Belleville Mini-Mil TR105 Tactical Boots for Men, Military Boots for Men

These boots are great if you want something that fits like a beatup old pair sneakers, but aren't wore out and have an actual boot sole for traction. They are unlined and vented on the inside of the arch just above the sole. They have good ventilation, but obviously you're getting wet if you walk through water. The insoles are fairly thin and firm and flat which doesn't really bother me, but there is room for something thicker and softer if you want. I wish they made an unvented pair with a composite toe I could wear to work. I think this is the best pair of "boots" I have ever had. They fit pretty good right off the bat, and were pretty much completely broken in after a few days. I wear Lems Boulder Boots almost all the time as regular every day shoes for a few years, but needed something with an actual boot sole to wear turkey hunting. I hate wearing anything with a heel. My feet are small with a narrow heel, but my toes are wide and more straight across or squared than the toe box in most shoes. Anything where the heel is higher makes my feet slide forward into the tapered toe, and my outer toes get crushed. And eventually makes my heels and knees hurt, and without realizing it I start walking on the outer edges of the boots and wear the outer corners of the heels out crooked. And I guess the tops of my feet are fatter than average because most boots fit too tight at the base of the tongue. These boots fit fine at the base of the tongue. I don't know if I'm used to wearing shoes that run big and these boots fit true to size, or if the boots run small. Hopefully this will help you with size. My feet when standing and holding my weight measure 9 3/4" from heel to big toe and about 3 7/8" ad the widest part. I ordered mine in size 7w and for the most part they fit ok. They are a little loose in some areas and slightly snug in others, so I need to manipulate the laces a little bit. If I pull the lower laces too tight they crush my outer toes. I wore the size 39 in the Lems Boulder Boot, and got 6.5 when they switched to the new sizes. My Converse are usually 6 or 6.5 depending on how long I have to wear them. The 6.5 is too long, but gives me more room for my outer toes. My Keen shoes are size 6.

I'm glad this boot exists. My feet are funny. I have plantar fasciitis and a heel spur. So I need some arch support, and structure when my PF is bothering me, but at the same time structured shoes that force me to heel-strike or stand on my heel (shoes with heels, or built-up heels) are hard on my heel-spur. Podiatrists tell me wear these insoles with heel lift and never go barefoot. Well that's not really how it works for me. And many others. I'm better off if I don't put my heel down, walking on the ball and toes of the foot. Most shoes are designed to prevent this type of walk. Hence the popularity of minimalist footwear and barefoot running, etc. I've work clogs sneakers boots insoles custom insoles sandals flops... I've tried a lot of things. This style boot is great for the heel spur- it doesn't force me to walk with a heel strike like many boots and shoes are designed to do. It is the only minimalist type shoe I've found that fits my wide foot and actually works as a shoe without drawing some dramatic reaction from people who see it on my foot. The fact that it's approved uniform wear makes this a GODSEND. If you prefer to go barefoot, or have foot issues that benefit from that such as neuropathy, tenonitis, PF, heel spur, etc.; if you wish you could wear 5-fingers all the time; if you walk like a dancer- try this boot. And if you're in the military, or other uniformed services, and any of the above apply- you'll be glad to know this exists. There are very few options of decent footwear for us who have wide feet or special foot interests. I can't fix the corfram poblem, but these will change your life. In spite of the name, I DO NOT recommend these for tactical applications. I wouldn't want to kick a door or jump on rocks with these. But daily work wear, marching, running, road trail, yard work- Yes.

