There are many things to look for in a boot, whether you’re wearing it for service in the military, law enforcement, trail trekking, or hunting. Having the lightest tactical boots may possibly be the most important feature for you to have.
Perhaps although you’re in the military you aren’t in the combat arms but still require a tactical boot to wear in garrison. Having a super durable boot that can last years in the rigorous field and over-the-wire deployments probably isn’t something you need.
When people think of a combat boot they’re usually thinking of it being worn by front line soldiers. And that should be the way it is and that’s who the boot should be designed for. But the majority of men and women in the military are not in the combat arms.
Personnel that don’t require the most rugged tactical boots are Cooks, Clerks, Drivers, Supply Technicians, Aviation Technicians, and Pilots. There are a lot more but these are what first come to mind. Having a lightweight boot can make all the difference. Below, I will list the 7 lightest tactical boots.
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ONE XERO™ C320 Ultra Light Assault Boot (1.25 pounds per boot)
Specs
Weight: 20 ounces per boot
Color: Coyote Brown
Height: 8″
Upper: Cattlehide Leather/Nylon
Midsole: Polyurethane
Footbed: Polyurethane
Outsole: Exclusive VIBRAM Incisor
Insulation: Non-Insulated
Toe Protection: Soft Toe
Manufacturing: Made in USA (Berry Compliant)
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes
The “heaviest” boot (if you can even call them that) are the ONE XERO C320 Ultra Light Assault Boot sold by Belleville Boots. These boots are 8″ in height and is both AFI 36-2903 Compliant and AR 670-1 Compliant. On their website Belleville states the boot was “designed with the idea that lightweight is not just a feature but a requirement”.
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Even though they are listed as being True to Size, a lot of people have stated they recommend going down a size. Mostly all of their sizing include Regular and Wide options as well. They are made with a Vibram sole, a highly cushioned and shock absorbent midsole, which gives this assault boot extreme comfort when you’re on your feet!
With nearly 500 reviews at the time of this post, the ONE XERO combat boot has a rating of 4.5 out of 5! About 75% of the reviews have given this boot 5/5 rating. People have mentioned how extremely lightweight and comfortable they were. One person specifically said they had a pair for 4 years with “easy” use, little field work, mainly indoor office work and they were the lightest and most comfortable military boots they have worn after 24 years in uniform!
AKU SELVATICA TACTICAL MID GTX (1.1 pound per boot)
Specs
Weight: 500 grams per boot
Color: Coyote Brown, Black, Ranger Green
Height: 6″
Upper: Welded PU Film & Woven Air8000
Midsole: Injected EVA
Footbed: Partially Recycled Ortholite Hybrid Insole
Outsole: Vibram Selvatica with MegaGrip
Lining: GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort
Stiffness: Flexible
Toe Protection: Soft Toe
AR 670-1 Compliant: No
Weighing just over 1 pound per boot is the AKU Selvatica Mid Gore-Tex tactical boot.
At the time of this article the AKU Selvatica Mid GTX costs $200 USD and $280 CAD, depending on what side of the border you fall on. Both the US and Canadian site offer free shipping on orders over $199. Each site has their own sizes available, so if it’s not available on one, check out the other.
The Selvatica Mid GTX boot is designed for the fast and light tactical user. To be honest, this is a tactical boot that I haven’t heard too much about. But all the specs on the boot as well as the user reviews are making this a tactical boot I’d like to try out myself.
The AKU Selvatica has a Ortholite insole, Vibram outsole, and Gore-Tex lining. Excellent traction and stability, this boot in my opinion is comparable to the Salomon Forces Mid boots, yet doing so with less weight (about 40 grams per boot less). Unfortunately this isn’t available in the 8″ height, so if you’re looking for an AR-670-1 compliant boot, this isn’t it. If you’re in the Special Forces community, and you can wear whatever you want, then these will work great.
The sole tread has been developed with exclusive AKU Elica Natural Stride System technology to optimize its biodynamic efficiency. The treads are Vibram® Selvatica Megagrip with an optimized surface in contact with the ground for better all-around traction. OrthoLite® anti-microbe and breathable insoles, with optimum shock absorption.
AKU Outdoor
The AKU Selvatica Mid GTX is excellent for cooler to warmer climates, rugged terrain and trails, and offers the ideal support and stablity for those heavy rucks! If you’re looking for a tactical boot that can take anything you throw at it, or just an all around durable and waterproof hiking/hunting boot, the AKU Selvatica is an excellent choice.
