RECOIL OFFGRID Gear Garmont Tactical T8 Boots
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When it comes to operating in high stress environments, navigating the wilderness, or moving quickly during an emergency, next to our minds, our feet are our most important tool. The ability to move quickly and efficiently can be seriously hampered when foot injuries or discomfort are present. Having proper footwear is essential, and with the footwear market being as large as it is, it is difficult to know exactly what the best show for the job is.
While your average sneaker, work boot, or sandal may be comfortable choice for daily use – these types of shoes are not built to hold up to miles of on foot travel, adverse weather conditions, and rough terrain. They also aren’t designed to keep our feet happy and healthy in these activities. In the years I’ve spent as an avid hiker, taking a variety of tactical/survival courses, and making it through several emergency scenarios, I’ve seen the impact of improper footwear both personally and with others. Blisters, rolled ankles, and fractures are just a few of the injuries that can stop you in your tracks, and over time more serious chronic conditions can develop because of improper footwear.
When it comes to selecting the best footwear to manage extended wear through harsh conditions that won’t slow you down when you need to move, it is best to trust our feet to footwear that is specially designed for that scenario – fortunately, Garmont Tactical has years of experience doing just that!
Garmont has been in the footwear game since the 1960’s and is known for making highly functional hiking boots and shoes. In 2008 Garmont was contacted by US Special Forces and asked to create a better military boot. Garmont went to work incorporating their extensive experience and innovation in developing hiking boots, to create a military boot that had the benefits of a hiking boot and the protective qualities that the military required. The result of this process yielded the T8 Family of boots and the creation of Garmont Tactical! The T8 was designed for comfort and breathability during extended wear, while also providing top of the line traction in numerous operation terrains and ensure superior ankle protection.
The innovation did not stop with the first versions of the T8. Since its inception Garmont Tactical has continued the Garmont’s legacy of innovation by producing several versions of the T8 and have introduced several new tactical boots to their line up to meet the evolving needs of military and law enforcement personnel.
Garmont Tactical’s widespread adoption throughout military and police forces clearly show their dedication to producing a premium battle-ready boot, but these boots have a lot of practicality beyond the battlefield.
We tested 3 different variants of Garmont Tactical’s T8 boots built for different circumstances; each boot was tested in varied environments through multiple seasons and weather conditions. We will break down the features and benefits of each. All of Garmont Tactical’s T8 boots feature 8 inch height, non-reflective hardware, and suede/leather and nylon construction.
The T8 Defense is the latest member of the T8 family. Based on the original D8 boot design the Defense incorporates the addition of D30 impact resistant material through out the boot to protect the wearer and reduce shock impact on the feet. For those unfamiliar with D30 Technology, it is widely used in for motorcycle, athletic, and miliary protective gear due to its lightweight impact and vibration resistance – it has also been used in electronic equipment.
D30 is incorporated into the ankle and tongue of the T8 Defense to help protect the most sensitive areas of the foot from blunt force impacts. Garmont has also utilized D30 in the footbed to reduce the effects of impact while on the move. The result makes the T8 Defense one of the most comfortable boots I have worn for extended periods. During my testing I had the T8 Defense boots on for upwards of 16 hours per day and covered many miles with less foot fatigue than other boots I have worn.
The Defense is a breathable boot which was welcome during the 95+ degree days. I was surprised that despite being made primarily of black leather, how breathable they were in the intense heat and direct sunlight.
While the Defense is not rated as waterproof, they stand up fine to light rain for a few hours, but I would not be looking to stand in deep puddles or attempt to move across a shallow creek and expect to stay dry.
The Vibram outsole provides an excellent grip in wet and dry conditions in both urban and wilderness environments while providing good stability. While the T8 Defense is stiff to provide support they are not so stiff that fast movement is impaired.
Finally, when it comes to weight, the T8 Defense is not what I would consider a lightweight boot, but they are not heavy either. They are lighter on the feet when compared to an average work boot, and a touch heavier compared to a hiking boot.
Overall, I felt the T8 Defense was a comfortable boot that provides excellent support for your foot and ankle during all day wear and covering significant distances at varied paces. The T8 Defense is available in regular or wide sizes in both the black leather LEO version and the Tan Military version.
The T8 Extreme Evo line was developed to incorporate a cold weather boot into the Garmont Tactical lineup. Two variations were made – one with 200-gram Thinsulate and a second with Gortex waterproof material. As I frequent the wet woodlands in New England I opted to evaluate the Gortex variant.
Gortex provides breathable water proofing, and while it doesn’t breathe as well as a boot without a waterproof lining it is far more breathable to alternative waterproofing like sealed boots made from some kind of rubber material. Gortex will aid in heat retention, though not as much as Thinsulate.
