5.11 A.T.A.C. 2.0 8" ARID Boots — Field Review
Three years, 50+ km of field use — would I buy them again?
When it comes to footwear, I'm pretty particular.
One thing I always tell people when I teach survival is:
"In a survival situation, the three things you need to protect are your hands, your feet and your eyes."
Your hands allow you to build shelter, make fire, process materials and carry out countless other survival tasks. Your feet get you where you need to go — whether that's moving through difficult terrain, collecting water, searching for resources or getting yourself out of trouble. And your eyes allow you to navigate, identify hazards and find what you need.
Take away any of those three and your ability to deal with a survival situation can be dramatically reduced.
That's why I'm particularly particular about footwear.
A good pair of boots isn't just about how they look or what the manufacturer says they're designed for. If you're spending hours walking through bush, over rocks, sand, mud and uneven ground, your boots need to be comfortable, stable and reliable.
I've been wearing the 5.11 A.T.A.C. 2.0 8" ARID boots since September 2023. Since then, I've put them through a range of conditions and terrain, including more than 50 km of walking.
I also kept photographs from when they were new, giving me a useful before-and-after comparison of how they've held up over the years.
So this isn't a first-impressions review. It's based on actual ownership and field use.
First impressions
The first thing I noticed was the comfort.
The boots were comfortable straight out of the box and didn't require a significant break-in period.
That's particularly important for me because I'm very particular about footwear and how it fits and supports my feet.
The A.T.A.C. 2.0s immediately felt secure without feeling overly heavy.
And that's another thing I really like about them:
They're surprisingly light.
For an 8-inch tactical boot, they don't give you that heavy, cumbersome feeling you can get with some traditional field boots.
Comfort: 9/10
After longer walks my feet do become tired — as you'd expect — but I haven't experienced significant problems with rubbing or pressure when wearing my normal socks and using moleskin where appropriate.
That's important on uneven terrain because you want the boot moving with your foot rather than your foot moving around inside it.
Out in the field
I've used these boots across pretty much everything I can throw at them:
Bush tracks
Rocks
Sand
Mud
Grass
Gravel
Bitumen and concrete
Steep ground
Wet rocks
Uneven terrain
And this is where they've really impressed me.
Traction
The grip has been excellent.
On uneven ground I feel very confident in them, and they've performed particularly well when moving across rocks and steeper terrain.
I'd give them 9/10 for steep terrain.
They're not a specialised climbing boot, but for general outdoor, tactical and bush use, they've given me a very high level of confidence.
Ankle support
The 8-inch height is another major advantage for me.
The boots provide excellent ankle support while still allowing enough movement to walk naturally.
There's also a practical advantage to the taller boot shaft that I really appreciate in the Australian bush.
It makes blousing your trousers much easier.
That helps reduce the amount of exposed gap around your ankles — something I appreciate when dealing with ticks and other insects.
Hot weather
These are the ARID version, and I've used them in hot conditions.
My feet have generally remained comfortable rather than becoming excessively hot.
For a boot with an 8-inch shaft, I was impressed with how comfortable they remained in warmer conditions.
They're certainly not sandals, but I've never found myself thinking, "I can't wait to get these bloody things off because my feet are cooking."
That's a win in my book.
Wet weather
This is probably the area where I found the biggest limitation.
The boots have handled wet conditions reasonably well, but moisture eventually found its way in through the zip.
That's worth mentioning because the zip is also the one feature I personally don't love.
The zips make getting the boots on and off very quick and easy, and once they're fitted they make getting into the boots considerably faster than traditional lacing alone.
But personally?
I'd rather have traditional lacing without the zips.
That's a preference rather than necessarily a fault with the boot.
For me, the zips cost the boot that final point.
Three Years Later
This is probably the most interesting part of the review.
I have photographs of these boots from September 2023, when they were brand new, and photographs of them from October 2026, after approximately three years of ownership.
September 2023 — New
October 2026 — After three years
The boots are obviously not showroom condition anymore — they've been used.
The suede shows the expected dirt, scuffing and cosmetic wear from being outside, and the soles show evidence of use.
But what I'm interested in is the stuff that actually matters.
I'm not seeing significant structural deterioration.
The soles remain attached, the stitching is intact and the boots have retained their shape.
That's important because I'm not going to tell you that three years of ownership makes these indestructible. It doesn't.
But looking at the boots side-by-side from when they were new to where they are now, I'm very happy with how they've held up.
And that's based on my boots, my use and my experience — not a manufacturer's durability claim.
The things I like
✔ Extremely comfortable
✔ Very lightweight
✔ Excellent grip
✔ Excellent stability on uneven ground
✔ Strong ankle support
✔ Excellent cushioning
✔ Secure heel fit
✔ No significant foot movement inside the boot
✔ Good performance in hot conditions
✔ Easy to get on and off
✔ High shaft makes blousing trousers easy
✔ Good durability over three years of ownership
The things I don't like
The zips.
That's really my main criticism.
They do make the boots extremely quick and easy to put on and remove, but I'm personally a traditional-lacing guy.
And interestingly, the zip is also where I've experienced moisture getting into the boot.
That's not enough to put me off the boots — but it's the reason I'm giving them 9/10 rather than 10/10.
Final Verdict
After owning and using the 5.11 A.T.A.C. 2.0 8" ARID boots since September 2023, these have become one of those pieces of gear that I don't really have to think about.
I put them on, lace them up, and go.
They're comfortable, lightweight, supportive and provide excellent traction across a wide range of terrain.
For me, the biggest compliment I can give them is simple:
I'd buy them again.
And that's after three years of ownership.
Survive It Southwest Rating: 9/10
Would I buy them again?
Absolutely.
Field Review Summary
Category | Rating |
Comfort | 9/10 |
Grip / traction | 10/10 |
Ankle support | 10/10 |
Stability | 10/10 |
Cushioning | 10/10 |
Hot-weather comfort | 9/10 |
Steep terrain | 9/10 |
Durability | 9/10 |
Overall | 9/10 |
Disclosure
This review is based on my own use and experience with the boots. I have not been paid to provide a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on actual field use.
Testing/ownership period: September 2023 – October 2026Documented field walking: 50+ kmTerrain: Bush, rocks, sand, mud, grass, gravel, roads, steep and wet terrain.
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