Danner thinks it has the answer to calls from elite operators for a light boot that feels like a running shoe, but is rugged enough for training and use on smash-and-grab missions. We got our feet in Danner's new ultra lightweight Tachyon boot ahead of its January 2013 release.
"The [special operations] community was looking for something that was lighter and faster — not quite minimalist, but more conducive to high-speed training, high-speed details and security missions," said Ryan Cade, Law Enforcement and Military Product Manager for Danner. "It is light like a running shoe, but built to withstand the rigors of an obstacle course."
"We designed this for the operator that wants something that is light and fast that they can wear every day as a tactical light duty, light training type platform," Cade said. "Ultimately, what we wanted to bring to the market was something that was still very light, but Danner-ized with more wear life…"
I first saw the boots at a trade show in late September at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., where Danner pitched them as a light alternative for PT, obstacle course training, and the quick missions. The Tachyon is the company's second foray into ultra lightweight tactical footwear and I immediately wanted a pair. I had a week-and-a-half of vacation coming up in the rugged Texas Hill Country and couldn't think of a better place to tear up a pair of boots.
The folks at Danner had a pair meet me in San Antonio and I fell in love with them right out of the box. These 26-ounce boots fit well with ample room in the toe box and no uncomfortable pressure points or friction spots at the seams. They felt almost like cushy running shoes on steroids and required no break-in period.
nextpageThen doubt set in. How could anything so light and comfortable, hold up to hard duty? And what about the "Made in Vietnam" label? A week of hard use proved that while they might not be one of the company's made-in-Oregon lumber jack boots that have been stomping around the Pacific Northwest since 1932, they share the same attention to quality and detail. They ate up hard-scrabble lime stone hills, rugged creek beds and steel wool scrub brush without missing a beat.
After a week, the seams were holding up, the soles showed no signs of separating and the synthetic rough-out uppers were relatively unscuffed. While the boots use EVA for running-shoe-like comfort, its rubberized soles increase durability. Some EVA is exposed on the sides of the sole, but showed only insignificant wear. Rubberized toe caps kept the boots looking like new even after digging into more than one craggy rock face. The boots are made to last a full year under hard training, Cade said. The two vents on the instep were fine enough to keep grit out, kept my feet cool and helped the boots dry exceptionally quickly. At 26 ounces I felt spry all day.
But, weight savings do come at a significant cost. I tweaked my ankle once while on rugged terrain. A nylon band running from the heal to the ankle provides only a little more stability than a low-top running shoe. Also, the arches are low. That is fine for a few hours of use, but fatigue sets in after a full day.
"They are not something you would ruck in or pack with 30-40 pounds of gear," Cade said. "They ride really low to ground. If you want more arch support you need to buy inserts"
But the low arches and flexible soles also mean you can feel nearly everything underfoot which was helpful on technical terrain where balance and foothold was paramount.
The boots were also fantastic on the range. Last year Danner made its first foray into ultra light boots with the Melee. They proved popular not just among service members and LEOs, but among 3-gunners too. Tachyons may see similar success among competitors who prize a fast boot that offers some traction and limited support.
After a day in the country, I switched gears and left behind the hills for some Friday night fun on Austin's 6th Street. But, wait. I had only packed my Tachyons! Surely I would look like a tactical douche in jeans and 8-inch boots — you know the kind who sport neck beards and play Airsoft. Luckily, that was not the case. With jeans or khakis, the boots look like a pair of discreet sneakers. I blended in just fine with the hoards of Austin hipsters ironically wearing Chuck Taylors while grooving to homespun Texas folk and country.
That is great news for security professionals who require a low-profile, but need no-nonsense footwear that won't fail them when the lead starts flying and the brass is bouncing. The boots might also appeal to LEOs who need something for running down bad guys on city streets. Tachyons eat up asphalt and concrete as well as they do trails.
We'll see how the Tachyons hold up in the months to come, but my initial impressions are extremely positive. While these aren't long-haul boots for hours on your feet under heavy load, they are about as good as it gets for the right application.
If you are looking for a lightening fast boot where weight trumps support, Tachyon is the answer.
The specs.
Release date: January 2013
MSRP: $140
Colors: Black, tan and sage green
Uppers: Microfiber, synthetic rough-out leather, 500 denier nylon, rubberized toe cap.
Sole: Open cell polyurethane footbed, EVA midsole, EVA Strobel board.
Outsole: Rubberized with pentagonal lugs.
