As the weather warms and the frozen ground turns to mud in many areas, training in outdoor locales becomes an exercise in mud-tolerance as much as anything. A sturdy pair of boots can be worth their weight in gold, both in keeping your feet dry but also in helping you get from point A to point B without falling in point M (mud).
Now, I'll admit to a certain level of fondness for Reebok footwear. Part of it stems from the company being one of a small handful that recognized the, well, broader sizes of feet out there (I am often cramped in EEEE wide shoes. Foot like a shovel). Another part remembers fondly getting through high school, at a Catholic prep school where sneakers were allowed only for gym class, wearing plain black Reeboks and getting away with it.
In any case, when we got a chance to take a look at the ZigKick Tactical line, we jumped at it. Right off the bat, it's evident that a good deal of design and thought went into this line. Touches like a zippered side entry that allows fast on/off, a reinforced toe to prevent injury and a composite outsole that resists slipping help the ZigKick line stand out.
The upper is composed of leather and ballistic nylon, while the lining is made of a moisture-wicking nylon mesh. A removable cushioned footbed comprises the insole, and the toe is a reinforced composite. The finish is slip-, oil, abrasion- and chemical-resistant, and a variety of sizes are available.
Offered in sizes from 6 Medium through 15 Medium (Wide stops at size 14) and at an MSRP of $150, the 6-inch variant ZigKick is definitely worth investigating.
