Bates mens Gx-8 Composite Toe Side ZipWork Boot

I wear a 10.5 US in Nike Free Run running shoes, and needed 11.5 US in these boots to get a good fit across the bridge of my foot, immediately behind the toes. They said 3E, but came in extra wide. A true 3E probably would have been fine in a 10.5. This is the fifth pair of Bates I have owned and they're great boots. For work I wore the Bates Ultra-lights in black 5 inch zip up and they were great, but after a year the heel was worn down and my feet were rolling to the outside of the foot bed. Pretty good life for a 325 pound guys work boots. I wanted to try these out because they apear to have a better arch. After wearing them for a month I'm pretty sure the tread will last a bit longer and the arch support is slightly better. My only complaints are that they don't come in a 5 inch side zip, or even better, a low cut shoe. The 8 inch are fine, but your feet can get pretty hot during the summer. And you'll want to find your favorite aftermarket, Dr. Scholls, etc. inserts to replace the thin, cheap ones that come with them. The composite toe is great, and is so much more comfortable after a 12 hour shift. It seems to be able to accommodate wide feet better than steel toes as well.

I wear a 8.5 some times 9 in a shoe, so I order an 8.5 they are a little roomy but not so much they can not be worn so I kept them. I could have probably got away with an 8. These boots are light I mean maybe they weight a little bit more than flip flops. I find my self lifting my leg really high after wearing heavy tennis shoes. They are that light. Sole padding is great. No padding on top, which if laced to tight the anchor from the laces digs into my ankle and is painful. They just need to be let a little lose around the ankle. The need to be broken in. I have had these about 5 days and would say they are mostly broken in now, but before the break in they are like wearing cast on your legs. The zipper needs to be broken in too. The first couple times with the zip and I thought this is never going to work, but now they are broken in it is awesome and smooth zipping. These are the Navy Seal boots listed on their official Navy Seal web site. They are by far the best boots I ever owned. They are warm as far as I can tell been out in them in 30 degree weather with no problem. May update this as we get more into winter. My only complaint is I wish they had more padding where the laces are anchored no big deal thought just can not tie them super tight. I love Love these boots. My son is in the Navy and is looking into if He can where these in uniform. He hates his boots that tie. Traction is great, been in the rain and on many wet surfaces and not even a give any where. I do not know how they are in oil. They are comfortable and did I say Light. I study martial arts and needed a boot I could kick in. I can do all my kicks in these boots easier than tennis shoes. If you get these boots you are going to want to get a shoe shine kit and give them a shine right out of the box. I wore mine first and they scuffed up fast, but after the shine back to better than new and now they do not scuff up so much. The price was Great but I did by them the day before thanksgiving so i got them well under even sale price, but they are worth the 150.00 or so they cost at Amazon. I will be buying a second pair for my father in law as He will not stop talking about them, i think he wants mine, but oh no. They are a great boot and worth the money, Just remember the anchor to the laces can dig into the ankle and you need to loosen the laces until they do not. I don't want to tell anyone what size to get mine fit well at 8.5 which I wear but like I said think I could get away with an 8 in this boot. They would have been snug with no room, but I like my boots like that, but the 8.5 is fine. I have only had these 5 days so I can not speak to ware, but these are my favorite boots, and yes waterproof. I have tested them in large puddles and in heavy rain.. I hope this review helps.

These wicked nice boots are for those who are boots on the ground every day. Gx-8's are a quality made pair of boots.

I think these are very good boots for the price! They offer great ankle support and working in them all day I don't have any issues with my knees or back which is a godsend. They work very well and though are a bit pricey are definitely worth it! No blisters yet, but they do run a bit large but I had to size up because I do have wide feet lol. The material can withstand a lot of wear and tear! These boots are my everyday choice of footwear and only after a full year have they started to give up a little bit.

Update after 6 years of wearing these every single day (yes they are the only shoe i wear for work and home). Rating: WAS 5/5 years ago, now 2/5. Good: These are still comfortable (way better than any "work" boot i've had, more comfortable than most sneakers). They go on and off quickly due to side zips (I really dislike tying laces). Safety toe for work requirements. They look cool. Bad: I only get about 1 year of use out of them, but that is wearing them everyday. After a year the sole is worn down, and the inner fabric is torn so badly they wont come off my foot. I feel like they should last a LOT longer. These used to be made in the USA, now made in CHINA. Most recent pair has some sharp edges that are hurting me, unlike past pairs I've had. Also dont think zippers are YKK anymore, they are some off brand. What a shame, these used to be great boots, they took a fantastic boot and cheapened it out so much its no longer worth it. I wear a 10.5 sneaker, ordered a 10 and I think it is still just a tad too big. A 9.5 probably would have been a better fit but the 10 is very close. Keep in mind there are two versions of this boot, the regular one, and the Gore-Tex waterproof one. The Gore-Tex are 100% waterproof but they can get hot, especially in the summer. The non waterproof boots stay "fairly" cool, even in GA summers, no they aren't flip flops, but they do well especially for safety toe boots.

Overall decent boot "but" for the $140+ I paid for them I didn't expect the zipper to self destruct in under 2 yrs

They are so clean and pretty. I am so sad he is wearing them to work today and going to destroy them day 1 lol He said the fit is true to size. They are very lightweight and comfortable. He also like that he doesnt have to tie them repeatedly and only has to zip them up. Time will tell how well they hold up. I will def. update if they fall apart quickly.

---UPDATE2--- Zipper has completely unraveled. The boot is no longer wearable. Less than one year, light use. Can't warranty return because I don't have a backup pair or 200 bucks to get one. And still, no one else makes a composite toe side zip. ---UPDATED--- Zipper is ripping away from fabric, defeating it's waterproof designs entirely. Through no fault of the selller, the only way to RMA is to send these, and since I need them for work, I have to buy another pair (of something else, mind you) while they decide if this defect is somehow my fault. A.T.A.C. please bring the WP SZ back for the 2.0. That zipper and structure was solid for over three years without a single failure. I only switched when I literally had holes in the soles. These are garbage. Six months, light to moderate use and falling apart. Thing to improve: Doubling (or tripling) the seams up. Prevent rips, and improve seal. Thick tooth zippers. These will NOT bind up, will not WEAR AWAY, and aren't round, so they don't FLATTEN, if dinged. Velcro zipper cover could be a magnet, and if not could have Velcro that doesn't wear out in six months, again, see A.T.A.C. Things that are great: Sole/ path of travel is great, very comfortable to walk in, even in stock insoles. Looks fine. Plenty of entry space when unzipped. Laces haven't ever come undone. I thank the oblong design. A.T.A.C always did, due to rounded laces. Bad choice on that part for A.T.A.C. I'm active duty military, work partly on the flight line, partly in the hospital. So light to moderate duty at worst. These are not durable enough for military use. If I can destroy them in six months, a flight line maintainer is going to chew through them in less than two, and forget taking them downrange. ---- Short version. Super comfy, stylish, not too heavy, not too hot here in Tampa. Suede is far too weak, already sporting many many scuff and gouges. Zipper works but can jam. A thicker type would be better, see A.T.A.C. 1.0. Would buy again but hope to see a minor revision with improvement.