Men's 8" Ultra-Lite Tactical Sport TS1 Side Zip Work Boot

Good boots long lasting well worth the money. Nothing more comfortable for walking 6 plus miles a day.

The Bates men's 8" Ultralite Tactical Sport side-zip military boot is a replacement for the slightly taller zippered paratrooper boots I used to get from the military surplus store. The fit is perfect, I really need the 3E size. I was very pleased with how comfortable they were, as compliant as tennis shoes. There are also much lighter than those paratrooper boots I used to buy. I love how the zipper pull has a slight bend so it is easy to grab, even when I am wearing gloves. One niggle is I think the little velcro patch that covers the zipper pull when it is up is a bit silly. I would much prefer they used the little bit of leather to make a pull loop on the rearward side of the zipper, so I can pull the boots on while standing. As it is, I like them so much, it is a small thing to sit down to pull the boots on. Another minor niggle is the heel is not very tall, so they might not work well with motorcycle pegs, but I think the small hell will work fine. I don't know if this Bates is related to the old Bates motorcycle seats, but the quality is excellent. I hope to get a lot of use out of these boots.

I've been wearing Magnum boots for 7 years now. My last 3 sets had quality issues with the side zip so I decided to get a set of these. For what they cost, they're pretty good boots. They had some break-in period for about a week. They were very stiff and abrasive for a few shifts at work, but once they softened up, they fit and wore well. They have a standard look of pretty much any boot most of my LEO guys wear, nothing special. I can't comment much on their grip or performance; I work in a jail so I'm not out hopping fences, running through the streets or anything like that. They hold up nice in a concrete building though and they take a polish on the toe as needed. My only complaint is that for something called Ultra-Lites, they're heavier than the Magnums I was wearing. I still think they're pretty light in general, but there are lighter options in the same price range. I like that the side zip is straight up and down. The issue with the Magnum side-zip is that is curves and causes the teeth to rip out of the mesh after a while. I think the Bate's zipper will last much long as it is just straight up and down. Otherwise, these boots do what I need them to for half the price of a lot of other boots.

So I’ll keep it short, I have had these for more than a year now and I have a lot of great things to say. I needed these for landscaping primarily as well as anything like helping people move and hiking. I wanted something all around. I will say if your looking for a replacement for a steel toe this isn’t it, while there way better than shoes protection wise there not perfect. The real game changer for me with these is the zipper on the side. I hate lacing up especially if I’m in and out and have to do several times a day and they don’t stay tight sometimes etc. These make it as easy as slipping on some slippers. They breathe way better than other boots I’ve used and there pretty comfortable. I used them consistently for months wearing them at work and then to activity’s, something like 10-11 hours straight a day. No issues. They haven’t fallen apart as I expected with the price even though I’m told Bates is super reputable. They do great hiking and with a little leather treatment for after resistance my feet aren’t soaked in the grass or what ver when I’m camping. Love how thick the sole is. And lastly, they look sweet, I don’t feel out of place wearing them to anything social. So ya, great buy, you won’t find anything of this quality cheaper

Great boots that fit well. I bought a 11.5 instead of my normal 11w, I did this because reviews said they run small. They fit well but don't seem to be small for 11.5. In fact they actually fit when the Oboz i bought at sportsman's wound up being just a touch too small and they refuse to stretch. Might try a spray product to help those. But the Bates broke in very fast and on their own without help. Two days o wear and they are perfect. It's just the fold above the toes that needs to soften. Best break in of any boot ever. Lots of toe room. Wil buy again

Update.... 14 months... that's a pretty good life for a pair of boots that get the snot beat out of them every day. The zipper finally went in them. First it started to tear where the zipper meets the boot at the top of the boot collar. This is probably my fault because of how tightly I wear them (note previous comment on ankle support.) The soles have held up amazingly! Yes... they've worn down considerably. But absolutely not something to complain about considering the abuse they take. The comfort level has never diminished. They're still as cushioned today as on day one. Will install better laces from the get go on this next pair. Walmart has good, flat boot laces for about $3 a pair that eliminate the strangled foot sense when you're first breaking them in. Wish they had a boot strap as well. There's an old school shoe repair guy in town... gonna take them to him right off the bat and have a boot strap sewed on. He charges $6 to do both boots. Very worthwhile investment. All in all... BUY THESE BOOTS! ------------------ I HAVE to wear high, form fitting work boots. I'm in and out of a big truck all day, and having broken both ankles at different point in my youth, the ankle support is very important for me. These boots fit me perfectly. I wear a 10 wide, and these boots are comfortably snug without having to lace them either too tightly or too loosely. I love zip on boots. Having lower back issues.. The less time I spend bent down lacing up boots, the better. These fit the bill perfectly. I was a little concerned about how small the teeth are on the zipper, but 2 weeks in they seem to be no issue. I've been buying Red Wing Worx boots for 20 years. At more than twice the cost of these boots. The last pair I bought I immediately noticed they had reduced the quality of the boot since my previous purchase of a pair (while raising the price nearly 10 percent from a year prior.) I sent them back and received a refund. Went shopping here for boots and found these. If these last a solid year, I'll become a repeat customer. Looking forward to having put #RedWingWorx in my rear view mirror permanently.

This is my first review on Amazon. I just wanted to help ppl that may be on the fence. I needed a very light tough boot. I'm on my feet 8+ hrs a day. Some of which I'm pulling carts with 350+lbs on them. This boot is near perfect. Out of the box they are super comfortable. Came true to size. There's little to no break in time and are extremely light. One of my old boots weights more then these boots together. I have walked thru snow and rain. Great traction and no wet feet. Although these are not a winter boot. I wouldn't take a hike in freezing conditions. But in fairness my feet get cold easily. I did put in heat reflective insoles and that helped a lot(I got those on Amazon as well). The zipper on the boot is well made and will last but doesn't make much of a difference in taking off the boot, as far as speed. Seem to make it a bit easier to take off though. I've only had them for around 2 weeks, so I can't talk much about durability. I will say though everything seems to be of good quality so I'm pretty confident they will last a good amount of time. In closing I have worn boots like these for almost 30yrs. I don't own any sneakers. So I know good boots and this boot will not disappoint. I would buy again for sure and highly recommend. 9/10.

Update 2- 5/26/25- the second pair of these boots has proven to be a bust. They are uncomfortable, even after extensive break in and use. All of the other negatives still hold true, posted below. Oddly enough, my first pair, which I purchased in 2022 has proven to be better than the second, purchased in 2024. It appears that the price has gone up to the point that they are not a decent deal, you'd best search for a better boot. Update 01/24- One other extremely annoying feature of these boots is the constant squeaking when you walk. I now have two pair of these, thinking the first pair was probably faulty in some way, creating the noise. Not so! The construction allows the breathable fabric on the tongue to rub on the solid, manufactured materiel which lines the inside of the boot behind the zipper. Today I was able to pinpoint the source, finally! So, if you don't wear them to church, or to a wedding etc... you'll be fine. The boots are relatively comfortable, albeit not as comfortable as my past four pair of Blackhawks. I cannot rate on durability, however, at any point they disappoint, I'll be posting with pictures. Why Bates did not include a loop on the back of the boot to assist with pulling them on implies the penny pinchers never tried a pair on. Even with both the zipper down and laces loose, they are not easy to mount. With laces tied, it's mission impossible. I suggest to size up one in order to use half inserts. The boots offer minimal support in the arch.