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I’ve been subscribed with you for a long time now and I haven’t seen you do a review on the Rocky boot brand they’re American made boots and I have a couple of different pairs and I was wondering if you could do some reviews on some of their boots
Bro you’ve been lying to us that cereal is garbage 😂😂 Awesome video though. Suspiciously Nicks tactical is missing! I have a pair and they are fantastic, very close to the water work pair you just did. Get a pair if you don’t already have some.
I've been wearing Lowa boots since childhood because I'm from Slovakia and my mum works in a factory where they are made. Of course, for us, these boots are so expensive but people in a factory have a chance to buy a second class for a much better price with some small sawing mistakes, but still really good quality. It is a very comfortable pair of boots.
I had a geology lecturer who was your stereotypical geologist. He had two pairs of shoes. Slippers and Lowa boots. One day I asked him about his boots and he said they were the best boots he's ever had and buys nothing else. He gets about 3 years out of a pair, which is still impressive considering it's all he wears outside the house.
I have the Lowa Zephyr Mk2s mids. The PU midsole retains its spring much better than EVA alternatives over multi day treks. The exterior TPU zig-zag moulding provides abrasion resistance and protection for my feet. It definitely "does something" and it works as well as some of Lowa's full rand mountain boots in protecting the foot from rocks while being lighter. The sole of the Mk2 performs better in the wet (rock and mud) than the version you're testing and it had a range of certifications for occupational footwear to the DIN EN ISO 20347:2012 standard. The eyelets are now affixed more sturdily but this was never a real problem of this boot. It also has specific design improvements for those who abseil where friction on the inside of the foot could damage the boot or cause discomfort to the wearer through heat generation. It is superior in every realistic scenario to these other boots and it is also useful as a below the treeline hiking boot. It's not a Lowa Camino or Tibet but it has the stability and support for wearing when trekking with a pack. It's superb and worth the money.
If you want to do some tactical boots that are also "mil spec" and approved for wear by the Army, you can search for "670-1 compliant". Though that certainly doesn't help narrow it down much, there's still dozens of options.
@@TheMailmanOfSteel the more "civilian" hiking boots shit on most AR 670-1 boots. I love my Garmonts but if I'm hiking on my own time I'm taking my Lowa's or La Spotivas
@@Blanderr True, but this is mostly due to different uses. Most of those hiking boots are entirely too heavy and do not have the qualities for running and use for all day wear and tear.
The wider toe box was the reason i got a pair of Merrell moabs(same model as the video) around 3 years ago. Used them 5 or 6 days a week since then averaging 12 to 16 miles of walking, constant lifting, squatting, and other dynamic movements (warehouse work since covid is rough) that would likely cause more strain on the boot than just walking, along with just wearing them in snow, mud, hiking, etc. Literally the only wear on them is the stitching around the top getting a little fuzzy. I haven't tried many other 'tactical' boots, but the fact i can't even see signs of the abuse i put those Merrells through is at least enough for me to say that anything short of fire related work and heavy construction work (because none of these boots have adequate puncture resistance for that) will likely not be enough to kill them, at least for a few years. I never even realized how good they were until i realized they gave me so few issues (really none) that i just never thought about it. They're flexible as hell, especially with the wide toe box, and if you find the right insoles they became more comfortable to stand and walk in than any running shoe i ever had. I seriously couldn't recommend them enough, especially for the price. Though i am thinking of trying the other ones, i have no real need to replace my Merrells for anything beyond minor preference and looks. I feel like I'm an unpaid shill for Merrell but i swear this is all true
Went to war in the desert in Lowa Zephyrs, was a machine gunner (so A lot of weight) and I love them. They held up very nicely and still used them a lot for hiking for a few years, definitely the most comfortable boot I have used. In Europe it is priced much better as its made here to that explains the very high price tag.
I wore a pair of Lowa Elite Desert TF on my last tour to Afghanistan, I was a long range reconnaissance soldier so lots of humping with heavy weight and they were the best boots I ever wore in my 25 year career. At the end of the 9 month deployment I threw them out as they probably more Shoe Goo than boot at that point but I would use them again in a heartbeat.
Same here. I was a medic in a mechanized infantry company. I've had all of these boots except the under armour, plus Rocky SV2, and the Oakley SI. The Lowa Zephyr is BY FAR the most comfortable and durable boots I've ever owned. Mine are going on almost 11 years and desperately need new soles but I can't bring myself to part with them lol
I've worn a lot of boots in my 12 year military career and the Lowas are head and shoulders above the rest. The only complaint is that the Goretex liners don't breathe, so if water gets in (like during a rainstorm when water runs down your legs) they wont dry. Otherwise the most comfortable and most supportive boots. Regularly wear them during 18 hour days. A couple other boots that will garner a lot of interest (based on what I see my Soldiers wear) would be the Nike SFBs and Oakley light assaults.
Yea the Nike boot are what I wore and I loved those. They felt like you were wearing running shoes and are super light. They are not the most durable boots but for comfort they are the best.
I have the 670-1 compliant Merrill Moab 2s. The bar sole test doesn't surprise me. The soles are my favorite part of the boot, very supportive, very comfortable, great traction. When I first got them, I wasn't a huge fan because the upper ankle portion was very stiff and the material was pretty thick (I still kinda think there's more padding material there than necessary). But after several months of breaking them in they've become my favorite boot especially for rucking because of their comfort and rigidity. I did most of air Assault with them, including the 6 and 12 mile rucks and my feet and ankles felt great. Very minimal blistering on the 12 mile. My feet are wider and the toe box is very spacious, but my foot doesn't slip around. They are more of a temperate boot, there's not much ventilation so they do run warm. They also don't have much drainage at the bottom, so they are not a jungle boot. I will probably water proof treat them, but they do well resisting water as is. It took over 2 hours of rucking in solid rain before my feet were wet and water was squishing between my toes. If you can get a pair on sale I highly recommend them. I got them off LA Police Gear for about $90 on sale.
Boots like the 5.11's are designed to drain water quickly rather than be waterproof. The idea is if you're going to do a river crossing you're probably going to be in deep water anyway. Waterproofing is useless in that scenario so you might as well drain it fast. I like this approach for summer boots. Don't get 5.11's though, they last a year and then fall apart.
so the thing to be aware of with military boots is that they have these fun arbitrary standards for appearances, so companies are going to do what they have to to get there with the materials they already have available to them. which is probably why all that leather is coated in black plastic. back in the days of the ABU, the USAF spent like a million dollars to develop an oil resistant sage green boot for their maintainers because getting any oil on the normal ones stained them and made them "unserviceable" to wear in uniform, meaning they had to get a whole new pair. meanwhile, they still had whole warehouses of black leather boots and could easily have just put an exception in the uniform regs for maintenance shops. but they wanted people in green boots. and when the USAF switched uniforms in 2021, you could find sage green boots for dirt cheap because everyone was dumping their stock because they knew nobody wanted the things.
I commented something similar on your community post about this series, and I’ve seen similar comments on this video, but I think if you continue this series, it’d be cool if you continue to include AR670-1 [(within army standard) rough out leather, coyote brown, 8”-10”height, no mesh, etc.] and/or Berry compliant (required for other military branches) boots alongside general “tactical” boots. It’ll allow an additional portion of consistency in the series, and also reflect military boot standards. Look forward to seeing this series continue regardless.
I would love to see an AR-670-1 video. I am not sure if that would have a wide enough audience, so I would probably say "military type boot" in general; Garmont, Belleville, Nike, etc. all make 670-1 compliant boots that are popular across all the branches and that would be pretty cool to compare.
I settled on 4 different boots when I was in the army. Some Oakley 670-1 (uniform regulation) compliant ones for garrison just because they felt like sneakers, terrible for the field imo but great for day to day. Lowas just like the ones tested for colder weather/wet weather in the field. Salomon Quests for warm/dry weather in the field. And Garmont NFS's for an all around/people wanting us to stay 670-1 compliant in the field boot. I was pretty happy with that set-up for the last few years of my time.
I have the Valsetz - an original pair from nearly 10 years ago. They're not waterproof at all, but they're VERY comfortable. The Ortholite insole and Vibram outsole have lasted me far longer than expected, and they make incredibly good standing/walking boots. They're definitely meant for a more urban environment, but they're also incredibly light because they're modeled on running shoes and therefore have very good toe boxes, which is paramount to me.
Im in the British army, The most popular boots we use are. Aku pilgrim original and now issued. Altberg defender (issued) Altberg jungle. Magnum elites/ or panther. Haix combat boots. All these boots also come in gortex versions.
@@cmanlovespancakes Altberg definitely won't be, they're made in Yorkshire and you can visit there and get boots custom-made by taking your foot measurements to ensure the perfect fit. It's a surprisingly small business for a company supplying the Armed forces for some time.
I've been wearing Lowa Zephyrs for almost 3 years, as an every day thing. Summer, winter, work, city, hiking, camping. It does them all very very well.
Update : Lowa just released a new generation of the Zephyr where they addressed the issue of the seams sometimes giving away on the side of the toebox. Its made out of one piece of leather !
It'd be cool to see a comparison video comparing the 3 most popular Marine Corps boots, that being the Danner Rats, Danner Reckonings and the issued boot. As a Navy Corpsman I'd like to see which boots mess up my Marines feet the least.
The RAT is one of the new boots I've been considering. However, as I stated above the old school black boots with a leather insert and breaking them in by soaking them in water and wearing them for days has always felt the best for my feet. I did use a dress sock under my wool socks when breaking them in. This is exactly how my DI's had us do it and we were the only platoon in the company without feet issues through boot. Ours didn't shine as well but they wore 100% better. They were like sneakers they fit so well. My set lasted me 8 years with multiple resoles.
@@tufelhunden5795 when did you go through boot? I went through in 98' and I have no idea what brand made those black basic issue, but I know that Rothco made the jungle "parade" boots we had to shine for final drill.
@@JeffLocke1 I went through in 1986. They were made by Altma. All eyelets up the boot. I was looking for some pictures of them but they were replaced with the boot you likely had. Same company but with the speed laces and the Tread that was u shaped out from the middle. They had a padded collar and weighed quite a bit more. I was bummed when the new ones came out and I was in. I haven’t been able to find the ones I initially had so I’ve bought the Corcoran jump boots and broke them in the same way. They seem to be decent and molded to my feet fairly well.
