Footwear

Blauer Clash 6″ Waterproof Boot: A Step Ahead

The Blauer Clash 6″ Waterproof Boot is a step ahead of other duty boots with technology in a boot that works, is long lasting, durable, waterproof, breathable, lightweight, and comfortable.

When I first received my Blauer Clash duty boots, I was on vacation from work for a few weeks. I was impatient to start wearing them so on they went as I got to work on my family farm cutting down trees with a chainsaw, dragging logs out with wire rope and generally putting these boots through hell. They held up through it all and I fell in love with these boots.

I’ve had a lot of duty boots over the last 25 years and I’ve always liked my Danner boots. These aren’t anything like those. These are about a 1/3 the weight and they were immediately comfortable. I didn’t have to wait 3 to 4 weeks and go through some miserable blisters to find them comfortable. I highly doubt these boots are going to last 10 plus years like by Danner boots did but I’m completely okay with that.

The first thing I noticed about these boots is the BOA Closure System, a braided stainless steel cable. If you haven’t played around with the BOA Closure System before or heard it, think Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future when he laces up his sneakers in the future. You turn a dial and the boots cinch up to a consistent tightness that doesn’t bind, doesn’t loosen, and doesn’t knot. Wearing my boots through the brush I found the boots to be a breath of fresh air with great ankle support and no snagging my laces through the sticks. They didn’t start digging in with pinch points and they didn’t loosen. At the end of the day, I didn’t have to deal with some hideous knot when I just wanted to take my boots off.

The traction pattern on the boot was perfect for uneven terrain, dirt, wet cement, and everything in between.

The boot is light, breathable, and just downright comfortable. The cut of the ankle area was perfect when sitting in a vehicle. Some boots dig into the back of your leg when in a seated position. The Blauer Clash tactical boot has a relief cut that makes your ankle and calf still liking you at the end of a long day.

All that being said, I still found myself focused on the BOA Closure System and how much I loved being able to quickly get out of my boots or put them on.

Once back to work, they polished up to looking like new and I head out. The Blauer Clash boot is a great design and I look forward to seeing how they continue to wear. Click here to buy yours now.

U.S. MSRP $139.99

Darn Tough tactical boot socks vs. other brands

Socks, the topic nobody really focuses on until it’s too late. Rangers (and pretty much all other SOF or light Infantry types) spend a lot of time on their feet. The importance of a good quality set of socks cannot be understated. I’ve used socks from a variety of companies and have put them through hell over the years. Darn Tough still rains king and Rangers are still having them issued. I did a comparison of some boot socks I’ve used over the years and what I look for in a boot sock for heavy duty use.

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–Tim Morgan

A Green Beret’s take on the Salomon XA Forces Mid-Boot

Okay, so anyone who knows me or has read any of my articles in the past knows that I am and have always been a huge Merrell fan. Owner of too many pairs to count, Merrells are my go-to boots for anything. But that may be subject to change.

I like to scan and read whatever is out there and have been intrigued with Salomon boots for quite some time. They are producing some of the most popular boots on the market and our troops, specifically our Special Operations Forces are wearing them more during their overseas tours.

Salomon is hardly a newcomer to the boot business, they began the company under François Salomon in 1947 in Annecy, Rhône-Alpes which is located on the southeastern border of France. Now the company produces some of the very best in a variety of options. Everything from water shoes, trail running, hiking, ski boots and of course the tactical boots which we tested recently.

We ordered a set of the Salomon XA Forces Mid-Boots thru Tactical Outfitters and have been putting them thru the paces for the past few days. We’ve probably put between 25-30 miles on them thus far, so we can’t yet comment on the durability of the boots but here’s what we’ve seen at this point and we’ll add more comments below.

Pros:

Lightweight
Versatile, can function in nearly any environment
No break-in time required…worn straight out of the box
Sturdy, with improved design for hikers and tactical users
Excellent tread design, sure footing everywhere
Speed laces and storage is a small but great feature
Ortholite Sockliner
Rubber toe cap and nice roomy toe-box
Breathe well (Non-Gortex Model)

Cons:

Runs about a half-size small
A bit pricey, but not outrageously so

So, with the preliminaries out of the way, let’s get to the meat and potatoes of the boot. Aesthetically speaking, the Salomon is a great looking boot right out of the box and their lightweight immediately stood out as these not only look the part but will cut down on weight and the clunkiness of some of the heavier boots on the market.

