A subject not many people talk about. What kind of footwear are you taking onto the field? Boots can save your feet from a world of hurt, if you get the right ones. So, here are a few tips, as well as a review of one of the best boots I have EVER worn.

First of all, a few tips:
1. Make sure the boot fits! This is a first priority! A boot needs to be able to fit well in order to work well. If it doesn't fit, it can't do its job.
2. Make sure it wisks moisture away from your feet! You don't need athletes foot in the middle of a battle. Adding a tiny bit of baby powder every so often doesn't hurt, either (and it'll really help that smell! ;))
3. Make sure your boot is sturdy! A good boot will support your feet and ankles. Everyone has had it happen: Rolling your ankle. A good boot will help prevent this common field injury.

Some features I look for in a boot (though aren't absolutely neccessary):
1. Sole: The boots I wear on duty (I am a security officer) have a "sneaker" type of sole. This allows them to still be good and thick as a boot should, but also not have a heel that can catch on stuff when you're running. The sole should also be stitched to the upper, not glued, for better longevity. If the sole is glued to the upper, it'll come apart much faster, thus greatly reducing the life of your boot.
2. Shank: Some people prefer a shank, others don't. I'm of the former school of thought. My boots have a fiberglass shank running through the sole, so I won't impale my foot if I step on a rusty nail or other such annoyance.
3. Waterproofing: This is a touchy subject. If you're going to get multiple pairs of boots, definitely get one that is waterproofed for the cooler months. My personal boots are gore-tex lined, and they get mighty toasty.


And now... the review:

The boot I talk about above is a boot made by a great American company called Danner. The specific model I am reviewing in this article is the Acadia 8" (product number 69210), found here.

Danner is a company that specializes in footwear for law enforcement and military application. They have a large variety of footwear that I'm sure will meet your needs.

Pros:
+ Leather/synthetic construction
+ Fiberglass shank
+ Fully Gore-Tex lined
+ Stitched sole
+ Waterproof
+ COMFORTABLE
+ The warmth (during winter)

Cons:
- The weight (60 oz.)
- The warmth (during summer)
- The price tag


Construction:
These boots are expertly crafted in America (at least from what I was told when I bought them). The uppers are made from leather and Cordura, with the interior lining made of Cambrelle Nylon (which, from its name, I'm assuming is to be a brand of nylon. I can't find any more information on it). I would not reccomend wearing these boots without socks, as the nylon could get pretty scratchy.

Besides being lined with this nylon, the boots utilize Gore-Tex for waterproofing. They are waterproof right up to the top of the boot. You can stand in water up to mid-calf (where the boots come up to) and still have dry feet. I have tested this!

The midsoles are made with both rubber and polyurethane, which from wearing these boots every day for six months straight now, have provided ample shock absorbtion. The outsoles are made by an Italian company called Vibram, who is one of the largest producers of outsoles in the world. Their proprietary matierial is resistant to wear, has good traction on a wide range of surfaces, and doesn't break down in temperature extremes. The specific sole is the Vibram 148 Kletterlift design, designed with police and fire in mind.

They have a fiberglass shank, which helps protect against impalement from things such as nails and other pointy objects. The soles are also a "sneaker' sole, so they do not have a large protruding heel that can catch on an obstacle.

The specific model I have are plain toed, but steel toed is available.

Comfort:
These boots are exceptionally comfortable! Before these boots, I wore a pair of Altama jungle combat boots constantly (which are pretty darn comfortable, but are not insulated and dont' have a sole that grips well on brick and other smoother surfaces). These are by far the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. Once you break these boots in, they are set until you get them re-soled. A small piece of advice is to constantly tighten the lacing during the break-in period (which for me lasted roughly somewhere between one and three weeks). Or, if you don't feel like bothering with laces, get a zipper replacement. If you decide against the zipper attachment, I reccomend getting a lace puller (I don't know exactly what they're called. It's the tool that ice skaters use to tighten their laces). it will save your fingers a world of hurt from tightening the laces at the ankle, though be careful as it is possible to overtighten laces. Cutting off blood flow is a bad thing.

Reliability:
The Danner Acadias have been the most reliable boot I have ever worn, thus far. I have owned them for six months, and have not had even a minor malfunction yet. They are warranteed for the first year against defects in workmanship. By roughly your third or fifth year, depending on how mean you are to your feet, you'll probably be wanting a re-sole. Having Danner re sole your boots currently costs $75, which is a fraction of the price of buying a new set of boots, however the turnaround time from what I have been told is roughly three weeks. Even though the $75 price tag for a re-sole may seem high, keep in mind that it is a fraction of the boot's price. You are able to get your boots re-soled three times and still have a bit of money left over for the price of the boots. In the time it takes you to do that, you'll probably have hung up your guns! That is between 9 and 15 YEARS! Imagine buying three pairs of boots in that time!

Price:
As discussed earlier, one of the largest drawbacks to the Danner Acadia 8" boots is the price. They have the boots listed at $244.00 less shipping. I got mine f or roughly the same price plus tax (about $250 total) in a local uniform store) which most likely costs less than the shipping, however I am not sure.



Danner is truely the Caddilac of boots. Sure, their high price point may be a turn-off for some people as it costs roughly the same as half of your guns, but your feet are not an area you want to pinch your pockets on. Your feet could make you or break you in combat. Which would you prefer?