Hey doc. I didn’t realize ppl were still wearing Rats. Add the replacement model to the list. I think they are Danner RGXs. If you go to the danner site it tells you which ones replaced the MEBs. Marine Expeditionary Boots, or the issued ones. These guys are wild. Multiple deployments and I had MEBs with different soles the whole while. Break em in right. Actually hike on your own. Do your best to baby step it and you’ll be fine.
I am still holding out for a hiking boot series. Would be really interesting to see the comparison between a more heritage hiker like the Danner Mountain Light vs something super techy like the Arc'teryx Bora (even though the Bora is no longer made).
Agreed. Comparison of tactical vs technical would be interesting. But to me seems difficult for an overall comparison as their designs and reasons people get them are so different from each other. I think you'd pretty much have to pick a certain aspect and test against it. Some of those tech boots will outshine the tactical and vice versa, depending on what specifically you compare it for.
I have a pair of Danner Mountain Light's and they are amazing. I bought them cause they're the closest to what I wore in the Marine's which was Danner RAT boots. I got the Nubuck mountain light's. Old comment but figured I'd respond
There are a lot of tactical boots out there but being in the Army, my favorites by far are the Garmont T8 Bifida. They are great for rucking in with a very heavy load. I know a lot of airborne guys prefer them too.
I got a pair of those T8's not long ago to use as a hiking boot for back country camping and I'm a huge fan of them now and will probably buy another pair in the future. I used to wear Rocky S2V's in the army, and I've come to prefer a boot that sheds water quickly instead of being waterproof. Since they're so well ventilated (drainage grommets, breathable fabric), I manage to keep my feet dry even when wearing a liner sock under a thicker pair of socks during the summer. They truly feel like a modernization of the classic, simple US Jungle boot.
I've been wearing combat boots since I was 12, and 19 years of combat military service. From 7+ different issued boots and over 20 different purchased boots ( 6-7 different brands) I've fallen in love with the lowas zephyr gtx tf hi. I have 4 pairs just because you should switch your boots every day or two while on deployment or exercise. They are light enough to carry the extra pair, fantastic in the water, if they do get wet inside just change to your other pair. They have held up very well with HARD abuse. Afghanistan, Latvia, Ukraine, and countless exercises and atmospheres , artic, desert and jungle. For the money and performance hands down lowa!
The Lowas are the best made and best fitting of all those boots. I’ve had all of them. The Lowas are also made in Slovakia, whereas most of the others are made in China or Vietnam. Even though the construction may be similar, the wearing and fit of each boot is totally unique. I wear the Lowas ten to 12 hours a day and they fit like they were made for my foot. Every other boot I’ve tried has been poorly fitting and falls apart.
Of course the Lowas are the best of them all, you mark a point here : pay a bit more for your products made in Europe, it will last longer, will be more confortable, so in the long run, you win.
@@14scythian88 Ok, I’ll bite. So what boots don’t you destroy? You sound like the guy that buys a Honda, never changes the oil, then blames Honda for making a shoddy car.
@@wheel1775 bro i drive a fucken lada 21013 and i change its oil, and do mechanics shit myself most of the time. So no i aint that guy. Lowas that i had leaked almost straight away. They have been known to have the sole start to crumble etc idk what the fuck their issue was but aside from great comfort they were shit unfortunately, cause i like the look and the comfort.
I bought a pair of those 5.11 because they were 40% off on some black friday sale, expecting to get what I paid for. This year will be year 5 of absolutly thrashing them and they're beat but still very wearable. I am highly impressed.
I bought my 5.11 about 2 years ago. As soon as I put them on they were comfortable. I wore them the next day for landscaping and they didn't seem to have a break in period. Just felt great right out the gate. It hasn't been too long but they are still comfortable. Best $100 I ever spent.
Same here brought mine for work and uni, for filming in, great comfortable and quite quiet when you need to be, take care of the leather and it will last love them boots
On the Underarmor. They are light and comfortable. So if you want something that feels like a sneaker, but has to look like a tactical boot. Definitely a light duty kind of thing. I used them working security. They're great for just doing a bunch of walking around buildings.
In defence of the Danners, the Tachyon model is sold as a minimalist/barefoot style tactical boot so I guess there will be inherent reductions in things like sole thickness (intentionally). Saying that, I have standard military Danner boots that I have been wearing for over 30 years!
Second this. I still have my sage green Danner boots with ceramic safety toe from my days at McConnell AFB 10 years ago, and wear them regularly. I also have the Tachyon in black, and they've held up really well for everyday wear. The Tachyon isn't a pair I'd want to wear for work in certain environments, but they make a great boot for security work that involves lots of standing and/or foot patrols. Light weight, good ankle support, and solid traction.
@@kylenguyen7371 i bought a pair of the tachyon for work, standing on concrete all day and a lot of walking, I've almost worn off lugs in under 6 months. can't say I'm impressed, but they held up for winter as intended.
As someone in the trade work boots are the most essential tool. I'd love to see a comparison of the most popular work boots like the Timberland 6" Boondock, Keen Dearborn, Thorogood Inifity FD, Danner Crucia, Caterpillar Excavatorl and Wolverine Raider.
I have 5.11's Very comfortable for long days walking. The problem I had was the breaking of the inner liner at the back of the heel. But kudos to 5.11 for replacing them without questions For work I had the ATAC 8" shield My favorite working boot by far
Rose while I wouldn’t call it a tactical boot I think you should really look at the goruck macv-1 , it’s a rucking / training boot . Very hot weather friendly and amazingly comfortable. They put a lot of thought into the design and collaborated with a well know shoe designer. I and others would be very interested in your thoughts . Love the channel been a long long time subscriber. You’re doing the lords work my friend . Keep educating us and telling it like it is !
Like others have already said, "tactical" boots are not necessarily military boots. Definitely look up AR 670-1 and/or DA PAM 670-1 for what an acceptable boot looks like to the US Army, and then look for those types of boots. Some manufacturers will claim 670-1 compliance without actually being compliant so don't just look at marketing key words. Personally my favorite so far are the Garmont NFS's, however Bellevilles, Danner Tachyons, Oakley Light Assaults, Garmont T8s and NFS's, Bates, etc. seem to be the most popular around me.
Ive been wearing the Danner Tachyon as a daily Garrison boot since 2015. my second pair are towards the end of their life (I tend to tear apart the uppers), so I average 4 yrs out of a pair. they are my favorite boot for my needs and preference in footwear, lightweight, flexible, almost like a uniform approved slipper.
Good to hear. I was looking at the Tachyon for work in a jail. I need light and comfortable for long days on concrete and the ability to move my feet when I need to.
As someone who wears “tactical boots” on a daily basis for work I’ve had the opportunity to wear a lot of different boots. - The Lowa’s are far and away the most popular in my field. They’re used by high level operators and everyone in between. The only thing I’ve noticed is that the compound the outsole is made out of is softer (probably in exchange for comfort) than other boots and seems to chunk off lugs in rockier terrain. - 5.11 makes a light and comfortable boot however you can feel the lack of material and support in the sole and I wouldn’t recommend them for serious work. - Under Armour boots are quite widely favored by people like city cops who find themselves running often. However almost anyone you ask says you’ll be lucky to get 6 months out of a pair. - Merrel used to be great and has used their name to stay competitive but they’ve definitely had a steady decline in quality over the last few years. - Danner makes such a wide variety of boots it’s hard to judge just one. Standard issue danners for the military and law enforcement are typically heavy and uncomfortable but built like a tank. Which makes sense because the government doesn’t like to replace things 😂. Danner’s like the Acadia are durable but heavy and uncomfortable. Models like the scorch are a much better combination of durability, weight, and comfort.
I was gonna post my own opinions but it lines up about perfect with yours. I wear danners personally because we don't get gear replacement much and they last forever
Glad to know the Merrells look like the best value. While puncture is important, when it comes to tactical boots, you aren't as worried about nails and screws and such like with work boots, and my merrells have been the most comfortable boots i've owned, whether the tactical or breathable hiking boots. Amazing for patrolling if you're security, PD, or Military. And good in the snow if you aren't outside for more than a few hours.
Been wearing Solomon quest 4d for years. They have a forces line that include a quest 4d model without goretex, thank jeebus. Gortex is way to hot to wear when not around water.
Altama make the most comfortable combat boot I've ever worn. Served as a Combat Medic in the Army from 2004 - 2007, and they held up to the rigors of day to day forward deployment in Afghanistan. I actually handed my boots that I spent two deployments in off to my father in law 4 years after I got out of the Army and still have a second pair I bought in 2012. I believe the model is called EXOSpeed. Here is my input for anyone that would like it: 1. Just because it's called a combat boot or a tactical boot doesn't mean it's worth a damn. Make sure it's approved by the Army or Marines for on duty wear in uniform. There are standards the military adheres to that are function related on all uniform approved apparel. 2. If you aren't hiking with a good amount of extra weight, get a boot that can be resoled. A lot of these boots are purpose built for men and women that will be carrying in excess of 90 - 120 lbs on top of their uniform and boots. Ounces matter when you are putting your body through that kind of punishment. My White's Smoke Jumpers are in another stratosphere when it comes to weight. I would never - EVER want to wear them in a theater of combat - in the comfort of my own country I prefer them over the Altama's. 3. Stop buying shit just because someone who was a Ranger, or SEAL or Green Beret - etc. advertises it. The "tacticool" trend will leave you experiencing either subpar (albeit durable) products designed to be mass produced for military personnel, or flat out garbage chasing a fashion trend. Search for items of quality that are purpose built for their task. In the case of boots, this usually means finding smaller companies that care about their reputation, and not mass produced boots. 4. A fool and his money are soon parted - applies to anyone buying something under the pretense of it being military grade quality without ever putting it through the rigors that this entails. Buy stuff that suits your lifestyle. The only people that will be impressed by you having totally overbuilt apparel or equipment that you've never actually put through it's paces yourself to verify it's integrity - are other fools.
