One of the most important things before deciding to buy a pair of tactical boots is: How should tactical boots fit?
A pair of tactical boots that doesn’t fit will completely ruin all of your expectations and interests when you wear them for a short time.
Don’t let that happen. We will help you understand how tactical boots should fit so that you can make a decision whether you should keep your boots or exchange them.
Let’s get started!
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How Should Tactical Boots Fit?
To decide whether a pair of tactical boots fit well, you should rely on 7 secrets: heels, toes, width, length, weight, height and types.
These are the key factors that determine whether the tactical boots can accompany you to the corner of the ocean.
Fit at the heels
Tactical boots are seldom fit snugly at the heels in the first place. When you start to use a pair of tactical boots, heel slippage usually occurs, and it will disappear after the boots are broken in.
However, too much heel slippage is not a good thing, you should note that:
A tactical boot with heel slippage between 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch is normal in the beginning. This problem usually disappears after breaking in your boots (or heel slippage at an acceptable level).
After the tactical boots are broken in, the heel of tactical boots should fit snugly.
If the tactical boots are too tight at the heel, they can be very uncomfortable and lose long-term comfort (for hiking, patrolling long shifts…)
In contrast, if the tactical boots are too loose at the heel, they can affect your gait (very badly) and make you lose flexibility in action.
Fit at the toe box
Other than heels, your tactical boots need enough room at the toe box for maximum comfort and flexibility.
When you move fast or do heavy activities, your body tends to move forward. If tactical boots fit snugly at toes, your toes will be constrained by hitting the toe of the boots while you’re active (if you don’t believe it, you can run quickly and stop suddenly to see what happens).
When you move, your whole feet tend to slide forward. Therefore, if the distance between your toes and the toe box of the boot is too short, they will collide and cause you pain.
This can be frustrating, so the tactical boots should have enough room at the toe box for your toes to be comfortable and flexible.
One tip is that the distance from the end of the toe box of your tactical boot to your longest toe should be between 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch. This gap can ensure your toes won’t hit the toe boxes of boots while you’re running.
Don’t worry that this might loosen the tactical boots. Once your boots fit at the heel and instep, your feet will stay neatly in them and won’t move anywhere.
Fit in width
We’ll look at the widest part of tactical boots: the ball of your foot.
Like the toe box, tactical boots should have enough room for the ball of your feet. This will ensure your feet can wiggle, get comfortable and have great flexibility.
It can be very uncomfortable to operate (run, jump, etic.) if the width of the tactical boot just fits snugly at the ball of the foot. You will feel your whole foot is constrained.
So again, choose tactical boots that have enough room in the ball of your feet.
Tactical boots that don’t have the necessary width are one of the biggest reasons why you need to return them.
You should clearly determine the width of your feet.
If you have wide feet, consider going up 1/2 size (and do the opposite to narrow foot). Also, it’s wise to look at each brand’s size chart and read the user reviews before buying.
Popular brands now have a wide range of tactical boots to serve different foot sizes, from very narrow to very wide (AAA to EEE).
And again, don’t be afraid of the tactical boots being loose if you’ve left enough room at the ball of your feet. If the tactical boots fit snugly on the instep and heel, your feet will stay neatly in the boots.
Read more: How To Choose The Right Size Tactical Boots?
Fit in length
You need a tactical boot that is neither too long nor too short.
A long tactical boot can result in heel slippage, but being too short will cause toe pain (as discussed above).
So remember the tip I said above: Keep your longest toe 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch away from the toe of the boot.
The size charts of boot companies will clearly guide how to choose tactical boots based on foot length, so check them out, and don’t forget to read the user reviews.
In fact, not all tactical boots fit true to size, that’s why we always remind you to check out the user reviews.
However, in case you are the first one to buy boots, you should call the customer service agent for good advice to avoid risk, or choose companies with a good return policy.
Fit in height
The tactical boot height typically ranges from 6 inches to 8 inches for you to choose from, depending on your purpose and preference.
If you plan to get tactical boots for heavy activity, need good ankle support, or want to tuck your pants in boots, or blouse tactical boots,… go for the tactical boots with 8 inches tall.
But if you want comfort and would like to wear tactical boots for a patrolling long shift, then 6-inch tactical boots are suitable for you.
However, when it comes to the height of tactical boots, one more thing that you should note is the way you lace the tactical boots to fit well.
You should tie the tactical boots to make them fit snugly at the instep, slightly loose the top of the foot (above the instep) and fit snugly around the ankles.
As such, you will get comfort and high flexibility for the operation.
The instep positions are important, so make sure that you tie the tactical boots in that position snugly.
Fit in weight
Weight is one of the important things to keep in mind when buying tactical boots. You need to determine the purpose of using tactical boots before making a decision.
If you need tactical boots to provide comfort for a full day of activities (hiking, patrolling long shifts, etc), go for lightweight boots. Hybrid tactical boots with hiking boots are a right choice as they are lightweight and durable.
But if you need tactical boots that provide security for heavy operations, military service, battlefields, these boots are usually heavier.
Fit in types
There are generally two main types of tactical boots: hot weather tactical boots and cold/wet weather tactical boots.
As you can guess, in addition to choosing the right tactical boots for your use, you should pick one suitable for the weather.
The summer tactical boots will have good ventilation and air circulation, heat insulation to keep your feet cool all day long. Whereas, cold/wet weather tactical boots are fast drying, easy to clean, and anti-slip, waterproof outsoles.
These are the basic and outstanding features of hot weather and cold wet weather tactical boots.
Some other things you need to keep in mind
In addition to the things listed above, you should pay attention to the tactical boot insoles. If you have flat feet or high arches, go for tactical boots with good arch supports.
Also, opt for tactical boots with a good shock absorbing base to increase foot comfort during intense activity.
When putting on tactical boots for the first time, try flexing your legs to test the insole flexibility. Hold the ball of your foot on the ground, then press your heel up 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch. If you can do that easy, congratulations on having tactical boots with a versatile base.
Also, make sure you’ve got the correct tactical boot size, don’t use this brand’s size chart to buy another brand’s tactical boots.
Conclusion
To sum up, how should tactical boots fit are on these criteria: fit snugly at the heel (after breaking in), leave room at the toe, toe box and the width of the boot (the ball of the foot).
In addition, when tying tactical boots, lace tactical boots so that you feel they fit snugly at the instep, slightly loose at the top of the foot (a little above the instep) and fit tighter around your ankles.
In addition to the weight, insoles, and types of tactical boots, choose boots with unique features that fit your purpose.
Finally, don’t forget to read the user reviews to learn from their mistakes. When you have the perfect tactical boots, don’t forget to take a photo and send it to us!
Good luck!