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!

Quality, comfort and fit!

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.

*Note- I normally wear New Balance shoes in 9.5 4E. I bought the 10." Wide boots.I had spent a couple of months looking for a pair of boots with a side zipper when I found these. Compared to the pair of Bates boots that I tried at Sears- these are a far better buy. They don't leak nearly as much- but mainly for rainy weather- your not going to be wading in these. The zippers are YKK types- much stronger than the flimsy cheap zippers on the Bates.In terms of fit- 10 was unavailable and these are not available in 9.5 4E. I wound up getting 10 2Es- and they fit perfectly, so I'd say they run a bit smaller than New Balance. I have rather flat feet- and the insoles are perfectly fine for me. They will take a bit to fully break in, but so far I've never felt better when standing for long periods.The toe is reinforced- these aren't steel-toed. The soles have rather aggressive treads- so make sure to knock the mud off. The zippers are really handy for taking the boots off without having to deal with the laces after a long day. For the price this is a great deal, as the Bates go for 120$.These are manufactured in Vietnam.Highly recommend this pair of boots if your looking for a pair of boots with a tall ankle cuff+ side zipper.3 Year update-It's now well into 2019 and I still have this pair and the smaller version. I did have to get them both re-heeled at a cobbler's as the lining on the cuffs began to shred apart and clump up about 2 years in. The insole top liner glue was also starting to lose tack and the liner was coming off. The trip to the cobbler's probably increased the boot's lifespan quite a bit for ~ $50 for the pair (I got a late delivery discount).The soles still have excellent tread and no leaks anywhere else on the boots whatsoever. Both zippers are still working like a charm and I am still using the same laces that came with the boots.One downside that I don't think can be fixed- and as others have also stated in their reviews as well is the finish on the toe section of the boots. I believe it's some kind of thin rubberized vinyl that is heat-shrunk or glued to the toe itself. I haven't kicked rocks or dragged them across asphalt, but small sections of the finish are flecking off. Not at an aggressive rate, but after a while it will look pretty ugly.The stitching on the front section of the heel that curls up to meet the toe has also come out, though the heel is not coming off and there is no gap anywhere in the front toe section. I will hazard a guess and say this stitching is not structural.Overall still pleased with my purchase- best pair of general everyday wear I ever bought.