- Magnum's first shoe, the athletic tactical boot referred to as the "Hi-Tec Magnum," was used at the Federal Bureau of Investigations training center in 1982. From there, Magnum went on to create several lines of shoes designed specifically for those in the uniformed service industry. Bates entered the footwear market in 1885, making dress shoes, and shifted focus in 1960s, making military dress shoes for the U.S. Navy. This led to the manufacture of shoes and boots for other branches of the armed forces, eventually making Bates a uniform footwear company.
- Magnum boots are sold in 80 countries with main offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Spain. As of 2009, 1 million pairs of Magnum boots are sold each year. Bates shoes are sold to elite military organizations in more than 50 countries. One and a half million pairs of Bates shoes, including boots, are sold each year. Bates Footwear carries various lines of boots and shoes for different aspects of uniformed service, i.e., dress shoes for naval functions, and boots and shoes for postal workers and security guards.
- Magnum has a variety of boots available, including the Elite II Series, the Elite Spider Series, Magnum Originals, Magnum Shoes and the Stealth Force Series. Bates carries boots specifically designed for the military, local law enforcements, security guards and postal workers. Magnum boots generally have more features, while Bates boots offer more versatility and are tailored specifically to job functions.
- Both Magnum and Bates focus on providing the following in their boots: shock absorption, toe protection, sole longevity, pierce resistance and cold insulation.
- Magnum has just launched the Ion Mask, a boot created as the ultimate uniformed service shoe. The Ion Mask has been treated to protect against harmful chemicals and has an outer layer to prevent water from leaking into the shoe. The boots are also resistant against stains and blood-borne pathogens and are the most environmentally kind of all the Magnum products as well.