Tactical Research Mini-Mil TR105 8″ Combat Boots (1 pound per boot)
Specs
Weight: 16 ounces per boot
Color: Coyote Brown
Height: 8″
Upper: Cattlehide Leather/Nylon
Midsole: Polyurethane
Footbed: Polyurethane
Outsole: Exclusive VIBRAM Incisor
Insulation: Non-Insulated
Toe Protection: Soft Toe
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes
Weighing 1 pound per boot is the TR105 MiniMil Ultra Light Training Boot. This boot was designed to train your feet to land flat footed on the ground instead of heel first like traditional footwear. The TR105 MiniMil complies with AR 670-1, AFI 36-2903, and SPFGM2020-36-01.
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They run about a half size small, meaning if you wear a 10 running shoe you’ll have to size up to a 10.5 boot. The Belleville Boot website states if they don’t fit then they’ll exchange them for free.
I have personally worked alongside members of the Armed Forces who have worn these boots, and they’ve said themselves how comfortable and lightweight these were on the feet. Note that these members weren’t in the combat arms occupation. Nevertheless, if your priority is comfort then these are a great boot to have!
At the time of this post, the MiniMil has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 at nearly 1000 ratings! People have gone on to say just how comfortable these boots feel, similar to an athletic footwear, even after 2 years of daily use!
Some pros are that they have some good flex, huge amount of toe room, grips well, break-in fairly quickly, and the laces are paracord style material which feel very strong and should last the life of the boot! Because of the break-in period it’s been recommended to get a good pair of cushioned hiking socks, but that shouldn’t last too long.
GORUCK MACV-1 (1 pound per boot)
Specs
Weight: 16 ounces per boot
Color: Coyote Brown, Black, Brown
Height: 6″ (Mid Top) and 8″ (High Top)
Upper: Suede Leather/1000D Cordura
Midsole: Lightweight EVA
Outsole: High traction rubber
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes (High Top – Coyote Suede)
Check out my full in-depth review here!
If a company is named “GORUCK”, you know they’re gonna make some appropriate footwear to do just that. Right away the MACV-1 looks very similar to the TR105 MiniMil above with the raised toe with lots of area to allow your toes to breathe and reduces friction, paracord style 3mm speed laces which rinse off and dry quicker than 5mm lacing, and most noticeable is the 2″ nylon webbing (suitable for airborne operations) that goes over the ankle for added support.
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On the inner side of the boots are two drain holes which, if your feet get wet from walking through water, will allow that water to be pushed out with every step. What’s really impressive with the MACV-1s is that there is no break-in time! Put ’em on and get marching!
At the time of this post, the MACV-1 (Coyote Suede) has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 with over 2300 reviews on GORUCK’s website!
The 6″ MACV-1 boot weighs 1 pound, meaning the 8″ boot will weigh slightly more, but nothing significant. GORUCK also has possibly the best warranty with their Scars Lifetime Guarantee.
“All GORUCK built gear, apparel, and footwear — everything we manufacture — comes with our Scars Lifetime Guarantee. If there is a defect in workmanship or materials or if you actually manage to wear our stuff out, GORUCK will fix or replace (at our discretion) your item, free of charge. No receipt necessary — we can recognize our own stuff — and your date of purchase does not matter. Hence lifetime.”
– GORUCK
The 8″ Coyote Suede GORUCK MACV-1 Boots are AR 670-1 Compliant and were built for Special Forces who spend their careers on their feet with heavy rucks on their back. The inspiration for this boot was the Vietnam-era Jungle Boot, worn by MACV-SOG and other Special Forces combat units. The MACV-1 was designed for all sorts of purposes such as training, rucking, traveling, and assaulting.
The two main styles of boot for the tactical community will either be the Coyote Suede or the Black Leather option, but GORUCK has roughly 9 different options of boot at the time of this post. So whether you’re looking for a boot to meet your military requirements or just looking for a seriously tough yet lightweight and comfortable boot, the GORUCK MACV-1 will do just that.
Under Armour Tac Loadout (1 pound per boot)
Specs
Weight: 1 pound per boot
Color: Coyote Brown
Height: 8″
Upper: Roughout Leather/Cordura
Midsole: Ultralight Micro G EVA
Outsole: VIBRAM with MegaGrip rubber
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes
When I look at Under Armours tactical boot and read up on the specs, I was quite impressed. Their Coyote Brown option for the Under Armour Tac Loadout is AR 670-1 compliant, and although they’re not water resistant or slip resistant, the reviews I’ve read have all noted just how comfortable the Tac Loadouts were on their feet all day long.
