Water Resistance: 5.11 ATAC 8" vs. Hiking Boots

Greetings. So I need a new pair of boots for hiking and my other outdoor activities, and several of the hiking trails we have here in Jordan, Middle East, have major parts of walking in knee-height water.

Considering that, I wonder if I can find any practical boots that will last, dry quickly, and not cause me blisters (I wear thick polyester or acrylic socks).

The market is far more limited over here than you can imagine. The most notable choices I have at hand are the 5.11 Tactical ATAC 8" Coyote combat boots and a few Merrell choices with and without Vibram soles.

Waterproof/breathable membranes are totally out of the question of course.

Taking the specs and reviews into account, I am overall more attracted to the ATAC than to the Merrell hiking boots, which has a body of full grain leather, suede and nylon, an "insulating moisture-wicking" lining (material(s) not specified), and 2 venture points at the inner arches of each boot.

Taking these specs into account, and from your experience with hiking boots, do you think that any of my options stands to my hopes in being practical and durable in in-water use?

According to a few reviews, if I remember correctly, the ATAC can last roughly a year with soldiers. If they can last that long with extensive everyday use, then they should last at least 3 years with me with only 3-4 serious trips a year, and it'd be fantastic if having 5 miles of walking in water in half of them would not decrease the boots' life span below that.

If you guys think that neither option does the job, then please tell me what the solution is! I am asking here if there're any boots made for use on the ground that are suitable for use in water. According to MilitaryMorons.com, the ATB's for example are dedicated for near-water operations and are not recommended for use in dry places.

I would, unless there is something unusual about the water - say, alligators, pirahnas, lots of leeches - not bother with waterproof anything. I'd get a second set of shoes to wear through stretches of water, take off the socks and hiking shoes, wade, put them back on at the other side of the water crossing.

Yeah, a nuisance if there are frequent water crossings.

The other option - just use shoes that fit. Blisters take three things to form - friction, heat, and moisture. If my shoes fit well I don't get blisters even when the other two exist. I have gone on a hike with 10+ water crossings wearing wool socks, non goretex hikers, and waded all the crossings. Most of the water leaves the shoe, unlike goretex shoes, and my wool socks (lightweight) were damp but not uncomfortable. No blisters.

What one needs at the end of the hike is dry socks, tho. Trench foot can set in if your feet are always wet.

I'm already aware of this solution, but I am wondering if one can take an entire trip without changing their boots.

Thanks for the feedback about blisters! It's quite useful.

2 other questions remain open. I wonder how approximately it takes the ATAC 8" versus the ordinary midweight hikers to dry, and how both last as well.

From your experience on the long or short run, did you notice water use wearing your shoes out more quickly?

On your link to the ATAC 8" boots, one of the cons was "not water resistant". I think these boots are going to get wet if your in the water every day. The only thing I know that will stay dry no matter what are rubber boots with lug soles(I used to wear these for work); but I wouldn't wear them hiking or backpacking. When I think I am going to have wet boots, I bring lots of wool socks and spend time drying out my boots; pull out the inserts and set 'em up so the wind will blow directly into them. My boots tend to be made out of fast drying materials and I make use of that property. The other option is some sort of winterized boot, but these tend to be kind of warm for non winter use. Leather typically does not like being wet all the time.

Welcome!

I wonder whether folks who do what's called "canyoneering" in the American Southwest might be able to help? They navigate a combination of desert-like trails and long stretches of water, even waist-deep, while still needing stout, grippy footwear. IIUC they prefer fast-draining and drying specialty shoes rather than trying to stay dry with waterproof boots.

Something like these.

5-10 Canyoneers

I suppose, depending on water depth, they could be combined with goretex or neoprene socks, or go sockless in the water, or simply rotate regular socks between crossings to have a dry pair in between.

Springtime hiking in the mountains often features a lot of stream and bog crossing, and it can be a bother with the wrong footwear. The worst, in my experience, are shoes/boots that never dry once they're soaked. Better to have breathable, fast-drying shoes.

Good luck!

I wear trail running shoes (Inov-8 Roclite 315) which drain well and dry fairly well. I never take off my shoes when I cross creeks. I often walk in the middle of creeks. Wet feet aren't an issue unless you never let them dry at night (or when it's also cold if you don't take other measures). I put my damp socks and shoes on the next morning (can be chilly if you don't warm them in some fashion).

