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Posted: 6/5/2010 5:27:16 AM EST
I can kind of see when it's 8" or higher. But a 6" boot? Are they really that hard to get into?

Like these

Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:38:30 AM EST
[#1]
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:39:31 AM EST
[#2]




Quoted:

Speed.




yup but they suck at being water resistant in any way, shape, or form.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:39:59 AM EST
[#3]




Quoted:

Speed and ease of putting them on and removing them.




/thread



Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:42:04 AM EST
[#4]
I switch back and forth from uniform boots to turnout gear regularly when I'm on duty, and pull my boots on in the middle of the night. Zips make it a hell of a lot faster and easier.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:46:15 AM EST
[#5]




Quoted:





Quoted:

Speed.




yup but they suck at being water resistant in any way, shape, or form.


Most boots seem to have that problem now, side zip or not.

Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:48:37 AM EST
[#6]
Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Speed.


yup but they suck at being water resistant in any way, shape, or form.

Most boots seem to have that problem now, side zip or not.


I have a pair of Bates M6 boots for duty that are a side zip. Wore them to an IDPA match a few months back because of standing water from storms the night before. Some of the puddles were 2-3 inches deep. too many puddles to worrk about avoiding so I figured i'd test out the waterproof claim. Sure enough, end of the day I was high and dry where the guys that were wearing tennis shoes were hating life.

Side-zips are a nice thing to have.

Link Posted: 6/5/2010 5:51:50 AM EST
[#7]
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:07:23 AM EST
[#8]
After returning 3 prs of other biker boots my girl friend just settled into a nice pair of zip ups  from LA Gear as her primary scooter boots... Zipups are awesome to get in and out of any kind of gear... Gotta love the ruggedness of the new combat/tactical boots coming out with their multifaceted tributes.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:10:11 AM EST
[#9]
removal speed.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:14:11 AM EST
[#10]
People wear zip sided boots because carrying a giant "I'm GAY" sign gets tiring.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:31:01 AM EST
[#11]
Quoted:
People wear zip sided boots because carrying a giant "I'm GAY" sign gets tiring.




Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:39:56 AM EST
[#12]




Quoted:



Quoted:





Quoted:

Speed.




yup but they suck at being water resistant in any way, shape, or form.




I don't doubt that but that's the compromise you have to make. They aren't intended to use as general purpose combat boots but for people who have to either take them off quickly(like firemen) or put them on quickly(like paramedics).
Fair enough. Yeah, they provide some speed, that is for sure. They're nice when you're underway and you get woken up in the middle of the night with a fire alarm and have to run to a repair locker.  

Honestly though, I wear some zipper one's right now. No issues. I would buy some Super Boot II's from the UDC (about 120$)  but the pair I have now are ok and you can't beat the price I got them at, free.  I just feel that between the two, the side zipper version was a little less reliable at keeping water out.  Like during a boarding.



Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:42:57 AM EST
[#13]
- Speed
- Ease of removal when work with caustic chemicals.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:54:09 AM EST
[#14]
Ease of putting them on. In the world where seconds count, every moment you can save is invaluable. For most people, its HSLD and very convienent.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 6:56:53 AM EST
[#15]
Snugs up a sheep's hooves nice.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:26:00 AM EST
[#16]
Just tried on a pair of zip-up Magnums. Didn't seem that much easier to put on. A good shoe hot works just as good and probably quicker although I realize they're not always at arms reach.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:31:23 AM EST
[#17]
I can see them being good for when you are on QRF, or when you are trying to take them off when your boots are really muddy.  I loved wearing tanker boots because of this.  Just unbuckle and step out.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:32:42 AM EST
[#18]
The zippers on pairs ive owned in the past always seemed to wear out before the boot, so i just stick to basic lace up's now.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:35:12 AM EST
[#19]
I have the 8". I hate tying my shoes/boots. They are to overcome my laziness
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:44:06 AM EST
[#20]
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:47:15 AM EST
[#21]
Quoted:
I switch back and forth from uniform boots to turnout gear regularly when I'm on duty, and pull my boots on in the middle of the night. Zips make it a hell of a lot faster and easier.


+1 I'd say almost everyone at both of my department's wear them, a handful have some slip-on boots but I like my side-zip boots better.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 7:54:46 AM EST
[#22]
Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Speed.


yup but they suck at being water resistant in any way, shape, or form.

Most boots seem to have that problem now, side zip or not.


I had some zip-up Magnums that had waterproof lining including behind the zipper

I could stand ankle-deep in puddles and not get wet.  YMMV
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 11:48:26 AM EST
[#23]
I've ran laced boots for years... Tried converting said laced boots to front zipped boots = FAIL the zipper shit the bed all the time... So I went with the Converse side zipped boots and was quite happy with them, I wore the bottoms flat and needed to get another pair of boots.. So I tried the 511 side zip boots, and have not looked back. They are a tad heavier than the converse boots, but they are H2O proof, and not nearly as slippery on ice and snow as the converse. When I wear these boots out, I think it will be another pair of 511 for me.



As for lace up boots... I had a pair of Matterhorn boots that I wore flat... The boots were comfy as all get up, fit like a glove, wore like iron, almost tank like... I abuse the fuck out of them... A big pluss to them is one NEVER has to worry about putting a polish to the toes with them. The only down side to them was it took a bit of time to lace in to them and or to get out of them.. If I ever go back to a strait lace up, it will be the Matterhorn's.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 11:51:19 AM EST
[#24]

Link Posted: 6/5/2010 11:52:20 AM EST
[#25]
Quoted:
The zippers on pairs ive owned in the past always seemed to wear out before the boot, so i just stick to basic lace up's now.


I had a pair like that, but I also have a pair that are perfect. Some have the very lousy zippers that use minuscule links (or whatever those things are called). These will always wear out faster than the boot. I'd definitely recommend getting boots that have beefier links because they don't come apart nearly as easily.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 11:55:53 AM EST
[#26]
Im a trucker and I have to wear boots going into scrap yards and it makes it a hell of alot easier and faster to change from tennis shoes to boots with limited room.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 11:58:12 AM EST
[#27]


Other than ease of getting them on and off, the reason tanker boots have straps like that go back to prior to combustible ammunition.  The expended cases would often melt the laces off conventional boots.
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 12:00:08 PM EST
[#28]
First post



Correct as required by ARFCOM





Link Posted: 6/5/2010 12:01:56 PM EST
[#29]



Quoted:







Other than ease of getting them on and off, the reason tanker boots have straps like that go back to prior to combustible ammunition.  The expended cases would often melt the laces off conventional boots.


Yes, they do work better against flashbacks but the best and most prevalent benefit is slipping them off when your boots have 10lbs of mud on them.



 
Link Posted: 6/5/2010 12:02:18 PM EST
[#30]
I work as a firefighter paramedic and often have to change from my boots to bunker gear in a hurry and have found that front zip boots work best for me. My first pair were side zip and I didn't care for them much. Right now I have Redwing boots with the zippers laced in front.
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