Bates Men's Cobra 8" Hot Weather Military Tactical Boot - Lightweight Combat Boots for Hiking, Work & Outdoor Adventures

I bought the set of boots as a spare pair to wear with my OCPs. The boots are official uniform items, the color is perfect, the height is perfect, and the fit is perfect as well. I wear the boots on a daily basis, 10-12 hours a day, so far no problems. It took a couple of days to brake them in. The only part to brake was the middle, front of the boots. That part was a little tight and left my left foot hurting. But now that I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks, no issues. I definitely recommend the boots for military personnel, as part of the OCP uniform.I've only had the boots for a few months now, so I haven't had time to really test their long-term durability, but I can speak some to the comfort and construction.One thing I was looking for in my new boots was light weight without a significant compromise in durability, and these seem to fit the bill. They're pretty light and flexible (compared to the relatively stiff sole of the standard-issue Army boots) and I can run in them without the weight being much of a bother. The boots were pretty comfortable for me almost right out of the box, and I didn't feel like they required much break-in time. They were rubbing my heel a little, on a hike, but not too bad.After my last hike, I did notice a small piece of the sole ripped off. It was one of the "knobs" that protrude out from the boot in the back. However, I am pretty rough on boots and usually hike in very rocky areas. Also, the hex pattern soles seem to grip terrain pretty well.One thing I would note on the construction: I noticed that the stitching was starting to come loose in a few spots, very soon after getting the boots. It was nothing major, just a few little threads working their way out. However, my standard procedure with all my boots is to put super glue on the stitching in certain places to protect it and prevent it from coming apart.So far, the only two complaints I have are as follows:One, the lack of a pull loop in the back to make pulling the boot on easier. In my opinion, that should be a standard feature on boots, and I will probably have some sewn on in the future.Two, is the lacing system. One thing I appreciate about the standard-issue army boots is the design of the eyelets, which allow you to pull all the laces tight quickly and easily because there's very little friction. These Cobra boots are not as quick to lace up. I have to pull the laces tight one pair of eyelets at a time, working my way to the top of the boot. It may not be a huge deal to some people, but sometimes it pays to save a few seconds getting your boots on.Perhaps I will update my review in the future when I've put more miles on them and had a chance to test their performance in a wet environment.So as my title suggests is that these are amazing boots, and that for the first two weeks I've had em now they seem pretty good. The only issue I don't like is that the seam between the soles/tread and suede leather is that there's what looks the adhesive agent is showing but it's pretty much gone now. I'll update/edit the longer I have them.Great hot-weather lightweight boot. Very comfortable. The boot is fully lined and the nylon is padded, but probably not waterproof. Fits slightly like a cowboy boot, somewhat narrow, which I like. Some ventilation holes but no grommets, so these are OK for somewhat wet conditions -- you won't soak your feet by stepping in a puddle which lets water in through large grommet holes, like many hot-weather boots. The coyote color looks great. Some have mentioned that heel rub is a problem because the heel is so fitted, but I find that if you lace these properly, not too tight in the wrong places, then there is no heel rub even after hours of hiking. Highly recommended -- you will be happy!UPDATE: I encountered more heel rub in one foot. By experimenting, I discovered that I could eliminate this heel rub by not lacing the boots all the way up. If I leave the top eyelets open, the heel rub stops. Therefore, as I continue to break these in, I see that the heel needs to break in for the heel rub to cease being a problem. So I took off one star. Still, when these boots work well, they are extremely comfortable. I just have to be careful about the heel.All of the metal lace holes have ripped right off the boot while lacing up. Only been wearing for a month, on clinic duty- not in the field!A friend of mine got these a couple months ago and said they were very comfortable. I tried her pair on to test the fit for myself and immediately ordered a pair. These boots look great and fit comfortably. There has been no need to break them in. It's like walking on pillows but with good support.Edit: I've bought two pairs of these in the last year and a half. I have an issue where the eyelets keep busting off. While the leather has not torn where the laces pull, it doesn't look good or professional. The fabric on the inside of the heel has also been torn up considerably. The soles of the second pair started falling apart a few months into wearing them. I did not bring either pair home from my deployment. While still rather comfortable overall, I will not be buying these boots again.I will however note that my above mentioned friend's boots have not deteriorated like mine have. I do not know if I am that much rougher on my boots or if she just has better luck.I can't speak to longevity just yet but right out of the box these fit wonderfully compared to other boots I have worn. Upon putting them on they felt light, comfortable, and accurate to size(I am a 10.5). The first thing I did to test them out was to go on a short mile jog to see how they felt. I have rarely run with my previous boots because they can rub and cause blisters. Not only did these ones not chafe or hurt but it was a comfortable run. Not that I plan on doing much running in them and I am far from an avid runner. But just an FYI.Pros: comfy, good fit, breathable, light.Cons: The laces are a little short for my preference but are good quality. An easy fix to replace.Boots feel good and fit as expected however on first use when lacing the top eyelet broke out. I’ll keep them as I’ve already thrown out the box so it will be a hassle to return, however for this price I would expect more durability. Hopefully this will be the only issue I have with them for the rest of the year. I’ve rated them low due to this issue as I have concerns over how long these will now last.These army boots are more comfortable than a lot of the other army boots. Recommended these for sure they are a high boot though.I looked it up through Bates and the boot is supposed to come with a special padded midsole that has a hexagon pattern and an insole on top of that, this Pair didn't have the top insole that completes the boot. I've yet been able to fully asses their quality or wear due to this.These shoes are the most comfortable I foot ? wear I have ever had, I have always had issues with shoes for the longest time but these solved my problem, I am buying a second pair, the breathability is just too good, also it's a beautiful shoe.Not a great boot. Functionally and visually fail. They are somewhat comfortable and there is a good quality sole in the boot. But if you're in the military and spend a lot of time on your feet, do yourself a favor and get a better pair of boots.