Reebok Men's Rapid Response RB 8-Inch Safety Toe Work Boot with Side Zipper - Military & Tactical Steel Toe Boots for Construction, Warehouse & Outdoor Work

These boots are really, really nice and very comfortable. I wasn't sure if I would like the side zipper, but it works well. The "pull-on" loop on the back is helpful.But if you have narrow feet you will find your feet swim in the forefoot unless you "pad" with additional (or thick) socks. If Reebok would make a "narrow" version (these "medium width" boots felt very much like "wide" boots), then we would have a SIX-star review. I've found that the 5.11 Men's Taclite 8" Boot is a better fit for my narrow feet (they are equally as comfortable, but lack the zipper). Size of these Reebok boots is about 1/2 size big (I wear size 11, but needed a 10.5 in the Reeboks (the 5.11 Taclite boots ran true: I wear 11 and the boots were an 11)).The zipper makes all the difference in what boot lace-up system is used. You'll note that the 5.11 Taclite boots use eyelets in the fabric while the Reeboks use plastic eyelets. If the Reeboks didn't have the zipper I would not ever touch them because the plastic eyelets are a highly possible point of failure. Given that most will lace up the Rebooks and leave them laced (using the zipper to take off and put on the boot) this is not too much of an issue (ergo, no plastic eyelets on the 5.11 Taclite boots).One other observation. Reviewers have complained that there is no steel toe but that the boots are advertised as safety boots. This is neither misleading nor incorrect. Yes, they are safety boots and yes they do not have a steel toe. But the product literature tells you that Reebok chose to not use steel so that there would be no issue with metal detectors, etc. In any event, the toe may not be steel, but it still seems to offer significant protection. In the end, if you're a lumberjack or the like and need real steel toe protection then these are not the boots for you. But if you are a soldier (etc.) these are perfect boots (and as a former armored vehicle crewman I can tell you not having steel toes is a plus: I remember having a pair of steel-toed boots and they helped my feet to freeze in the winter and roast in the summer).Reebok has done really, really well in these boots. If only they would make a narrow foot version!