I’m on my third pair and get about 2 years out of each pair so far. I got mine 1/2-size larger and it fits well. It’s too snug with thicker socks when doubled up for cold weather and a tad loose when I double up some thin dress socks for summer hikes. But that’s okay since my feet swell in the heat anyway. These boots are the best compromise I’ve found between the typical over-built & over-supported hiking boot and a full-blown minimalist shoe, like a Xero. Xeros are cheaply-made and mostly designed for people that don’t use them much. These boots, from TR, are well-made and designed to get used a lot. On my first pair, I wore out the sole over about 3 years. I use them for everything from farm chores to hiking, hunting, camping so I felt that 3 years was a good life. I use them to stomp firewood, dig cat-holes, dig out rocks and a bunch of other abusive practices. They get soaked in the rain, frozen in snow, scratched up with brush and stickers, dried in near-desert conditions and everything in between. I gave that first pair to my son, who wore them for a season and then put them too close to the fire to dry…. My second pair has lasted about 2 years before the insole had some stitching bust and is now degrading where small pieces of white material are coming loose most days and rattling around inside the boot. Still, I’ve abused them well so I’m on to my third pair. They fit just like before so I’m satisfied. Value-wise, they’re the best. A minimalist-type shoe that I can wear & abuse for 2-3 years for about $150 is well worth it, in my opinion. Other minimalist boots barely last a season of light use on my feet and cost as much, if not significantly more. However, the one drawback is that they are still not quite a minimalist boot. Yes, it’s a low-drop from heel to toe but it’s not 0 mm. The sole is thinner than most hiking boots but it’s still not quite as thin as I’d like for hunting where I want some real feel for the ground for still hunting. While the leather is thick enough to shed a splash or two, they still get soaked in wet grass, rain or any time they have time to absorb water. They’ll dry faster than a waterproof boot but still not fast enough for most outings. So, again, it’s a good compromise, the best all-around boot for outdoorsmen & women who want a more minimalist shoe and a great value compared with other available options. Update 12/2024 I’m now on my 5th pair. The quality has degraded in the past couple years so they are only lasting about a year solid before the internal stitching busts. They’re still usable but I prefer to hike with something a little newer. Granted, I put mine through a lot of use and abuse. They get dirty, filled with stickers, hike all over CA in all seasons and even in AZ once or twice a year. Sometimes, my pack weighs well over 80lb. So your mileage may vary. Until there’s a better option, I’ll keep buying them. But I wish they lasted longer than they do.

I am not someone who ever thought I would buy 'combat boots' I am kind of a hippie and have been a devotee of minimalist shoes for a few years. I was however continually frustrated with the build quality of the already overpriced minimalist shoe market. The funny thing is that it was never the minimalist sole that broke down it was always the seam between the sole and the shoe, or the shoe fabric itself. I have also just moved to a more rural location and was in need of taller more rugged shoes for clearing brush on fields, and general yard work. I had perused the general 'minimalist boots' market for a while now looking for a more rugged minimalist shoe. I was always worried about durability of the usual companies who provide this sort of thing especially because their boot options had an even greater price premium, and were generally winterized (which I never need). Looking at brick and mortar stores for work boots also revealed a wasteland of overly heavy thick soles with a massive heal-rise. I ended up taking the plunge on these, and while they are the most expensive shoes I have ever bought, my first impression is that these are the most awesome things in the universe. I always wear 10.5 sized shoes and find that these fit perfectly. The build quality seems top notch. The comfort level for me on the first walkabout was amazing. Especially for a boot. I never liked any hiking boots as a kid, and eventually rebelled against the concept. I have climbed rocky mountains in sandals, and usually wear either very flat flip-flops or (because work requires it closed toed shoes) some version of vibram sole sneaker. These have redeemed boots in my eyes single-handedly. I will admit it does feel good to have some level of ankle support and foot protection after years of wearing essentially slippers year-round (once I did wear moccasin bedroom slippers for an entire winter). I can tuck my pants into these to give some tick protection, and the leather bottoms are heavy duty enough to provide, in my estimate, some minimal protection from blades and blunt trauma. Originally I was only planning to use these for yard-work, but upon trying them on I look forward to wearing them at my day job (which does involve being on my feet much of the day and sometimes physical exertion, climbing, and lifting heavy metal objects). I hope to update this review once I have broken them in and also once I know about long-term durability.

I am very dissatisfied with my purchase. This is my first time buying from an American company and the boots are quite pricey, but I was willing to pay because it is hard to find good boots designed for the actual, natural human foot and which will not weaken the feet with unnecessary support. I bought a black pair, but having read reviews that these boots are labelled poorly for size and that I should order up in size, I was worried about the fit, at 7.5 wide. The black pair were a little snug, but I was pleased with the fit and ordered two more pairs, in brown and green, also in 7.5 wide. I wore the black pair in as I waited for the new ones to arrive. When they did arrive, I found them tight, but hoped that they would stretch with a little with wear. Now, either my feet have gone up in size, or these boots have actually shrunk! I must conclude that 7.5 wide (US) is actually about a size too small, with the brown Belleville Minimill boot, though it was about right for their black Minimill boot. Order a size higher, because that is what I wish I had done. The fit at the heel is too loose but the toe box is actually TOO SMALL! Not enough space for my toes, they have to be forced in bent when wearing the shoe. Overall I am very disappointed about this sizing issue, because apart from that I like these boots very much. If only they were not too small - they are expensive and I have read many others complaining about the same issues I have had. As it stands, these boots are a useless waste of money to me. I'm prepared to swap if anyone has a pair too big.