One problem I've had with all these athletic shoe style "tactical boots" is that the inner sock lining wears through at the heel somewhat quickly and tears away. Most don't feature a proper heel cup inside them. Might be OK for mall cops but not for solid outdoors use and hiking.
Agree man. I've had Merrells as my choice of hiking boots for years but was disappointed with these moabs when i bought them. Were great for about 6 months until they started coming apart.
@@MitchJohnson0110 I have some Lalo Rapid Assault which have been quite durable on the outside, but the inner liner tore loose pretty early on, just with me pulling my foot out. Pretty disappointed as otherwise I've liked them.
Minor update on the LOWAs. A gen2 has since been released which changed the eyelets a bit. The lower three eyelets remain the same. The middle eyelet is a sort of clasp that locks you shoelace in place. The ipper three eyelets have changed a bit, but are basicalky the same design. However what this means is that your boots wont come loose if you lose any of the upper three eyelets as the middle one keeps the tension on the boot sufficient to keep them in place.
Just a note on firefighting boots, especially wildland firefighting boots, they are a different near from the "tactical" (tacti-cool?) boots you showed. Wildland firefighting boots need to meet NFPA standards that include fireproof leather, hardened leather shank, kevlar stitching, Vibram fireproof soles, and a number of other specs. Many firefighters will order a custom made boot from White's, Wesco (West Coast Boot), Danner, or a couple of other brands. Pricing for custom runs roughly $400 and up, but firefighters swear by the fit and comfort for all day wear on the fire line in off-trail conditions.
I'm not a firefighter but like and can appreciate a well made boot. I got a older 2012 pair of wildland firefighter boots made by Weinbrenner shoe Co (they make alot of the thorogood boots if not all) These are the best quality boots I think I've ever seen or owned. There not the most Comfortable (but not bad) I use them for motorcycle boots so I don't walk much in them anyways. Your definitely right, wildland firefighter boots are built like a tank. All full leather, double leather tow and heal caps, fire, oil, slip resistant soles, leather mid sole, Kevlar stitching, zipper front with double laces on each side of each boot holding the leather made zipper on them. Hand made in USA The whole 9 yards in one boot, not to mention they look bad#ss They make great motorcycle boots. They still make this boot but in an updated version on the Weinbrenner website. I'll be getting them when I can afoard to.
On Nicks Boot's recent video about their motorcycle boots there were a lot of people saying that it's not a "motorcycle" boot, because they felt like it didn't have enough ankle support, or reinforcement on the toe for the shifter, or because it has laces, etc. I'd love to see a video in which you compare various motorcycle boots. People mention some specific brands in the comments on that video.
I have the Merrell’s for work so that’s interesting. I got them for their waterproof abilities. I’d love to see the Nike SFB’s and Garmont T8 NFS boots in this series. I’m considering one of them as my next boot.
I've got the Danner Tachyon's and I absolutely love them. I'll spend all day in them and then am more than happy to simply just sleep in them, too. They're so lightweight and give such good movement that I can sprint in them just as fast as I can in running sneakers. Zero regrets buying them.
I was just thinking of you reviewing the danner boots. Theyre my favorite pair because i wear size 16 so any amount of weight savings helps. Ill send you mine to cut in half if you want
Meindl Cobra GTX best duty boots I ever got. no matter if I was in airborne or now as a LEO. Only at the winter days they get a bit to cold but with thick socks they do theier job till -10*C. Not slippery when wet, no scratchy noises on sone floors. Light , stable , good quality 👍🏻
I have the Lowa Zephyr (black ones), and I must say they are very comfortable to wear, easy to put on and lightweight for their size. They keep warm during cold weather, I even once stepped in a ankle deep water and my foot was completely dry afterwards (my only waterproof test with them so far). But as a downside I must say they are very slippery, both on wet pavement and dusty terrain. Also, once when I went hiking with them they gave me a nasty blister. Overall, I would say they are lovely boots, just not perfect.
I also own the black zephyrs. At one point I stood in and walked through still water above the ankles (still under the waterproofing line around the tongue) in the zephyrs for 15-20ish minutes straight and my feet stayed dry, that said I have gotten blisters from them on long hikes, though practically every shoe gives me blisters on long treks. I haven't experienced all that much Slippery-ness after I'd broken them in (they were more slippery when they were brand new), but on already slippery floors like a painted concrete (particularly with wet shoes) they can still be slippery. Great shoes overall, I have worn mine near constantly for about 7 years, though I do clean and maintain them on occasion with wax, which helps refurbish them, good idea with any leather boot really, especially during winter months.
@@kingnevermore25 It probably depends on your foot, though for me the sizing is fairly consistent with other shoes, you might consider a half size larger, though I would highly suggest reading through a bunch of reviews to get a broader idea of how they fit people.
@@Arkimedus Mine are kinda loose on the sides no matter how hard I tighten them. I can put all my fingers through the sides. Do you also experience that?
I dont like a squishy heel when ruck marching or just carrying a load. I made the mistake of doing a light ruck in a pair of running shoes and every step felt wobbly at heel strike. I like a more traditional boot like feel so it would be interesting to see the issued combat boots, like the Belleville 390s, or the GORUCK ones to see if they have a denser foam since they are supposedly built specifically for rucking.
I'm a police officer in Australia. Best tac boots I've owned are Rocky s2v. Converse also did a comfy tac boot which I think are now rebranded as Reebok. Also have a pair of Salomon Quest 4D Forces. Great tactical boot for work which doubles as a great hiking boot.
The German armed forces (the Bundeswehr) is getting supplied with boots by Lowa, Meindl and Haix as contractors. So as a fellow German who likes military boots i would be interested in tests of boots from those brands.
I would like to see tests and comparisons of these boots as well. I have five pairs of Meindl boots and not one bad pair in the lot. The HAIX boots I have do not fit my feet correctly even though they are a great boot too. The arch is way too high in these boots for my feet.
@@tonanuar7119 no way those are trash. I’ve been through many boots. My top 3 boots 1. Haix GSG-9 2. Danner Tachyon GTX 3. Oakley SI Assault ( not the lite ) runners up 1. Rocky C4T 2. Nike SFB ( before military banned them ) 3. Under Armour Valsetz
Some of my experience with a few of these boots. The Merrell is not waterproof, maybe a quick splash, but with 6 month old boots in just rain will have you with wet feet. Light boots, comfy, the zipper lasted the 2 years I wore them, tread lasted 1.5 years. The boots run warm so if you get hot feet, maybe not the boot for you. Under armour boots blow seams and lose sole glue within a year all the time. Lowas. All my guys that run them wear them 3+ years and have no complaints. Mine lasted a year before the plastic heel support broke and was cutting into my feet. No support from lowa. Up until then they were the best boot ive worn, but it seems like im the only one to have that issue. The lowas reminded me more of a combat boot than a tactical boot, based on support and weight, but thats why they last longer. Better for load bearing as well. Never heard a good or bad thing about 5.11. All the guys wearing them just kinda said "meh,its a boot." For the cost, swats were a great value, so were sv2 before the price hike but guys still swear by them. Oakley boots are junk. I switched from tactical boots to 6 inch hikers in black. Bought scarpa boots 2 years ago and theyre still waterproof, support is still there, boot is holding up, tread is starting to go. The reason I wont be buying them again is the toe box is too narrow/pointy. Gets annoying, wish there was more space for toes.
I have those Under Armour Valsetz, and use them as a Fire Paramedic for one of the highest volume departments in the U.S.. The ones you tested are not designed for extensive tactical purposes, but rather for first responders. They're essentially sneakers in boot form, so to be compliant with dept requirements. They're very light, airy, and breathable. UA has many other options if you want true tactical and waterproof. If you want comfort like a sneaker, get the Valsetz.
I discovered Danner when looking for more breatheable boots when moving to Flordia and taking a Wastewater Plant Operator job. I didn’t want to sweat but needed waterproof. They make great boots, and I and my co workers have owned them all.
Great stuff here. I desperately wish there had been someone doing what you're doing when I was in the army. I would love to see you get your hands on some of the current standard issue boots from the Army, USMC, etc and see how they stack up to the aftermarket options. And as far as suggestions I think it would be cool to see you cut apart a pair of Corcoran Marauder boots.
Ive worn many different boots. My Lowas have lasted me the longest by far. They have gone three years without blowing the sides out which other boots have lasted less than a year. They are also very light and comfortable. I will be sticking with Lowas from here on out. They also have great soles for cold weather performance. Some boots have ended me flat on my ass on icy highways. My lowas have always had sure grip to the pavement no matter the surface condition.
Used the mid-height Lowas was an infantryman and I absolutely loved them. Super comfortable, durable, water resistant and great for wearing for long periods of time. Most important part though was that they just looked cool which is important to every infantryman lol
@@Nikolai393 In some of my sneakers i am a size 8 and in some i am a size 8.5 (UK). Therefore i don’t know which size to take. Lowa says i should get true to size but i am worried that it might be too tight since i wear 8.5 in some of my sneakers. What do you think?
@kingnevermore25 I would take 8.5. This gives you room for thicker socks and also room for your feet to swell which is important. It's better for them to be a little loose than too tight
@@Nikolai393 Yesterday i tried Trespass hiking shoes size 8 and they were a bit snug, i wasnt able to move some of my toes. I guess size 8.5 would be great for Lowa. How is the heel slip in Lowas btw?
Firefighter-Paramedic here. As someone who used the Under Armours as duty boots, I do not recommend them for anything besides walking around the station. The cushioning of the insole lasted only about 3 months before they just gave out. Same thing with the soles. After about 3 months, I was slipping all over any wet or slick surface. Luckily I never seriously hurt myself. The sponge thing is definitely real. These boots love water. The only upside to these boots was that the cushioning was super comfortable while it lasted, and they polish up way better than the 5.11s in this video, which have replaced the UAs. I still keep them around as a nice looking pair for when I'm on duty and there's an event we're attending where we need to look nicer, like a swearing in or funeral. Don't waste your money on them. Luckily I got them as part of my uniform stipend so I didn't pay for them, but if you do receive a pair of these, just do what I did and make them an on-duty "dress pair," that way if you do take them out on calls, it's not too often.
