Super Lightweight Work Boot!
These boots are absolutely the best work boot I've owned. After nearly three month's use, here is my assessment. Fit: they are absolutely true to size. My size 10 foot pushes up on the exact line between 10 and 10 1/2. This makes shoe purchases difficult for me, dependant on the last. The Bates Tactical allows just a fraction extra length so my foot feels totally comfortable all day long and never pushes up against the toe, even carrying a heavy loads down hill. Comfort: the combination of water proof fabric and leather make these boots extremely comfortable and easy to break in within a few days. Even better, the side zipper makes them a breeze to get in and out of. The plastic eyelet at the fifth lace point allows me to tie off the lace below the ankle for extra freedom of movement when I don't need the support; and won't come undone when getting in and out via the side zipper. Weight: this is the best feature. These hard-toe work boots weight about as much as a pair of lightweight hiking boots! Compared to the bulk of 3- 5 lbs shoes out there (and I've tried them all) these boots are a cloud to walk in.I'll address some of the negative reviews I read. First, if you plan to throw these boots into a wood chipper or drag the toes over concrete regularly, these may not be the best for you. The leather over the toe box feels a little lighter than heavier boots with metal toe caps. Also legitimate is the complaint that the seam dividing the lower and upper parts of the tongue wears on the ankle. Bates would be wise to redesign the tongue so that seam falls lower on the sides. I used a needle and thread to put an 1/8" dart on the inside seam. This was probably unnecessary as after a few days wear the boots broke in with no more issue. If you experience that problem, my advice would be to first wear the boots a few hours a day at home until they break in.All in all, I'm very satisfied with this purchase. These are super light, super comfortable, super smart-looking safety boots I can wear all day long, even just for hanging out!