Based on Salomon’s iconic XA Pro 3D, the XA Force Mid has been designed for Special Operations and Law Enforcement units, they’ve increased the durability and have beefed up the outsole.

With the mid-length construction, the XA Forces are light but still provides good ankle stability and support. On your feet, they feel like a tactical running shoe, right out of the box with very minimal break-in time.

The Salomon Quicklace® system is a nice feature and the storage pocket at the top of the tongue is a favorite feature of mine. Obviously, the boots will never become untied and doesn’t it seem like your boots always become untied at the most inopportune time?

The outsole uses the company’s Contagrip® MD and is purported to provide long term durability along with their lug pattern which claims to work well on hard, smooth, soft or loose surfaces. Well, how did their claim hold up? Excellently. The trail we used has all of these surfaces… and more. Between hard packed dirt, to loose rocks and scree, to small sections of either paved or concrete roads that cut across the trail. With some exposed boulders on the side of the trail, we tried the boots grip on these as well and the results were very satisfactory.

With all of the rain, we’ve been experiencing this spring, there was plenty of wet grass and even wet logs to cross and our grip on all of those surfaces was excellent. While all of this was ongoing, our comfort inside the boots was also outstanding.

For the tactical users in the crowd, Salomon has beefed up the upper with a thick rubber panel which along with the curved area at the outsole seem designed for protecting the boots while fast-roping. One of the weak areas that were addressed in the new design was the area around the toe cap. I had read where that area was where the boots (as well as many other manufacturers) would separate. So, the company went from a double to a triple stitch.

The gusseted and nicely padded tongue keeps debris and crap from getting into the boot. It also keeps the tongue centered which can be a royal pain in the backside. The mesh and textile lining do help keep your feet cool, although I’ve found that it works better with a thin layer of socks. Wearing the thicker, wool socks I normally use while rucking got my feet just a tad warm after several miles but not too uncomfortable. We weren’t interested in the GoreTex version so we didn’t test the waterproof part of the equation.

After our initial testing of these boots, one would say they aced the test, obviously, we can’t remark on durability as the time we’ve had them is much too short. If there is one drawback to these, it is that you should probably order a pair a half-size larger. When wearing my wool socks, my foot was about touching the toe of the boot. With thinner, summer socks, it wasn’t an issue. And while the price is higher than some of their contemporaries, I don’t mind paying for quality. And you most definitely get what you pay for. However, with that being said, these are some tremendous, versatile, and comfortable boots. You can wear these boots hiking, on a trip to the range or even as a casual kicking around the town boot. For rucking, they come highly recommended. I can’t get enough of them…nuff said.

I have a feeling my MOABs, (which I’ve always been very biased toward) will be collecting dust this summer. The Salomon XA Forces are going to get a ton of work during the warm weather months.

I especially liked that Tactical Distributors included two little Army men in there. While as a former radio operator (18E), I liked the guy gabbing on the radio with a Mac-10, I’m more partial to the guy with the recoilless rifle. Because… who doesn’t like blowing stuff up?

Photos: Author

This article was written by Steve Balestrieri for SpecialOperations.com

Vasque St. Elias GTX Boots

Vasque Footwear has been a footwear manufacturer in the outdoors industry since 1964. They are a reputable brand that generally puts forth products that are well-received by its consumers. Some of their footwear eventually make their way onto a few “best product” compilations by various organizations. One of these footwear is the Vasque St. Elias GTX Boots, which currently sell for $199 (at the time of writing this article). However, despite some outlets praising the St. Elias GTX, you will find that those same boots are met with mixed reviews on their official website. This came as a surprise to me as I happen to be a fan of the St. Elias GTX, which are currently my dedicated hiking boots. I have been using these boots for one and a half years and have yet to be displeased with them. For those of you looking for a new pair of hiking boots, or on the fence about Vasque’s St. Elias GTX Boots, this article may help clear the air and aid your decision.

Important Reminder: You can perform the utmost extensive research regarding which boots are best suited to your wants and needs. Unfortunately, footwear happens to be one of the most subjective pieces of gear available; in addition, all feet are different (I assume you all have seen someone with real-life-sasquatch-feet before). Just a friendly reminder to provide yourself with an opportunity to try on the boots you’re interested in before you find yourself unable to return them.

