Tactical Boots
Our tactical boots are built for long shifts on concrete, patrols on rough ground and days that start before dawn. The selection covers Rothco's Forced Entry, V-Max, V-Motion Flex, Sierra Sole and Performance Series lines, from low 4 inch tactical shoes up to 8 and 8.5 inch boots.
Several pairs are sold specifically for service members in uniform. Rothco labels the AR 670-1 Coyote Brown Forced Entry Tactical Boot, the waterproof V-Max 8.5 inch, the V-Max 6 inch and the Performance Series Guardian 6 and 8 inch boots (with and without composite toes) as AR 670-1 coyote brown. The Guardian 8 inch has a waterproof full grain leather and polyester upper, a waterproof lining, a nylon shank and a non-marking, oil-resistant rubber lug outsole.
Law enforcement, security and EMS buyers have options too:
- Forced Entry Security Boots in 6 and 8 inch heights
- a Blood Pathogen Resistant and Waterproof Tactical Boot
- side-zip Deployment Boots and a High-Gloss Tactical Boot with Side Zipper for a polished duty look
- composite toe Forced Entry and Guardian models for job sites that call for toe protection
The V-Max Lightweight and V-Motion Flex boots cut weight for runners and people who are on their feet all day.
A note for service members: an "AR 670-1" label is the maker's claim. DA PAM 670-1 requires commercial Army boots to be 8 to 10 inches tall, with no sewn-in zipper inserts, so the 6 inch and side-zip versions may not pass an Army inspection even in coyote. The Air Force rules differ. Our guide below the products walks through the details.
How to Choose Tactical Boots
Narrow the list with four questions: how tall, which toe, zipper or laces, and wet or dry.
Height: 4, 6 or 8 Inch Tactical Boots
Eight inch boots give the most ankle support and are the height most uniform rules expect. Six inch boots are lighter and easier to run in, a common choice for police and security work. The 4 inch Guardian and Scout Hybrid tactical shoes suit plain-clothes duty, travel and gym-to-range days.
Composite Toe or Soft Toe
Composite toes protect against dropped loads without the weight or metal-detector problems of steel. If your job doesn't require toe protection, the soft toe versions of the same boots are lighter and flex more.
Side Zip or Laces Only
A side zipper lets you set the laces once and get in and out in seconds, which helps on call-outs and at airport security. The trade-off is one more part that can fail, and some uniform rules don't allow zipper inserts.
Waterproof, Pathogen Resistant or Vented
Waterproof linings keep feet dry in rain and wet grass but hold more heat. The blood pathogen resistant boot is meant for EMS and corrections staff who need an easy-clean barrier. For hot, dry climates, a lightweight non-waterproof boot such as the V-Max breathes better.
Sizing Tactical Boots
Try tactical boots on with your duty socks and any insoles you plan to use. Your heel should stay put when you walk, and your toes shouldn't touch the front when you go downstairs. Size ranges vary by model; the Guardian 8 inch, for example, runs from size 5 to 13.
Tactical Boots and Military Regulations
Army: What DA PAM 670-1 Requires of Commercial Boots
Paragraph 20-5b lets Soldiers wear commercial boots similar to the issued coyote combat boot in place of it when the commander authorizes them. They must be 8 to 10 inches high, of coyote-colored, flesh-side out cattlehide leather, with a plain toe, a soling system that matches the upper's color, and a rubber or polyether polyurethane outsole. Mesh on the outside is not allowed, and sewn-in or laced-in zipper inserts are not authorized. These boots don't replace the two issued pairs you must own. Before wearing any AR 670-1 labeled pair, check its height, upper material and closure against that list.
Air Force and Space Force
Coyote brown is the only authorized boot color with the OCP uniform, with exceptions for medical reasons and industrial areas that require black boots. A July 2025 change to DAFI 36-2903 set height at 8 to 12 inches with soles no taller than 2 inches, and in September 2025 the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force announced the minimum would drop to 6 inches. Confirm the current text before choosing a 6 inch boot.
Marines and Navy
The Marine Corps accepts only boots it has certified, shown by style numbers on the label, and the Navy's NWU boot list doesn't include Rothco. For these services, our tactical boots are off-duty, range or civilian boots.
Unit and command policies can be stricter than any regulation, so check with your chain of command.