From Nike's website:
The Nike Special Field Boot: Built for high-speed responders
A modern, athletic boot designed for first responders, the Nike Special Field Boot was engineered to the specifications of world-class heroes, from military professionals to rescue and law personnel. The result: the lightest, fastest-drying, highest-mobility performance boot Nike has ever made.
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The Nike website used to claim these boots were designed by SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS, however after someone actually took them to a combat zone and they fell to pieces the name was soon changed to the "special field boot". HA!
First off let me tell you I am a HUGE Nike fanboy, and it pains me to write this review.
Ok, yes they are pretty dang light, extremely comfortable, and the looks cant be beat from any other combat boot. But that is where the glisten from the silver lining starts to wear off.
The sole, while great for walking around or standing in a formation, has no practical use anywhere else in the military. It is almost identical to the Nike Free running shoe sole, and don't get me wrong that is a fantastically engineered piece of equipment for running on smooth roads it however isn't exactly built for anything else. After 4 months of off an on wear the treads have worn down to next to nothing. A couple few times making me question my equipment while climbing, which any person law enforcement, military, or joe smith can tell you is not a good feeling. You should trust in your equipment because in some situations a moments hesitation can cost you your life. The two toned sole of these boots is separating by color which tells me that Nike skimped on the adhesives. I guess that they weren't expecting a combat boot to go to...combat. A second note on the soles would be that they are extremely soft. After a the first comfortable mile in these boots, your feet will feel like they are going the distance with Pacquiao.
The construction of these boots leaves you wondering, "What the hell Nike was thinking?". The toe box is not full leather. like you would expect. It is a cheap suede that comes off as synthetic faux leather skin stretched over a plastic toe cap. The slightest drag of the toe on concrete will rip the cheap material exposing the plastic, rendering them "unserviceable". Everyone knows the sandpaper to clean-up desert boots trick. This is a huge no go with these boots.. I could see you easily sanding right through the material revealing the cheap plastic-like cap.
The eyelets on my particular pair have been pulled out in several locations just from everyday tightening. Yes, a gerber and some patience can repair them in a bind, but I shouldn't have to do that.
Most of the stitching is double stitched, but must not have been finished off because they start to pull away at the ends of the material. The material itself does an amazing thing. When it is cold the boots breathe extremely well chilling your feet to the bone. On the flip side in the 90+ degree heat you would receive better ventilation from a hefty bag. I can't explain it, but it is the honest to gods truth.
Nike's claim of "fastest-drying...boot Nike has ever made." is laughable. One trip to a wash rack will tell you different when hours later your boots are still juicier than a Thanksgiving turkey.
Overall on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give them a 3.
Why the 3? Because while they are poorly made with cheap materials, and more fashion forward than practical, they still have a use. Someone with a desk job, in an air conditioned, dry office will love these. However anyone that actually puts them through the paces that you would expect a combat boot to last through these boots fall extremely short in almost every category besides comfort.
