Zem Gear "Apex" Ninja shoe

Zem Gear

Blauer Clash Boots

From the Blauer webpage:

Key Features of Clash:

• BOA^® lacing system provides quick in and out and is engineered for comfort and performance.  Braided stainless steel cable for long-lasting durability.
• Lightweight materials are specially crafted to perform and outlast everyday wear
• Waterproof membrane and waterproof materials withstand the elements
• No side zippers to break

Upper Features:

• Waterproof full grain polishable leather toe
• Waterproof membrane blocks water from coming in while still letting perspiration out
• Mixed leather and suede design for sleek and modern look
• Durable nylon mesh in key areas provides superior breathability
• Rubber patch for heel protection and ankle stability
• Antibacterial and moisture wicking lining
• Notched collar back for calf comfort
• Molded polyurethane foam insoles with PU foam heel cushion for instant broken-in feel
• 6" height

Outsole Features: 

• Lightweight and flexible compression molded EVA midsole provides long lasting impact absorption and rebound
• Integrated ESS shank for stabilization and fast roping
• Oil and slip resistant rubber
• Blauer’s hybrid traction tread pattern for better grip on and off the pavement
• Fence climbing grooves in the toe
• Radiused heel for long-shift driving comfort 

Development of Blauer footwear

Blauer Footwear

MSRP: Clash 6 inch Waterproof Boot - $134.99

Danner Rivot Boot

Danner DFA Boot

Blackhawk Light Assault Boots

  

MSRP: $174.99
Colors: Black, Coyote
Blackhawk 

Lowa Jannu Mid

This is my initial review of the Lowa Jannu Mid trekking boots. I have given them some wear and light hiking so far and plan on giving them a good workout this summer and in the year to come. My initial impression of the Jannu was that these boots live up to the expectations I have from Lowa Boots.

A german company, created in 1923, Lowa Boots really knows what they're doing when creating comfortable and "mission specific" boots. The Jannu boots, designed for carrying loads up to 50 pounds) were comfortable right out of the box. I found that no break in period was required. Obviously, with time, the boots will become more fit to your foot, but they were ready to hike in right out of the box. The boots are light weight but yet supportive. You can tell this when wearing them... they're flexible enough to be comfortable, but yet you can feet the support to your foot and ankle.

One thing that concerned me right away was the inner lining. It's a perforated glove leather. With todays high speed synthetic linings it made me wonder about comfort. I have yet to wear these boots in hot weather, but my feet sweat no matter what the temperature is. I have found that the leather lining is just as comfy as any of the synthetic linings. I will update this post during the summer in regards to this.

Other features include:

- Pull tab at back to help put boots on.

- Lacing is smooth and easy to tighten, with speed lacing at the top of boot.

- Leather/Cordura upper

- Midsole designed to prevent over-pronation and supination, providing a comfortable footbed. The footbed also has a slow reacting foam, to help customize the footbed to your individual foot.

- Vibram Trailtek sole provides great traction, but sheds mud better than other soles.

- 3mm Nylon shank for support.

- The "C4" tongue and X-lacing are very comfortable. There is no uneven pressure on the instep. The tongue is also gusseted right up to the top of the upper. This really helps to prevent getting debris in the boot. The tongue also has a tab on it to keep it from slipping down.

These boots are by far one of the most comfortable hiking boots I've worn. And support is excellent... I can really tell the difference when I put these boots on. Footing and traction have been solid.

I plan on wearing these boots for many miles and while attending a fighting rifle course this summer, so they will be getting their test and I will update the review as necessary.

Weight: 2.90 pounds/pair

Colors: Black/Yellow, Beige/Anthracite (shown)

MSRP: $200.00

Update (June 2010):

I've been wearing these boots a lot lately and I have to say, I still believe they're some of the most comfy boots around. During a recent outing at a local gully They started to get wet and the water beaded right off the leather. At first I thought maybe the whole boot would do this, but after a dunk or two past the lower portion of the leather the boots were soaked. It did take several hours in the sun on a hot day for them to dry. After they dried I wore them, and they're just as comfy as before.

One thing to note though, is that these boots don't work well with socks that are lower than the opening of the boot. They will tend to dig in a little and if you have hairy legs, the leather inner lining will pull at your leg hair. I mitigated the digging in by just not lacing the top speed laces. However, I recommend wearing a pair of socks that at least come to the top of the boot! Otherwise I'm still extremely impressed with the Lowa Jannu.

