is not oppresive. In dire straits, these types of sandals can often be improvised out of other materials.

Boots Edit

For those that can sacrifice a bit of comfort and agility for toughness, boots are the way to go. It is no coincidence that soldiers are issued boots and not sneakers. They last much longer, offer more protection against the elements, and give a boost of strength to one's kicking technique. If one is not accustomed to them, one might find initial difficulty with balance, running speed, blisters, and back or leg joint pain due to less cushioning than normal. Most of these problems eventually vanish, or are easily compensated for. They also have the most advanced types of comfort, fabric, construction, and protection available on the market. Get boots.

Combat BootsEdit

Worn by armed forces, these boots will be made out of tough leather and/or synthetic materials, meant for running, marching and extended periods of use. The bottoms will be made of tough rubber. These boots will usually be a great choice for footwear, coming up to the calf in most cases. Initially, they may be uncomfortable, and leather boots will require extensive maintenance. However, most flex well at the ankle and can be run in easily. Check your local surplus store or police station/military base for them. They will be the best choice in the long run.

Note it is highly advisable to have a pair of OD Green/ Black boot socks. Long socks work to, just make sure they come above the top of the boot. If you don't, the boots will rub your leg raw.

Rain BootsEdit

These can range greatly in usefulness. There are ordinary, rubber boots that come to the calf for children, and similar other styles. Do not wear these. They are essentially a bigger version of a sneaker, usually in a gaudy color, and offer little benefits over a sneaker. They will squeak and cause noise easily. Of course, there are the more rugged, outdoors rainboots. These are made of a more solid rubber and come up to the calf as well,and will have thick soles. They will not flex well at the ankle and thus can not be run in easily, but they are an excellent choice of footwear barring combat and hiking boots. They are usually available in stores like Target, Meijer's, or Walmart.

Hiking BootsEdit

These things were meant to take on Mother Nature's worst and spit in her face. They will be made of advanced, tough materials meant to protect you from animal bites, rocks, and broken glass on the ground. Their thick, textured rubber soles will provide great traction and stealth, and some even have steel toes for a bone-crushing kick. The best ones go up to the calf or just below the ankle. Some cover the ankle and make it harder to flex, so it's much harder to run in. these are essentially combat boots for civilians. Get them if you can, and get a rugged pair, as some people pass over glorified leather sneakers are hiking boots.

Designer BootsEdit

Unless it was designed by a outdoors company or a military contractor, do not wear these. Cowboy boots also fall under this category. They are stiff with small, elevated heels. They are not a good choice unless you want to sit down for an extend amount of time.

Work BootsEdit

The boots of a logger, engineer, or any other worker using heavy machinery or dealing with BIG stuff will not be the best for long. They could take an axeblow with little worry, but they sacrifice comfort, mobility, agility, and weight for a solid defense. In water, they will probably be a hindrance, unless they are made for a heavy diving suit.

Sport BootsEdit

These are a rather interesting category. Sports(games, not activities) shoes will either be cleats or bowling shoes for the most part. Cleats are somewhat useful, but are not good in the long run with the pointed traction claws on the bottom. Bowling shoes are a joke with their tight construction, flimsy materials and smooth, thin soles. So, the only kind of sports boots you should consider are the various types of biking boots, made of leather, Gore-Tex, synthetic materials. These things are custom-built to withstand wear and tear, and some even have steel/ hard plastic toes and shin plates to cushion blunt damage, stabbing objects, and blades. If you can't get hiking or combat boots, get a pair of these bad boys. You may not be able to run for long in them, as they are stiff, but they are very durable for their reasonable weight.