Tactical boots, what are they, and why are they useful? Tactical boots are designed for rough terrain and demanding climates in mind. Tactical boots are, in short, intended to be used on rugged terrain and in rough situations.
They are not designed for their fashionable looks, but comfort and durability. So, what defines a boot as a tactical boot? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish it from other boot types and make it stand out as a tactical boot? Most of all, how should a tactical boot fit?
How Your Tactical Boot Should Fit
Tactical boots are lighter than the average hiking boot, but they are designed for much greater flexibility and significantly more protection. Tactical boots are rarely made from just one type of material only; they are usually made from a mix of materials. Most tactical boots are made from leather and a combination of other synthetic materials like nylon or Teflon and breathable mesh and other materials.
The Right Length
The boots should not be too long for your feet. The tendency is to buy a boot that fits quite loose on the feet, but that is not a good practice. The heel of your feet should not slide back and forth when you are walking. Your feet should stay in place at the back of the boots. If your heels slide back and forth inside the boot, it may cause blisters.
If the boot is too short, on the other hand, your toes will be forced into the toe box while you are walking and will cause some discomfort and also make your feet feel tired all the time. When you walk, your feet bend at the ball of the foot, pushing your toes into a forward motion, and if the boots are to short you will not have enough space to for the toes to move forward and your toes will then be forced into the toe box causing discomfort to your feet. This may cause blisters, and that may also cause that tired feeling at the front part of the feet.
The Right Width
Your feet should fit snugly into the instep: You would want the instep of your boots to feel snug on your feet but not too tight. Your feet should fit nicely in the instep of the boot, but with a little snugness. There should be some space left at the side of the boot so that there will be enough moving space for the front part of your feet to move when bending the ball of the feet while walking.
Your toes need wiggle space: You should have a little bit of moving space for your toes to wiggle. If your toes cannot wiggle inside the tactical boot, the boot is too tight, and it will create hot spots and a certain amount of discomfort. What it could also lead to is that when you are in a colder environment, it may restrict the blood flow that could lead to cold sores. As you can see, you must have wiggle space.
What is the Right Height?
Your tactical boot should fit nicely but not too tight on your heels. Test the boots by putting them on and tie them loosely, then walk around with the boots on. The heel of your feet should not slip up and down inside the boot because that could cause some major discomfort, your heel will get chafed, and the inner lining of the boot will rub off, eventually leaving you with the raw outside material of the tactical boot; you can imagine what type of injury that would cause.
The ankle height will also play a part if the boot fits comfortably around the ankle. The height of the ankle should be around 6 inches for ample ankle support because they are more flexible than say an 8-inch ankle height, but that also depends on how tight your laces are, which is another point to discuss on how a tactical boot should fit.
The laces are an essential factor in how well your tactical boots fit. It is preferable to have the laces not too tight at the top of the feet but a little tighter around the ankles, but you would not want it to be so tight that it will restrict the blood flow.
Final Thoughts
The last thought on how tactical boots should fit is the type of socks you wear with the boots. Keep in mind that if you wear thick socks, you will have to go for a larger boot size, especially in colder weather.