Update (Aug 2010): Well, I've been wearing the Jannu Mids some more this summer for hiking and am still impressed with the comfort and durability. They're like new still. I thought I'd share these pictures of the most recent hike while wearing them. I still have nothing bad to say about these boots! Absolutely AWESOME!

Belleville Hot Weather Safety Toe Boot

My younger brother (in the video) has been wearing these boots for a couple months now both for some daily wear as well as during training with the US Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol.

He says that comfort with these boots is exceptional compared to other boots he's worn. He's had absolutely no comfort issues with them.

As expected with a good footwear company like Belleville, durability has also been exceptional. Him and I both do not believe there will be any issues with the longevity of the boot. I myself have worn Belleville boots in the military and they are excellent boots.

The sole on these boots are a tri layer sole with the outsole being the aggressive Vibram® Sierra sole, the midsole of rubber/polyurethane, and the insole being a removable polyurethane insert. My brother said they're very comfortable for standing in for hours but when driving the aggressive nature of the outsole can catch on the pedals.

The upper is made of leather and Cordura®. Similar in style and design to the traditional jungle boot, with improvements in quality, to include a padded collar.

This particular model features a steel toe that meets ASTM F2412-05 and F2413-05 standards, if that's a standard you need to meet in your footwear. Great for those dealing with heavy items, like tankers, mechanics, etc.

Overall it's been a good boot. I will update this review as time goes on.
MSRP: $117

www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com

5.11 ATAC Shield Boots

The ATAC Shield boots by 5.11 tactical are probably some of the best quality boots I've tried for their price range. Probably half of the employees where I work use them and durability and comfort has, for the most part, been excellent. There have been the occasional person the preferred something else over the 5.11 brand, but for the most part everyone that wears them loves them, myself included.

I've been wearing these boots for over a year and a half. I can't remember exactly when I bought them, but it's been at least a year and a half since I got them. They look as if they've only been worn for a few months...ad you can see from the picture below.

One thing you'll notice when polishing them is that they take a shine very easily. I generally polish them once a week and they shine right up with no problem! They also have an area that looks like the traditional leather basket weave of the patrol officers duty belt...a nice touch and looks professional.

Comfort is excellent right off the bat. I didn't feel as if there was a break in period, as they felt great right out of the box. To this day comfort is still good. I've recently replaced the insoles as the originals were wearing way too thin. I had to make some adjustments on the size for the new insoles as the edges rode up on the composite toe and pushed on my toes. So some trimming on them and we're back in business.

As for features, here they are:

- Composite safety toe. This is safer and more comfortable than steel! In cold NY winters they aren't nearly as cold on your toes as steel.

- Waterproof, breathable membrane. This, along with the full leather coverage provide your feet with protection from water and chemicals. Even though the membrane is breathable, with it along with the full grain leather your feet will be slightly warmer that with a nylon upper. The waterproof protection ends about 2 inches from the top of the boot because that's as high as the gusset in the tongue goes.

- Moisture wicking, anti-bacterial lining.

- Side zipper with zipper strap. The strap that holds the zipper pull tab is still in good condition. I find this the weak point of side-zip boots. Most times the velcro will wear excessively or the tab starts to come apart. No problem with these tabs yet.

- Hidden pocket on the outer portion of the ankle. This is supposed to be for a handcuff key. The idea is that an officer may want an extra key in case he's unlucky enough to get handcuffed with his own cuffs. I haven't used this for any key storage, however.

- Oil and slip resistant outsole This sole is quiet too, there isn't any squeaking on tile surfaces whether dry or wet. Great traction as well.

- Non-metallic shank. Stabilizes the foot and won't set off metal detectors.

- Semi-rigid heel and toe reinforcement - Shock Mitigation System provides excellent comfort without a lot of extra weight.

- "Sniper" grips on the inside portion of the toe and heel. The idea is that these small nubs will help you grip when you're in the prone. A nice idea, but I'm not sure if they'll make much difference. It can't hurt to have them on there, but I'm not sure they help too much either. These little nubs have also started to wear off.

Overall I highly recommend these boots. Based on these boots I'd venture to guess that the rest of the 5.11 footwear is excellent gear. Quality, durability, and comfort are top notch.

MSRP: $159.99

Sizes: 4-15 Regular & wide widths

After almost 2 years of use:

Columbia Birke Trail boots

I bought these light hiking boots last summer (2008) at the beginning of a family camping trip. I was a little nervous buying a pair of hiking boots right at the beginning of a trip where I'd be on my feet quite a bit, but let me tell you, I was surprised at how comfy these boots were right off the bat. The sole was extremely comfortable and flexible.

