I’ve served in the military for over a decade, and for the entirety of my career I’ve seen many different boots worn by my fellow soldiers. Myself personally I have worn a pair of SWAT boots, two pairs of LOWA boots, 2 pairs of GORUCK boots, and a pair of Salomon boots. But what are the most popular tactical boots worn in the military today?
Men and women in uniform are given guidelines as to which boots can be worn, and the members make the best choice for them based on those guidelines.
Some of these guidelines have to do with being oil-resistant, height of the boot, colour, whether or not they are steel toe or have a side zipper. Boot manufacturers are familiar with these guidelines and make boots tailored for military personnel.
Remember, the responsibility is yours to know what those guidelines are and whether the boots you wear are following those guidelines.
So as I’ve said, there have been many different boots that I’ve seen worn by military members, but what are the most popular boots in the military?
Here’s my list of the 5 most popular tactical boots that I’ve seen worn in the military.
As a disclaimer, the views in this article are the personal views of myself and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of National Defence. This list is based on my personal experience and the personal choice of men and women in uniform.
1. Rocky S2V Tactical Military Boot
Specs
Weight: 4 lbs per pair
Colour: Coyote Brown
Height: 8 inches
Material: 1000 Denier Cordura
Footbed: Rocky® Air-Port® cushion
Outsole: Vibram stitched to upper
AR-670-1 Compliant
Berry Compliant
The Rocky S2V Tactical Military Boot is by far one of the most popular tactical boots worn by soldiers in the military, and for good reason. It’s durable, rugged, and comfortable. One of the key features of the Rocky S2V Predator is the stitching between the outsole and the upper.
At the time of this article, the Rocky S2V Tactical Military Boot costs around $278.
Check Rocky Boots for the latest pricing.
I’ve had boots while serving in the military where the outsole began to separate from the upper, which is not what you want from a $200+ tactical boot that you need to perform your duties.
The Rocky S2V Tactical Military Boots are built to the toughest standards in order to withstand the beating needed to push forward as a military soldier.
When the military allowed for soldiers to begin wearing coyote brown boots, these were flying off the shelves. Everyone who had a pair of brown boots were rocking a pair of Rocky S2V Predators.
Others also speak highly of the Rocky Tactical boots, and say how they’re comfortable, durable, and reasonably priced. If you want a boot that will last for years while offering good comfort for your feet all day long, you’re gonna have to pay at least a couple hundred dollars.
2. LOWA Boots
Specs
Weight: 3 lbs per pair
Height: 8 Inches
Colour: Coyote, Black, Brown
Outsole: LOWA Tactical Z Trac
Upper: Suede
AR-670-1 Compliant
Made in Europe
In the military I see LOWA boots everywhere. They’re extremely durable, offer a ton of protection, and feel great on the feet.
At the time of this article the cost of LOWA boots ranges from $200 – $400 depending on the style, GTX or not, and if it has Thermal lining.
Check LOWA Boots for the latest pricing.
I’ve personally worn the LOWA Z-8S and LOWA R-8S and they were fantastic. I also see a lot of soldiers wearing the LOWA Zephyr and LOWA Renegade boots. They’re definitely one of, if not the, most popular boots worn in the military today.
You can read my in-depth reviews on the LOWA Z-8S and the LOWA R-8S.
I have no relation with LOWA, and purchased my two pairs of boots using the military’s boot reimbursement plan, which allowed me to purchase one pair of boots per year. I would guess that at 20% of the military is using LOWA boots, at least.
3. AKU Outdoors
Specs
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Height: 6 Inches
Colour: Black, Coyote, Ranger Green
Upper: Welded PU Film & Woven Air8000
Outsole: Vibram Selvatica with MegaGrip
Lining: GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort
Footbed: Ortholite Hybrid Insole
A boot that I’ve been noticing more and more that are worn by military members, the majority being aircrew, are the AKU Outdoor boots.
At the time of this article the AKU Outdoor boots cost around between $200 and $300.
Check AKU Outdoor for the latest pricing!
When I’ve asked those who wear the AKU Pilgrams how they like them, they’ve said how lightweight and comfortable they were. And they were upwards of 5 years old and still looked like they were in incredible shape!
One thing they said was that they had a very hard outsole, so be careful when walking on ice. A pilot in particular said he was walking to the aircraft with all his kit, stepped on black ice and wiped out with all his gear which resulted in, what he called, a yard sale!
4. SWAT Classic 9″ Tactical Boot
Specs
Weight: 2.8 lbs per pair
Height: 6 inch and 9 inch
Colour: Black or Coyote Brown
Upper: 1000 Denier Cordura
Outsole: Classic slip and oil resistant
Lining: Moisture-wicking with AEGIS antimicrobial protection
Footbed: EVA Insole
The SWAT Originals were the first non-issued military boot that I purchased while serving in the Armed Forces.
At the time of this article, the Original SWAT 9″ Classic Tactical Boots are very affordable at a cost of around $140!
Check ORIGINAL SWAT for the latest pricing here.
I was on my Combat Engineer qualification course and we were allowed to wear the SWAT boots under one condition; there had to be a course-standard, so everyone had to wear them. So the entire course walked the 3km to the kit store on base and we all purchased a pair of black SWAT Original boots!
The pair that I purchased had the side zipper, which was excellent for when the course staff had us change from our uniforms into PT gear as fast as possible, and back to our uniforms again. That being said, over time the zipper did fail. So I recommend buying a non-zipper boot.
SWAT Originals have been one of the most popular boots ever to be worn by both military personnel and law enforcement officers. Another great feature is that on the toe and heel it has stitching to increase the life of the boot, preventing separation between the upper and outsole.
5. Salomon Forces Boots
Specs
Weight: 3 lbs per pair
Height: Low, Mid, High
Colour: Black, Brown, Coyote
Upper: Leather
Outsole: Rubber
Lining: Textile
GORE-TEX
The last (but not least) set of the most popular tactical boots in the military are definitely Salomon boots. Their line of Forces boots are excellent for comfort while offering exceptional support and stability.
The price of Salomon Forces boots range between $220 and $330, depending on the style and whether you buy a pair with GTX.
Check Salomon for the latest pricing!
I personally own (and wearing as I’m typing this) the Salomon XA Forces Mid GTX and they are amazing! Super lightweight, comfortable, great support and stability, and breathable. You can read my in-depth review on the Salomon XA Forces Mid here.
Salomon boots are one a popular tactical boot for Special Forces operators as well. If it works for them, they’ll work for you.
Just like the LOWA boots, I would say Salomon boots are on the feet of about 15-20% of the military today. They’re incredibly lightweight, comfortable, and durable. On top of that, they don’t stand out as being a “military” boots when wearing them in jeans or hiking shorts. They’re literally identical to Salomon’s hiking shoes. The only difference is the colour.
Conclusion
So there you have it, that’s the most popular tactical boots that I’ve seen worn in the military during my over 10 years of service. If you decide to buy from any of these boots, you’re sure to be happy with the purchase.
I’ve personally worn the LOWA Z-8S, LOWA R-8S, Original SWAT boots, and the Salomon XA Forces Mid GTX boots, but I have heard great things about the AKU Outdoor boots and the Rocky S2V Tactical boots.
Thank you for reading this list of 5 most popular tactical boots in the military. I hope it’s been both helpful and informative.
Cheers.