Men's Belleville 390 TROP Hot Weather Boots Tactical Reviews, Deals, Problems and Guides

I wanted a quality boot for hiking and had a very specific criteria. I have had nothing but bad experiences with Goretex and sought to avoid any product with it. I have also been disappointed with the high-end hiking boots purchased in the past which are pricey and fail to live up to standards. Living in southern New England, trails can be muddy, very rocky, have elevation, and rainfall is usually pretty consistent. So I needed something fairly light, rugged, water-resistant, and breathable. I gave Belleville a try since they are US made (typically a good sign of quality) and have a good reputation. I have had them over a month now and put them through five strenuous hikes, each ranging from six to eight miles.

Starting with the positives. First, they are extremely durable and well built. Leather, stitching, eyelets, and soles all look sturdy. The vibram soles are fantastic and provide good grip on wet surfaces. The overall comfort is shockingly good and I have little foot fatigue. The nylon upper especially makes long wear tolerable. Hiking boots typically come in 5 or 6 inch height to reduce discomfort on the leg and provide ankle support, and I had reservations about an 8 inch boot, but I like the added support and protection from debris. The leather is waterproof and I would consider the nylon portions water-resistant. Although water will come through the nylon, it does not pour in and soak the foot. The nylon allows good evaporation which dries water seepage rather quickly and prevents excessive sweat buildup (a huge problem with Goretex despite their claims). The interior of the boot is also lined with nylon which keeps the boot from becoming soaked. So although these are not entirely waterproof, the quick dry feature is a major benefit, particularly in hot conditions. With a better insole I get a very tight fit, little slippage, decent foot comfort (with flat feet, I never have anything like total comfort), and no blistering.

Negatives from my perspective are few. They are heavy at a bit over 2 pounds per boot. But, I once had all leather hiking boots of the same weight at a cost of almost $300 a pair! Locally where elevations are modest this is not an issue, but in northern New England where elevations are much tougher, this will be an issue. But as I said, I climbed many peaks with the same weight on my feet, so it is not intolerable. As mentioned, they are not waterproof. This far into my hiking experiences, I have abandoned the search for 100% waterproof boots. On modest and well maintained trails you can expect waterproofing, but the types of hiking I do take me through conditions where I do not encounter ideal trails. Even with my previous all leather boots, there were times when crossing rivers and streams meant they became submerged. In such cases, I have more faith in the Belleville's to dry out.

My assessment: for the price, these are amazing boots. My main concerns were with the degree of water-resistance and comfort with an 8 inch boot. these are so comfortable, I do not consider them to be an 8 inch as they wear like an ankle boot. As for water-resistance, they are very adequate. In heavy rain or when crossing deep water, wearing gaiters will cover the nylon portions and alleviate that problem. Of this review, I can say these are the most comfortable hiking boots I have ever owned. I will need to test them in winter, but I can say they are sufficient three season boots. I have tremendous confidence in them and feel secure when out on the trail.

second pair of Belleville boots I've bought and will not be my last. very hard to find any footwear that fits my foot but Belleville does, super comfortable, they do fit better then any of my athletic shoes. I did order one shoe size smaller as Belleville recommends and they fit perfect. highly recommend Belleville to anyone looking for style, comfort and just a great fitting boot.

Love the boots but they were looser fitting than my 390 DES and C390. Had to return them because they slipped on my feet. As always the site had a great price, fast delivery and great customer service when I decided to return them.

Working security, I'm on my feet a lot throughout the day, walking, standing, maybe a brisk jog. These boots are comfortable all day. They do require a bit of break in time, took a few days but it was very worth it, now they are broken in, they are the best boots I've ever put on my feet. Pair with a good pair of Thorlo socks and you got it made.

Too narrow.