The upper is made of suede and mesh and is lightweight and cool. They've been pretty rugged and even survived a chewing by my dog with only a few marks on the sole and a shortened shoe lace.

The sole is good for multi-directional traction but does squeak like crazy when indoors when wet.

Not a whole lot to tell about these, but they're a great boot and still really comfortable after almost daily wear for almost a year. If it's an indication of all of Columbia's boot then they have some really comfy and functional footwear.

I haven't included any links since these boots aren't any longer on the Columbia web page, but they can still be bought by doing an online search and are between $50-70 in cost most places.

Update (08/28/09) - I've been wearing these a little over a yar and durability has been great. The insole is getting a bit beat down, but thats to be expected and a normal maintenance issue with any footwear. The thing that's been bothering me is that they have a tendency to get pebbles and sand and other little bits of dirt in them very easily. I've never had this much of a problem with other boots...it's quite irritating and I'm not sure the reason, but it happens A LOT. Also, the laces don't stay tied very well. Even when double knotted. I may replace the laces with Coyote 550 cord.

Vasque M-Possible Mountaineering boots

Vasque M-Possible boots are designed for mixed climbing, steep ice, and alpine speed ascents. These boots can stand up to the beating that can be dished out by mountain climbing.

You can tell once you put these boots on that they're going to protect your feet. They are very supportive and are made of several protective materials.

One material that is prominent in this boot is the SuperFabric that has rubber "rands" all over it that help to protect against impact. This material is highly abrasion and puncture resistant. The boots also have a strong rubber material around the heel and toe area that is super tough. Around the very tip of the toe and heel there is a plastic reinforcement to help in protecting the boot when attaching crampons and other gear to the boots.

The boots feature a waterproof membrane and 200 grams of Thinsulate. Just enough to keep your feet warm and dry, but not overheat.

The insole is very tough as well. A combination of dual-density EVA footbeds, molded carbon fiber insole boards, and Vibram Mulaz outsoles provide the wearer with a lightweight but stiff and supportive platform. I did have some slipping on packed snow and ice, but that's where cramons come in. These boots aren't going to wear like running shoes...they do have some weight to them (3lbs, 9oz.) and the sole has to be stiff to provide support and protection, but overall they're very comfortable!

The one thing that is very unique on these boots is the Boa lacing system. This uses one continual metal cable to tighten the boot evenly. The laces are "lace-to-toe" so that the whole boot can be adjusted. In my opinion the Boa system is an awesome lacing system. I wish all my footwear could have this. Some have complained that they'd rather tighten one part of the boot (instep area) while leaving another (upper portion) looser for a better range of motion. This system doesn't allow for that. I can understand where they're coming from, but for me this system is perfect. To tighten you simply make sure the knob is pushed in and then just turn until you get the tightness you want. The cord will not loosen. Removal of the boots is easy and very fast. You simply pull the knob outward and the laces loosen rightup. Taking the boots off takes only seconds. The cord laces toward the toe area are also covered to prevent snagging. This system also ensures that you don't have broken laces at the most inconvenient time!

Also included with these boots are a set of soft-shell detachable mini gators. They attach to the boot via hooks and loops (not to be confused with hook and loop Velcro). I haven't really used these too much to comment on them other than that they are included.

These boots are great for winter hikes in tough terrain as well as for ice climbing and mountaineering. They are like light weight tanks for your feet. Jabbing ice and rocks will not come close to harming your feet. They keep the elements out and your feet comfortable. With extended time outside in snow, slush, ice and down right cold temperatures my feet stayed warm and protected.

Unisex Sizes:
5 - 12, 13, 14

MSRP: $350.00

Thorlo Boot socks

Thorlos is a small company with a big turnout of socks specifically designed for certain activities. I had used there combat boot socks in the past but wanted to see what else Thorlos had to offer. I spoke with the Thorlos regarding their products and I had a few sent to me for testing. Since I generally wear around a size 8.5 or 9, depending on the footwear, I tested out a large and medium in each pair of socks tested due to the fact that medium goes up to a size 8.5 and large starts at size 9.

I have been wearing Thorlos Boot Sock for several months. These socks have moderate cushioning to help enhance mobility by maintaining foot health and comfort during field training and combat conditions. They help protect your feet from your boots by adding padding in critical areas.