In Australia there are 2 boots that everyone is buying right now: Salomons and Garmont T8. If you do another tactical video it would be definitely worth doing Salomons.
If you were gonna do tactical boots it would have been great to see Meindl Desert Foxes and Garmont T8’s. Both are approved for use by the Australian Defence Force if you want to use your own boots so they’re pretty high quality boots
I know it's a really fringe boot nowadays, but I really recommend picking up Waxi boots if you're a hot weather person. Solid construction, all leather, and at a pretty descent price point.
Thanks for this great comparison video!! I use the Under Armour as my day to day boot. It's just super comfy and has great ankle support. My legs are uneven in length so I'm prone to twisting my ankle, the UA's provide great protection from that 😊😊😊
I pretty much use them as tennis shoes with extra support and traction. They are dang comfy. I will say their slip resistance isn't very good in a food processing environment.
I’ve rocked Lowa on deployment and compared to every other boot I’ve ever worn I’d have to say the only one up to par would be Garmont and they still don’t match when it comes to durability love the video.
While you’re checking out tactical boots I highly recommend looking at the Corcoran 1510 historic jump boot as it is made practically the same way it was when American paratroopers used it in ww2
I have a pair and love them. The only issue is the original midsole appears to be a plastic, which cracked after a couple of years and I had to have them resoled.
Ive worn all of these boots working as a cop in hot northen Cali summers and moderate winters. The 5.11s are trash. The underarmour are super comfy and good for 90+ degree weather. They will not last more the year of everyday wear without holes appearing, and eventually fall part. Im on my third pair of underarmours, and I usually do not wear them when it starts raining. Merrell’s are a thicker version of the underarmour with a little bit of water resistance. They are NOT waterproof, but a good winter boot if you waterproof them yourself, and it doesn’t get below 40 degrees. The danners and lowas feel about the same, but I personally dont need gortex unless im walking through bodies of water. Disclaimer, I do replace the insole with custom orthotics on all my boots.
I've been wearing boots since I was 16 for work and play. I'm 54 now and over the years have mostly worn Docs in the Greasy line because the stretch for men like me with a EE width. The Docs usually last me about 2 years before the soles either wear out or crack. I bought Merrell for the first time in a 6 loop instead of 8 and the first day they fit perfect, so perfectly there was no break-in period. After two years the soles look like new and I just broke a lace for the first time. Standing I can go for 8+ hours and my feet never hurt, I crouch and walk rough terrain too and they are by far the best I have owned in decades.
I have worn every type of tactical boot over 30 years in the real world operations . Your review is is spot on. Lowa this worth every penny. Well done.
I bought a pair of Lowa boots in the spring of 2012, I wore them every day, very heavy use. And it finally broke in the Iran desert full 4 years later in 2016. I bought another pair of them and store them in my closet.
I bought Merrell boots and immediately loved them once I got the right insole in them. They were perfect. Lightweight, comfortable, waterproof, and still boots. Problem is that in less than 2 years, they've already worn down. I spent nearly 200 bucks on them, and they couldn't even last me 2 years. It's not like I abused them either. I'm not a guy who goes out hiking in rough terrain and mud all the time. Most of the time I put in them was on normal flat ground, and even indoor areas. Even then, less than 2 years. That disappointed me so much that I decided to give Thorogood's a try. So far, pretty good. Thorogoods is not quite as comfortable and much heavier, but I'm liking them.
I have Lowa, I will probably never buy from another brand, Lowa is just delivering quality over and over the years for me, any mountains, river, hot, cold, anything really, the Lowa are just not affected at all, it's really impressive and they are so comfortable.
I have the Lowas and use them for construction, over the past 10 years it’s the only boot I’ve used. Construction, hiking etc, they hold up so well, especially if you treat the leather.
One thing I'd LOVE to see if for you to include the Nicks Tactical boot into the mix. Unless you're including another handmade one besides that it probably wouldn't even be close to fair, but it would be a lot of fun to see them side by side with all the other boots. I'd be willing to bet they ARE worth twice the price of the others.
You really should have bought a boot from all these companies that had all the same features in a similar price range. Otherwise the information you've given is fairly useless.
I am really impressed with the Aku Pilgrim, basically a black version of a brown British MOD boot for about $200. The company is Italian but they have employed (saved) a number of old European shoe makers for much of their production. Mine are made in Serbia. I believe Romania is one of the other major producers. P.S. side zipper = REMF
I tried Meindls and they disintegrated from gluings few weeks after. At the shop I tested new ones and I could push the leather inwards and the leather would separate from rubber. Terrible job. Otherwise they are probably one of the most comfiest and mobile tactical boots with high feet support. I actually switched to Zephyrs. Tactical boots just do not last very long in tactical realm, for daily use they are great. But they sacrifice durability to gain comfort and that sneakerish feeling that gives you an edge in mobility.
I have the J15841W Merrell Mens Moab 2 8" Tactical Waterproof boot and it works for me. For dry work, the UA are fine (very light). The side zippers are great, wish I had them when I was active duty.
I had a pair of the Lowa Zephyrs, and overall they were not horrible. I used them working on a trail building/maintenance crew, and they were really nice and comfortable, until the right boot split horizontally right behind the heel. They worked well for me, I wish they would have been more durable.
I work in a prison and do a lot of standing and walking on concrete. For the last 5 or 6 years I’ve been UA only when it comes to boots. They wear out fast but are comfortable, now I may give Merrel a shot.
I love my 5.11s ive had them for years and put hundreds of miles on them and they are super comfy still. They can take the punishment i give them daily and they still hold up.
Only here because I'm interested in the Danner Tachyons, generally don't like tacticool gear but aside from the marketing I think they're just a nice looking boot. I don't plan on walking through fire so not too worried about them catching on fire, and I'm not planning on using them for "tactical" reasons just looking for a durable boot that looks good and that I can confidently walk through shallow water in without getting soaked socks. Thanks for the thorough testing!!!
Best value for everyday use: go with the Merrel. They are absurdly comfortable and durable. My wife insisted I replace my first pair after about 4 years and they were still going strong.
Wow, what a great informative helpful channel you've created! I love it because I really dig boots, especially combat tactical styles. I've wore Nikes ever since I could remember until my brother turned me on to Belleville boots years ago. I've never worn anything but tactical boots ever since then. Due to America's decade long war on terror 795V desert tan surplus Belleville boots have always been abundant and cheap to obtain from local fleamarkets near Louisville where I reside. I'm gonna try to watch your video uploads as much as possible from now on! Thanks for your time, courtesy and dedication, it's appreciated very much!
I spent over 3 decades in Law Enforcement. I went through a lot of boots in that time and probably had around 8 different brands of boots "over the years". Out of ALL of them the Danner's kept my feet the driest and lasted the longest. I often had to walk through deep puddles, slush and snow! The version of Danner's that I had was the "Striker Side Zip" at around $220 online. After the first 6-12 months I "always" ended up adding a pair of additional insoles (regardless of the brand). Hands down I recommend Danner's above other brands. P.S. Danner makes many different levels of military style duty boots; from low levels around $150 all the way up to over $400 for their Arcadia Boots! They even have a version of boots designed for Fire Fighters 🔥.
I wore the danner tachys as a police officer, winter snow mud trekking through woods walking on roads and they were awesome especially for the price light and comfortable when you switch out regular laces for some elastic ones
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You forgot Blauer! I love their ratcheting lace up feature!
I’ve been subscribed with you for a long time now and I haven’t seen you do a review on the Rocky boot brand they’re American made boots and I have a couple of different pairs and I was wondering if you could do some reviews on some of their boots
Bro you’ve been lying to us that cereal is garbage 😂😂 Awesome video though. Suspiciously Nicks tactical is missing! I have a pair and they are fantastic, very close to the water work pair you just did. Get a pair if you don’t already have some.
Grain-free? What the heck is it made from?
@@trinityhandmade3864 have you tried it? It’s for real good
I've been wearing Lowa boots since childhood because I'm from Slovakia and my mum works in a factory where they are made. Of course, for us, these boots are so expensive but people in a factory have a chance to buy a second class for a much better price with some small sawing mistakes, but still really good quality. It is a very comfortable pair of boots.
The Lowa boots I owned were the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned.
Am unsing their hiking boots for almost 10 years now, and they are way more comfortable than the also high quality Reichle i had before.
My Lowa Renegades are still serving me well on the trail and are by far the most comfortable boots I've ever worn.
I only swapped mine because they got too small for me.
I had a geology lecturer who was your stereotypical geologist. He had two pairs of shoes. Slippers and Lowa boots. One day I asked him about his boots and he said they were the best boots he's ever had and buys nothing else. He gets about 3 years out of a pair, which is still impressive considering it's all he wears outside the house.
I have the Lowa Zephyr Mk2s mids. The PU midsole retains its spring much better than EVA alternatives over multi day treks. The exterior TPU zig-zag moulding provides abrasion resistance and protection for my feet. It definitely "does something" and it works as well as some of Lowa's full rand mountain boots in protecting the foot from rocks while being lighter.
The sole of the Mk2 performs better in the wet (rock and mud) than the version you're testing and it had a range of certifications for occupational footwear to the DIN EN ISO 20347:2012 standard.
The eyelets are now affixed more sturdily but this was never a real problem of this boot. It also has specific design improvements for those who abseil where friction on the inside of the foot could damage the boot or cause discomfort to the wearer through heat generation.
It is superior in every realistic scenario to these other boots and it is also useful as a below the treeline hiking boot. It's not a Lowa Camino or Tibet but it has the stability and support for wearing when trekking with a pack. It's superb and worth the money.
If you want to do some tactical boots that are also "mil spec" and approved for wear by the Army, you can search for "670-1 compliant". Though that certainly doesn't help narrow it down much, there's still dozens of options.
I wouldn't even consider a tactical boot unless it was 670-1 compliant and made in the USA.
@@TheMailmanOfSteel the more "civilian" hiking boots shit on most AR 670-1 boots. I love my Garmonts but if I'm hiking on my own time I'm taking my Lowa's or La Spotivas
@@Blanderr True, but this is mostly due to different uses. Most of those hiking boots are entirely too heavy and do not have the qualities for running and use for all day wear and tear.
