TACTICAL RESEARCH TRTACTICAL RESEARCH Mini-Mil TR102 8” Minimalist

After several weeks of almost daily use, I feel I can give this a proper review.Pros:- The shoes are lightweight- Insoles and outsole are thin- Minimal drop (as the name implies)Cons:- Heel lifts no matter what I've tried.- 8" boot with no zipper.- Thin sole can cause pain over time if you normally patrol on concrete/hard surfaces.- Heel cup WILL cause blisters without some form of padding during break in.- Break in period takes FOREVER.- Boot must be tied relatively tight, otherwise the outsole can be felt as your foot comes down.- Laces are slippery, so double knotting is essentially required.Notes:After a very lengthy break in period, the heel area no longer causes hot spots. However, I'd advise using a bandage over your heel until that area is broken in. I STRONGLY recommend against starting a day long patrol with these straight out of the box without some sort of padding there. The issue with the heel lifting is probably the most troubling. Since the heel lifts up, it causes even more friction on the heel even after it's broken in. I have tried several hiking techniques to lock down the heel, but you have to REALLY cinch it down to minimize it. I eventually purchased a pair of Superfeet Copper insoles to take up a bit of extra space and to assist with the heel lifting issue in addition to the heel lock lacing. This has made the shoes much better, but they still lift up a little. I blame the lacing across the ankle area as well as the heel cup design for this problem.***For those who are interested, lace up the boot 3 eyes from the front as usual. After the 3rd eye, loop the laces as though you are going to finish tying them, then loop them one more time. Then thread the laces through the same side (don't cross over). Continue lacing the boot as usual until you get to the 6th eye. Do the same triple loop you did after the 3rd eye. Now lace the boot up to the very top. What this does is give you 3 zones of tension. One around your foot, one at the ankle area, and one at the top around your calf. Adjust the tension you prefer around your foot, then cinch down the triple loop to lock it off. Then find the 2nd triple loop and pull the ankle area as tight as you comfortably can, then cinch it down. Then adjust the tension around your calf and tie your boot at the top. I usually add another triple loop as I'm tying it to help keep the laces from loosening up in the process. This is the ONLY METHOD I could find to keep the heel relatively planted while I'm running.See picture if the instructions aren't making much sense.***

So far I have used the same pair of boots on backpacking trips, and as work boots for about the past year (landscaping/ outdoor work). They have also seen casual use. These are better than my Vivo FG Trackers, whose sole came undone while on a muddy back country trip with minimal use (few months, used exclusively for backpacking). I don't notice any sign of sole detachment, and the leather has held up surprisingly well under all manner of abuse, and with relatively low maintenance (occasional wet cloth wiping and vaseline application). I'm ordering a second pair in case these eventually fail, being impressed by their versatility and durability. My only complaint is that the textile portions of the boot are not at all water resistant, which makes the boot more breathable, but anything over ~ 1in. of water will soak the boot. They also offer no protection in cold weather, so if you plan on using this as an all season boot, make sure to wax the canvas, and buy a size larger to fit thick wool socks in there. Otherwise your feet will be very cold; I experienced it, even during the last weeks of winter in WV.

Boots are great, the seller is dishonest. I have worn out 6 pairs of these boots over 6 years. The last pair I received from outdoor equipped were used. When I returned them they still charged me $9 return shipping! So dishonest. I won't risk buying from them again.

My poor review correlates equally to the quality of product construction, as well as this particular vendor.Ordered the boots as a “new” product. Showed up in a tied off plastic bag in a blank regular box, with no tags on the product. Immediately I noticed the toe box was dirty and the shoes already had creases. These were definitely worn for a bit by someone and returned. I would have been fine with it if I wasn’t paying for a new product.I also can’t get over how strange the fit and construction is. I have several pairs of minimalist shoes that I enjoy, so this isn’t a new field for me. I feel like I have to fight the boot to get my feet in and out due to the tongue construction, as well as the lack of a side zipper. I ordered the wide option but the toe box of the boot doesn’t seem wide at all; maybe just taller toe box or something. Feels a bit too snug in my size at the front and back, but I feel sizing up would be way too big. Even tried taking the inserts out like others recommended, but I’m not feeling it. The heel construction is super stiff with a really hard edge that scrapes my heel, and I already know they would chew my heels up.I had high expectations for these, especially for their price point, but I am very disappointed. I hope someone else can engineer a better minimalist boot. I have processed my order for a return, and will be sending them back.

Excellent boot. This is the 2nd pair I've had. The first developed a squeak in one boot. I tried everything to find it but no luck. I rubbed it down with a mix of beeswax and mineral oil but no luck. Returned and got this pair.They're very comfortable but I'm used to minimalist shoes. They are very light, less than a pound each. They still weigh more than what I'm used to and my calves are getting used to lifting the extra weight over a day's use.Out of the box they squeaked on a tile floor but that went away after a few hours of use. They're now super quiet, because they are so flexible, you can make absolutely no noise while walking.They take a great shine with some of the above mentioned beeswax polish.I needed something heavier to replace my New Balance Minimus shoes in the winter. These work great in that regard. I also have the 101 and 103's in green and beige suede leather. They handle bumps better than these do. The first pair got a gash from a very light contact that wouldn't have done much to the suede pairs.I'll bump these up to 5 stars after a few weeks of wear and if they don't begin to squeak like the last pair did.