Bates Men's Shock 6" Side Zip Boot

I ordered these boots in January and have worn them every single day for my job. They are without a definitive doubt, THE MOST comfortable boots I have ever worn or owned. The factory insert is very nice but after a few weeks it got very formed to my foot and I started to notice that I was fidgeting around a lot to prevent my feet from getting sore. So I went and swapped the inserts with some Dr.Scholls and OH BOY did that make a an enormous difference. It was like I put them on for the first time again! They lace up very tightly which is nice especially if you need them to be; the side zipper is such a convenient thing to have as well. All you honestly need to do is tie your laces once and never worry about it again. I tied mine so the laces hide behind the tongue and can't be seen which is nice and let my work pants lay on top more comfortably. Movement is good, traction is incredible, my feet have never gotten hot while wearing these, and YES they are waterproof. I've stood in puddles half a foot deep and didn't even notice. My pair ended up getting scuffed on the front because of some work I was doing underneath a trailer so I will definitely be ordering another pair for personal use because I am so in love with these boots and BATES as a brand. I even got my father to buy a pair of their motorcycle boots. Finally, the most important answer of them all....yes i got these because I saw them in Blade Runner 2049! Although the pair K wears in the movie are actually the 10" ones, these really are more practical when it comes to construction work since I need my ankles to not be hindered.All and all, these boots are a wise investment and I do highly recommend.

These are the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. They took no breaking in to be wearable for long periods of time with no discomfort. The side zip makes them very easy to put on and take off without weakening the side of the boot at all. Also the zip is covered by a thick flap when closed and is not noticable or in the way whatsoever.Yes these are the shoes worn by K in Blade Runner 2049 and the outside pattern looks very cool, but besides that these are great all around boots for anyone needing a tougher shoe. These are perfect for every day wear besides whatever you need them for. I highly recommend you pick these up, the sizes are normal and fit as expected.One word of warning is on my first pair there was a crease in the inside seam of one of the boots that made wearing them very uncomfortable and also showed a big crease on the outside. With Amazon's policy I was able to exchange them easily so make sure you check them out before your 30 days return period is up.

Superb boot, indoor/out. Lighter than other comparable/categorical products (except new UnderArmor models; which are not nearly as supportive, or all-weather capable. Through nearly 50 years of security/specops, hunting, hiking/climbing, SERE instruction on all types of terrains and in all types of weather--ranging from typhoons to blizzards--I've placed a premium on the quality of the boots I wore. No matter the price point. (Still have pair of WWII-manufactured [1944] mountaineering boots bought in Army Surplus Store; which doubled as cross-country ski and climbing shoes for 10th Mountain Corps in Norway. Steel-capped toes have deflected axe blades and although all-leather, bear grease and other treatments made these impermeable to water, snow, mud, etc. Ugly as hell, and heavier than a foundry workers boots, these suckers did their job. Still wear 'em occasionally, even if the grandkids call them my "Frankenstein" boots. Also have RedWings from 40 years ago (both of these purchased in larger sizes than what I was wearing previously.) Reason for this too lengthy digression down memory lane is to reinforce fact that I will never buy or endorse any boot that is not top-tier from every vantage point. Your feet can be your most valuable part of the body, if not your defense gear/weaponry. (Any of you who mucked about in the Delta in Nam can attest to importance of boots, socks [or barefoot or Panty Hose to keep leeches away and blisters under control] get the mission done without foot rot, fungus, or pain too great to be ignored.) The Bates Men's 6 Inch Strike Zip Waterproof tactical footwear just underwent an endurance test of enormous challenge in some high mountain wet rock/shale exposure, prolonged desert/sand heat, and most recently three days of intentional use in the Jonas megasnow storm that poundeda the East Coast, mainly in the Mid-Atlantic and my Northern Virginia backyard to DC. The amount of cold/wet transmitted despite light seemingly porous sides was minimal; though I did not wear beyond 2-3 hour stretches. Boots dried rapidly (2-3 hrs tops, without being near vent or using hair dryer), gripped well on grass, gravel, concrete below snow (when reached) and did not show significant discoloration or spread/elongation after significant moisture immersion. (Have dipped more than one pair of boots--incl Tony Llamas and Naconas:) in the tub to form fit those puppies to my feet, nice leather/steel shank or not.) BOTTOM LINE: A clearly SUPERIOR boot, much preferable to the ankle-top or calf-grabbers some folks choose (or their organization demands). Price point is quite good as well, without piling on for image appeal or branding like some other products. (Though BATES has solid reputation and has grabbed a prominent share of military/security footwear for several decades now, both dress and drill.) ONLY REASON I am not awarding this a coveted FIVE-STAR review is that I did feel some notable foot fatigue after 8-10 hrs wear (still impressive duration) and the "zipper sides" can compromise the sound/silent approach factor offered in the field by traditional lace-ups. Feel almost fickle about this, since it makes the boot so much easier to remove in a timely and more comfortable manner; esp for us geezers who can no longer drop down to a lotus position or bend over from the waist to pull our booties off.) Will continue wearing over time and perhaps elevate this mark. For now, I'd recommend that you double time or RUN DON'T WALK to get yourself a pair of these extraordinary boots and toss your old ones in the bin rikky-tikky-tavvy!

I purchased these to serve as my summer/shorts uniform on duty boot. The boots fit quite well, and have broken in nicely during my first few shifts at the station with them. I find them to have a "roomy" feel in the toe box, and lace snuggly and comfortably though the rest of the foot. The side zipper functions smoothly and stays securely in place when closed, while removing the boots after opening the zipper is smooth and effortless.The only "complaint" is that putting the boots back on without untying the laces seems more difficult than the 8" version in my opinion. This minor grevience could be due to v cut at the top and back of the boot, Providing for less material to grab onto while standing and pulling the boot on one handed next to a gear rack. Again this is a small gripe and something I will surely become accustom too after wearing the boot longer.Overall I can't see why this pair wouldn't hold up as well as my 8" pair, which have been in service for 6 years at this point. I highly recommend these as a good lightweight summer duty boot.