511 XPRT Boots

I am something of a convert to 5.11 Tactical clothing and gear, having found every item from them that I have tested to be extremely well made, well designed and well up to its intended usage.

The XPRT (Extreme Performance for Rapid Tactics) Tactical Boot makes no change to my favourable impression of 5.11 Tactical products and, as their top of the range 8” boot for urban operators, it is full of useful and practical features.

Design and Build
Apparently British Special Forces had input in the design of the XPRT Boots. The uppers are made from American full-grain leather with 1200D texturised nylon fabric panels on the sides, tongue and legs. The toe and the sides of the toe area are protected from abrasion with a Tufftek panel covering.

The bellows style tongue of leather and 1200D texturised nylon is padded for comfort and incorporates a lace tunnel to help keep the tongue centralised. The paracord laces run over the tongue through 4 sets of eyelets and 4 sets of lace tubes and are easy to adjust.

To help avoid injuries, the ankle of the boot has an exo skeleton type “Talon Stabiliser”, a yoke that wraps around the whole ankle to give a high level of support without compromising the boot’s comfort. The heel and toe of the Xprt Boots have semi rigid reinforcement and the toe incorporates 5.11 Tactical’s patent pending “kick-toe”, a “C” shaped high strength composite toe protector that does not pinch if you fl ex the boot, but offers a high level of protection.

The leg of the boot is well padded with a comfortable collar and the whole boot has an antibacterial and moisture wicking liner, as well as a Sympatex waterproof and breathable membrane to keep feet dry and comfortable. The boots are also blood-borne pathogen resistant.

The outer sole is a lugged unit that, as well as printing “5.11” in your tracks, is quiet, oil and slip-resistant, offering good traction on most surfaces. The sole wraps up around the toe and heel to give protection and grip and the sole shape includes a measure of “rocker” for ease of movement.

The XPRT Boots incorporate 5.1 Tactical’s lightweight shock mitigation system of various construction elements combined to offer superior support and cushioning from impact. These elements include: an injection moulded Phlyon midsole, a non-metallic shank, a Hypertex lasting board, a dual-density Polyou cushioning and a removable, cushioned insole.

Comfort Matters
All this adds up to a boot that is superbly comfortable (possibly the most comfortable boot “straight out of the box” I have ever tried on), as well as being lightweight (1,600g size 43), supportive, protective and tough. In comfort terms the XPRTs feel more like trainers; in performance terms they are as tough as old boots!

Since I received the review sample, the 5.11 Tactical XPRT Boots have barely left my feet and I have used them in a wide variety of conditions from the urban environment they are primarily designed for, through cycling and indoor exercise programmes, to rural trekking in very muddy conditions and even wading ankle deep in a stream while building a rock causeway. The XPRTs have proved comfortable throughout and show no real sign of their tough usage.

Comfortable, protective, supportive and easy to wear, the 5.11 Tactical XPRT Tactical Boots are proving to be the best “all-rounder” footwear I have worn for quite a while.

The only minor carping comments I can make are that the boots are proving a little warm for summer wear, the little pocket on the ankle is of very limited function, and I fi nd the “cinch system” lace lock unnecessary. I have removed the cinch system (as suggested in 5.11 Tactical’s literature) and these simple friction locks are now serving good purpose elsewhere in my kit.

5.11 Tactical XprPRT Tactical Boots come in sizes 4, 5, 6-12 in half sizes 13, 14, 15, in black only and cost around £165. For more information contact 5.11 Tactical on tel. 01782 515901 or visit www.511tacticaleu.com