bootsmust

BootsMust is a design philosophy and term in footwear design referring to a modular boot system intended to adapt across tasks and environments. Proponents emphasize longevity, repairability, and customization, enabling users to swap components such as outsoles, uppers, and gaiters without discarding the entire boot. The concept favors lifecycle thinking and potential reductions in waste.

The term combines "boots" with "must," signaling essential functionality, and is sometimes used as an acronym (Modular Utility System Technology) in design discussions, though there is no standardized definition across manufacturers.

The concept first appeared in design discourse in the late 2010s, rooted in sustainability and user-centered engineering. It has since been explored in academic articles, prototype projects, and small-scale product demonstrations rather than as a single marketed system.

Typical design features include replaceable outsoles and midsoles, interchangeable uppers or shell components, modular ankle supports, detachable gaiters, standardized accessory interfaces, and weather sealing compatible with various insoles. Many implementations emphasize repairability, upgradability, and the use of standardized fasteners to facilitate component swaps.

Applications span outdoor recreation, tactical and professional footwear, disaster response, and field research where terrain and mission requirements vary. While prototypes and limited releases illustrate the concept's practicality, widespread consumer adoption remains limited by cost, weight, and perceived complexity.

See also: modular footwear; repairable design; sustainable fashion; non-destructive testing.