Valsetz Side Zip Tactical Boots – review

This UA eye candy of a boot is by far the best-rated Under Armour tactical boot (in the last 6 updates – full year). It’s also up there at the TOP 3 of the Best Overall tac boots, along with Danner Acadia.

Our experts & featured testers for tactical boots are some of the best-known names in the tactical gear, preparedness and adventure arena, people like:

• JJ Johnson (RealitySurvival.com)
• Scott Gauvin (HikingForward.com)
• John Rourke (ModernSurvivalOnline.com)
• Anthony Urso (HomesteadandPrepper.com)
• Jay of PrepforSHTF
• PJ of Prepper-Resources.com

…and that’s just people who worked with us on testing Under Armour products.

We hope that you realize by now why the reviews we do here at SoleLabz are different.

There’s a clutter of information out there and you can get the opinions on a particular pair on a number of websites, but this is where experts come together to share their views and save your research time.

Front View	Side View	Rear View

In their advertising, Under Armour says that every UA product makes us better in some way. Since we at SoleLabz aren’t exactly known for taking the manufacturers upon their word, we’ll do what we always do – scrutinize the boot with due diligence and see how (and if) Valsetz tactical boots made us better.

Quick rundown of this review for Under Armour Valsetz tactical boots

Let me just show you the ropes real quick.

Here’s what we’ll be talking about in this review:

• We’ll open things up with specification for these tactical boots directly from Under Armour
• We’ll follow it up with some positive and negative feedback from the customers and our featured testers
• Lastly, we’ll give you our 2 cents in the form of Final Rating in 10 different categories

Under Armour Valsetz basic info

Let’s begin the review like any other; by introducing the essential information presented by the manufacturer.

Here’s what UA had to share about these service boots:

• Same Under Armour Valsetz with an added side zip for easier on/off maneuvering
• The upper is water-resistant and lightweight to provide optimal comfort and remain breathable/durable
• Compression-molded midsole is fully-contoured and made of EVA, which provides cushioning without adding too much weight
• ArmourGuide gives perfect impact-to-propulsion foot-strike guidance
• ArmourBound offers responsive cushioning
• ArmourLastic absorbs forefoot and heel shocks ensuring proper protection
• Molded Ortholite foot-bed gives cushioning to the foot and keeps it locked in
• Anti-odor tech nullifies the growth of microbes that cause odors
• Rubber rand is highly abrasion-resistant
• Outsole is rubber and features good on/off road grip
• 7 inches of height
• 15.5 oz

Now, that’s exactly the kind of read we’re used to seeing from Under Armour. Their specifications are always extensive and packed with their patented technologies that, let’s face it, sound cool.

But our reviews are not about the marketing sparkles, they are about what happens when that sole hits the ground.

So, let’s pick the brain of the people who field tested this tactical boot.

What users and our testers shared in the reviews of this UA tac boot:

What the users liked about the UA Valsetz and shared in their review:

The PROs:

