True tactical boots aren’t something that normally match with everyday clothing or make for good everyday shoes. If you wore a pair of standard military boots to the grocery store people would automatically assume you are an active duty service member, a survivalist, or a guy going hunting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re looking for a practical boot that you can wear to work or the woods the new Nike Special Field Boot is the reigning champ.

The original Nike SFB was a hit with U.S. soldiers in the Middle East for its lightweight comfortability. It was (and is) approved for military use. The new Nike SFB, released last year, continues to be a lightweight and comfortable shoe but adds on to that combination with a new tread pattern and a more aggressive look. I picked up a 6″ pair in Sage Green a few months ago and I have been rocking them every day with blue jeans and shorts. These boots have a more subtle statement than your typical tactical boots, which allows them to pair well with everyday clothing and remain unassuming when worn with pants. The SFB’s attract compliments and comments such as, “I can’t believe those are Nikes.”

The SFB’s with jeans: Actor Shia LaBeouf spotted wearing Nike SFB’s. (Photo by INF)

Even if you don’t care about your boots looking good and you wouldn’t give two extra cents to buy a better looking pair of boots, the Nike SFB’s have a couple of features that may be beneficial to you. First off, they do not require a break-in period. Just slip them on and go. The first day I wore them I was surprised at how comfortable they were out of the box. This is certainly not a characteristic of your standard hunting, hiking or tactical boot. Second, they are designed to slip-on and feel as close to a sock as possible. I know that may sound strange but trust me on this one. Nike designed these boots with a completely connected tongue—which prevents it from flapping around and allows the user to easily slip them on like a sock. Nike also designed these boots to be as lightweight as possible while still maintaining durability, which adds to that sock-like feel.

While on the subject of lightweight it’s important to note that these boots were not designed for cold climates. They lack insulation and are intended to be worn in warm climates. The material was designed to air dry quickly, which makes them good for rucking through desert streams and jungles. The desert terrain of the American Southwest is easily tackled with these boots, and they are much more forgiving than traditional boots when hiking in the summer heat. As mentioned above, I wear these boots with shorts without issue…and with white socks. My ex-military friend told me that I was going to get chaffing on my legs if I didn’t wear them with boot socks. Wrong. The material on these shoes are so comfortable that they can ride right up on your skin without issue.

I won’t comment too much on the tread pattern as I am more of a user than an analyzer when it comes to gear, but I will comment on how they tackle terrain. The SFB easily overcomes the rocky, desert terrain of my area while retaining comfortability and bounce. While I normally wear running shoes on dry desert trails, the Nike SFB’s are hardly any more unobtrusive. In fact, I feel that they are even more comfortable for hot-weather hiking because you don’t feel the shock of stepping over the rocks as much as you do with running shoes. And once again, the material is extremely breathable and you don’t really notice that they are covering your ankles.

If you are looking for a lightweight tactical boot, trail boot, or everyday use boot to compliment the firearms lifestyle, then the Nike SFB’s are something I would recommend that you check out right now before the weather starts to cool down again. They come in several variations, including a mean looking Jungle and Mountain version. Check them all out on nike.com.