Technical Specifications (Vasque Footwear)

Weight: 3 lbs. 1 oz. (1378g)
Upper: 2.3mm Waterproof Nubuck Leather
Midsole: TPU Shank, Midsole with EVA Cushioning Pods
Outsole: Vibram® Frontier with XSTrek Compound
GORE-TEX®
Available in Men’s and Women’s Sizes
Imported

The Good…

During my winter block leave from the Army, my friend (a former Marine) and I decided to take an impromptu trip to Utah. Since this was a spontaneous trip, I did not have a pair of hiking boots for the trip. My friend spoke highly of the St. Elias GTX, so I made the decision to pick up a brand-new pair for the trails we planned to hike. Although I was initially concerned about wearing a fresh pair of boots out-of-the-box without a proper break-in period, these boots performed well, especially given the weather conditions.

Arriving at the campgrounds, there were only a handful of people present throughout our stay (just as we hoped for during the holidays). Our stay was also accompanied by an enduring storm; this entailed icy paths and nature’s generous cocktails of snow, rain, and hail. My St. Elias GTX paired with my Kahtoola MICROspikes performed surprisingly well out-of-the-box. Having hiked in a few highly reviewed boots from different manufacturers, I can indubitably say the St. Elias GTX were the most comfortable boots without any break-in period. They performed well during this trip just as they did on my most recent excursion this month to the mountains and desert. My feet felt light, secure, well-supported, cushioned, and were never wet from any water or snow.

The testing grounds. One of the few opportunities presented to take clear(er) photos.

The Bad…

The bulk of negative reviews for the boots are regarding poor lace quality or sizing. The latter can be avoided by properly sizing your boots before purchase or wearing them during a trial period if at all possible from a retailer. For example, while REI may not offer the best discounts on products, they have arguably one of the best return policies; a product can be returned within one year of its original purchase to any REI location or by mail (it should go without saying to not abuse it).

Regarding the boot laces, several users claimed the laces ripped within a limited amount of uses. I myself never had a problem with these boot laces after owning them for some time, but I’m also never one to be caught without any paracord (550 cord) in my pack, just in case. If you find yourself enamored with these boots, but concerned with the quality of laces, I recommend replacing them with paracord. Another option would be replacing the original laces with a superior boot lace such as the nearly indestructible Rhino Laces that were featured here on The Loadout Room, twice.

It is worth mentioning that a few users have reported eyelets or lace hooks breaking off of the boots. While there are only few of these reported incidents, it can be red flag while shopping for a new pair of boots. As an owner of these boots I personally don’t have a lack of faith regarding the quality of the boot as they have lasted me this long with a fair amount of use. A majority of hiking boots will always have their small share of poor reviews from online retailers.

The Verdict

The boots can be expensive at $199 a pair, but some online retailers like Amazon sell it for considerably less. If the Vasque St. Elias GTX fits your budget, and more importantly your feet, then these may be the next pair of boots for you; they’re comfortable, offer great support, and the Gore-Tex does its job well. Let me reiterate again that what may fit “best” for one person might be considered intolerable by another.

Do you own a pair of the Vasque St. Elias GTX Boots? Let us know what you think!

A Cascade Experience | La Sportiva Core High GTX

A few weeks back, six companions and I set out to summit the South Sister in central Oregon. Stepping off at 5AM without a cloud in the sky meant the weather was crisp and clear, a perfect day to summit the South Sister. For those who aren’t familiar, South Sister lies in the Cascade Range and has a significant hiking profile (5k feet in just over seven miles).

I was eager to try a new pair of hiking boots but had hesitations. I’d been encouraged to try these new La Sportiva’s out without breaking them in and was even more hesitant because I’d pegged myself as an ultra-light minimalist. Compared to the inov-8’s I’d worn in the past, these seemed like overkill.

Since my time in Ranger Battalion, I’ve followed the mantra that one pound on your feet equals five on your back. After enough miles humping in Danners and Bellevilles, I’d set out to stay light, fast, and avoid boots at all costs. I knew the day would consist of scrambling up lava rock and doing so in any shoe can cause issues, but with the Core High’s coming in at only 441 grams(.97 pounds for you metric opposers), I was more than concerned. How much support could they really give?

