What Is The Difference Between Tactical Boots and Combat Boots?

Many people confuse tactical boots and combat boots, which is understandable because these 2 types of boots share many similarities. For example, they both serve the military, police, law enforcement,…

But, if you think that combat boots and tactical boots are exactly the same, then that’s wrong.

In general, tactical boots and combat boots have a lot of different characteristics, and I believe those differences are the key factors for you to choose the type of boots you need.

What is the difference between tactical boots and combat boots?

We will let you know!

What is the difference between tactical boots and combat boots?

Let me put it this way, tactical boots are popular in peacetime, while combat boots are used during wartime.

If tactical boots are worn by air troops, then combat boots are for infantry and marines.

Is it clear enough? Well, to help you understand more, let’s dive in!

Weight and flexibility

One of the biggest differences between tactical boots and traditional combat boots is the lighter weight of the tactical boots.

Combat boots are often used on battlefields, they must be heavily reinforced to ensure good durability and provide high safety for soldiers. So they usually have metals in their construction. For that reason, the weight of the traditional combat boots is much higher than the tactical boots.

On the other hand, tactical boots are commonly used in the air force. The air force feet rarely touch the ground so they need flexible and convenient boots than ones that are durable and safe but have a heavy weight.

Light weight, convenience, and versatility are what tactical boots possess. These are their most outstanding traits compared to combat boots.

Besides, the design of the combat boots has some differences from the tactical boots. The materials that make up combat boots are thicker, while tactical boots are thinner, so tactical boots are lighter and more versatile.

In peacetime, people prefer boots that have tactical boot-like elements. That’s because their light weight and versatility are well-suited for hiking, climbing, long shift patrols, etc. or jobs like police, law enforcement, security ops, etc.

Today, there are many types of tactical boots that are bred with hiking boots or sneakers, and they are very light in weight, between 1.5 and 1.7 lb. Very impressive, isn’t it?

Durability

When it comes to durability, the crown belongs to the combat boots.

It’s also not difficult to understand, since combat boots are often used during wartime and in areas with difficult terrain and extreme weather, so combat boots must be designed with better durability than tactical boots.

Tactical boots are commonly used by the air force, they often sit on airplanes and air traffic stations, rather than step foot on the battlefield.

So the Air Force needs comfortable and flexible tactical boots rather than combat boots that are too durable and heavy-duty.

Combat boots and tactical boots are often very thoroughly reinforced at heel, toe, sole, resistant to scratches, tear, wear and heat-insulated,…

But as I said above, combat boots are reinforced at a higher level and usually have metals in the boots.

In addition, combat boots are able to withstand high pressure very well, can carry heavy loads, and traverse a variety of terrain better than tactical boots.

The design and materials that make up combat boots are also stiffer, studier, and more powerful than tactical boots.

Comfort

Comfort is one of the most important factors when choosing a boot. And tactical boots take the cake this round.

Tactical boots have a high level of comfort because they are really lightweight.

The comfort of tactical boots is crucial on hikes or long shift patrols, and weight is a key factor.

Whereas, if you are not a soldier, then you will definitely encounter many obstacles with the heavy weight of traditional combat boots when using them.

Tactical boots are usually thinner and softer than combat boots, so you can feel comfortable the first time you wear them without spending too much time breaking in.

Meanwhile, the break in time of combat boots is likely to be longer because they are stiff and sturdy.

Regarding the similarities, tactical boots and combat boots all offer the following features:

Breathability: Hot-weather tactical and combat boots often have good ventilation, and air circulation to bring comfort for the wearer’s feet. However, tactical boots still have an advantage over combat boots for their breathability.

Insulation: Insulation is essential during winter or wet weather in the jungle, this feature can make your feet warm and comfortable.

Foot support: Tactical boots and combat boots often feature a cushioned insole, good arch and heel support, shock absorption… for great comfort.

Tongue: The tongue of tactical boots and combat boots are designed to prevent debris, sand, and dirt from falling into boots. That ensures high comfort for the wearer for a long time.

Safety

Safety is also an important feature to compare tactical boots and traditional combat boots. And we can easily choose the winner at this point: it’s combat boots.

The difference between combat boots and tactical boots lies largely in the design, which is the thicker material of combat boots for better pressure and external force resistance.

Also, because combat boots are thicker and used a lot for heavy-duty jobs, they can be tear-, wear-, puncture-resistant, etc. very well.

The well-reinforced heel design, toe cap, midsole… all appear in tactical boots and combat boots. But combat boots are heavily reinforced and are guaranteed to be more secure.

For newbies, with these reinforcements, boots are more shock resistant, anti-kick and puncture-resistant. And these reinforcements are essential.

Usually, tactical boots are reinforced with molded leather or suede. Meanwhile, combat boots are reinforced with metals such as steel.

Besides, combat boots also provide better ankle protection. This doesn’t mean that the tactical boots’ ankle support is poor, it is great, but not as good as combat boots.

In general, each type of boot will be suitable for the purpose and specific nature of the job of each person.

But if you want to choose a suitable tactical boot for yourself, then you should distinguish one for hot and wet weather.

Tactical boots and combat boots for wet weather typically have better anti-slip outsoles that provide insulation to keep the feet warm.

Meanwhile, the tactical boots for the hot season (summer) are more breathable and have better air circulation.

Choosing the right tactical boot or combat boot will provide you with essential safety.

Convenience

The difference between tactical boots and combat boots also lies in the convenience. As for the design, many tactical boots have zippers on the side, while combat boots don’t.

To explain this, many servicemen have said that they are afraid the harsh terrain could damage the zipper, so combat boots have no zippers.

Tactical boots, in contrast, often come with zippers for added convenience. I also appreciate that. If you’re not in the military, go for the tactical boot with a zipper.

One thing that is similar between tactical boots and combat boots is that they both come with a speed lacing system. This will save you a lot of time!

Usage

Both types of boots have outstanding features, let’s talk about their usage.

In terms of usage, today’s tactical boots are more versatile than traditional combat boots since they are popular and used in both civil and military.

The tactical boots also offer greater comfort, convenience, and flexibility.

Besides, the durability and safety are not comparable to combat boots, but still good enough to serve many different purposes.

You can spot a variety of jobs (police, law enforcement, security…) or outdoor activities when using tactical boots. Meanwhile, traditional combat boots usually only appear much in the military.

Comparison table of the differences between tactical boots and combat boots

Last words

Many people haven’t distinguished the difference between tactical boots and traditional combat boots, but it is actually not difficult to understand.

In general, tactical boots are the new style of combat boots. They share a lot in common, but tactical boots can serve a variety of tasks and more purposes than combat boots, so they have to be optimized to suit your needs.

Do you have any more questions? Let us know, we will explain it all to you!

Thanks for surfing here!