Since I've already talked about sizing I'll cover that first. Here's an idea of my foot size by what size I wear in certain footwear... Altama jungle boots size 7.5, New Balance size 9, 5.11 footwear size 9, Bates size 8.5. In this particular pair of socks, both were comfortable and a decent fit, although I would say that the medium did fit a little bit better. They are a medium height sock that extends a few inches above a 8 inch combat boot(mid-calf). They're designed with the combat/tactical boot in mind.

Another aspect of sizing is proper fitting of the sock and the boot you plan on wearing. It's always suggested that when you try on the boots you should wear the socks that you'll be wearing on a day to day basis and try on the new boots toward the end of the day. The reason for this is that your feet swell during the day and you want to try on new footwear when your feet are swollen from the days activities. You may need to wear a slightly larger size boot when wearing these socks due to the protective padding of the socks. Always make sure there is enough room in the toe area as well to promote good circulation to keep your feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Initially I was wearing an older pair of boots when I got the socks, but then I got a new pair of boots and wore these socks when I went to get the new boots. In both cases I had no issues with sizing with these socks. This style of Thorlos have moderate cushioning, which doesn't make a large difference in sizing of the boot.

Thorlos seem to protect my feet from my boot, which is how they were designed. This protection seems to give added comfort to my feet.

One thing that Thorlos was really concerned with is people not properly fitting the boot with the sock and having the cushioning of the sock fitted in a tight boot cause overheating and sweating of the feet. Since this is a medium weight sock,and the sizing of the boot wasn't effected by the cushioning and I had no excessive problems with overheating. That's not to say my feet didn't sweat a little, but no more than normal.

I'll get to a list of the properties of this sock now...
1. My pet peeve of socks is that annoying seam at the end of the toes. Thorlo has made their socks with a flat seam...a big plus in my book and a big plus in comfort.

2. The Thorlon yarn is very durable and wicks moisture from the feet. I have noticed that the socks have shown very little wear during the testing so far and my feet are fairly dry at the end of the day. My feet sweat and these socks keep them dry in the summer to prevent foot fungus and in the winter to prevent cold feet. Traditional cotton socks keep my feet wet, these don't. This yarn also promotes circulation and stays in place. You won't find this sock slouching or bunching up under your foot.

3. X-static silver fiber knitted into the foot area. This fiber provides permanent anti-microbial & anti-odor protection. This really works as advertised. After a 12 hour day, wearing my boots the whole time, my feet usually wreak. With these socks there's barely a faint odor...this silver fiber really works great. Plus, it keeps my boots from smelling also.

4. Moderate cushioning in the ball/heel. This reduces shock, impact, and the rubbing and friction that causes blisters.

5. Thin cushioning in the arch improves fit and prevents bunching. There is also thin cushioning in the instep to help prevent the laces of a combat boot from biting in. I love this added cushion. I've had combat boots in the past that "bite" in the instep area and this makes the boots extremely uncomfortable to wear.

6. Ventilation panel up the sides of the foot to help wicking and keeping the feet cool and dry.

7. 30 day money back no risk trial. This shows the company's confidence in their product.

Below you'll see pictures I took of the socks inside out. I did this to show the padding that these socks have.

I really like these socks. They really perform well and are soft, comfortable, and durable. They add cushion and protection to the foot without too much bulk. If you wear boots for a living, these are a pair of socks to look into.

Care tips:
1. Use liquid fabric softener.
2. Turn the socks inside out when washing & drying to "fluff" the padding.
3. Do not use bleach.


Materials:
77% Thorlon Acrylic
17% Nylon
1% Spandex
5% X-static

Colors: Black, desert sand
Sizes: Medium, Large, X-Large
Made in the USA!!

MSRP: $17.99

Thorlos Physical Training Sock

Thorlos is a small company with a big turnout of socks specifically designed for certain activities.‭ ‬I had used there combat boot socks in the past but wanted to see what else Thorlos had to offer.‭ ‬I spoke with the director of military sales for Thorlos regarding their products and I had a few sent to me for testing.‭ ‬Since I generally wear around a size‭ ‬8.5‭ ‬or‭ ‬9,‭ ‬depending on the footwear,‭ ‬I tested out a large and medium in each pair of socks tested due to the fact that medium goes up to a size‭ ‬8.5‭ ‬and large starts at size‭ ‬9.