The Evo Extreme GTX was my go-to boot the entirety of this past winter and I found when combined with wool socks they did a great job of keeping my feet warm while trudging through the snow and ice both while in a suburban environment and while navigating the frozen woodlands. The waterproofing held up very well even when moving through shallow running water or standing in slushy standing water.
The Vibram outsoles provide an excellent grip in all conditions and perform exceptionally well in wet woodland environments. The addition of Ortholite insoles aided in comfort during all day use and collecting serious milage out in the woods.
Like the T8 Defense, I found the Extreme Evo to be very supportive during wear, with an appropriate amount of stiffness to handle uneven terrain but not hinder fast movement when needed.
Despite being a boot designed for colder weather, when combined with the appropriate sock to manage foot moisture the EVO Extreme GTX is a good option for navigating wet environments across all seasons.
The Extreme Evo GTX is noticeably heavier when compared to the T8 Defense, but that is expected when incorporating the Gortex waterproofing. Despite that, the boots do not feel overly heavy on the feet and are comfortable for extended wear in harsh conditions.
Overall, The T8 Extreme Evo GTX is a great option for cold and wet weather, especially when operating in uneven and rocky terrain. Like the other T8 variants the Extreme Evo is available in regular and wide sizing. As of the time of writing the Extreme Evo line is only available in the tan military coloring.
The T8 Athena is one of the most unique boots in Garmont Tactical lineup. While many boot manufacturers make boots tactical boots in women’s sizing, Garmont is currently the only tactical boot on the market that is built from the ground up for women. The T8 Athena is specifically designed for a woman’s anatomical foot structure.
Women have a slightly shorter Achilles tendon, a narrow more pronounced arch, less foot muscle density, and weight distribution on the front of the foot when compared to men. While women can wear a tactical boot that was designed for men, having a boot that is built with these differences in mind will increase comfort and performance and reduce fatigue and injury.
The T8 Athena features the same lightweight breathability found in the T8 Defense with a slightly less rigid outsole for increased mobility and comfort over extended wear. The Athena uses Garmont’s proprietary Diamante outsole designed for comfort when navigating uneven terrain and prioritizes traction in ascent and descent scenarios.
My wife assisted me in the testing of the T8 Athena in the same conditions that the T8 Defense Her feed back stated that Athena was the most comfortable boots she had worn and that she preferred them to some of her other technical footwear for the increased mobility and support they provided. Like the Defense, the Athena held up to light rain for an extended time and remained breathable and comfortable in 95+ degree temperatures. She found them comfortable for all day wear during an extended outdoor event and while attending woodland-based training classes.
Like the other T8 variants, the Athena is available in both regular and wide sizes. The Athena is available in both black LE and tan military variants. The T8 Athena has become a mainstay of her footwear lineup for outdoor and strenuous tasks.
Not being in the military or law enforcement, I can’t provide an opinion on Garmont Tactical’s boots from that perspective – but I also don’t really need to as many Garmont boots have been widely adopted and appreciated by members in both groups. As an outdoors person, preparedness enthusiast, and someone who takes part in a wide range of tactical and survival training programs I can give the Garmont Tactical T8 lineup my seal of approval.
I place a high value on functional technical footwear. I spend a lot of time in the woods hiking, camping, and training. While hiking boots are a great option for navigating the trail, they lack the versatility, durability, and load bearing capacity found in tactical boots. In this case I feel like Garmont gives you the best of both worlds.
The T8 variants we evaluated all provided great traction in a variety of conditions in the wilderness but performed equally as well in urban and suburban environments. The tread on all three pairs have held up very well both on and off the trail, something not often found in your typical hiking boot where pavement can quickly wear down hikers.
From a weight perspective I noticed very little difference between the T8 Defense and your typical mid-height hiking boot and a marginal difference between the Extreme Evo and mid-height Gortex lined hikers. The added height of the T8’s is a welcome addition when crossing through thorny and tick infested underbrush.
The added support found in the T8’s was welcome when moving with heavier loads, leading to far less discomfort and swelling compared to a light hiking boot. Outside of the woods the support also helps when on your feet all day both just standing and when doing a good deal of walking.
When compared to a typical work boot the difference is night and day. The T8 boots fit better, provide more support, and weigh significantly less. They also have better traction in wet and oily conditions found in some industrial circumstances.
All in all, if you are looking for a rugged, durable, highly versatile pair of boots the Garmont Tactical T8 line up has great options with specific models boasting specialty features that may fit your needs. If you are like me and have wide feet, you will be happy with the addition of wide sizing and the roomy toe boxes Finally, the addition of the anatomically designed Athena is a game changer for women who want or need a tactical boot and we hope to see this expand to other aspects of the Garmont Tactical lineup.
Check out the Full Garmont Tactical Lineup Here
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