Smith & WessonMen's Footwear Breach 2.0 8" Side Zip Military and Tactical Boot

These boots are nice. Light weight, comfortable, breathable, and solidly constructed. They look pretty cool, too. I love the side zipper, it's way better than undoing laces after a long day of work, and then wrestling my boots off, loosening laces again, wrestling more... With these it's just a velcro tab and a zzzip and they slide right off with no undue effort. I was able to wear them at work all day, straight out of the box - they are flexible enough to where they don't need an extensive "breaking-in" period like some other boots. and then there's the "cool factor" because they're Smith & Wesson branded. everybody says "wow I didn't know they made boots"I bought these to replace a worn-out set of Magnum boots, and I like these way more. they're lighter, more flexible, and they look cooler I think. also the tread is more "rubbery" and it's softer to walk on, and grips a slick surface better than the harder soles on the Magnums. No steel toe on these, but it's a welcome change, just for the weight difference. the toe is "reinforced" with plastic, but it definitely won't protect like a steel toe.. something to keep in mind if you need that extra protection you might wanna look into a different model with a steel toe. I've only had them a day, so I can't testify to their longevity, only time will tell. but so far I think they're great! No blisters or rawness, my feet felt great after 10 hours working on my feet in them. (update: good so far, after 2 months)I ordered 10.5 size, my normal size, and they fit with no problem. no need to go up or down compared to other boots. I've got pretty flat feet, so I don't like any kind of arch in the sole, and these don't bother my non-arch at all. compared to red wing boots, the arch in those was agony after a few hours walking in them... also the price isn't bad, $70 compared to $100 for the Magnums, or $200 for the red wings, this seems like a good value for (IMO) better boots. Also they don't set off the metal detector, which is convenient, as I go through one on the way in and out of work, I don't have to stop to be "wanded" anymore.Edit/update: 4/14/17 (2 months later) - I've been wearing them to work every day, and they are holding up quite well. No problems with the zippers, or stitching, or anything. The leather is pretty durable, and hasn't scuffed up or gotten gouged easily like my last pair of boots (Magnum Response), they still look pretty nice. The break-in period was short and painless, which is more than I can say for a lot of other boots. I didn't get blisters from them or anything, They're still comfortable, my feet don't hurt after working being on my feet on concrete all day, including a significant amount of walking, The soles are holding up well, and have a good amount of grip. The side zipper is a god-send, it makes it so nice to take them off after a long day without having to futz around with laces, and I can throw them on really fast if I'm late getting out the door. To be honest, I think I've only untied/tied the laces twice since I got them! I'd definitely recommend these boots to anyone who has to be on their feet all day for work or whatever. 10/10 so far!

These are the best boots I've ever owned for $70. Fit was perfect - I measured my foot with a ruler and used a size chart that said I was almost exactly a size 10½. At any shoe store, including Sears where I bought the Timberland work boots these replaced, I usually have to try 9½, 10, and 10½ to get the fit right. These are 10½ and have just enough room in the toe and are snug and comfy on my ankle. They also weigh half as much as my Timberlands.I've read some of the negative comments - this was my first ever online purchase of boots I've never tried on - and they all seem to be from people who really should have tried them on before buying them. My feet are perfectly average according to measurements, and these boots fit exactly as described for the foot size used for making shoes. I also haven't seen the peeling of the shiny cover on the toes that has been reported in some reviews. I have a desk job and just really love wearing boots, so I can't speak to their durability under heavier use, but I do wear them every day and regularly ride my bike to work with them on. It's been almost 2 months since I received them and there are scuffs on the toe, but no indication that the materials are faulty.Very comfortable, very light, fit perfectly, and look nice. The side zip is a feature I never again want to live without and the tiny velcro strap that goes over the zipper pull is super functional without being a fashion feature like with some other styles of boots with a side zipper. You can barely see it, but it does exactly what it's supposed to.I reserve 5 star ratings for only the products that far exceed my expectations. 3 stars, for me, is "right price, what I expected". I am so happy with this purchase and did not expect them to be better than my Timberlands, but at $70 I was ok with them being something I keep in my closet but don't wear every day. 5 stars because I wear them non-stop for all the reasons above and they look great, even in business attire.

Toe is narrow. I don't understand why they make wide sizes with narrow toes but those that need to know, should know: this boot isn't it. Bates discontinued the boot I like so I've been forced to look for something new. I have large wide feet so it's difficult finding sizes to begin with let alone styles and fits that work. I bought these and they initially felt comfortable and I wore them for several days before I noticed that my toe was rubbing on the inside of the boot causing pain. Seems like a great boot otherwise.