I can't speak for the ARMY, but the Navy issued Bates brand. They were cheap and usually uncomfortable.
Also AFI 36-2903
The wider toe box was the reason i got a pair of Merrell moabs(same model as the video) around 3 years ago. Used them 5 or 6 days a week since then averaging 12 to 16 miles of walking, constant lifting, squatting, and other dynamic movements (warehouse work since covid is rough) that would likely cause more strain on the boot than just walking, along with just wearing them in snow, mud, hiking, etc. Literally the only wear on them is the stitching around the top getting a little fuzzy. I haven't tried many other 'tactical' boots, but the fact i can't even see signs of the abuse i put those Merrells through is at least enough for me to say that anything short of fire related work and heavy construction work (because none of these boots have adequate puncture resistance for that) will likely not be enough to kill them, at least for a few years. I never even realized how good they were until i realized they gave me so few issues (really none) that i just never thought about it. They're flexible as hell, especially with the wide toe box, and if you find the right insoles they became more comfortable to stand and walk in than any running shoe i ever had. I seriously couldn't recommend them enough, especially for the price. Though i am thinking of trying the other ones, i have no real need to replace my Merrells for anything beyond minor preference and looks. I feel like I'm an unpaid shill for Merrell but i swear this is all true
😮
Went to war in the desert in Lowa Zephyrs, was a machine gunner (so A lot of weight) and I love them. They held up very nicely and still used them a lot for hiking for a few years, definitely the most comfortable boot I have used. In Europe it is priced much better as its made here to that explains the very high price tag.
I wore a pair of Lowa Elite Desert TF on my last tour to Afghanistan, I was a long range reconnaissance soldier so lots of humping with heavy weight and they were the best boots I ever wore in my 25 year career. At the end of the 9 month deployment I threw them out as they probably more Shoe Goo than boot at that point but I would use them again in a heartbeat.
Same here. I was a medic in a mechanized infantry company. I've had all of these boots except the under armour, plus Rocky SV2, and the Oakley SI. The Lowa Zephyr is BY FAR the most comfortable and durable boots I've ever owned. Mine are going on almost 11 years and desperately need new soles but I can't bring myself to part with them lol
Gore-tex version or not?
@@albertw6461 The one I carried in the desert was a non-gorerex but in Europe for fieldwork I use the Goretex version
@@albertw6461 depends on your use case. If you're going to be exposed to snow or water then go GoreTex
In tactical equipment it's not always about durability. Sometimes weight and comfort are essential to speed or lateral movement.
I've worn a lot of boots in my 12 year military career and the Lowas are head and shoulders above the rest. The only complaint is that the Goretex liners don't breathe, so if water gets in (like during a rainstorm when water runs down your legs) they wont dry.
Otherwise the most comfortable and most supportive boots. Regularly wear them during 18 hour days.
A couple other boots that will garner a lot of interest (based on what I see my Soldiers wear) would be the Nike SFBs and Oakley light assaults.
hello bro
Yea the Nike boot are what I wore and I loved those. They felt like you were wearing running shoes and are super light. They are not the most durable boots but for comfort they are the best.
Thanks
I'd like to see Garmonts reviewed, those are extremely popular.
And Garmont T8 BIFTA
I have the 670-1 compliant Merrill Moab 2s. The bar sole test doesn't surprise me. The soles are my favorite part of the boot, very supportive, very comfortable, great traction. When I first got them, I wasn't a huge fan because the upper ankle portion was very stiff and the material was pretty thick (I still kinda think there's more padding material there than necessary). But after several months of breaking them in they've become my favorite boot especially for rucking because of their comfort and rigidity. I did most of air Assault with them, including the 6 and 12 mile rucks and my feet and ankles felt great. Very minimal blistering on the 12 mile. My feet are wider and the toe box is very spacious, but my foot doesn't slip around. They are more of a temperate boot, there's not much ventilation so they do run warm. They also don't have much drainage at the bottom, so they are not a jungle boot. I will probably water proof treat them, but they do well resisting water as is. It took over 2 hours of rucking in solid rain before my feet were wet and water was squishing between my toes. If you can get a pair on sale I highly recommend them. I got them off LA Police Gear for about $90 on sale.
Boots like the 5.11's are designed to drain water quickly rather than be waterproof. The idea is if you're going to do a river crossing you're probably going to be in deep water anyway. Waterproofing is useless in that scenario so you might as well drain it fast. I like this approach for summer boots. Don't get 5.11's though, they last a year and then fall apart.
Thanks. Im shopping
I destroyed those merell in 6 months
100%. Your feet are going to get wet anyway, it's all about how quickly they dry out. Stay away from goretex unless you're buying garrison boots
Yeah but it really sucks when your socks are wet just by walking through wet gras.
Mitch, what would you recommend for a tropical weather jungle boot ?
so the thing to be aware of with military boots is that they have these fun arbitrary standards for appearances, so companies are going to do what they have to to get there with the materials they already have available to them. which is probably why all that leather is coated in black plastic. back in the days of the ABU, the USAF spent like a million dollars to develop an oil resistant sage green boot for their maintainers because getting any oil on the normal ones stained them and made them "unserviceable" to wear in uniform, meaning they had to get a whole new pair.
meanwhile, they still had whole warehouses of black leather boots and could easily have just put an exception in the uniform regs for maintenance shops.
but they wanted people in green boots.
and when the USAF switched uniforms in 2021, you could find sage green boots for dirt cheap because everyone was dumping their stock because they knew nobody wanted the things.
I commented something similar on your community post about this series, and I’ve seen similar comments on this video, but I think if you continue this series, it’d be cool if you continue to include AR670-1 [(within army standard) rough out leather, coyote brown, 8”-10”height, no mesh, etc.] and/or Berry compliant (required for other military branches) boots alongside general “tactical” boots. It’ll allow an additional portion of consistency in the series, and also reflect military boot standards. Look forward to seeing this series continue regardless.
Agree (Army Regulation) AR 670-1 compliant. I would like to see Army Basic training boots, they are soo heavy and not comfortable.
The Danner Tachyon's in this video have a coyote ar670 compliant version, I would HIGHLY recommend
I would love to see an AR-670-1 video. I am not sure if that would have a wide enough audience, so I would probably say "military type boot" in general; Garmont, Belleville, Nike, etc. all make 670-1 compliant boots that are popular across all the branches and that would be pretty cool to compare.
Also agree. Use AR670-1 to standardize boot components/features. Also might be worth categorizing into hot weather, cold weather/waterproof.
Those of us that wear these types of boots daily would appreciate a continuation of this series.
I settled on 4 different boots when I was in the army. Some Oakley 670-1 (uniform regulation) compliant ones for garrison just because they felt like sneakers, terrible for the field imo but great for day to day. Lowas just like the ones tested for colder weather/wet weather in the field. Salomon Quests for warm/dry weather in the field. And Garmont NFS's for an all around/people wanting us to stay 670-1 compliant in the field boot. I was pretty happy with that set-up for the last few years of my time.
I have the Valsetz - an original pair from nearly 10 years ago. They're not waterproof at all, but they're VERY comfortable. The Ortholite insole and Vibram outsole have lasted me far longer than expected, and they make incredibly good standing/walking boots. They're definitely meant for a more urban environment, but they're also incredibly light because they're modeled on running shoes and therefore have very good toe boxes, which is paramount to me.
Im in the British army,
The most popular boots we use are.
Aku pilgrim original and now issued.
Altberg defender (issued)
Altberg jungle.
Magnum elites/ or panther.
Haix combat boots.
All these boots also come in gortex versions.
None of those brands are sold in the States.
@@cmanlovespancakes Altberg definitely won't be, they're made in Yorkshire and you can visit there and get boots custom-made by taking your foot measurements to ensure the perfect fit. It's a surprisingly small business for a company supplying the Armed forces for some time.
Altberg ships internationally. They also sell defenders at the canex in canada. Awesome boots. Aku also ships internationally also fantastic
@@thomas1brad The contract was outsourced, why the issued pairs are awful
I've been wearing Lowa Zephyrs for almost 3 years, as an every day thing. Summer, winter, work, city, hiking, camping. It does them all very very well.
Cool to see the Danners get pulled apart. My personal favorite, and still wear them years after my service.
Update : Lowa just released a new generation of the Zephyr where they addressed the issue of the seams sometimes giving away on the side of the toebox. Its made out of one piece of leather !
It'd be cool to see a comparison video comparing the 3 most popular Marine Corps boots, that being the Danner Rats, Danner Reckonings and the issued boot. As a Navy Corpsman I'd like to see which boots mess up my Marines feet the least.
The RAT is one of the new boots I've been considering. However, as I stated above the old school black boots with a leather insert and breaking them in by soaking them in water and wearing them for days has always felt the best for my feet. I did use a dress sock under my wool socks when breaking them in. This is exactly how my DI's had us do it and we were the only platoon in the company without feet issues through boot. Ours didn't shine as well but they wore 100% better. They were like sneakers they fit so well. My set lasted me 8 years with multiple resoles.
@@tufelhunden5795 when did you go through boot? I went through in 98' and I have no idea what brand made those black basic issue, but I know that Rothco made the jungle "parade" boots we had to shine for final drill.
@@JeffLocke1 I went through in 1986. They were made by Altma. All eyelets up the boot. I was looking for some pictures of them but they were replaced with the boot you likely had. Same company but with the speed laces and the Tread that was u shaped out from the middle. They had a padded collar and weighed quite a bit more. I was bummed when the new ones came out and I was in. I haven’t been able to find the ones I initially had so I’ve bought the Corcoran jump boots and broke them in the same way. They seem to be decent and molded to my feet fairly well.
The tactical shower shoe is the best.
Hey doc. I didn’t realize ppl were still wearing Rats. Add the replacement model to the list. I think they are Danner RGXs. If you go to the danner site it tells you which ones replaced the MEBs. Marine Expeditionary Boots, or the issued ones. These guys are wild. Multiple deployments and I had MEBs with different soles the whole while. Break em in right. Actually hike on your own. Do your best to baby step it and you’ll be fine.
