Reebok has been making footwear for a very long time and they have become quite good at it. Their attention to detail, comfort and quality have trickled down from their athletic line of shoes to the boots they make for our first responders and warfighters.
Their Spearhead boot offering is a solid competitor in the field boot arena. The Spearhead is a typical 8 inch high field boot and is fairly standard when it comes to field boots as it doesn’t look too atypical from what you would be issued in the military. They look sharp and have a nice aesthetic to them. I found for the general consumer, these boots are great all-around work boots and great for yard work, construction projects and general tasks. The boots also work well as a hiking boot and of course as standard issue military boots as they are AR 670-1 compliant. It should also be noted they comply with the Berry Amendment which pertains to the procurement of textiles and apparel.
Physical Description
The boot is constructed from rugged materials including leather and ballistic nylon. The Spearhead comes in a sharp coyote brown color. The laces that come with the boot are speed laces and Reebok was very liberal with the amount of lace they give you – which is appreciated. You never know when you may need to fix a snapped lace or use a small section for some other task. Also, the attention to detail is noticeable. The boot features double and even quad stitching in the heel which is something I don’t normally see on field boots.
As always, it should be good to keep in mind that these are field boots. These are boots designed for warm/hot weather environments and not cold or wet environments – so use them accordingly. They will also not provide you the same ankle stability that a more robust cold weather, full-body boot would. The Rebook Spearhead boots are minimalist boots designed to run lighter and cooler.
The Spearhead boot, like the majority of the boots you’ll run across in the field boot class, is outfitted with two ventilation holes right above the arch on the inside face of each boot. These ventilation holes are screened, which prevents small debris from getting inside the boot. They ventilate the foot and they will allow the boot and foot to dry out more quickly – which is good because these boots are not waterproof. With the ventilation holes, as one would suspect, if you submerge your foot in water, it will intrude and your feet will become wet.
The sole construction for these boots is very aggressive. They look like something you would expect on an off-road vehicle, as the lugs are deep and spaced fairly far apart. The toes appear to be somewhat reinforced; however, these are not safety boots so don’t expect to find a steel toe and there should be no implied safety rating. The heel is raised and wraps up around the rear about one and a half inches up the heel. This added material provides protection for heel strikes on sharp rocks and other abrasive material you may run across in the field.
The toe of the boot is similar to the heel, meaning the sole wraps up a decent amount protecting your toes from stubbing them on hard surfaces. The above mentioned aggressive Vibram soles are made of a fairly soft rubber. Reebok calls it their Crossbow Rubber Outsole with 360-degree sidewall stitching. Apparently, it also meets ASTM F2892, which is the standard specification for performance requirements for soft toe protective footwear. Reebok also claims the sole will provide protection against electrical hazards. While that totally makes sense to me, I believe them; I couldn’t find any downed power lines to step on. Sorry.
The Spearhead does not come with a pull loop at the top of the ankle. At first I thought this was odd seeing that boots with an 8-inch ankle typically require some additional help in getting them on, however with the combination of easy on/off quick laces and the fact that the padded collar around the top of the ankle, the loop wasn’t required. The padding around the ankle allowed me to grip and get a good purchase to help slip the boot on. The padding also provided additional comfort as the back of the boot does not bite into my calves which can sometimes be a problem with really low minimalist type field boots.
Fit/Wearability
The fit of the boot is nice. The sizing appears accurate for my tootsies anyway. They fit my foot well and stay solidly in place – assuming that you lace the boots down properly. If the boots fit kind of loose and not cinched all the way, there will be movement as would be expected within the boot. There’s ample room in the toes which is much appreciated. It gives the option to wear thicker socks if desired or just have a little room to breathe without cutting off the circulation to the foot.
I found that wearing these boots all day was not much of an issue and they don’t really require a break-in period. That being said, I would like to see a little bit more support with the insoles. The insoles are removable and can be replaced with an aftermarket variant of your preference if you want the extra cushion. In this author’s opinion, I would add the additional comfort of an aftermarket insole. It should be noted that the socks I wore during my time in the Reebok Spearhead are what I would classify as a mid-weight sock. They’re not thin nor are they super thick. These boots are not heavy by any stretch of the imagination, however, they’re not the lightest boot in their class.
Usage
While these boots are just fine for pavement or asphalt conditions, it was apparent at first glance they would do well in the field. These boots have an extreme gripping surface that will grab the trail regardless of the trail incline. The edge of the Vibram soles are fairly sharp – meaning they are squared off and not rounded or beveled. This does allow for decent cutting and grabbing – especially if you have to traverse up a steep slope sideways. It also is beneficial when standing on things like ladders, however, it would not surprise me if the edge would break off or shred a little bit easier over prolonged use. I did not experience that at all, however sharp corners have a tendency to be more fragile and susceptible to breaking off. While the soles are fairly soft, walking over coarse gravel and rock was still a fairly comfortable experience and I did not feel any sharp protrusions in my feet. As the soles had less surface than other boots I have worn in the past, I assumed that I might slip a bit more on inclined hard surfaces such as wet pavement. I was pleasantly surprised. Even walking up a very steep grade on wet pavement with a fairly large aggregate lodged in the surface, the boot did not slip.
It should also be noted that the rubber does squeak a little on a hardwood floor or similar hard surfaces. I have not noticed any audible squeaks or noises coming from the boot on the trail. The boots handle very well – even on rock, sand, and dirt gravel, however on a smooth surface such as a smooth slab of wet rock things could get a little dicey – especially if you are on an incline. The Spearhead liked to play in the mud. Needless-to-say, while the deep lugs filled up fairly easily with organics, it was also easy to knock the debris out of them thanks to their wide spacing.
I think one of the things that impressed me most about this boot was walking uphill. Meaning that a lot of times when you walk uphill, your boot will slip and the heel will pop up, resulting in hotspots. With the Spearhead, the heels of my foot were held in place by the boot but not to the point where it felt overly constrained or uncomfortable.
Contrary to trekking uphill, I did notice a little interior slippage when going downhill, which isn’t uncommon. I attribute that to the fitment of the boot to my foot, and this may or may not be a concern for somebody else. As stated before, I would much rather have a boot with a slightly roomier fit than a boot that is too tight. If in doubt, order a half size larger. I have been finding with boots that if I go with 11.5 over my typical 11, the results are much better. The comfort factor alone is well worth the extra half size up.
Running in these boots was not difficult, however, I wouldn’t say that is where they excel. There are lighter boots on the market that feature better soles for running. Overall, I would say that I’m pleased these boots and believe they would serve its purpose in both the field and around the home. My only criticism would be to provide better arch support or offer arch support within the insole. That is a very minor gripe as they are replaceable and can be tailored to the user’s preference.
The Reebok Spearhead can be had for just under $130.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of US Patriot Tactical.
