Customer Reviews

Men's Bates 8" Tactical Sport Composite Toe Side Zip Boot (8 M in Black)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love these boots! This is the first pair of side zips I have owned, and I won't go back! They are wearing well, fit well, and make it easier to get into quickly. As a Paramedic I appreciate how easy they are to put on and take off. The soles are durable and I like the composite toecap. The leather could be thicker as I fell and scuffed the toe, which put a hole through the leather, but so far haven't had any water leaks to my feet. I also had to wear arch supports with cheaper boots, but don't need to with my Bates boots. Will definitely buy again.

I have spent alot of time in tactical boots over the years, and these are by far the best I have had the pleasure of wearing. Lightweight and durable, they are comfortable and provide the right amount of ankle support. They breathe well, and the composite toe is lighter and just as rugged as a steel toe. They may run just a little bit big, so if you are right on the cusp between two sizes, go with the smaller.

[...]these boots are super light and durable, easy to break in, as comfy as boots can be

I'm a big guy with big calf's and these fit great. I work as a 911 dispatcher working long hours and they hold up great!

I am pleased with this purchase. This is my second pair of these boots. The first pair wore well and provided long term comfort. The convenience of being able to wear them through metal detectors is a real plus. (I have to go though security on a daily bases). The side zipper also adds convenience. The 90 buck and change price with free shipping was the best total price that I found on the internet. 05/2/2011 Update: I just purchased my forth pair of these boots, again for $90 plus change including shipping. I have worn safety toe work boots for over thirty years and these are the most comfortable I have ever had. On the job (in an industrial environment) I walk around a lot on hard concrete and asphalt floors and frequently climb ladders. A pair of these boots consistently lasts me about 14 months then the inner lining rips out and the heal cup breaks apart. It is always the right boot, always the heal. This makes it difficult to get the boot off as my foot heal catches on the liner. When this happens I do a repair with duct tape then order a new pair. If it were not for the liner ripping out I think I could get many more months of constant use before I wore out the sole. I have talked to other coworkers that also like this boot and they have similar experience with them. The 14 month life span is okay for me as my employer will pay for one pair of safety shoes a year and these are not horribly expensive for nonmetallic safety shoes.

I have owned my Bates side zip tactical boots for over 8 months now. My first impression was that they are comfortable (but not as much as my Red Wings of the same style) and fairly durable boot that fit well with no hitches. They seemed to weather rain ok with no major catastrophes. I wore these boots everywhere for work, motorcycling and play.
Recently they have let me down. I was out in the field and a zipper pull break which I replaced with 550 cord. Then within a few weeks the zipper failed completely. I tried to re set it but it will not hold under any kind of tension. I have recently wrote them about any kind of warranty they may have to fix these otherwise great boots. Will update with their response......
It is now 13 Nov and still no reply. I will not be buying any products from Bates again, I urge others to do the same.

These things are great ! They are lighter than other similar boots I have had in the past. I have had them for about 2 months and I still wear them everyday.

I would say that they are about .5 size bigger than what they say they are. All of my other boots are 11 and they fit great, these are a little big. I solved this by adding in a thicker insert.

These boots are fantastic. I've owned a pair for several years, wearing them daily and as part of my motorcycle gear. Bought them originally in the hope that their no-metal construction would let me opt out of the TSA's ridiculous Safety Dance at the airport (no such luck), but they've also turned out to be the most comfortable and durable pair of boots I've ever owned. I've frankly abused mine, so they look their age, but they're still perfectly intact with plenty of tread left on the soles. I came here looking for another "dress" pair, but will keep my current pair in service until they fall apart - which at this rate looks to be at least a few more years.

I'm really happy with this boots. I'm an Engineer and therefore I've to visit quite often construction sites. Last week I had to go to a big water reservoir construction; the area was muddy, with some snow and water puddles all around. The boots perform as if they were waterproofed keeping my feet warm and dry. Besides its good performance they are confortable, very light, well constucted and have a nice look.

Good quality boot, except for the zipper. It is of lighter weight and the plastic material is not durable.
All in all, I'd recommend this boot.
Thanks,
Dana L. McDade