O.K., I’ve had several chances to take the 5.11 H.R.T. boots out into the field. Here are my impressions….

First off, I’ve heard it said that this boot fits like a glove. The truth? It’s better. I really enjoyed the fit of these boots. They are true to size and provide a lot of support both on the arch and the ankle. They felt comfortable right from the start and didn’t need any break in. Once I used them several times, they still feel the same.

Have you ever used boots that were hard to get on and off? I have. Not a big deal really but sometimes you have to lace and unlace severel eyelets worth just to get a boot on or off. With the H.R.T. boots it’s not so. I’m able to unlace one eyelet only and the are on or off in a flash. I don’t know about you but the way I am at 2:30 in the morning, prior to coffee, this is a plus.

Ok, so, do a lot of boot digs. If I hear a whisper signal in the ground, I scrape the ground with my boot and run my coil over the ground again. You know the routine, check and scrape. Most of the time it turns out to be ground noise and on a few occasions it turns into a signal. It’s even better if it’s a deep nugget. Now, I’m not going to bend down and use my pick every single time this occurs so in most cases, my boots are going to take the abuse. The 5.11 H.R.T. boots seem like they are going to be up to this job as well.

My first trip out, I purposely went out to a trashy area so I could do a lot of boot digs and generally dig a lot of targets. Over several trips, the boot has held up well. It has an extra thick sole and a triple stitched toe guard and after dozens and dozens of boot digs, it really has held up nice. Also, since it’s got suede construction, they don’t seem to wear as hard as smooth leather.

Safety in the field is of the utmost importance. One of the worst things that can happen in the field is a bad fall. Since we all very often find ourselves in rocky and steep environments, it’s important to have a boot that is not going to slip. Although it wasn’t premeditated, I went on a hunt with my boy who is six and we ended up in a fairly steep section of Lynx Creek. I was carrying a detector and had to do a fair amount of hand holding to support him on the path. The 5.11 H.R.T.’s do not slip and did great in that environment.

My assesment: An Easy on and off no metal tactical boot that provides great comfort, excellent construction that is great for boot digs and will likely hold up for a long life. Non slip soles that provide safety for dicey hiking. Even though they are more expensive than the Bates Falcon Enforcers, I’ll spend the extra bucks on them, assuming they hold up in the way I believe they will.

5.11 H.R.T. Tactical boots are a great detecting boot.