Combat boots are the most comfortable and foot-friendly multi-purpose piece of footwear for any task that requires a ton of physical activity. Sure, there are more shoes out there that are better suited to a specific purpose and don’t require breaking in, but combat boots provide your foot with more arch support compared to the average shoe, making it better for your foot’s long-term health.
Though combat boots have become a fashionable clothing item in recent years, there are still a ton of shoe manufacturers who make combat boots that are built for real action. One of them, surprisingly enough, is Nike, a brand known for making stylish, if pricey, sneakers.
Here, we’ll be taking a look at the Nike SFB Gen 2 and the Nike SFB Field 2 combat boots to see their similarities, differences, and advantages over each other.
What to Look For When Buying Nike Combat Boots
Brand
Picking a tactical boot or combat boots takes a bit more consideration than buying a regular shoe. While there are a lot of brands out there that make combat boots, the difference between them and their competitors can be night and day, especially if you’re comparing something like Oakley to an off-brand pair of combat boots.
You don’t have to pick the designer equivalent of combat boots, but to lower the chances of wasting your money, try to buy shoes only from brands that you or others trust. This typically means a brand that’s been around for decades and has a long-standing reputation for making good shoes.
Material
Combat boots used to be made exclusively from hardened and waterproofed leather. These days, new advancements in combat boot manufacturing have brought us lighter, more breathable combat boots made of Gore-Tex nylon, canvas, etc.
Non-leather canvas boots are typically lighter and a little more breathable compared to leather boots, but if you really want a classic look, there’s no beating a pair of leather combat boots.
Traction
Don’t get caught slipping. Literally. Your combat boots should have good traction so you don’t slip while hiking up muddy terrain (or a wet tiled floor). If you’re buying your combat boots in person, make sure to try them on and walk with them to see how they feel against the ground. If you’re buying them online, try to get photos of the sole.
Support
Good support means the difference between having tired feet after a long day or feeling like you just broke both of your feet and they’re about to fall off.
Always choose a pair of combat boots with good support for your ankle and foot arch. This keeps your feet aligned within your shoe, the ground, and your stride so you don’t cause long-term damage to your feet.
With that said, let’s see how the Nike SFB Gen 2 and the Nike SFB Field 2 compare to each other and how they match up to these criteria.
Nike Combat Boots Compared: Nike SFB Gen 2 vs. Nike SFB Field 2
On the left, we have the Nike SFB Gen 2 and on the right, we have the Nike SFB Field 2. The two look highly similar to each other and share the same high cut, but here are all the ways they are similar yet different.
Similarities
- Both are made of synthetic leather.
- Both are available in black and brown.
- Both have leather uppers.
- Both have an internal rock shield to prevent punctures
The Nike SFB Gen 2 and Nike SFB Field 2 share several key features. They’re both made with synthetic leather uppers and durable nylon canvases, a mix of materials that help keep the boot durable yet breathable. Since a portion of the boot is made of nylon, it allows your foot to breathe while you’re wearing the boot. Meanwhile, the leather uppers help the boot keep its shape and support your ankle.
The boots each have an aggressive tread pattern that keeps your feet firmly planted on the ground so you don’t slip and fall while you’re going about your day-to-day tasks or as you go on an outdoor adventure. Speaking of the sole, the shoe also has an internal rock shield that keeps sharp rocks and objects from puncturing the bottom of your shoe and injuring you.
Both of the boots have a fairly comfortable sole, though one of them is more flexible. That brings us to the differences between these Nike combat boots.
Differences
- Only the Nike SFB Gen 2 is DA PAM 670-1 compliant for use as part of an Army uniform.
- Only the Nike SFB Gen 2 is available in Gore-Tex.
- Only the Nike SFB Gen 2 uses a sole design derived from the Nike® Free technology.
Though both the Nike SFB Gen 2 and Nike SFB Field 2 are good, durable boots for their price, the Nike SFB Gen 2 has three key extra features that make it a bit more comfortable, offer more choices, and make it more useful for users who are in the army.
The main thing that separates the two is that the Nike SFB Gen 2 is DA PAM 670-1 compliant, meaning that you can use it as a substitute for Army-issued boots on days where you’d like to wear something a bit cushier.
These boots also have a more flexible sole compared to the Nike SFB Field 2 so you won’t have to be in pain while you’re waiting for your combat shoes to break in.
Lastly, while both shoes are made partly of canvas and leather, the Nike SFB Gen 2 has a Gore-Tex and leather option so your feet stay warm and dry no matter the weather conditions.
Our Verdict: Get SFB Gen 2 Nike Combat Boots
For your average person, there’s little to separate the Nike SFB Gen 2 from the Nike SFB Field 2, but if you’re in the Army, you’ll find the SFB Gen 2 more useful since you can wear it with your uniform. Plus, having a comfier sole doesn’t hurt.
