5.11-TACTICAL XPRT 8" Patrol Boot
5.11 offers up another piece to their footware line with the big selling point on this guy is the high strength composite kick toe. The shape and material used for the kick toe are a great compromise of protection and flexibility for comfort. Traditionally boots like these would have steel toes resulting in pretty low comfort levels. The core of the XPRT design is that of a deluxe well constructed and padded boot. The "Shock Mitigation System™" includes a fairly plush insole insert. Due to the materials and padding thickness it may be a bit hot in hot climates, but generally makes for a good urban boot. As for first impressions, I have been used to wearing desert boots so these were some uncomfortable bitches. After about 2 weeks of running around in them I broke them in enough to be happier with the comfort level. Once broken in I could do most actions, however I would not be wanting to do a bunch of shuttle runs in these boots or anything else requiring a lot of heavy angle ankle pivots. They may be more comfortable than steel toes, but they are still less comfortable than non toe reinforced boots. I wish the upper portion of the boot wasn't so straight and had perhaps some stitching to make a good notch for wrapping the lacing around. On that note the lacing used isn't particularly grippy and pretty much requires a tuck in to secure for a day. There is a pull loop on the upper back, but it is a bit odd in which it is elastic based. Although this makes the loop very snag-free, it is much harder to use than a traditional open loop design. The elastic used also isn't particularly thick so I worry of ripping it out over time. The ankle area includes 5.11's Talon Stabilizer which claims to "wrap around your ankle and locks your foot securely in its grasp", but I didn't notice anything special in the ankle area. I guess I was hoping my heel would be kept down against the boot better. I did however notice their second claim was true that it assists in ankle support while still being comfortable. The tread is a solid multipurpose design combining large chunks / spacing with smaller ones to work well in terrain and urban environments. In conclusion, although not perfect, these make for some pretty good urban doorkicker boots which fit their intended law enforcement design goal.
<www.511tactical.com>
LA POLICE GEAR Operator Boots
LAPoliceGear.com has been expanding their own product line recently including footwear with the addition of the Operator Boots. The design goal was to make a lightweight boot that has the durability operators expect, but at a great price. I'll have to agree LA Police Gear did just that. To be fair on this review, let me warn you that I got the smallest possible, size 7, but I'm about a 6.5 area. Thus I wear double socks or add in odor pads to get the fit I need.
First impressions, they feel a lot like a nice sports shoe which is a good thing. There is plenty of cushioning all around and the main inserts included give a good plush ride. I feel more pressure in my lower exterior arch area than my other footwear, but it has not been an issue while running. How the boot is constructed and where vent spots occur looks a little random, but I still like the looks of the boot. The 4 soft spots on each side are functional in assisting in ventilation. The laces are well done especially with the wide laces at the ankle pivot point. This wide lace loop style prevents circulation problems when constantly bending the foot forward, which is typical when running or moving in boots at all. I wear mine tight since the size issue, so I ended up with a bit of string slack. The grooves in the upper padding help keep a wrap around in place and the upper tier lace holes stick out as well conveniently assisting. Check out the "on-foot" pic for an example of the lace wrap. The laces also seem to work well for getting the boot on and off easily. Some of my older boots took some serious de-lacing effort to get on and off.
As for the sole/tread, it may sound odd, but this is one of the most quiet boots I've worn. Most boots have some sort of clap or general stomp to them, but the Operator Boots can be some serious sneaking footwear. The tread is pretty good for general/urban usage when it comes to grip. The relief isn't too high so they won't be as good as chunky boots for mud and wet grass.
For improvements, I'd like to see a typical pull loop on the back to assist in taking on and off. For a nit-picky thing the upper part of the boot appears a little unfinished in which the material goes from folded to an exposed seam. I'll keep beating up on them to see if that is actually anything to worry about. The Operator Boot is available in Coyote and Black in 8" full and 6" short-boot styles. 8" gives the full ankle support users expect in boots and 6" is a solid compromise between ankle support and flexibility. If you want an easy ride desert boot at a great price, check these on out.
<www.lapolicegear.com>
5.11-TACTICAL HRT Urban Boot
In a time of Desert Boots, it was nice to check out this Urban style boot from 5.11 tactical. I'm still working them over, but wanted to give a thoughts so far heads up. Materials include: 100% waterproof USA leather and lined with a Sympatex® Waterproof and bloodborne pathogen- resistant membrane. The heel features non-metallic construction and Armortex®. First impressions are that it is well padded. It has a sports shoe feel all the way up to the ankle. I'm not sure what the shoelaces are made out of, but I like them a lot. They feel like usual laces, but have great non-slip qualities to them that make lacing tight easy. The tread is mostly made up of medium sized divisions which seems to work well for varied terrains. On the con side, one thing I did notice was the stitching down the middle of the heel can be a felt hard point. Perhaps more padding or not stitching down the middle would have been better. As a counterpoint this likely makes the area more durable. Most of my sport shoes give out in this back of the heel area. The inner heel half is made of a more texturized material like the sole to resist scuffing. I wish there was a pull strap on the back to assist with putting boots on. Currently available in black. More to come as I keep wearing...
5.11-TACTICAL HRT Advance Boot
Based on the HRT design, this is a nice mid-height variant. The usual fancy 5.11 materials are used being lined with Coolmax® and Drilex® including a Suede and nylon upper. The end result is a good middle ground of a pretty comfy, but breathable boot. The laces and sole appear to be the same as the Urban HRT boot, but the zipper is one of the features unique to the HRT line that makes this boot the Advancer. I like the zippers a lot for allowing me to put them on and off quickly, however, after a long day, the zippers do sometimes slide down on their own. A simple velcro tab or snap would solve the zipper drift problem very easily. I'm always a fan of the pull tabs on the back, but I would like to see a bigger loop. My finger, which is pretty small, has trouble fitting in the loop. It is not an issue, but I thought I would note the soles make a more "clappy" noise on hard surfaces when running than most boots. Currently available in Coyote. More to come as I keep wearing...