Check out the latest pricing on UnderArmour.com
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The Under Armour Tac Loadout boots very well could be one of the most comfortable tactical boots available (and I might just order them for my next boot claim). Under Armour is well known for making some fantastic athletic footwear, and if you take away the shaft of the boot (the portion that goes from your ankle up calf) the Tac Loadout looks identical to some typical Under Armour footwear.
One thing I noticed that is a nice feature of this boot is the pull tab on the upper back of the boot. Its in a position so that finding it and effectively pulling the boot up is quick and simple.
I’ve worn some other tactical boots where the pull tab was lower than it should, and made from a softer material which took some time to get my finger through the tab, and then pulling up didn’t do much because of how low it was. The Under Armour Tac Loadout boot pull tab though is one of the best I’ve seen. This tiny feature can make all the difference.
Something to keep in mind is that when I’ve gone on the Under Armour website, purchasing this boot wasn’t an option… so that could mean that the boot is discontinued, and if you’re interested in getting a pair at all, I would do so as soon as possible!
Oakley Light Assault 2 (0.87 pounds per boot)
Specs
Weight: 14 ounces per boot
Color: Coyote, Dessert, Sage, Black
Height: 8″
Upper: Genuine Leather/Cordura
Midsole: EVA
Outsole: Slip resistant rubber
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes (Coyote)
Oakley’s Light Assault 2 boots weigh only 14 ounces and their coyote brown option is AR 670-1 compliant.
Check out the latest prices on Oakley.
Click here for the prices on Amazon.
It’s crazy how many reviews this has on Amazon! At the time of this post there are over 2400 reviews with a rating of 4.6 out of 5!
There’s not much to say of the Light Assault 2’s except for how comfortable people find them. In my opinion, these aren’t the nicest looking combat boot out there, but if lightweight and comfort are your priority then these may be what you need!
The boots outer is made from a combination of Cordura and breathable synthetic which provides both protection and breathability. The nylon laces are pretty standard with tactical boots, but the boot has a lace lock system which will keep your boot nice and snug, allowing your foot to be kept in place which over long walks which will prevent blisters from occurring.
Danner Tachyon (0.81 pounds per boot)
Specs
Weight: 13 ounces per boot
Color: Coyote Brown & Black
Height: 8″
Upper: Roughout Leather/1000D Nylon
Midsole: Lightweight EVA
Footbed: Polyurethane
Outsole: Superior abrasion resistant rubber
Insulation: Non-Insulated
Toe Protection: Plain Toe
AR 670-1 Compliant: Yes (Coyote Brown)
Similar to the Oakley’s, the Danner Tachyons are (at the time of this post) are at a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars with nearly 3000 reviews on Amazon!
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The Tachyons are AR 670-1 compliant and possibly Danner’s most popular tactical boot. They’ve stated that they have 80 plus years of experience making boots, so when they set out to make a lightweight trainer they created a boot that acts like a shoe, not a shoe that acts like a boot.
I personally know someone, specifically in the combat arms, who wore these boots day in and day out, and while they’ve said how comfortable they were on their feet, they do wear out within a couple of years of rigorous use.
At first they were using the Tachyon’s for strictly a garrison boot, but then one day he got called to go out in the training area and didn’t have his other boots to go out in, so he went with his Danners. At that point he had the boots for a year or so and there was no sign of them falling apart.
After he went to the field with them though, he decided to keep wearing them out in the training area and that’s when they began to fall apart, and they lasted about another year.
If your purpose though is strictly for garrison use, and there’s little to no chance of you going in the field, then these boots should last you for a long time!
Click here for a full review of the Danner Tachyons!
Conclusion
There are so many tactical boots out there on the market and knowing which one is best for you can be tricky. Most of the time there will be a trade off between comfort and durability. That being said, with proper care, these lightweight boots can last for years. If you are you looking for an extremely durable tactical boot though, then check out my review on the Lowa Z-8S which are also AR 670-1 Complaint!
If I were to rank my top three from this list in order of personal preference, I would probably go with the GORUCK MACV-1s first, given that the company is tailored to the Special Forces community, and their warranty is hard to beat.
My second choice would likely be the Under Armour Tac Loadouts, seeing as how many people have praised the boot for comfort. And I’m curious how well Under Armour did at making a combat boot! My third choice would be a toss up between the ONE XERO C320’s and the TR105 MiniMil’s, since someone I worked with personally said how comfortable they were on their feet. I think the last two I mentioned are both sold by Belleville Boots, but you can also purchase them on Amazon, which the links are above under each respective boot.
I hope this list of the most lightweight tactical boots has been helpful. If you have any questions, or if I missed an ultra lightweight tactical boot that should be on this list, please contact me!