I am still holding out for a hiking boot series. Would be really interesting to see the comparison between a more heritage hiker like the Danner Mountain Light vs something super techy like the Arc'teryx Bora (even though the Bora is no longer made).
Agreed. Comparison of tactical vs technical would be interesting. But to me seems difficult for an overall comparison as their designs and reasons people get them are so different from each other. I think you'd pretty much have to pick a certain aspect and test against it. Some of those tech boots will outshine the tactical and vice versa, depending on what specifically you compare it for.
I have a pair of Danner Mountain Light's and they are amazing. I bought them cause they're the closest to what I wore in the Marine's which was Danner RAT boots. I got the Nubuck mountain light's. Old comment but figured I'd respond
These look like great hiking boots tho absolutely.
There are a lot of tactical boots out there but being in the Army, my favorites by far are the Garmont T8 Bifida. They are great for rucking in with a very heavy load. I know a lot of airborne guys prefer them too.
I got a pair of those T8's not long ago to use as a hiking boot for back country camping and I'm a huge fan of them now and will probably buy another pair in the future. I used to wear Rocky S2V's in the army, and I've come to prefer a boot that sheds water quickly instead of being waterproof. Since they're so well ventilated (drainage grommets, breathable fabric), I manage to keep my feet dry even when wearing a liner sock under a thicker pair of socks during the summer. They truly feel like a modernization of the classic, simple US Jungle boot.
hello bro
I must be older. I wore Corcoran II's. Loved them boots.
I've been wearing combat boots since I was 12, and 19 years of combat military service. From 7+ different issued boots and over 20 different purchased boots ( 6-7 different brands) I've fallen in love with the lowas zephyr gtx tf hi. I have 4 pairs just because you should switch your boots every day or two while on deployment or exercise. They are light enough to carry the extra pair, fantastic in the water, if they do get wet inside just change to your other pair. They have held up very well with HARD abuse. Afghanistan, Latvia, Ukraine, and countless exercises and atmospheres , artic, desert and jungle. For the money and performance hands down lowa!
do you think the tan color will fit 670-1 standards? I know coyote color does but I don’t know about tan
The Lowas are the best made and best fitting of all those boots. I’ve had all of them. The Lowas are also made in Slovakia, whereas most of the others are made in China or Vietnam. Even though the construction may be similar, the wearing and fit of each boot is totally unique. I wear the Lowas ten to 12 hours a day and they fit like they were made for my foot. Every other boot I’ve tried has been poorly fitting and falls apart.
Ive exchanged 3 pairs of slovakia made lowas not one survived a year, they suck
Of course the Lowas are the best of them all, you mark a point here : pay a bit more for your products made in Europe, it will last longer, will be more confortable, so in the long run, you win.
hello bro
@@14scythian88 Ok, I’ll bite. So what boots don’t you destroy? You sound like the guy that buys a Honda, never changes the oil, then blames Honda for making a shoddy car.
@@wheel1775 bro i drive a fucken lada 21013 and i change its oil, and do mechanics shit myself most of the time. So no i aint that guy. Lowas that i had leaked almost straight away. They have been known to have the sole start to crumble etc idk what the fuck their issue was but aside from great comfort they were shit unfortunately, cause i like the look and the comfort.
Very cool that you damaged and destroyed those boots to find out what they’re made of. Thanks!
I bought a pair of those 5.11 because they were 40% off on some black friday sale, expecting to get what I paid for. This year will be year 5 of absolutly thrashing them and they're beat but still very wearable. I am highly impressed.
I bought my 5.11 about 2 years ago. As soon as I put them on they were comfortable. I wore them the next day for landscaping and they didn't seem to have a break in period. Just felt great right out the gate. It hasn't been too long but they are still comfortable. Best $100 I ever spent.
Same here brought mine for work and uni, for filming in, great comfortable and quite quiet when you need to be, take care of the leather and it will last love them boots
On the Underarmor. They are light and comfortable. So if you want something that feels like a sneaker, but has to look like a tactical boot. Definitely a light duty kind of thing. I used them working security. They're great for just doing a bunch of walking around buildings.
I wonder how is the protection of toes. I mean is there a shell for protection?
In defence of the Danners, the Tachyon model is sold as a minimalist/barefoot style tactical boot so I guess there will be inherent reductions in things like sole thickness (intentionally). Saying that, I have standard military Danner boots that I have been wearing for over 30 years!
Second this. I still have my sage green Danner boots with ceramic safety toe from my days at McConnell AFB 10 years ago, and wear them regularly. I also have the Tachyon in black, and they've held up really well for everyday wear. The Tachyon isn't a pair I'd want to wear for work in certain environments, but they make a great boot for security work that involves lots of standing and/or foot patrols. Light weight, good ankle support, and solid traction.
TACHYHONS FTW.
@@kylenguyen7371 i bought a pair of the tachyon for work, standing on concrete all day and a lot of walking, I've almost worn off lugs in under 6 months. can't say I'm impressed, but they held up for winter as intended.
As someone in the trade work boots are the most essential tool. I'd love to see a comparison of the most popular work boots like the Timberland 6" Boondock, Keen Dearborn, Thorogood Inifity FD, Danner Crucia, Caterpillar Excavatorl and Wolverine Raider.
I'm using Lowa in the short configuration all year around, from - 15 C to 35 C , I praise them for their comfort and durability.
I have 5.11's
Very comfortable for long days walking.
The problem I had was the breaking of the inner liner at the back of the heel.
But kudos to 5.11 for replacing them without questions
For work I had the ATAC 8" shield
My favorite working boot by far
Rose while I wouldn’t call it a tactical boot I think you should really look at the goruck macv-1 , it’s a rucking / training boot . Very hot weather friendly and amazingly comfortable. They put a lot of thought into the design and collaborated with a well know shoe designer. I and others would be very interested in your thoughts . Love the channel been a long long time subscriber. You’re doing the lords work my friend . Keep educating us and telling it like it is !
They're very much a tactical boot, AR 670-1 compliant, and wear better than 99% of the boots on the market.
Like others have already said, "tactical" boots are not necessarily military boots. Definitely look up AR 670-1 and/or DA PAM 670-1 for what an acceptable boot looks like to the US Army, and then look for those types of boots. Some manufacturers will claim 670-1 compliance without actually being compliant so don't just look at marketing key words.
Personally my favorite so far are the Garmont NFS's, however Bellevilles, Danner Tachyons, Oakley Light Assaults, Garmont T8s and NFS's, Bates, etc. seem to be the most popular around me.
Ive been wearing the Danner Tachyon as a daily Garrison boot since 2015. my second pair are towards the end of their life (I tend to tear apart the uppers), so I average 4 yrs out of a pair. they are my favorite boot for my needs and preference in footwear, lightweight, flexible, almost like a uniform approved slipper.
Good to hear. I was looking at the Tachyon for work in a jail. I need light and comfortable for long days on concrete and the ability to move my feet when I need to.
As someone who wears “tactical boots” on a daily basis for work I’ve had the opportunity to wear a lot of different boots.
- The Lowa’s are far and away the most popular in my field. They’re used by high level operators and everyone in between. The only thing I’ve noticed is that the compound the outsole is made out of is softer (probably in exchange for comfort) than other boots and seems to chunk off lugs in rockier terrain.
- 5.11 makes a light and comfortable boot however you can feel the lack of material and support in the sole and I wouldn’t recommend them for serious work.
- Under Armour boots are quite widely favored by people like city cops who find themselves running often. However almost anyone you ask says you’ll be lucky to get 6 months out of a pair.
- Merrel used to be great and has used their name to stay competitive but they’ve definitely had a steady decline in quality over the last few years.
- Danner makes such a wide variety of boots it’s hard to judge just one. Standard issue danners for the military and law enforcement are typically heavy and uncomfortable but built like a tank. Which makes sense because the government doesn’t like to replace things 😂.
Danner’s like the Acadia are durable but heavy and uncomfortable. Models like the scorch are a much better combination of durability, weight, and comfort.
I was gonna post my own opinions but it lines up about perfect with yours. I wear danners personally because we don't get gear replacement much and they last forever
Danners all the way. All leather Acadia. Used, Haix, Rocky, 5.11, nothing like the Danner for longevity and reliability.
Glad to know the Merrells look like the best value. While puncture is important, when it comes to tactical boots, you aren't as worried about nails and screws and such like with work boots, and my merrells have been the most comfortable boots i've owned, whether the tactical or breathable hiking boots. Amazing for patrolling if you're security, PD, or Military. And good in the snow if you aren't outside for more than a few hours.
I can swear by lowa as a brand I’ve had my lowa boots for two years now and they’re still going strong they’ve survived tons of punishment
Been wearing Solomon quest 4d for years. They have a forces line that include a quest 4d model without goretex, thank jeebus. Gortex is way to hot to wear when not around water.
Got the same pair without gortex. So comfy.
Altama make the most comfortable combat boot I've ever worn. Served as a Combat Medic in the Army from 2004 - 2007, and they held up to the rigors of day to day forward deployment in Afghanistan. I actually handed my boots that I spent two deployments in off to my father in law 4 years after I got out of the Army and still have a second pair I bought in 2012.
I believe the model is called EXOSpeed.
Here is my input for anyone that would like it:
1. Just because it's called a combat boot or a tactical boot doesn't mean it's worth a damn. Make sure it's approved by the Army or Marines for on duty wear in uniform. There are standards the military adheres to that are function related on all uniform approved apparel.
2. If you aren't hiking with a good amount of extra weight, get a boot that can be resoled. A lot of these boots are purpose built for men and women that will be carrying in excess of 90 - 120 lbs on top of their uniform and boots. Ounces matter when you are putting your body through that kind of punishment. My White's Smoke Jumpers are in another stratosphere when it comes to weight. I would never - EVER want to wear them in a theater of combat - in the comfort of my own country I prefer them over the Altama's.
3. Stop buying shit just because someone who was a Ranger, or SEAL or Green Beret - etc. advertises it. The "tacticool" trend will leave you experiencing either subpar (albeit durable) products designed to be mass produced for military personnel, or flat out garbage chasing a fashion trend. Search for items of quality that are purpose built for their task. In the case of boots, this usually means finding smaller companies that care about their reputation, and not mass produced boots.