A pair of socks that I have been using while working out are Thorlos‭' ‬Physical Training sock.‭ ‬These socks are designed with the athlete and military in mind to use during physical training to reduce foot and leg fatigue and protect your foot from the shoes.‭ ‬I've been wearing them for several months to see how they work.‭ ‬I've used them for running on the treadmill,‭ ‬running on the road,‭ ‬using the elliptical,‭ ‬and lifting weights.‭ ‬They are super comfy and just the right amount of cushioning without becoming too tight or hot.‭

Since I've already talked about sizing I'll cover that first.‭ ‬Here's an idea of my foot size by what size I wear in certain footwear...‭ ‬Altama jungle boots size‭ ‬7.5,‭ ‬New Balance size‭ ‬9,‭ ‬5.11‭ ‬footwear size‭ ‬9,‭ ‬Bates size‭ ‬8.5,‭ ‬UK gear‭ ‬8.5.‭ ‬The medium sock is smaller than the large,‭ ‬but in this particular pair of socks the difference wasn't noticeable when wearing the socks.‭ ‬Because I'm in between the sizes either would work well with these socks,‭ ‬although if I order more I will probably go with a medium.

Another aspect of sizing is proper fitting of the sock and the shoe you plan on wearing.‭ ‬It's always suggested that when you try on the shoes you should wear the socks that you'll be wearing on a day to day basis and try on the new shoes toward the end of the day.‭ ‬The reason for this is that your feet swell during the day and you want to try on new footwear when your feet are swollen from the days activities.‭ ‬You may need to wear a slightly larger size shoe when wearing these socks due to the protective padding of the socks.‭ ‬Always make sure there is enough room in the toe area as well to promote good circulation.

These socks have moderate cushioning which shouldn't effect the fit of your shoe too much to notice.‭ ‬The cushioning is enough to protect your foot,‭ ‬but doesn't overheat your feet like you might think they would.‭

Here are the specific features of these socks:

- My pet peeve of socks has always been the toe seam.‭ ‬With this pair of socks and all other Thorlos I've tried so far the seam is a flat seam.‭ ‬This makes a world of difference in comfort.

- Made with Thor‭•‬lon material which is durable and better wicking than traditional cotton socks.‭ ‬This does work well.‭ ‬After a long workout the socks are a little damp,‭ ‬but your feet aren't wet and sweaty like they normally would be.

- X-static silver fibers sewn into the foot area which give the socks permanent anti-microbial and anti-odor properties.‭ ‬This does work.‭ ‬Normally before a workout or a day of work I'll use a anti-odor foot spray to help with foot odor and help keep my shoes or boots from smelling.‭ ‬To test the silver fibers in Thorlos socks I haven't used this spray and haven't had any odor issues.

- Moderate cushioning in the ball/heel areas to reduce shock,‭ ‬impact,‭ ‬and prevents blisters.

- Thin cushioning at the instep provides protection of your foot from lace pressure.‭ ‬I tend to have my shoes snug when running and this thin cushioning helps prevent pressure on the nerves of the instep.

- 30‭ ‬day money back no risk trial.‭ ‬This shows the company's confidence in their product.

I have used several different brand of socks that are‭ “‬designed‭” ‬with sports and running in mind...and some of these socks I've tried aren't bad socks,‭ ‬but the Thorlos company has really put some thought in their socks and have gone above and beyond what most other brands have.‭ ‬Initially you'll think they're too thick and feel as though they'll be too warm,‭ ‬but give them a chance and I don't think you'll be disappointed.‭ ‬The physical trainer socks have performed as described so far and I feel they'll continue to perform without a problem.

Care Tips:
- Use liquid laundry detergent.
- Turn inside out when washing‭ & ‬drying.
- Do not iron or dry clean.
- Do not use bleach.
- Wash at normal temp,‭ ‬dry at medium temp.


Sizes:‭ ‬Medium,‭ ‬Large,X-Large
Colors:‭ ‬White,‭ ‬Black
MSRP:‭ ‬$13.99

Lowa Urban Desert Boot

I received these boots from Lowa this past summer and have been wearing them quite often since. They are Lowa’s Urban Desert boot and are designed with stealth operations in a desert environment in mind. This is a perfect boot for today’s forces. As you will see later in the review, these boots perform in any environment quite well, not just desert or hot environments.


A quick overview of Lowa I feel is in order since not everyone has heard of them. Lowa is a European company that believes that the feet need to be comfortable for the wearers ultimate overall comfort. They’ve been in the footwear business for over 85 years, so they’ve figured out a thing or two in making quality footwear. And, in my opinion, you can tell as soon as you put their boots on. They’ve made their boots to be anatomically correct as well. From the 2 degree ankle angle to the anatomically correct tongue. Their glove leather linings are super comfortable as well. All their materials are very durable which allows most Lowa boots to last 5-7 years of normal use.