• The first thing I noticed when I picked them up was how light they were. They’re almost like my running shoes with a higher cut
• The fit is true to size, which is for me one of the most important things when I’m ordering online
• These boots are ON FIRE (this means really good) I’m a firefighter and wear these 16hrs a day. They’re light as my sneakers but twice as comfortable!
• I’m not accustomed to writing tactical boots reviews, but these just got me going. I’ve had them for about 3 months now, and they’re flawless. Aching feet are a thing of past, arch support is just right, and I even think they somehow reduced my back pain. I highly recommend them
• I’m a police officer, and I’ve been wearing Under Armour Valsetz as service boots instead of my standard issue for about a year now. They’re basically sneakers with the support and comfort of tactical boots. They’re one of a kind and make my work hours much easier on the feet
• I’ve been using them for hiking, and they’ve treated desert-like climate like it was nothing. They’re very breathable, so my feet weren’t sweating excessively, and the little perspiration there was quickly disappeared due to excellent ventilation. My wholehearted recommendation if you’re eyeballing some desert trails
• I work on hard floors the whole shift, so my feet really took a beating over the years but because of protection I had to go with some sort of heavier toe cap protected boot up until now. These tactical boots actually made standing still comfortable. I got them for like 80 bucks and couldn’t be happier with the buy
• I love the convenience of a zipper and this one is the best side-zip boot out there, believe me, I tried at least a dozen pairs over the last decade until I settled with these
• I’ve had the original Under Armour Valsetz too, but I really dig the new zip on the side. Makes putting the on much quicker. They’ve just made the best tactical boots a bit better; nice job Under Armour!
• I wore them to my backpacking trips ever since I bought them. Last time, I hauled a 40lbs backpack, and the hike took 3 days. My feet would really feel the damage if it weren’t for these bad boys. Beside superior comfort, they also give me enough ankle and arch support
• Great traction, even on slippery rocks during river and creek crossings
• I love Under Armour and I used to wear the UA Mid GTX until a few months ago when I started developing heel and ankle pain. I decided to go with the lightest boot out there, this one, and it did the trick. It’s been weeks since I felt the pain…
• My feet are well cushioned from all sides, and my ankles are well fixed so rolling them is much more of a challenge now
• I really like the mesh parts. They’re incredibly breathable for tactical boots without sacrificing the protection and support
• I don’t know how they managed to make them water-resistant with so much ventilation to go around, but I’m glad they did
• They feel like fluffy slippers compared to my old service boot
• I wore them during my tour in Afghanistan, and they performed like mad. They kept my feet well ventilated and my ankles tight and secured. We’ve been through hell and back, and they held up without any major damage or failure
• I work in law enforcement, and my colleagues were raving about these for months. Long story short, the peer pressure did a number on me, so I’ve bought them and boy, am I glad I did! They’re the lighter duty boots I ever wore with comfort to match!
• They look so cool!

Are there any downsides to these UA tactical boots?

If decades of reviewing hiking and tactical gear have taught us anything , it’s that there’s always something that might raise a couple of eyebrows…and not in a good way.

The CONs:

• I really wish they could’ve made them 100% waterproof
• It took me some time to break them in
• They’ve started getting noisy when I walk over smooth surfaces. It’s like a squeaking sound, and it really bothers me for some reason. No other complaints so far
• They’re tactical boots alright, but the soles are too “squishy” for me. They offer surprising amount of protection, but I just can’t get use to combat boot sole being so soft
• The zip was busted on the left one when I got them. I’ve contacted Under Armour, and they sent me another pair of tactical boots right away. So, yeah, I’ve had that problem, but Under Armour customer service doesn’t sleep on the job

Final thoughts

It was not an accident that Under Armour Valsetz with added side zip got to the number one place in our “Best Under Armour tactical boots” guide. It has a ton of things going for it, so let’s address some of them real quick.

As we saw, the customers are overwhelmingly satisfied with the performance of these combat boots. There were some CONs, but I really had to dig deep to find them. Yes, they’re not waterproof but water resistant, so potential water exposure is somewhat limited. The soles remind us of those of a sneaker. They’re quite soft but offer much more protection.

The biggest asset these army boots have up their sleeves is the hybrid combo Under Armour somehow managed to pull off. They have the maneuverability and speed of a tennis shoe, sturdiness of a work boots and protection and support of a tactical boot. It’s an unbelievable hybrid, but it works according to the customers and our featured testers.

They all report Valsetz is a very lightweight tactical boot, comfortable and breathable. Pair that with great traction and stability, ankle support and feet protection, and we’ve got a winner.

They’re primarily designed for hot weather up to desert climate, which made them perfect for all the troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Valsetz is also a tactical boot of choice for many police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, preppers, construction workers and many others.

They’re also pretty affordable for the quality they offer.

I could go on forever about these, but it’s time we button it up.

Under Armour Valsetz side zip tactical boot has an official SoleLabz seal of approval as one of the most innovative and versatile combat boot/running shoe/work boot out there – it’s final ratings and the overall rating is below.

Overall Rating