The quality of these has either significantly decreased in six years or I just got a bad pair. I love these shoes, it’s my second pair in six years, but this pair just isn’t quite right. I got a half size too big this time, my fault, I couldn’t remember what I got last time. But they’re still comfortable. So they are true to size. The wide option is truly a wide option. That’s not the problem. The problem this time is that, one month in, they’re broken in, but they squeak. SO BADLY. I have a rubber duck attached to my left heel. I’ve not had a set of boots or shoes this loud and squeaky ever before. I have another pair of boots that didn’t start squeaking until two years in and it’s just a little crunch sound almost, and real quiet I can get away with it. This boot sounds like my 4 year old is playing a prank on me that I can’t escape. I can try to get another video but that squeak at the end is 100% of the time, cold or warm.

If you are looking for this style of boot, they are perfect. Ive been wearing these every single day for two months and they are my favorite pear of boots I’ve ever owned. Having said that, I believe that most of the negative reviews are from people that didn’t really understand what they bought. So I am going to offer a couple of warnings: 1) The are MINIMALIST tactical boots, with an emphasis on MINIMALIST. These are not full duty boots that are going to offer the most protection and arch support, etc. These are designed to be light weight boots that do not feel like a heavy traditional boot. So, they are made of light, thinner material with a light thinner sole. They are supposed to feel more like casual shoes than big heavy tactical boots. If you don’t know what minimalist shoes are you need to research before buying these. They fit that description perfectly and are excellent minimalist boots. They are lightweight, breathable and they feel almost like athletic shoes to wear. However they are still very sturdy and made of tough material so they offer good protection as well. IMO they are the perfect boot for hot weather if you don’t need super protective boots. But if you are looking for steel toed, very tough protective tactical boots with a huge thick sole THESE ARE NOT FOR YOU. 2) There is a wear in period for these boots! Most of the negative reviews have to do with the fact that the material in the heal and above the heal can be uncomfortable. I am convinced that these people did not wear the boot past the wear in period or they got a size that was too small. It took about 1-2 weeks of wearing these boots before they fit perfectly. The heal area can be a bit uncomfortable at first, but I assure you if you wear them in they are extremely comfortable. I would suggest investing in a very thick, soft sock to help you through the wear in period. Honestly it wasn’t bad for me at all in the beginning. I wore a thick sock and had no pain. I could tell they weren’t broken in yet, but they didn’t kill me like others have suggested. Now that they are worn in the feel like basketball shoes almost, they are that comfortable. They have molded perfectly to my feet and I couldn’t be happier. I would definitely research minimalist shoes before buying, and understand that you will have to wear them in before they mold you your feet. They really are incredibly good boots. But they are not traditional military boots. You need to understand what you are buying before you commit.

Edit: these were uncomfortable enough that I couldn't wear them so I contacted the manufacturer. They agreed the bump was definitely a defect and immediately send me a new pair free of charge. The new pair is fantastic! The construction of these boots is fantastic and the materials are very durable however the fit isn't great. I ended up ordering a wide boot a size up from what I regularly wear specifically because the shape of the toe box was cramping my pinkie toe. There is a noticeable lump (see picture) on the inside of the sole under the insoles in the pinkie toe area plus the insoles are thicker under the toe area which shoves my pinkie toe into the edge of the boot. Removing the insoles provides enough room to make the boots semi comfortable but it is still noticeable. The second issue I have with the fit of these boots is the heel cup. It is very tall and too rigid. With regular boots this wouldn't be a problem but because these boots are designed to flex, the rigid heel cup jams directly into the back of my ankle when waking. After about a month I developed a callus there so it doesn't hurt anymore but the edge of the heel cup has not softened at all. If you are looking for typical minimal shoes with a wide toe box and minimal support, these are not the boots for you. If you're used to regular shape shoes and want something with a little more flex and ground feel, these would be great boots.

Great boots! They seems very comfy for what i have seen, had to return because i ordered a size to small and where i am currently located , they were not very for canadian winter 🙂 I am actually thnking to get them for the summer season!

My military husband loves these boots. Quick delivery! Thanks!

I wear a meryl vapor glove size 9.5, and these @ size 9.5 fit about the same so i don't know why the reviews on size are all over the board. they fit to size for me anyway. good toe room. i can tell they will need to be broken in well. time will tell for the durability.

Too expensive

the wheels on the shoes goes round and round. the wheels are hidden under the heels of the boots and it gives a quick getaway when my squad gets into trouble wuth my sarge