5.11 Tactical A/T Midboot Review
Morgan Rogue 05.06.22
I’m always looking for a durable boot because we do a lot of hiking, walking, and general movement at the range so I’m honestly not interested in the cheaper shoes because they explode within a week of using them.
I will gladly spend more money on a boot that is going to not only last but be comfortable as well. As I said, I’m very active and while these aren’t running shoes, these are my do-everything-else-shoes.
Personally, I’ve become more accustomed to and interested in boots that are mid or high-rise. This is what first attracted me to the A/T Midboot. I tend to lean more towards mid-rise these days because they offer support, but also extra mobility. High-rise boots tend to restrict movement a bit I’ve noticed and while they offer the most support, I’m looking for a good balance of support and flexibility.
I don’t know if I had any ‘break-in’ period with these boots, I honestly don’t remember if I did. If I did, it was very short, because they were comfortable right from the get-go. I will say, I got the wrong size, but it was just ever so slightly off, that a little extra tightening of the laces and they’re just fine. I don’t slip around in them and therefore don’t get any blisters or anything, so hey, even if you get the wrong size, they’ll still fit! Hah.
I’m sure 5.11 would have been happy to exchange them, but it was way more of a hassle for me to exchange for such a minor shoe size difference, especially when there are no issues at all, such as blisters.
I think this is a unisex boot. I can’t see anything that says it’s specifically for men or women. I’m a woman and it fits my feet just fine, and the sizes go up to 14 and they even offer wide, so I really think these are unisex. They look and feel good on me, so I don’t see why they couldn’t do the same for a guy.
I’ve tested these boots in all kinds of terrain and they really kick butt in just about anything. The only terrain I’ve had trouble with is mud. And it’s not that I’ve had trouble with it, because I wasn’t slipping around, but the boots held onto mud like it was magnetically charged to it. I instantly felt my feet get heavier the more I walked in the boot. Scraping it off isn’t that big of a deal, but I don’t know if I’ve ever come across a boot that held onto mud like that. Or maybe our mud is just very clingy. I don’t know.
Regardless, the magnetic mud isn’t a deal-breaker at all. In general, they’re slip and oil resistant, so whenever there’s no mud caked on the bottom, they really do keep traction, especially on slick rocks. That’s one thing I always look for in a boot; how can it handle rocks and more importantly, slick rocks? We tend to always hike uphill over trails that are covered in rocks and I’d like a boot with some good traction. And these boots deliver.
I’m really happy with these A/T Midboot’s by 5.11 and I highly recommend that you check them out for yourself!