4. A fool and his money are soon parted - applies to anyone buying something under the pretense of it being military grade quality without ever putting it through the rigors that this entails. Buy stuff that suits your lifestyle. The only people that will be impressed by you having totally overbuilt apparel or equipment that you've never actually put through it's paces yourself to verify it's integrity - are other fools.
One problem I've had with all these athletic shoe style "tactical boots" is that the inner sock lining wears through at the heel somewhat quickly and tears away. Most don't feature a proper heel cup inside them. Might be OK for mall cops but not for solid outdoors use and hiking.
hello bro
Agree man. I've had Merrells as my choice of hiking boots for years but was disappointed with these moabs when i bought them. Were great for about 6 months until they started coming apart.
@@MitchJohnson0110 I have some Lalo Rapid Assault which have been quite durable on the outside, but the inner liner tore loose pretty early on, just with me pulling my foot out. Pretty disappointed as otherwise I've liked them.
I know for sure that a lot of very experienced and well paid people use Lowa Zephyrs in Ukraine.
@@idahosixgun5601 Goretex doesn't really break down. Have you regularly renewed the DWR coating on these boots?
Minor update on the LOWAs. A gen2 has since been released which changed the eyelets a bit. The lower three eyelets remain the same. The middle eyelet is a sort of clasp that locks you shoelace in place. The ipper three eyelets have changed a bit, but are basicalky the same design. However what this means is that your boots wont come loose if you lose any of the upper three eyelets as the middle one keeps the tension on the boot sufficient to keep them in place.
Dang really wanted to see Rocky Sv2 flights
Just a note on firefighting boots, especially wildland firefighting boots, they are a different near from the "tactical" (tacti-cool?) boots you showed. Wildland firefighting boots need to meet NFPA standards that include fireproof leather, hardened leather shank, kevlar stitching, Vibram fireproof soles, and a number of other specs. Many firefighters will order a custom made boot from White's, Wesco (West Coast Boot), Danner, or a couple of other brands. Pricing for custom runs roughly $400 and up, but firefighters swear by the fit and comfort for all day wear on the fire line in off-trail conditions.
I'm not a firefighter but like and can appreciate a well made boot.
I got a older 2012 pair of wildland firefighter boots made by Weinbrenner shoe Co (they make alot of the thorogood boots if not all) These are the best quality boots I think I've ever seen or owned. There not the most Comfortable (but not bad)
I use them for motorcycle boots so I don't walk much in them anyways.
Your definitely right, wildland firefighter boots are built like a tank. All full leather, double leather tow and heal caps, fire, oil, slip resistant soles, leather mid sole, Kevlar stitching, zipper front with double laces on each side of each boot holding the leather made zipper on them.
Hand made in USA
The whole 9 yards in one boot, not to mention they look bad#ss
They make great motorcycle boots.
They still make this boot but in an updated version on the Weinbrenner website. I'll be getting them when I can afoard to.
It would be cool to see the general issue boots for the army, marine corps and air force for veterans day.
On Nicks Boot's recent video about their motorcycle boots there were a lot of people saying that it's not a "motorcycle" boot, because they felt like it didn't have enough ankle support, or reinforcement on the toe for the shifter, or because it has laces, etc. I'd love to see a video in which you compare various motorcycle boots. People mention some specific brands in the comments on that video.
I have the Merrell’s for work so that’s interesting. I got them for their waterproof abilities. I’d love to see the Nike SFB’s and Garmont T8 NFS boots in this series. I’m considering one of them as my next boot.
Garmonts are worth it. nike not so much
I've got the Danner Tachyon's and I absolutely love them. I'll spend all day in them and then am more than happy to simply just sleep in them, too. They're so lightweight and give such good movement that I can sprint in them just as fast as I can in running sneakers. Zero regrets buying them.
I was just thinking of you reviewing the danner boots. Theyre my favorite pair because i wear size 16 so any amount of weight savings helps. Ill send you mine to cut in half if you want
Meindl Cobra GTX
best duty boots I ever got. no matter if I was in airborne or now as a LEO.
Only at the winter days they get a bit to cold but with thick socks they do theier job till -10*C. Not slippery when wet, no scratchy noises on sone floors. Light , stable , good quality 👍🏻
I love these videos! I've been wearing the low cut Lowa Zyphers for a few years now. It's cool to actually see what's inside!
I have the Lowa Zephyr (black ones), and I must say they are very comfortable to wear, easy to put on and lightweight for their size. They keep warm during cold weather, I even once stepped in a ankle deep water and my foot was completely dry afterwards (my only waterproof test with them so far). But as a downside I must say they are very slippery, both on wet pavement and dusty terrain. Also, once when I went hiking with them they gave me a nasty blister. Overall, I would say they are lovely boots, just not perfect.
Yup indeed they are very slippery on wet pavement
How is the sizing
I also own the black zephyrs. At one point I stood in and walked through still water above the ankles (still under the waterproofing line around the tongue) in the zephyrs for 15-20ish minutes straight and my feet stayed dry, that said I have gotten blisters from them on long hikes, though practically every shoe gives me blisters on long treks. I haven't experienced all that much Slippery-ness after I'd broken them in (they were more slippery when they were brand new), but on already slippery floors like a painted concrete (particularly with wet shoes) they can still be slippery. Great shoes overall, I have worn mine near constantly for about 7 years, though I do clean and maintain them on occasion with wax, which helps refurbish them, good idea with any leather boot really, especially during winter months.
@@kingnevermore25 It probably depends on your foot, though for me the sizing is fairly consistent with other shoes, you might consider a half size larger, though I would highly suggest reading through a bunch of reviews to get a broader idea of how they fit people.
@@Arkimedus Mine are kinda loose on the sides no matter how hard I tighten them. I can put all my fingers through the sides. Do you also experience that?
I dont like a squishy heel when ruck marching or just carrying a load. I made the mistake of doing a light ruck in a pair of running shoes and every step felt wobbly at heel strike. I like a more traditional boot like feel so it would be interesting to see the issued combat boots, like the Belleville 390s, or the GORUCK ones to see if they have a denser foam since they are supposedly built specifically for rucking.
Traditional Altamas and Bates then
Danner Acadia nuff said
I'm a police officer in Australia. Best tac boots I've owned are Rocky s2v. Converse also did a comfy tac boot which I think are now rebranded as Reebok. Also have a pair of Salomon Quest 4D Forces. Great tactical boot for work which doubles as a great hiking boot.
The German armed forces (the Bundeswehr) is getting supplied with boots by Lowa, Meindl and Haix as contractors. So as a fellow German who likes military boots i would be interested in tests of boots from those brands.
I would like to see tests and comparisons of these boots as well. I have five pairs of Meindl boots and not one bad pair in the lot. The HAIX boots I have do not fit my feet correctly even though they are a great boot too. The arch is way too high in these boots for my feet.
ADIDAS GSG 9 IS THE BEST🇲🇾
@@tonanuar7119 it really isn't
@@tonanuar7119 no way those are trash.
I’ve been through many boots. My top 3 boots
1. Haix GSG-9
2. Danner Tachyon GTX
3. Oakley SI Assault ( not the lite )
runners up
1. Rocky C4T
2. Nike SFB ( before military banned them )
3. Under Armour Valsetz
HAIX all the way! no wonder foreign legion and GSG are wearing those
Rocky’s and Salomon boots should be on here and replace 5.11 and Underarmor. Far superior boots.
Some of my experience with a few of these boots.
The Merrell is not waterproof, maybe a quick splash, but with 6 month old boots in just rain will have you with wet feet. Light boots, comfy, the zipper lasted the 2 years I wore them, tread lasted 1.5 years. The boots run warm so if you get hot feet, maybe not the boot for you.
Under armour boots blow seams and lose sole glue within a year all the time.
Lowas. All my guys that run them wear them 3+ years and have no complaints.
Mine lasted a year before the plastic heel support broke and was cutting into my feet. No support from lowa. Up until then they were the best boot ive worn, but it seems like im the only one to have that issue.
The lowas reminded me more of a combat boot than a tactical boot, based on support and weight, but thats why they last longer. Better for load bearing as well.
Never heard a good or bad thing about 5.11. All the guys wearing them just kinda said "meh,its a boot."
For the cost, swats were a great value, so were sv2 before the price hike but guys still swear by them.
Oakley boots are junk.
I switched from tactical boots to 6 inch hikers in black. Bought scarpa boots 2 years ago and theyre still waterproof, support is still there, boot is holding up, tread is starting to go. The reason I wont be buying them again is the toe box is too narrow/pointy. Gets annoying, wish there was more space for toes.
This was a great video. Would love more “tactical” boot roundups. Thanks!
I have those Under Armour Valsetz, and use them as a Fire Paramedic for one of the highest volume departments in the U.S.. The ones you tested are not designed for extensive tactical purposes, but rather for first responders. They're essentially sneakers in boot form, so to be compliant with dept requirements. They're very light, airy, and breathable. UA has many other options if you want true tactical and waterproof. If you want comfort like a sneaker, get the Valsetz.
I have been wearing lowas for two years everyday. Excited to see how it goes
Why?
@@ricercr44 they are like wearing Running shoes how comfy they are, pretty easy to drive in too!
I discovered Danner when looking for more breatheable boots when moving to Flordia and taking a Wastewater Plant Operator job. I didn’t want to sweat but needed waterproof. They make great boots, and I and my co workers have owned them all.
I'd be curious to see a Belleville breakdown. Those were my actual military issued boots in 2006. Uncomfortable as hell but they were beasts!
my knees hurt just thinking about the marauders. those the real tactical boots
Great stuff here. I desperately wish there had been someone doing what you're doing when I was in the army. I would love to see you get your hands on some of the current standard issue boots from the Army, USMC, etc and see how they stack up to the aftermarket options.
And as far as suggestions I think it would be cool to see you cut apart a pair of Corcoran Marauder boots.
+1 for corcoran marauders. The most comfortable boots I've worn, and they seem well made.
