5.11 Tactical Coyote Boots
- By John Fenna
- Last updated: 26/01/2017
It is getting pretty obvious (to regular readers at least) that I am a fan of 5.11 gear, finding that every item of their manufacture that I have tested to be well designed, well made and well up to their job. These Taclite 8” Boots only reinforce my conclusions that 5.11 make excellent gear right across their range!
5.11 Taclite 8” Boots are designed for hot, dry conditions (of which we have had precious little this year – but enough for me to test the boots) and are light, breathable and have a host of useful features.
to test the boots) and are light, breathable and have a host of useful features.
Sausages!
The boots lace with 5.11’s “sausages” laces that bulge, and thin, like – a string of sausages – and stay tensioned and tied better than normal flat or round laces. The lacing extents right to the toe of the boots with a “Zonal Lacing System” of several areas that can be differently tensioned for a “custom” fit for superior comfort. The laces run through 8 sets of eyelets and one set of lace tubes over a padded and vented tongue that has half-height bellows fittings to help keep out debris. At the ankle and forefoot there are three flex notches in the lace mount, while the eyelets third from the toe are mounted on separate “tongues” to help pull the boot snugly onto the forefoot for stability.
At the top of the tongue there is a “lace station” to keep the lace ends tidy, controlled and snag-free when walking through thick scrub, and there is a hidden pocket for small items on the outside of the leg area.
Construction
The boots are “Strobel” lasted with a slight “rocker” and have a composite shank, a compressed moulded midsole and a TPU external ankle stabilizer for support and cushioning, while inside the boots there is a moisture wicking liner that is anti-microbal to help avoid fungal infections etc, and a removable, contoured, replaceable Ortholite insole for extra support and comfort.
The oil and slip-resistant outer sole is shaped for flexibility and has very effective lugs for excellent grip on most surfaces and features a toe bumper, heel brake and fast rope control tread in the arch.
Conclusions
All in all, the 5.11 8” Coyote Boots have proved to be – as I expected - comfortable, tough and well suited to rugged use. As with other 5.11 boots I have tried, they were comfortable straight from the box and so comfortable in use I almost forget I was wearing new boots, yet gave excellent support for all-day comfort.