Rocky Men's RY008 Military and Tactical Boot Review

Soft and light plus durable

I'm a 61 year old woman and purchased these military boots for ME. I sprained my right ankle for the third time several months ago, surprised that the half boot I was wearing when I sprained it didn't protect me as I'd hoped. This was the worst sprain I'd endured in my lifetime and I became resolved to find a way to walk on rough paths without fear of that excruciating pain brought on by stepping in a hole and burying my ankle in the dirt!I looked at several different braces, but every single one looked cumbersome and not very protective. My youngest son, who'd been out of the Army only a couple of years, recommended the Rocky Men's Military Boot. The military spends a butt-load of money on research to protect soldiers feet from injury in some of the most adverse conditions. So it seemed right that I needed to take a look at these boots. I, of course, started my search on Amazon and found exactly what my son recommended to me. I found the price to be VERY reasonable, and the boots arrived very quickly.These footwear are not as easy to put on as ANY of my other shoes. The first challenge is to tighten the laces so they secure the foot and ankle, yet allow blood to circulate properly. With a High instep, this can be a real trick. The second challenge is to learn how much to loosen the laces when the day is done and the boots come off, leaving the boots as ready as can be made for the next days wearing. Time and repetition resolved these challenges.This granny is TOTALLY sold on wearing Army boots! I wear them ALL of the time. My feet and ankles feel secure and protected in ways I've never experienced and cannot describe. I purposely walk on uneven, uncultivated earth surfaces because it is my belief that people lose their balance because they do not challenge their balance. They walk on nice even surfaces and their balance slowly erodes until it becomes a dangerous situation. These boots allow me to feel the unevenness of the surface under my feet without pain. Because of the design, the toes are able to splay out flat as nature intended, thus again, improving balance on uneven surfaces. The ankle is fully secured, yet is able to move freely as needed when climbing or moving down a hill.If you want comfort, security and protection all at the same time, I highly recommend these boots, that were recommended to me! And yes, I wear them with a dress. I don't give a rat rip how they look...I care about my feet and ankles getting me through my later years of life!Grandma wears Army Boots!!!UPDATE: December 9, 2020It has been almost 3 years since my purchase of these wonderful boots! The second photo is what they look like as of this writing. These are tough boots, showing very little wear and tear. I am on the fourth set of shoe laces though!Once these boots were fully 'broke in getting them on and off is a breeze. They continue to secure my feet, and especially my ankles!Overall, I am SO impressed with this footwear, I'll never be without a pair!!Grandma STILL wears Army boots!!!

These boots are about a half size smaller than what they are labeled at. I normally wear a 8.0W to 8.5W i took reviewer's advice and bought a 9EE (9W) and it fit perfect. i will say that the boots do not look the same as the picture will a nice formed toe, but instead look flat and unsightly. not good for a professional appearance. the soles are wedgy and seem awkward. in fact they look an awful lot like those shoes made for people with feet or leg problems. just think reebok easy-striders with the velcro (im being dead serious and not trying to be mean or funny). they are well made and have nice padding and laces. its all in the eye of the beholder i suppose.***update***i decided to keep them and wear them on watch. it was a thirteen hour armed sentry watch which mainly consists of standing in one place at a watch shack while checking ID's for the majority of the time. these boots wear such a relief on my feet! that wedginess comes in handy when you are needing stability and comfort. my knees usually hurt after the eighth or ninth hour of standing, but not with these boots. they are super light and comfortable. even if they look a bit odd, they wear right. again, very very well made.

These boots are great. They are so comfortable from the beginning.

They're surprisingly light and comfortable. The insoles are great. The ankle support is not there. The top of the tongue needs to be a bit longer and should be reinforced to keep the top of the laces from cutting at the shins.The lace loops are a problem as donning them is a terrible pain. Why they didn't stick with speed lace hooks I'll never understand, but if the lace tips wear out, they'll be nigh impossible to manage. The laces themselves are an amazing material, slick and strong, but don't hold a knot well. They are water resistant, but not waterproof. I have my doubts about their durability.OK, so I'm adding an update. I bought these in early November. It's now mid March. The boots have failed, totally. The soles have become detached from the uppers. This is not a material failure; it is a design failure, because the soles are not stitched to the upper. Somebody "saved" the $0.30 necessary for a thirty second Chinese sewing operatoin and the $0.50 for the extra "welt" material. Would I have paid the extra $2.00 to have it done right? Sure, but the corporate marketing gorks never seem to learn.

Here my take on the boot. I'm buying a second pair after a year wearing the last pair. On the size just buy your size . when they break in they fit great but if size big they break in to big. The Laces are so annoying coming un done every 3rd step. It is a nightmare to keep tied and they are a t too long for some reason, I triple tie the knot to get them to stay tied. Why use pharchute cord? I guess they make things different in China. Yes I originally thought these were made in the USA. Rocky \ Colorado Rocky mountiians kinda made in the USa nope Chinese to my dismay. These failed my breaking apart by 3 months shoe test . I have never seen a shoe I dont destory or damage somehow. The seam on one boot started to tear by the lace eylet oh and pray you don't lose the tip off the lace. Impossblie to re thread with said "NATO " eyelet I guess NATO means pain in butt. These boots are the most comfy lightweight, cool looking in a strange punker amry prepper, burnner guy I wear these every day and they last but not too big just the size you always get there speed laces, a pain at night to take off but easy to lace up in.morning. There meant for cops to set in there locker to dress for there shift they pull the lace tie and go . Get these boots the differences is the sole being flat looking without the stupid.treking boot soles every where. These are for the Guy on the move'. I run in these babies some days. They look good in shorts too kinda tactical and practical. Get them there great!