So let me get back to the Urban Desert boot. What would I say the break in period is for these boots….break in period, they don’t need no stinkin break in period. These boots were so comfortable right out of the box that I’d swear that I’d been wearing them for years. The only part that gave me a slight discomfort was right around the top of the boot. I’ve had this problem in the past, and as in the past, unlacing the top eyelet solved this problem and also makes tucking the laces into the top of the boot more comfortable as well.

As I said, this boot is super comfortable, but still has plenty of support for the foot and ankle. This boot has a nice amount of padding, which I found somewhat odd for a “desert” boot. This padding will help to protect your foot from jagged edges that you might find in a desert mountainous area like you’d find in Afghanistan. I figured this would make them way too hot in a desert environment. Well, I didn’t test them in the deserts of Iraq, but in the hot humid summer weather here my feet were very comfortable. They weren’t overheating at all, in spite of the padding. There are a couple features that make this possible:
- Synthetic shank which won’t heat up like a steel shank, and is lighter weight.
- Mesh lining to keep the feet cool from the inside.
- A 3D mesh upper material along with the sand split leather helps moisture to escape the boot.

The “Anaconda” sole on these boots is pretty durable, being a Vibram® sole it’s proven to be a good sole. Not only is it a quality sole, but it’s designed to be silent. I’ve walked on linoleum and tiled floor with these boots both dry and wet and they really are silent. Not a single hint of a squeak. The traction on dry and wet surfaces as well as snowy terrain has been excellent. On top of the sole is a sand colored Polyurethane sole with a full length and width synthetic trekking shank. This is much more than most other boots which may only have a narrow shank down a portion of the sole. This really helps with the stability of the foot.

One small detail that shows that the company is dedicated to making boots specific to their intended use is the fact that the outer materials of the boot have a reduced IR signature. I know from my days in the military that you could always spot fellow troops at night by looking for the black boots through your NVGs. The boots stuck out among the natural vegetation around them. Attention to detail!!

Earlier in the review I said that these boots can perform in several environments. First off I wore these boots for casual wear as well as for hiking, climbing and for force-on-force military style training.

During force-on-force training I didn’t baby these boots at all. They got muddy, wet, grass stained and just plain old beat up. They were very comfortable the whole time. My feet never overheated and running up and down inclines didn’t cause any discomfort at all. I have a narrower heel and have always had a problem with getting boots that don’t cause blisters or raw spots on my heels. This was never a problem with these boots. I used these boots for several force-on-force exercises so far and after I return home I clean the boots off if they’re dirty and unlike traditional “rough side out” suede leather desert boots these boots cleaned up well. Mud, dirt, and grass stain easily came out with a small scrub brush and only a minute or so of scrubbing. This is important to help with the longevity of the boots, and if using these for military purposes you want to be able to clean them up so that they look good the next time you wear them in a formation. These boots clean up well.

I also used these boots while hiking trails and through a gully that was flooding with water. In this gully there is also a lot of climbing on wet rocks. I have to say I was super impressed by the traction of the outsole on the wet rocks. I have worn quality Vibram® soled boots before in this environment, but they didn’t grip like the soles on these boots. I believe it’s the material that they’re made of that makes them silent that also gives them good traction on the wet rocks. The fact that these boots got completely water logged and haven’t shown any breakdown is good. The typical GI desert boots tend to break down faster when they get wet due to the suede material they’re made of. These boots don’t seem to have that problem. They also went with me on a hike to the top of Whiteface Mountain.

In the last couple of weeks I was able to use these boots for some tactical training in the snow. Again, the boots performed flawlessly. The fact that they allow your feet to breath and wick moisture from the feet kept my feet warm and the padding helps with warmth as well. I wouldn’t use these in extreme cold environments where something like a mickey mouse boot or other extreme cold weather boot is required, but for your typical winter weather you should be good to go.

Overall I have been extremely impressed with these boots. The quality is way above average and the durability so far has met the companies claims. I plan on continuing to use these boots until they need to be replaced, so expect updates to this post for quite some time.

If you’re looking for a quality boot that will last you for years, give Lowa a look. They have every kind of boot, not only military and duty boots, but hiking, mountaineering, casual and more.

Sizes: US 8-12
Weight: 2.30 lbs (men’s size 9)
MSRP: $260.00

12 month warranty against defects.