However, as soon as I got these boots on my feet I knew that something was different: I was comfortable, I felt supported and, most importantly, I was light. By 6AM we were out of the forest, working on the ascent. The grade increased and the ground turned to scree and sharp rhyolite. Despite this and a pack full of water and pogey bait, my feet felt great. I had numerous opportunities to roll my ankles and was solid – I’d walked through some light streams and yet, my feet were dry.

At the summit, we found a field of packed corn snow that had thawed and refrozen dozens of times through the summer. For the rest of the party, walking across was a challenge. The track was narrow and folks were slipping. Had I been wearing my worn out trail shoes I’d likely have been in the same position but the Sportiva’s kept me on the path with minimal effort.

Everyone knows that the vast majority of hiking/climbing injuries happen on the descent. You’re tired, focused on that warm Gatorade you’ve got waiting in the car, and aren’t placing your feet as carefully as you were on the way up. After five hours of ascent, I was at risk for, at best, a rolled ankle on the way down. However, the high tops of the Sportiva’s kept me in check. Coming off the mountain with Bachelor and Broken Top in view I felt like I was flying. I rarely had to stop and, for once, I wasn’t thinking about my feet. They didn’t ache, they were dry and, despite the fact that these boots were brand new, I had no hot spots.

Looking back at my time in Ranger Battalion I would have killed for a boot like this. Light and sturdy, able to take on the Hindu Kush or the streets of Ramadi. I’d be comfortable wearing these chugging up a 50% grade with the 240B, sprinting from a helicopter, or coming down a high fast rope.

Get your La Sportiva Core High GTX here

Guest Author – Kyle Morris. Kyle served in 2nd Ranger Battalion from 2003 – 2007. Over that time he had four deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantryman and graduated from Ranger School in 2005. In 2010 he earned a Bachelors of Science in Business, Entrepreneurship from the University of Oregon and has spent the past five years working in the tech industry in Silicon Valley.

5.11 Pursuit Advance Boots: A tactical boot in a casual profile

Nearly a year ago to the date, I acquired the 5.11 Pursuit Advance Boots. Originally I was drawn to the casual design, but as soon as I put the boots on I was in love. The Pursuit Advance are amongst the topmost comfortable boots I have ever put on, are extremely light, and extremely mobile. I have some hesitations about the durability we’ll cover that.

I have used them during my attendance to many Law Enforcement schools, some of which have required miles of running in full kit and other physical activities such as pivoting, changing direction, squatting, etc. The boots have not let me down and I am honestly impressed with their comfort. I have also worn them out to dinner and on camping trips with my family, which shows their versatility and ads to value.

5.11 went with some solid features to attract the quiet professional. Details like “High-performance tactical boot in a casual profile”, “5.11 RECON® footbed for stability and agility”, and “Supports 5.11® Blood Patch Type Kit” can’t be overlooked. But the good stuff is in the sole. The Pursuit Advance rocks an Ortholite® insole which aids in comfort and performance and moisture control, a full length CMEVA midsole for a high tolerant and sleek design, an 8mm heel-to-toe drop for mobility, and all the lugs you could hope for (forefoot, arch, and climbing lugs) for solid grip and agility.

Some wear and tear is expected considering what I have put these boots through. However, I can’t say that I am pleased with their durability. The sole is cracking on my left boot where my foot bends at the toe; most likely from running, kneeling and getting up and down off the ground. Additionally, the left heel is slightly damaged, but I will take some of the blame for this. I tend to get lazy at times and use my right shoe to peel my left shoe off at the heel. There are also random parts on the boot that are staring (ever slightly) to peel from the sole. They are holding their integrity for the most part, but I can’t see them lasting much longer.

I own several pairs of boots that I can confidently say outperform the Pursuit Advance from a durability standpoint. The Pursuit Advance, however, cost significantly lower than their outperforming competitors and are much more comfortable. I would like to see 5.11 put a little more into the durability if they are going to pitch this boot as a “ready for anything” boot. Even if it raises the price; I personally would pay a little more for a boot that is going to last me longer. There are several brands out there that can go several years with showing less wear and tear than the Pursuit Advance but, to be fair, considering the price point and comfort, the Pursuit Advance makes a solid buy for the right customer.

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