Are you thinking of getting a new pair of boots but not sure why you should choose tactical leather boots? No worries, in this article we will help you sort out any questions you have on the subject of tactical leather boots.

With tactical leather boots – this is what you get

Tactical leather boots are designed for operations performed by law enforcement professionals‚ military service members and special ops‚ security pros‚ and public safety workers. These heavy–duty shoes are usually made to perform under tough circumstances while keeping the wearer comfortable and agile. They offer protection from sand‚ mud‚ water‚ difficult terrain‚ and other hazards. This means tactical leather boots come with several features “normal” leather boots don’t offer. Features people engaging in outdoor activities like trekking, hiking, and hunting also can enjoy. This is what you get:

• Comfort. Built to be worn during long shifts with heavy loads to help the wearer perform under pressure, the comfort of the tactical leather boot also comes in handy for people working in the public sector or hikers carrying a heavy backpack. Most of the comfort is in the sole, but as leather is a material that forms to the shape of your feet, this also contributes to the comfort of a tactical leather boot.
• Breathability. Breathable boots promote airflow to keep you cool and comfortable‚ even when you’re performing rigorous exercise.
• Lightweight. A lightweight boot doesn’t hold you back when you need to move quickly.
• Flexibility. A good tactical boot has a firm but flexible sole that can handle rough terrain. It has flexible ankle supports that allow you the maximum range of movement. 
• Slip–resistance helps keep you on your feet even if you navigate shifting terrain and surfaces like ice‚ grease‚ or slick liquids.
• Quiet soles that don’t squeak or tap are a must to keep you safe when noise matters.
• Sturdy uppers. A tactical boot with sturdy uppers provides extra stability around your ankles and helps protect you from sharp objects and protrusions.
• Reliability. Good tactical boots have tough laces‚ zippers that don’t catch and sturdy stitching that can be relied upon.

Pros and cons with the material leather

Choosing a pair of leather boots over a synthetic boot also has its pros and cons, although the differences in performance between leather and synthetic is becoming smaller and smaller. But let’s talk about the material leather, and some pros and cons you can expect when choosing between leather or synthetic boots.

PROS

• Easy to clean and maintain. Leather boots can easily be repaired, re-finished, and restored.
• Extra protection. Even without a toe cap the strength of natural leather will protect your feet from hot liquids or small falling objects.
• Leather is much more durable than synthetic materials. Rather than wearing out, real leather will develop a patina and stay durable over time, making your leather boots last for years.
• Genuine leather is timeless and has a level of quality that synthetic materials can never achieve.

CONS

• Maintenance. Regular polish and waterproofing is needed to keep leather boots in good shape.
• Weight. Even though tactical leather boots are considered lightweight, leather boots, in general, are heavier than synthetic boots.
• Breaking in process. It can take a while to break in a pair of leather boots, while synthetic boots are normally comfortable from the start.
• Price. Faux leather products are, in general, cheaper than real leather. But on the other hand, they don’t last as long as real leather.
  

Full-grain leather or bonded leather boots?

Leather comes in four different qualities: full-grain leather, top-grain leather, corrected grain/genuine leather and bonded leather. Full-grain leather, top-grain leather and corrected grain/genuine leather are all made from solid animal hides. What sets them apart is which parts of the hide is used, and the way they are surface treated.

Full-grain leather is created from the best areas of the hide, where scaring or marks are minimal. The surface of the hide is not polished or sanded, which means it still has visible imperfections and the natural grain is left intact. This makes full-grain leather more flexible, durable, and breathable than the lower qualities of leather. Full-grain leather gets a beautiful patina when aging.   

To create the top-grain leather quality, the leather surface is lightly sanded to remove visible marks and imperfections. This also means some of its quality is being shaved off, creating a thinner leather that is not as durable and breathable as the full-grain leather.

Corrected grain/genuine leather is created from the bits of the hide that has the most visible marks and defects, that are not good enough for full-grain or top-grain leather. More of the surface is sanded off, much like sanding a wood surface. As the grain of the surface is sanded off during this process, the leather is then treated to give it a natural leather grain look. Corrected grain/genuine leather doesn’t have the same flexibility as full-grain leather, and it also doesn’t get the beautiful patina that full-grain leather does.

Bonded leather is something else. It is made from hide scraps and fibres that are mashed into a pulp and bonded together with adhesives, fixed on a paper or fibre backing. The grain pattern on bonded leather is stamped on to the material. Understandably, bonded leather boots are of much lower quality than full-grain leather boots. They will not age well, and the material has lost most of its flexibility and breathability.

As full-grain leather is the highest quality, that is the way to go with tactical leather boots. You would want your leather boots to be as durable, flexible, and breathable as possible. You get all of this with full-grain leather boots.

When to choose tactical boots in leather

If you are planning to wear your boots for a long time, there is no doubt you should choose a real leather boot, and preferably tactical leather boots. The price might be higher but consider it an investment that will save you money in the long run because, giving you care for your leather boots, you will be able to use them for many years.

Climate and activity levels may also influence your choice. Tactical leather boots often come with special features developed for extreme conditions and long shifts on your feet. For example, there are heat deflective boots for extremely hot conditions. The heat deflective features are both in the insoles, to keep heat from hot surfaces out, and an infrared refracting leather upper that drops the surface temperature. High activity levels and varying terrain demand a comfortable, stable, protective, and durable boot, making the tactical leather boot a perfect choice.

Cleaning and conditioning

The maintenance of any leather boot is one of the most important factors to keep them in good shape. With a few simple steps you can ensure that you will get plenty of mileage out of your boots, and they will get more comfortable the more you wear them. Read our Cleaning guide to learn everything you need to know.

What color should you choose?

The most common colors of tactical leather boots are classic black and various shades of tan/brown. Going for black or brown might depend on what you are going to use them for.

If you wear your boots professionally you probably have guidelines to follow. Black boots do, in general, have a more formal look.

Style-wise, some say brown boots are more versatile than black. If you have a lot of color in your wardrobe brown will work best with your colorful outfits. While a pair of black boots works better with a more monochrome/greyscale wardrobe containing black jeans and white t-shirts.

Regardless of which color you choose, some change in their appearance will take place as they age. A general rule is that black leather lightens while brown leather darkens. Brown leather boots also tend to age more visibly than black boots. If you like a bit of patina on your boots, brown boots will age with pride. On the other hand, it’s easier to get a great polished shine on black leather boots than on brown.

How to extend the lifetime of your boots

To make your leather boots last a long time, you need to clean and condition them. Cleaning is simply done with a damp cloth and a soft-bristled brush.

To condition your boots, you need a good shoe wax and some dry cotton cloth (or an old t-shirt). Read our full guide on cleaning and conditioning your leather boots here.

Conclusion

A pair of leather boots are always a good choice, and if you are planning on being on your feet for an extended amount of time, we can strongly recommend you try a pair of tactical leather boots. They come with different shaft lengths, with or without side-zip, heat protected or waterproofed.