Nicolas Lenze 06.17.22
Aside from having a picnic in the city park, almost all outdoor activities are rather dynamic. Hunting, hiking, shooting, and fishing all rely heavily on one of our most abused body parts; our feet. It makes sense for us to not only protect but enhance the capabilities of our hard-working peddle pushers. They are what move us, after all. Having just come out of winter, I found my focus shifting from big, heavy boots to quicker and lighter ones. That’s exactly why I wanted to review the new A/T Mid Boot from 5.11 Tactical.
The 5.11 A/T Mid Boot: Specifications
- Color: Dark Coyote (others available)
- Sizes: 4-14
- Width: Regular-D, wide-E
- MSRP: $150.00
Take A Look!
When the boots first arrived in the mail, I was confused. I couldn’t remember what I had ordered from 5.11 and couldn’t understand why the box felt empty. When I realized it was the boots, I was blown away. These things are extremely lightweight.
The pair I got are the Dark Coyote color, but Black, Double Tap, and Coyote are also options. They look more like running shoes than boots, which led me to believe that 5.11 understood their purpose very well. These aren’t boots for slogging through the mud and rain to shoot some ducks. These are meant to be quick and light for speedier outdoor activities.
How’d They Do?
I decided to test them as both boots and shoes, since they fall right in the middle. I love it when products can fill multiple roles and do both well. Living in an apartment, with a second baby on the way, and a pile of stuff to review, I’m running out of room. I strapped the 5.11 A/T Mid boots on and hit the range, wearing them through multiple reviews.
The boots performed very well as range shoes. Running around while I’m shooting is probably the most cardio-intensive activity that I do, plus the uneven terrain of dirt and brass showed me the effectiveness of the tread pattern. My feet stayed where they were supposed to be, even when executing some pretty sharp and sudden turns.
To see how they fair as boots. I wore them on a light hike around my friend’s property. We walked on dirt, grass, and climbed mounds and rocks.
During my hike, the boots did what boots should; protect my feet. There are some spiny plants and fairly abrasive terrain around Colorado. Though the walls of the boots are thin, there was no penetration by the itchy and scratchy plant life that we waded, through. Another thing to note is that they’re very breathable. My feet get pretty sweaty (gross, I know) but less so with these boots and the right socks. My feet just didn’t get as hot as they do with my winter boots.
Final Steps With the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot
I don’t really know which feature to name as the best thing about the A/T Mid Boot. There are three qualities that are good, and combined, make a great boot. First, they weigh almost nothing. Picking them up surprises me every time. The second thing is that they look really nice. They may not be the winning look on the next dead horse season of Project Runway. However, in the space they’re occupying, they’re pretty stunning. Range shoes are ugly, hiking boots are ugly, and running shoes are ugly. Yet, when combined using 5.11 science and wizardry or whatever, they make a sharp-looking boot that can serve in any of those roles. I get compliments frequently. The most important thing is comfort. These shoes can be tough to get on at times, but once your foot slips in, it makes sense. Like a weighted blanket, the boots fit snugly around your foot, giving it a firm hug.
My only complaint is that they fall more on the side of running shoes than boots. I would have gladly traded some weight for a more robust body. I suppose that’s just what I think of when I hear the word “boots”. As a general, do-all athletic shoe, however, these are hard to beat. If any of you suffer from lower back pain like I do, you might notice that the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot helps. The A.T.L.A.S. system seems to do what it’s meant to do, spreading the weight of your body evenly across your feet and shoes. I don’t have a way to quantify this, so I just have to speak from my experience as someone who has fought this issue.
Whether you like running on cement, rocks, tracks, or dirt, or just need a lightweight shoe to improve your USPSA match speed, the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot will fit your needs. I’ve been wearing the heck out of mine and truly enjoying myself. If you’d like to learn more about the A/T Mid Boot, head over to the 5.11 website. You can also find them being social on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. Stay active!
