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From everything I've seen, most of SWATs line up of boots seem to be garrison only. They just don't seem rugged enough for sustained heavy usage (exercises, oprations).
That being said, nothing's wrong with a garrison boot when they are feather light and wear like a running shoe. When I found out they made a breathable waterproof boot I was all over it.
I obtained a pair of SWAT's 9" Tactical Waterproof boots from a local retailer here in Pet who had not sold very many, if any, pairs of them and was interested in any feedback I could give them. They are a non-insulated, breatable design, with a Goretex like (not real gortex) inner booty. It was only a few days before I noticed one of the boots was hard to unlace. I never really looked too hard and just assumed the lace was frayed or knotted or something which was making it hard to pull through the eyelet. Another week or two pass by and I finally notice that the plastic (yes plastic) eyelet had broken and the lace had pulled through and dug into the leather. No problem, dud pair, I take them back to the retailer who has another pair to exchange them for within a few days. I get them home, polish them up and wear them the next morning at a very uneventful day at work (ie. no hard use). As I unlace them at the end of the day I notice the exact same thing again, only a different eyelet. After maybe 6 hours or use!
Off I go back to the retailer and explain what happens. They are as dissapointed as I am and ask what I want to do while also saying they would rather not get in another pair and maybe i should find something different. Problem is, I LOVED the boots as far as comfort and performance went. Although not truly waterproof when standing ankle deep in water for any length of time, they did just about a good of a job as the CWWB, while also being breathable and seemingly wearable in warmer temps (I got a few 20+C days in them). They are also were warm enough to be worn anytime you might wear the CWWB. If I protested, I'm sure I could of got another pair, but if 2 pairs failed after a few days (even a few hours!) use, how were they going to hold up after 6 months? I also should mention they were very cheap at $119 a pair.
The only alternative the retailer carried was the Magnum Storms, but they are an insulated waterproof boot. That might suffice for the winter, but I have hot sweaty feet and and breathable waterproof(ish) design seems like a perfect solution to me. On their website, SWAT shows another waterproof boot that looks a little higher end, but the retailer couldn't find any mention of them from their supplier. They are however able to get a hold of some non-insulated, breathable, waterproof Danners ($180) which should arrive in a few weeks for me. So it's back to MKIIIs for now although I will be getting a regualr set of SWATs for garrison duty.
In short, although I might have got a shitty run from the factory or something, with 2 consecutive pairs failing the same way, almost instantly under very light use, i would say they are JUNK. I guess the plastic eyelets aren't up to it but I would have though that might have been somewhat figured out by the manufacture before they field it.
Like I said, I was dissapointed as they were great all around boots but I'm looking forward to the Danners.
That being said, nothing's wrong with a garrison boot when they are feather light and wear like a running shoe. When I found out they made a breathable waterproof boot I was all over it.
I obtained a pair of SWAT's 9" Tactical Waterproof boots from a local retailer here in Pet who had not sold very many, if any, pairs of them and was interested in any feedback I could give them. They are a non-insulated, breatable design, with a Goretex like (not real gortex) inner booty. It was only a few days before I noticed one of the boots was hard to unlace. I never really looked too hard and just assumed the lace was frayed or knotted or something which was making it hard to pull through the eyelet. Another week or two pass by and I finally notice that the plastic (yes plastic) eyelet had broken and the lace had pulled through and dug into the leather. No problem, dud pair, I take them back to the retailer who has another pair to exchange them for within a few days. I get them home, polish them up and wear them the next morning at a very uneventful day at work (ie. no hard use). As I unlace them at the end of the day I notice the exact same thing again, only a different eyelet. After maybe 6 hours or use!
Off I go back to the retailer and explain what happens. They are as dissapointed as I am and ask what I want to do while also saying they would rather not get in another pair and maybe i should find something different. Problem is, I LOVED the boots as far as comfort and performance went. Although not truly waterproof when standing ankle deep in water for any length of time, they did just about a good of a job as the CWWB, while also being breathable and seemingly wearable in warmer temps (I got a few 20+C days in them). They are also were warm enough to be worn anytime you might wear the CWWB. If I protested, I'm sure I could of got another pair, but if 2 pairs failed after a few days (even a few hours!) use, how were they going to hold up after 6 months? I also should mention they were very cheap at $119 a pair.
The only alternative the retailer carried was the Magnum Storms, but they are an insulated waterproof boot. That might suffice for the winter, but I have hot sweaty feet and and breathable waterproof(ish) design seems like a perfect solution to me. On their website, SWAT shows another waterproof boot that looks a little higher end, but the retailer couldn't find any mention of them from their supplier. They are however able to get a hold of some non-insulated, breathable, waterproof Danners ($180) which should arrive in a few weeks for me. So it's back to MKIIIs for now although I will be getting a regualr set of SWATs for garrison duty.
In short, although I might have got a shitty run from the factory or something, with 2 consecutive pairs failing the same way, almost instantly under very light use, i would say they are JUNK. I guess the plastic eyelets aren't up to it but I would have though that might have been somewhat figured out by the manufacture before they field it.
Like I said, I was dissapointed as they were great all around boots but I'm looking forward to the Danners.