If you are carrying traditional backpacker weights, you may want more of a boot type sole and there are those styles also but not sure how available in your area (Merrell is one brand that should though).

Your socks may wear out a bit quicker from grit that may enter with the water. I stop to empty that every so often if I can tell it is there. If you can feel it, you run the risk of getting a blister there.

Or just lightweight trail running shoes, in which I (and many others) just splash through the water and walk until they are dry. In your desert environment, that shouldn't take long! Using merino wool socks helps--they feel dry even when still damp. Airing out your feet at rest stops is always important, too.

So the bottom line is that using leather boots is a terribly impractical idea for water crossings, and having them as my primary pair will require an alternative solution for crossing water.

Now amongst the solutions on the list, the ones we have in Jordan and Saudi (whereas I keep on moving between the 2 locations) are Merrell lightweight hikers, and water-resistant hiking sandals from various brands. We don't have any hiking culture or specialized stores over here, these are just stuff brought randomly by Yemeni traders and found in army equipment stores.

Something that concerns me is how non-waterproof midweight hikers compare to lightweight in drainage. If they do not take significantly longer, I might just buy one pair and use it for everything.

But if I am going to have 2 pairs anyway, then as for my primary, I have 2 choices in addition to the ATAC. They with their local prices are:

- The 5.11 ATAC 8" Coyote ($140)
They are of great durability and comfort according to several reviews (last up to 1 year with soldiers and 3 with workers), but are significantly more expensive than my cheapest choice.

- Regular Merrell mid-weight hiking boots ($120)
A small collection of the regular mid-weight hiking boots. Some have Vibram soles.

- Dr. Martens full grain leather boots ($100)
Besides being the cheapest on the list, several users, including my brother, claimed them being extremely comfortable, and full grain leather is a very durable material. They work on pavement without wearing and have a great appearance for my clothing style. However, I wonder about their grip. My use includes walking on dirt, sand, rocks, and climbing trees.

The master factor is which returns the most value for the money.

What do you guys think?

If I were you, I would just copy the Bedouins. They have been doing it for thousands of years.

Correct (if you want to care for your feet better). Yes, soldiers wear them through water but dry feet isn't top priority for them though they are also most likely to have trench foot. Those in wetter climes would often wear jungle boots that have drain holes at least. Dr. Martens are known for comfort but they aren't meant for water either. Very popular with factory workers.

For just hiking, I'd go with the lightest you can get (sandals you mentioned). Not sure whether those would be suitable for your other "outdoor activities" though.

It may be that you get Dr. Martens AND sandals. Not ideal, but could be what will work best for your situation.

Back to my last question, as for the best value for money, Dr. Martens definitely has it if it can bypass a few problems. First, I'm not sure about its grip. Secondly, do you guys think that hiking in rocky places (where there are some sharp rocks) could tear the leather?

In that case, I would definitely go with a hiking pair or the ATAC instead, because we have a lot of that terrain here.

As for my personal experience, I have used my Harley full grain leathers for over 5 years in-town and they have a lot of scratches, but have never gotten torn. However, I am not sure how sharp was the worst thing to scratch them in order to make the conclusion.

As for my water-crossing alternative, it'd be very kind of you guys if you could give me an estimate of the lifespan of your water-crossing trail-runners per density of use.

My hiking shoes last about a year. But I put 700 miles on them per year. This year they may last a little longer, as I got a different pair of boots for cross country work in thorns and brambles.

It seems most people get 500-800 trail miles per pair of trail runners. If you were only wearing them for crossings, they'd last a LONG time.

I'm actually standing in a pair of those 5.11 tactical boots, and they're comfortable, but overall they're a miserable boot. Poor quality leather that tore at the stress points within a few weeks, soft soles that wear down quickly. They're a bear to lace up because of the long tops, and even worse to put on. Finally, they're almost flat-footed, and the toe-box is so broad and unsupportive my toes curl up passively unless I really cinch up the laces, which is still a major bother.

The good things: well they're cheap as chips and comfortable when you take the time to really dial in the laces.
The bottom line is that I won't recommend them for hiking and backpacking.
Hope this helps.