Bate’s Men’s 8″ Ultralight Tactical Side-Zip Boots

I usually wear these boots to the farmers market and for running errands to the hardware store or lumber yard. They go well with jeans or tactical pants and do a great job of protecting your ankles and feet. I can be on my feet all day in these and be comfortable.

I would describe these as an all-weather boot – they do just as well in the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Yes, your feet are going to get wet if you’re trudging through standing water, but I’ve been impressed with how dry they keep my feet dry even when it’s raining very hard. The soles have a balanced profile that provides excellent traction on concrete (both smooth and rough), grass, and dirt.

My favorite thing about these boots is the side-zip feature. I occasionally wear some of my old Marine Corps-issued Bates boots that are the traditional lace-up design. They are sometimes a real chore to put on due to the extreme rigidity of the area right where your heel slips down to rest on the sole. These side-zip boots are so much easier to put on, but feel just as stable once they’re on. It’s not something you think about if you’re going to have them on for hours at a time, but I appreciate the convenience when I find myself taking my boots on and off frequently when I enter and exit my house when I’m working on our property.

The leather seems to be good quality, as it remains supple but doesn’t scratch very easily. It also takes very well to a coat of Lincoln shoe polish. I prefer Lincoln over other brands of polish I’ve tried because it really gets into the grain of the leather with minimal effort.

This exact boot is one of the most popular among law enforcement due to its function, value, and durability. Millions of first-responders, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines rely on Bates boots. I had a positive experience with their boots while in the service and continue to be a customer to the present day.