Footwear can be hard to settle on. I personally have grown a large appreciation for everything 5.11 Tactical that I have worked with or worn so I wanted to try out some of their footwear. On the day-to-day I tend to wear boots at work so when I saw the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot one day when I was at one of their very well-put-together retail locations, I tried it on, and decided this would be a great boot to try out and review. Let’s dive right into the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot!
5.11 Tactical Coverage on AllOutdoor
Specifications: 5.11 Tactical A/T Mid Boot
Some folks may be unfamiliar with the A/T portion of the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot. The A/T refers to 5.11 Tactical’s A.T.L.A.S. All Terrain Load Assistance System. This system besides being “all-terrain” is geared towards bearing heavy weight and workloads. At my day job, I tend to carry heavy boxes back and forth most days and when I am at home I cut a lot of wood for the wood stove in my home. This is why these appealed to me over the more casual 5.11 Norris shoes.
- A.T.L.A.S. All Terrain Load Assistance System
- 3D molded TPR toe and heel protection
- Welded mesh upper
- ASTM slip and oil-resistant high traction outsole
- 5.11 A.T.L.A.S Technology Support Plate
- Echo Foam high rebound/energy return PU and Force Foam lightweight PU impact cushioning
- Ortholite® footbed
- 5.11 A.T.L.A.S. Technology
- Sizes: 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14
- Color Schemes: Black, Double Tap, Dark Coyote, Coyote
- Width Options: Regular or Wide (Sizes only go from 7 to 13)
The MSRP of the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot sits at $150.00 and currently comes in four different color schemes. They come in Black, Double Tap (a mix of gun metal gray and black), Dark Coyote (my pair), and Coyote (a much lighter sand tan). They offer sizes from 4 all the way up to 14 and in regular or wide configurations. The 5.11 A/T Mid Boot comes with the built-in All Terrain Load Assistance System (ATLAS) which makes load-bearing less harmful to your feet.
“This is the 5.11 A/T Mid. That’s mid-height, not mid-night, though it will find favor on that shift to be sure. Featuring 3D molded TPR toe and heel protection, a welded/mesh upper, and high performance, high traction outsole, the All Terrain Load Assistance System (A.T.L.A.S.) will mitigate the rigors of a heavy load bearing job (and in no small way, either). The mids were developed to work with your “work weight”. Work longer, with less stress even when you’re loaded down. Explore the 5.11 A/T Series™.”
First Impressions: 5.11 Tactical A/T Mid Boot
As I mentioned in the opening blurb, I did have some early hands-on time with the 5.11 A/T Mid Boot at a 5.11 retail location. I thought the boots look attractive and comfortable and I thought that the price was very fair as well. They come packed up in a standard shoebox with cool 5.11 prints all over it. The sizing and color are very visible so in terms of getting one off the shelf I find this helpful. The tags attached to the boots are very helpful and descriptive as far as what is included and the overall features.
Looking up close and personal at the boots most everything looked well made and of good quality. I did notice one or two spots where the threads were visible, loose, and frayed but not in a way where it made me feel like these were of lower quality. It was more apparent that the design overall made it hard not to have this visible in one spot or another.
Out and About: 5.11 Tactical A/T Mid Boot
Day One: They feel like they are a very thick pair of boots and the base is really thick. Putting them on was easy enough, it fit my size perfectly and I felt I had plenty of space for my toes but not too much space. The laces tightened down just perfectly. The usual break-in period began. Felt taller than usual. Driving definitely felt different since my foot was closer to the pedal. The boots are comfortable. You could call it a perfect fit since it was roomy but not too roomy. The walls and soles were noticeably soft and pleasant. Overall a good experience right off the bat.
First Week: Noticeable growing pains. The All Terrain Load Assistance System (ATLAS) was helpful while on the move but I noticed whenever I was stationary on the hard concrete floors of the shop for long periods of time my feet began to ache. This definitely is not an ailment of these boots. I have this issue with literally any footwear in this scenario. I mention it only because I had hoped the built-in All Terrain Load Assistance System would remedy this discomfort when at rest. Otherwise, it did its job while moving around with heavy cargo.
Two months of everyday wear. A bit down the road I found that these boots did not break in a negative way. They did not yield to be a more roomy boot. When they got muddy or dirty the tread did not hold onto it in a way that was hard to get rid of with a few taps on the pavement. If they got wet and then dried they did not feel like they shrunk or loosened from the fluctuation. The only noticeable change in overall appearance is the dark brown accented stickers (for lack of a better word) that run across the mesh began to lose their hold on the mess after I walked through a swamp grouse hunting and got them soaked.
Conclusion: 5.11 Tactical A/T Mid Boot
All in all, I think these are great everyday casual footwear or a great pair of boots to go hiking with. They are not waterproof (nor are they advertised to be) and I tested that in my own way as I trudged through a swamp hunting at one point. I treated or rather mistreated them as I would any shoe I personally own in the name of being thorough and giving these a real go of it. I think they are fantastic. They fit great and are very comfortable. They are a little expensive for a more casual-looking boot but in my humble opinion, it is worth it. If you have your doubts make sure to look into your nearest 5.11 retail location to check them out and try them on. Every time I have gone to one the folks there are helpful and informative.
In closing, I want to say thank you to 5.11 Tactical for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their A/T Mid Boot. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think. Do you believe that this pair of footwear is worth spending your money on? Would you take these out hiking, hunting, or to the range? Would this be your go-to pair of boots? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
