BatesMen's 8" DuraShock Lace-to-Toe Waterproof Work Boot

Bates durashock is a good every day boot. I have worn them for years. Quality is still high and hasn't diminished over the years.

These boots fit perfectly for my size. They're actually waterproof.I'm gonna buy another pair, for when I wear this pair out.They're comfortable, right out of the box, I didn't even need to add an insole.I only wear boots like this, year round. I've had good and bad boots, these are good boots. I walk roughly 3k miles a year, sometimes 5k miles, no joke. I know this because of my Garmin watch and taking my data from the time I bought a pair of boots until they are completely worn out.The last pair of Bates I bought were not these but similar, and they made it to 5k miles before they had no tread and holes in the soles.This pair is at 800 miles and has more tread then my last pair at the same amount of wear.And waterproof??? I have stepped into water and marshes with them, and we long as it doesn't go over the top of the boot, my foot never got wet.I'm very impressed with these boots!I'm a former USAF Airmen, so my boots are a very big deal to me, and I'll be buying another pair of these, for sure! Good job, Bates!!!!

Just as background, I spent 12 years in the Army, as an infantryman, which means that I put miles and miles and miles on my feet and I have very little patience for substandard footwear. Now, 10 years into a career in corrections, I spend all day, every day, on my feet in a concrete and steel environment and I've become no less picky about my boots and the care of my feet. Generally speaking, Altama is my brand because they're extremely durable, supportive and can be easily resoled. I bought a pair of bates a couple of years ago, just to have a pair to leave in my truck, just in case... After wearing them several times, I was impressed by the relative comfort of the boots and they've held up pretty well, so I decided to give the Defender 8-inch a try. These are obviously rip-offs of the Danner Arcadia and Ft. Lewis boots, which I did have while on active duty. They are far lighter than the real thing and take much less time to break in. In fact, they were fine the first time that I wore them and I haven't found any real issues with them as of yet. They polish easily and hold a spit-shine throughout the day, making them a useful addition to my current rotation of about five different pairs of boots. When buying these, keep in mind that the Danners that these appear to have been modeled from run about $350.00 a pair and are designed for load-bearing missions. These Bates aren't designed for and wouldn't hold up to such abuse but they are comfortable for walking and standing around on concrete all day long and looking good while doing it. As an added bonus, if the boots turn out to be durable enough to outlast the original soles, they can be resoled to increase their value over time.

Pro's: I am very impressed with these boots. I am writing this review nearly 3 weeks after my purchase. As soon as I took them out of the box, I felt as if these boots were designed for my foot. Very comfortable, and the break-in period was very minimal. I wore them for a full 10 hour shift the very first night I got them, and never had a single problem. The leather is very high quality, not the knock-off stuff that you get with cheaper boots.Con's:1.) Although I stated these boots fit wonderfully (which they do) I would say however, that they run "slightly" big. I always struggle with finding the right size footwear for my awkward, flat feet. My foot ALWAYS falls between a size 9 and size 9.5. I took a gamble and bought a size 9 (Iknow, I like to live life on the edge...) and I found that the size 9 might be a hair too big, but so minimal that I don't notice it after walking around in them for a minute. Although it might just be me because I am very anal and like my boots to fit perfectly snug around my entire foot.2.) There is no zipper for the lazy men like me that have to untie and tie them back up at the beginning and end of every shift.3.) The shoe laces that come with the boots are longer than the Boston Marathon so I had to wrap them around my boot a couple times before tying them up.4.) The shoe laces that come with the boots are almost too thick for the boot which makes it hard to loosen and tighten them, therefore making it hard to get your foot in and out of the boot.As you can see, the Pro's heavily outweigh the Con's. For the price, comfort, and quality of these boots, I shouldn't be complaining about the boot laces (However, I do highly recommend that you buy a pair of 72" thin black workboot laces, which will compliment these boots perfectly...) I WILL BE BUYING THESE BOOTS AGAIN once my first pair wear out! I highly recommend them!

It fits decently. But waterproof is a label slapped on things willy nilly. Step in a moderately deep puddle... and be dissappointed.

The boots are very heavy. I have gotten used to them; however, if you want a lighter and more athletic boot, steer clear of these. The toe box shines excellently. Also, I have been using arch supports inside the boots. If you buy them, I highly recommend them as they take some time to break in and will hurt your feet.

I LOVE these boots. I bought them over 7 years ago. Wore them everyday for about 4 years. Added the aftermarket front zipper. Started using them casually since they are a bit warm for arizona. But I've used them for work boots, running around the cities all over the world, and riding motorcycles and let me tell you. These boots have had zero signs of breaking down.I bought these boots because I loved the army issue winter boots I was issued and I wanted the same pair but in black. And then I wanted to have a quicker way to take them off and put them on.Started wearing them again today and perfect. They work perfectly. I've walked through ankle high puddles.Anyway, if you wanted a great set of boots that'll last for years on end, these are them.

When I first opened the box and took out all the packing from in side the boots I was thinking there is no way these are going to fit so I continued on loosen the laces and tried them on and there was no way my foot was going in after loosening more finally I got my foot in all the way but very tight so I put them away and planned on sending them back. The next day I said I’ll try them again since all the reviews I read said get them the size you actually wear so I tried them again my foot went in easier but still tight along the side I ended up wearing them around the house thinking if they still cause me grief I’ll return them, another day came by I tried them on again and they felt better so I tried them outside went for a drive and a walk and they started to become comfortable and then I tried them on my motorcycle and it’s now at the point I don’t wanna to take them off. These are a great well built boot just put some time in to work in the leather and they well become your best friend.

They are a very good boot, but they are a little large for me. Will get a second pair in a size 9.5!

Great boots, so far holding up well and quite comfortable. Very happy with this purchase.

says waterproof but leaked first time i wore them in the snow,returned them ,waiting for replacements