хрень эта называется Matterhorn "Tiger Tip" и вместе со стальной пластиной служит для усиления защиты носка...
ниже приведен небольшой отрывок, взятый с сайта
http://www.coalage.com с небольшими подробностями об использовании этой серии ботинок в горнодобывающей промышленности, собственно для нее, а также для различных служб, занимающихся спасением и была разработана эта серия...
CONSOL's medical director at the time, the late Dr. James Hertzog, turned to Cove Shoe Co., of Martinsburg, Pa., to help provide a solution. Together, they developed a rugged, durable boot for miners that incorporated a waterproof/breath-able Gore-Tex bootie — the Matterhorn Tiger Tip. Today, CONSOL recommends this boot as part of its miners' equipment.
The bootie contains 9 billion microscopic pores per square inch. Each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule, which means water, rain, or snow cannot penetrate the membrane, but moisture from perspiration can easily escape.
The Matterhorn Tiger Tip performs so well that approximately 75% of Blacksville's 465 employees, when given the choice of using any American National Standards Institute approved mining boots with internal metatarsal guards, now wear the Matterhorn Tiger Tip. A flexible metatarsal and a sturdy triple ridge across the tip protect the toe and stand up to rugged wear. A Kevlar lining resists blows and a steel plate under the insole protects from torn metal, nails, and broken glass. The outsole is made of slip-resistant Vibram.
“The Tiger Tip may not eliminate an accident, but it can prevent or minimize injury,” says Blacksville No. 2 Mine Safety Supervisor Fran Nickler. “We've already had a number of successful saves.”
Through the darkness of future past,
The Magician longs to see,
One chants out between two worlds:
"Fire Walk With Me"...