Maelstrom Tactical Combat Boots - Mens Lightweight Full Grain Leather Side Zipper Military Boots - 8" Heavy-Duty Leather Boots with Reinforced Toes

I bought these exact boots 13 months ago and have worn them every single work day since. That is 45-70 hours per week, every week, in the rain, shine and snow, climbing many stairs, stepping in and out of vehicles, sometimes running including short sprints. Here is "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", and why I ultimately decided to buy them again:The Good: They are out-of-the-box comfortable, fit exactly to size, look good, have a composite shank (important for people like me who go through metal detectors for work), can be shined with polish and I love a side zipper. The metal gromets for the laces never popped out and don't set off a metal detector. The side zipper is indestructible. The tag doesn't say waterproof but they felt like it. They aren't "cold weather" boots but they kept my feet warm without making them sweat. Great gripping surface, even when carrying a load over wet surfaces I never felt like I was going to slip.The Bad: The Velcro side tabs become unusable after about 6 months of continual wear. The top of the boot is quite open and doesnt tie tight enough to keep your pant leg tucked in. You will need boot blousing straps to keep that appearance. The outer material can be polished but it scratches very easily. To maintain a professional appearance you will have to maintain this boot. I didn't because I wanted to evaluate them by themselves, and after about 9 months of continual use they became "trashy".The Ugly: The included laces are fragile and broke after 6 months, which is why I said left them out of the picture. I put in a pair of laces from another boot and that was fine. The boots did crack and rip open but remember I did NOT maintain them, I just wore them to see what would happen and when. Cracks happened around 7/8 months, holes around 10/11 months that let water in.So, what is the final verdict? Despite the material shortcomings (laces) I bought this boot again. This boot doesn't pretend to be the best boot out there, but I believe it IS the best boot for the money. If I didn't work in these every single week they would have lasted longer, but 1 year how I treat them is good enough, and great for the price. DO expect to toss them after a year. DO expect to replace the laces with something better. DO enjoy the money you saved by buying this boot instead of another, more expensive boot that you would replace in 1 year anyway. I go through boots once a year, and this is now my go-to boot.

I am a paramedic and use this boot for work. I was skeptical at first due to the low price. Boots usually last me around 6-8 months, I am very hard on them. I will update this as I use them more but I will list my first impressions below.Pros: Very lightweight boot, I don't feel weighed down but it still seems to have plenty of traction. I have used it so far in muddy conditions, as well as climbing up hills and going through puddles. My feet are staying dry and the boot seems to clean up pretty easily. The zipper works nice and does not seem to get jammed up. The value is outstanding, it fits the same as my bates boots and feels like a 511 in terms of comfort. It is blood borne resistant.Cons: The leather feels thinner than other boots I have owned, not sure how this will play out in the long run.Overall: it is a nice boot for the money 49.99 on amazon. It arrived very quickly took 3 days free shipping. I am satisfied with my purchase. I will update this review in about a month.2 month update: I wear these at work I on average work 72-96 hours a week, these boots have been in rain, mud, oil spills, gas leaks, and house fires. They have held up very well, the only evidence of any damage is one scuff mark on the top of the boot. In wet conditions my feet have stayed dry and warm. They seem to grip the surface well. The best feature I have found so far is they are very lightweight, and after a day on my feet I don't feel like I am dragging them. I highly recommend this.1 year 5 month update: I figured my boots were getting a little too scratched up, so I would order another pair. I cannot believe these boots have lasted over a year and 5 months. I still wear them everyday. The zipper and Velcro both are working fine. I have polished them a total of 5 times, they have been in rain, sleet, snow, mud, salt, oil, fuel spills, and any other disaster you can name. My feet stay dry in them, I have no complaints. These are a great boot, they are starting to show their age but just from being worn out, never thought I could say that about a boot. I will try to attach some pictures. I am buying new ones today, but will continue to use these around the farm. I will post another update when they finally break. I am also going to try to add some photos of the boots.The pictures of the boots are ones that are over a year and a half old (2nd pair purchased) I am still happy with them, they have lasted. I am not easy on my boots. I have not been compensated in any way shape or form.

Finally have found a decent compromise to overpriced "motorcycle boots/street shoes". Fit is very comfortable with plenty of support and padded protection for ankles. Very light weight for their size and comfortable to walk in. For me that's a huge plus as it saves me having to pack a set of "street shoes" when I'm out touring. Granted these aren't evening dress shoes, but they have enough style to blend in most environments without all the straps and buckles of the typically overdecorated motorcycle wear.My single reservation at this point are the laces. Historically, laces and moving machinery don't play well together. So I've adjusted mine to best security and comfort level, double-tied then and will put a drop of adhesive on the knots for an extra measure of security. Once you've adjusted the laces to your personal preference, the side zipper is all you need when putting them on and taking them off.If I research long enough, I may be able to come up with some solution allowing me to remove the laces entirely.In the interim, they're comfortable, rugged, well constructed, adapt well to shifter and brake use, and cost less than half of what a set of "motorcycle boots/shoes" will set you back.I do recommend them.