UA Mid GTX Tactical Boots

Taking a shoe-making principle and applying it to tactical boots? Why would one do that?

Because you want to pioneer the next gen of tactical footwear, maybe. Under Armour does just that with this tac boot.

To cut the long story short, UA Spine was a technology primarily reserved for running and sports shoes. Under Armour decided to apply it to their combat boots at some point, and the result is standing in front of us today.

After reviewing all things Valsetz, we’ll finally dive into dissecting these Under Armour spine shoes/boots.

Boom or bust for the hybrid approach?

Only one way to find out. Let’s see what makes them jump out of the crowd (if anything).

Our battle-hardened method for reviewing tactical boots

There are a lot of hoops these combat boots will have to jump through before reaching their final grade from SoleLabz.

The process of reviewing:

• After giving them a thorough inspection in our offices…
• We had our featured field testers give them as much of a hard time as possible
• And followed our conclusions up with experiences gathered from customers around the globe

SoleLabz Overall Ratings is formed by combining all those factors and chewing it down to a single number.

In other words, we crunch boring data and ratings, so you don’t have to.

You’ll see a fraction of that process here, namely:

• We’ll go over the basic info sheet provided by UA
• See which parts hold water by giving you some positive and negative user feedback
• Button it up with our 2 cents on this model

You’ll be able to hear it from our testers as well in a separate review:

The Review:

Basic specs of the UA MID GTX.

Here’s the DNA of this tactical model, as Under Armour likes to put it:

• GTX lining – 100 percent waterproof but allows perspiration to escape
• Aggressive Under Armour Spine Chassis creates a lightweight surrounding around the sole, providing both support and flexibility
• The upper is made of Cordura nylon, tough yet breathable material, that will protect your feet on rough terrains
• Extra support is achieved by adding welded overlays made of synthetic leather. They also don’t absorb moisture
• Molded Ortholite footbed gives cushion and keeps your foot in a locked position
• Anti-Odor tech will prevent the growth of microbes and odor build-up
• Push through safety plate will keep you protected from potential hazards
• Thread is designed for optimal grip but also for debris and mud shedding
• 5.25 inches in height
• 15 oz of weight

Positive reviews as per verified customers:

• They were comfortable right from the start. No need to break them in whatsoever
• I call them Under Armour sneakers. They’re tactical boots, but feel like running shoes
• I wore them in 5 inches of snow today, and they kept my feet perfectly dry the whole time. Really comfortable as well
• I needed a pair of boots that could keep me comfortable after wearing them for 10 hours straight at times. Under Amour always knew how to make a lightweight and comfortable tactical boot. My highest recommendation
• They give me speed and maneuverability of a running shoe, combined with the traction of a combat boot. Perfect combo!
• My feet breathe perfectly in these. They never sweat, and blisters are a thing of the past
• I bought my pair for hiking. As long as I don’t let the water come in from the top, my feet are bone-dry
• My feet and knees really started to feel the stress of my work as a security guard. I needed a pair of combat boots that would be comfortable for standing in one spot for 8-10 hours, and these Under Armour babies are just what the doctor ordered
• I’m a police officer, and these are perfect as duty boots, but I’ve started wearing them off duty as well
• These are quite possibly the most comfortable waterproof tactical boots I ever had. They’re still kicking after 3 terms in Afghanistan and every “exotic” obstacle that country put in front of us
• They clinch very snugly against my feet, and the lacing system allows me a really tight fit, which I particularly like
• I’m wearing the every day for 6 months now, and they’re still not showing any indications of wear
• They gave me superb stability and a feeling of sure-footedness on all kinds of terrains except ice. In icy conditions, I give them a passing grade, but not with flying colors
• The overall cushioning is sufficiently soft for good comfort but solid enough to protect me from sharp rocks and everything I might step on during our hikes
• The best pair of waterproof tactical boots for hunting. I’ve tried 6 different pairs so far, and they were either too rigid or too soft. Comfortable but let water through… I needed something that has all the goodies in one spot, and Under Armour really stepped up with these. Great choice for hunting!
• I’m a police officer, and I recently started working in Florida. These combat boots feel really comfortable, well made and equipped with all the technologies and support my work demands. I walk several miles on campus every day now, and my feet haven’t been complaining since we got them
• I’ve always had problems with fungal infections. My feet sweat like you wouldn’t believe, and having to wear army boots just made the things much worse over time. I have to wear GoreTex since I’m stationed in basically a swamp, but these, at least, let my feet breathe so my problem with fungus is under control for the time being
• I’ve been wearing them instead of my standard issues tactical boots during my cadet training program, and they performed far above my expectations. They’re comfortable to wear, run and exercise all day long, plus they’re completely waterproof
• I really like the design of these tactical boots. They perform very well and look cool to match

Here are some CONs users shared in their online reviews:

• The soles give excellent traction for the most part. The only problem I had was transitioning from wet to dry hard surfaces. They tend to have a bit of a slick until they dry out
• The boots are really good and Under Armour guys know what they’re doing as usual. I only wish they started making a high-cut version
• They’re somewhat bottom-heavy at times. I don’t know if that’s because of GoreTex or what but other than that, a perfect pair of service boots
• The price definitely left me scratching my wallet. I gave 150 bucks for them, but they’re well worth it so far. I also own a pair of Under Armour Valsetzs, and since they cost around 100 without GoreTex I guess the math checks out
• My colleague told me they ran one size bigger.  I listened to his advice, and it was true. Other than that, I have no other disadvantages to report
• The laces are overly thin, and they were done for about two months after I got these boots. If something has to fail, the laces are the least painful part, I always say. I just replaced them with thicker generic laces, and I was good to go
• Not the best boot for women, the arch and the width are just not quite right. I returned this and ordered the UA VAlsetz women’s instead

Since the users already said all that needed to be said about the performance of these bad boys from Under Armour, we’ll focus our closing argument on the creativity part.

The design of this waterproof combat boot includes Spine Technology, also known as Spine Cage chassis.

What makes Spine boots different?

Their structure is based on foam, designed for efficiency and light weight. Its purpose is to provide support to the athletes in places where they need it the most. That’s why I’ve told you it was first incorporated in shoes and slowly drilled its way to tactical boots. The cored-out overall construction maintains a healthy balance between rigidity and flexibility.

It holds its supportive shape at all times while moving as one with the foot. That’s that “second skin” feeling we’re always talking about.

How does Under Armour Spine work?

Paired with Micro G cushioning, Spine tech is a “reactive” structure of sorts. It “follows” the movement of the wearer and provides support once it’s needed.

Spine tech gives Under Armour sneakers constant support, flexibility and light weight. So, behind chunky aesthetics lies the lightest footwear imaginable.

Other Under Armour shoes containing Spine Technology are (for example):

• Under Armour Spine Highlight ST
• Under Armour Spine Game-day TR
• Under Armour Spine Nitro TR…

The notable appearance of UA Spine Highlight ST is the walk-off homer of Bryce Harper for the win over Pittsburgh Pirates.

It’s like Tactical boots borrowing GoreTex from hiking shoes and boots. Now combat boots incorporate technologies from running and sports shoes. It’s all one big pile of possibilities, and we’re all mixing them up to make the best footwear imaginable. This one is not one of the best rated Under Armour boots (like Valsetz or Speed Freek), but it has a unique appeal to people with very specific boot-needs (yeah, that’s a word now).

I hope this review helps you decide.

The bottom line is, these tactical boots work like a charm while being the epitome of creativity at work.

Overall rating (10 categories)