Call it instinct or a habit ingrained in us from several millenniums of evolution; we tend to take less care of our feet compared to the parts of the body above it. That said we’re predisposed to investing more in clothes, ignoring or overlooking the fact that our feet also need a high level of protection.
It is your lower extremity especially the feet that provide support, keeps you on your toes, and takes you to wherever you want to go.
To accord thorough protection to your feet as well as keep them comfortable, a pair of quality footwear, particularly heavy-duty boots will be indispensable.
In this respect, a superlative pair of tactile boots comes in perfectly handy for professionals involved in high-risk jobs where performing tactical operations is part of their everyday routine, like military personnel, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. So, how do you go about choosing a pair of high-quality tactical boots?
There are some things you need to know about the best tactical boots before you can pick up a pair that’ll serve your needs seamlessly.
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Table of Contents
Tips for Choosing the Best Tactical Boots
What are the things you need to know about the best tactical boots? You need to keep two basic aspects in mind to zero in on the pair that’ll be perfect for you-the types of activities you’ll be performing while wearing them, and how long do you intend to keep them on your feet.
Are you aware that of the 206 bones that make up the human skeletal system, a quarter of these is inside your feet? Besides there are about 33 joints and near 200 muscles that keep your feet in position.
So regularly putting your feet inside a tactical boot pair that does not fit appropriately might eventually cause misalignment of the bone structure, ultimately leading to grave health problems. Do not simply select a pair based on its height, comfortableness, and construction material but also consider other important factors like adaptability, water-resistant capacity, and so on.
Tactical boots of good quality generally incorporate the best features of trail shoes, work boots, gumboots, and hiking boots.
One good way of choosing the ideal pair would be to visualize the likely scenarios you’d find yourself in your line of work with your boots on-imagine the strain that the shoes might cause.
You’ll need to give the boots the minimum break-in time, i.e. the time required for the footwear to adjust with your feet’s natural profile. So, do not be tempted to pick up the very first pair that makes your feet feel comfortable and relaxed when you put them inside.
There’s a good likelihood that the pairs that keep your feet cozy when you first try them may not endure. On top of that, these tactical boots could alter the outline of your feet, thereby causing injury and pain. Abide by these tips for choosing the best tactical boots.
Premium quality materials
It is because of the materials used for cobbling together a pair of tactical boots that makes them versatile. Versatility in this context implies that you should be able to trudge along miles of desert territory, traipse through rugged terrain, and sprint your way through the labyrinthine maze of traffic in a metropolis.
So that your tactical boots can deliver on all fronts and rise to the occasion, it needs to have an adaptable sole, offer robust support at the ankles, keeps your feet light and comfortable, provide solid traction, and furnishes protection from the elements.
Towards this end, you’ll stay on the safe side if you stay away from products constructed out of man-made or synthetic materials. Tactical boots crafted out of artificial materials are not likely to last for the long term, will not keep the feet comfy, or protect your feet from the elements, snake-bites, and other hazards. Topnotch tactical boots are usually made from the best quality of leather, full-grain leather for instance, that are normally processed to make them tough and resilient.
Uppers made from premium leather tend to be weatherproof, waterproof, breathable, and incredibly flexible. Split-grain leather, Nubuck leather, and suede leather are also used for making hardwearing and supple uppers. More often, synthetics and leather are used in combination for chiseling out uppers.
The midsoles should be carved out of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) or polyurethane to boost the cushioning or shock-absorbing capacity of the boots. The midsole of a tactical boot pair shaped out of either polyurethane or EVA also contributes towards making the extra footwear firm and stiff. As far as the outsole is concerned, the hardiest ones are molded out of toughened rubber.
Often, carbon is used for adding to the shoe’s stiffness, but the material is not as durable as rubber or polyurethane. Vibram is another kind of material that can improve the outsole’s surface gripping capacity and augment its hardiness, and is being used extensively nowadays.
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Specific Uses
There are three distinct types or categories of tactical boots-military boots, law enforcement personnel boots, and regular boots. Every type has its unique features and traits to suit specific purposes. You’ll select a type, depending upon the environment or settings where you normally work.
If you’re in the law enforcement division, it does not need to be emphasized that you’ll have to put on tactical boots as a necessary component of your uniform or official work gear. If you’re employed as a highway patrol officer or police officer, you’ll have to opt for a pair that lets you sprint or dash while chasing a robber or thief. At the same time, the boots should be lightweight enough so that you are not bogged down when running.
Additionally, the pair should be made of robust and best quality materials so that they can resist everyday wear and tear and yet remain functional. Also, the outsole should have prominent and deep lug patterns so that you can dart effortlessly through slushy terrain, muddy ground, and slippery surfaces.
Heel brake or lug improves the traction when you’re climbing a barrier or obstacles like a steep precipice or a tall tree.
Boots for military and army personnel are designed ergonomically, keeping in mind the terrains where they are used as well as the extraordinary situations. Imagine a soldier or lieutenant trekking and trudging across the rocky and sandy topographies of Iraq, Libya, or Afghanistan. Also, take into account the extremes of temperature in these regions-it could get unbearably hot during the daytime and chill to the bone at night.
Tactical boots that are ideal for these environments are constructed out of full-grain leather, EVA, and polyurethane materials. The inner sole is shaped out of wicker fabric that helps in shifting sweat to the outer surface and prevents the sweat from saturating the underside of your feet.
The lining also has microscopic holes for allowing the sweat to escape, thereby keeping the feet comfortable, dry, and cool.
Tactical boots for recreation are meant for everyday, regular, and outdoor use. This type of boot is not only comfortable to wear when you are walking on the city roads or traveling in buses or trains but also keeps your feet cool and comfy when you go trekking in the mountains or forested areas. These boots are voluminous at the arch of the foot and somewhat taut around the heel and ankle.
Appropriate or customized fit
This is perhaps the most crucial aspect to bear in mind while you’re out to buy a pair of sturdy tactical boots. A personalized or appropriate fit simply does not imply that you feel comfortable after you insert your feet and take a walk around the showroom. You can only conclude that the pair is a snug fit when you feel comfortable wearing them for long periods in environments where you are used to working in.
And since you won’t be able to assess that level of comfortableness in a shoe store, you can try out the following steps:
- Get inside the pair keeping them unlaced. Try pushing the index and middle fingers in between your heel and the boot. You should be able to plunge in and take out the fingers quite effortlessly.
- Now, lace up the boots just as you do with a pair of regular shoes, and saunter up and down the room. Move abruptly towards your right or left. Your heel should stay in place while you pace up and down-if it slithers to the right or left, then that pair is not for you or your feet that is.
- In the final step, try walking quickly with abrupt, jerky forward and backward movements. If the front section of the boot grazes your toe, then it is another sign that the pair is not the right fit for you.
Protection
It should be a given that no matter whichever type of tactical boots you opt for, should furnish foolproof protection to your entire feet. The arch of the back should have a thick layer of padding to keep your ankle cushioned.
The design of the arch should be such it offers extra support and balance, especially when you are in rugged or jagged terra firma.
The rubberized outsole should be sufficiently thick to safeguard your feet from thorns and spikes as well as from the roughness of the terrain. There should be enough ruts and grooves on the underside of the sole to facilitate traction and prevent slips. The upper should be extraordinarily durable and tough to protect the face of your feet.
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Conclusion
The market for tactical boots is chock-a-block with a wide range of brands where every brand claims to be better than the rest. So, selecting a pair (out of the myriad variety available) that will work for you could be a tall order. However, after going through this blog, we hope that you may not have to struggle to find your perfect pair.
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