Ive worn many different boots. My Lowas have lasted me the longest by far. They have gone three years without blowing the sides out which other boots have lasted less than a year. They are also very light and comfortable. I will be sticking with Lowas from here on out. They also have great soles for cold weather performance. Some boots have ended me flat on my ass on icy highways. My lowas have always had sure grip to the pavement no matter the surface condition.
Used the mid-height Lowas was an infantryman and I absolutely loved them. Super comfortable, durable, water resistant and great for wearing for long periods of time. Most important part though was that they just looked cool which is important to every infantryman lol
How is the sizing
@@kingnevermore25 pretty spot on. I usually get half a size bigger to allow for thicker socks.
@@Nikolai393 In some of my sneakers i am a size 8 and in some i am a size 8.5 (UK). Therefore i don’t know which size to take. Lowa says i should get true to size but i am worried that it might be too tight since i wear 8.5 in some of my sneakers. What do you think?
@kingnevermore25 I would take 8.5. This gives you room for thicker socks and also room for your feet to swell which is important. It's better for them to be a little loose than too tight
@@Nikolai393 Yesterday i tried Trespass hiking shoes size 8 and they were a bit snug, i wasnt able to move some of my toes. I guess size 8.5 would be great for Lowa. How is the heel slip in Lowas btw?
Firefighter-Paramedic here. As someone who used the Under Armours as duty boots, I do not recommend them for anything besides walking around the station. The cushioning of the insole lasted only about 3 months before they just gave out. Same thing with the soles. After about 3 months, I was slipping all over any wet or slick surface. Luckily I never seriously hurt myself. The sponge thing is definitely real. These boots love water.
The only upside to these boots was that the cushioning was super comfortable while it lasted, and they polish up way better than the 5.11s in this video, which have replaced the UAs. I still keep them around as a nice looking pair for when I'm on duty and there's an event we're attending where we need to look nicer, like a swearing in or funeral.
Don't waste your money on them. Luckily I got them as part of my uniform stipend so I didn't pay for them, but if you do receive a pair of these, just do what I did and make them an on-duty "dress pair," that way if you do take them out on calls, it's not too often.
In Australia there are 2 boots that everyone is buying right now: Salomons and Garmont T8.
If you do another tactical video it would be definitely worth doing Salomons.
If you were gonna do tactical boots it would have been great to see Meindl Desert Foxes and Garmont T8’s. Both are approved for use by the Australian Defence Force if you want to use your own boots so they’re pretty high quality boots
Would like to see comparisons and/or tests of Meindl, Han-Wag, Lowa, and HAIX together for either tactical or hiking boots.
I know it's a really fringe boot nowadays, but I really recommend picking up Waxi boots if you're a hot weather person. Solid construction, all leather, and at a pretty descent price point.
Thanks for this great comparison video!! I use the Under Armour as my day to day boot. It's just super comfy and has great ankle support. My legs are uneven in length so I'm prone to twisting my ankle, the UA's provide great protection from that 😊😊😊
I pretty much use them as tennis shoes with extra support and traction.
They are dang comfy.
I will say their slip resistance isn't very good in a food processing environment.
I’ve rocked Lowa on deployment and compared to every other boot I’ve ever worn I’d have to say the only one up to par would be Garmont and they still don’t match when it comes to durability love the video.
While you’re checking out tactical boots I highly recommend looking at the Corcoran 1510 historic jump boot as it is made practically the same way it was when American paratroopers used it in ww2
I have a pair and love them. The only issue is the original midsole appears to be a plastic, which cracked after a couple of years and I had to have them resoled.
@@xxxxtripxxxxOSG is that what it is, I was wondering what the midsole was made of because it doesn’t seem like leather
Ive worn all of these boots working as a cop in hot northen Cali summers and moderate winters. The 5.11s are trash.
The underarmour are super comfy and good for 90+ degree weather. They will not last more the year of everyday wear without holes appearing, and eventually fall part. Im on my third pair of underarmours, and I usually do not wear them when it starts raining.
Merrell’s are a thicker version of the underarmour with a little bit of water resistance. They are NOT waterproof, but a good winter boot if you waterproof them yourself, and it doesn’t get below 40 degrees.
The danners and lowas feel about the same, but I personally dont need gortex unless im walking through bodies of water.
Disclaimer, I do replace the insole with custom orthotics on all my boots.
Under Armor are literally the biggest BS brand ever.
I use Zefir, for me, they work perfectly. Here in EU, they are around 170$, so great value...
I've been wearing boots since I was 16 for work and play. I'm 54 now and over the years have mostly worn Docs in the Greasy line because the stretch for men like me with a EE width. The Docs usually last me about 2 years before the soles either wear out or crack. I bought Merrell for the first time in a 6 loop instead of 8 and the first day they fit perfect, so perfectly there was no break-in period. After two years the soles look like new and I just broke a lace for the first time. Standing I can go for 8+ hours and my feet never hurt, I crouch and walk rough terrain too and they are by far the best I have owned in decades.
I have worn every type of tactical boot over 30 years in the real world operations . Your review is is spot on. Lowa this worth every penny. Well done.
I bought a pair of Lowa boots in the spring of 2012, I wore them every day, very heavy use. And it finally broke in the Iran desert full 4 years later in 2016. I bought another pair of them and store them in my closet.
I bought Merrell boots and immediately loved them once I got the right insole in them. They were perfect. Lightweight, comfortable, waterproof, and still boots.
Problem is that in less than 2 years, they've already worn down. I spent nearly 200 bucks on them, and they couldn't even last me 2 years. It's not like I abused them either. I'm not a guy who goes out hiking in rough terrain and mud all the time. Most of the time I put in them was on normal flat ground, and even indoor areas. Even then, less than 2 years. That disappointed me so much that I decided to give Thorogood's a try. So far, pretty good. Thorogoods is not quite as comfortable and much heavier, but I'm liking them.
I have Lowa, I will probably never buy from another brand, Lowa is just delivering quality over and over the years for me, any mountains, river, hot, cold, anything really, the Lowa are just not affected at all, it's really impressive and they are so comfortable.
I have the Lowas and use them for construction, over the past 10 years it’s the only boot I’ve used. Construction, hiking etc, they hold up so well, especially if you treat the leather.
One thing I'd LOVE to see if for you to include the Nicks Tactical boot into the mix. Unless you're including another handmade one besides that it probably wouldn't even be close to fair, but it would be a lot of fun to see them side by side with all the other boots. I'd be willing to bet they ARE worth twice the price of the others.
You really should have bought a boot from all these companies that had all the same features in a similar price range. Otherwise the information you've given is fairly useless.
I am really impressed with the Aku Pilgrim, basically a black version of a brown British MOD boot for about $200. The company is Italian but they have employed (saved) a number of old European shoe makers for much of their production. Mine are made in Serbia. I believe Romania is one of the other major producers.
P.S. side zipper = REMF
Can't wait for part 3
Maybe Hanwag, Scarpa, Meindl, Alt-Berg etc
I tried Meindls and they disintegrated from gluings few weeks after. At the shop I tested new ones and I could push the leather inwards and the leather would separate from rubber. Terrible job.
Otherwise they are probably one of the most comfiest and mobile tactical boots with high feet support.
I actually switched to Zephyrs.
Tactical boots just do not last very long in tactical realm, for daily use they are great. But they sacrifice durability to gain comfort and that sneakerish feeling that gives you an edge in mobility.
I have the J15841W Merrell Mens Moab 2 8" Tactical Waterproof boot and it works for me. For dry work, the UA are fine (very light). The side zippers are great, wish I had them when I was active duty.
I had a pair of the Lowa Zephyrs, and overall they were not horrible. I used them working on a trail building/maintenance crew, and they were really nice and comfortable, until the right boot split horizontally right behind the heel. They worked well for me, I wish they would have been more durable.
I daily those exact lowas and I love em
I work in a prison and do a lot of standing and walking on concrete. For the last 5 or 6 years I’ve been UA only when it comes to boots. They wear out fast but are comfortable, now I may give Merrel a shot.
I love my 5.11s ive had them for years and put hundreds of miles on them and they are super comfy still. They can take the punishment i give them daily and they still hold up.
Only here because I'm interested in the Danner Tachyons, generally don't like tacticool gear but aside from the marketing I think they're just a nice looking boot. I don't plan on walking through fire so not too worried about them catching on fire, and I'm not planning on using them for "tactical" reasons just looking for a durable boot that looks good and that I can confidently walk through shallow water in without getting soaked socks. Thanks for the thorough testing!!!
I would love to see some Haix or Meindl boots in this kind of test! Great work, love your videos!
Best value for everyday use: go with the Merrel. They are absurdly comfortable and durable. My wife insisted I replace my first pair after about 4 years and they were still going strong.
I've been wearing Lowa boots every winter since 2004 and I really love them!
Wow, what a great informative helpful channel you've created! I love it because I really dig boots, especially combat tactical styles. I've wore Nikes ever since I could remember until my brother turned me on to Belleville boots years ago. I've never worn anything but tactical boots ever since then. Due to America's decade long war on terror 795V desert tan surplus Belleville boots have always been abundant and cheap to obtain from local fleamarkets near Louisville where I reside. I'm gonna try to watch your video uploads as much as possible from now on! Thanks for your time, courtesy and dedication, it's appreciated very much!
I spent over 3 decades in Law Enforcement. I went through a lot of boots in that time and probably had around 8 different brands of boots "over the years". Out of ALL of them the Danner's kept my feet the driest and lasted the longest. I often had to walk through deep puddles, slush and snow! The version of Danner's that I had was the "Striker Side Zip" at around $220 online. After the first 6-12 months I "always" ended up adding a pair of additional insoles (regardless of the brand). Hands down I recommend Danner's above other brands. P.S. Danner makes many different levels of military style duty boots; from low levels around $150 all the way up to over $400 for their Arcadia Boots! They even have a version of boots designed for Fire Fighters 🔥.
I wore the danner tachys as a police officer, winter snow mud trekking through woods walking on roads and they were awesome especially for the price light and comfortable when you switch out regular laces for some elastic ones
Love my tachyon boots, real lightweight and sturdy enough for the urban & industrial settings I guard.