By Scott Smith | Contributing Editor
Sitting watching the rain fall on what felt like a fall day, even though the calendar said it was May; I realized Father’s Day and graduation season are fast approaching.
Fortunately, our friends at 5.11 Tactical (Phone: 866-451-1726; Online: 511tactical.com) have a couple of items that make ideal gifts.
With all the rain we have had lately, the Coyote Union 6” WP is a perfect item for those of us who venture out in wet weather. 5.11 uses eVent as the lining of this waterproof suede and nylon boot to ensure your feet stay dry in the wettest conditions. I can say from past experience with 5.11’s eVent lined boots that this lining does work. I have worn their XPRT and A.T.A.C series on the range and out hiking in virtual monsoons and my feet have stayed dry. So far when out about town for daily walks in this nasty spring weather; the Unions have kept my feet dry.
Another feature of the Unions that I like is the 6” height. It is tall enough to give your ankle support without being too high that your feet get hot in summer weather. When hiking and climbing the big hills out west, I have found 8” boots are just too hot in the summer. This height is also ideal for slipping the boots on to take my dog for walks around the campground.
5.11’s use of nylon reinforcing bars in the ankle area instead of a solid piece of suede allows the boot to breath while providing support. This also allows your ankle to flex more naturally when stepping on/off uneven ground. While it might sound counter intuitive, on uneven surfaces if your ankle and foot are overly restricted; you can twist or break an ankle. By having a degree of give, your body will compensate as you shift weight. If you cannot roll and move your body will stiffen up, that’s when bad things happen.
An often overlooked area when it comes to giving you support is the outsole. Many uniform style boots have “squared” heels and toes. When you toe off or plant, this can cause you to slip. The Union rolls the outsole up both of these areas. This will allow your foot to naturally roll on and off soft or hard surfaces while providing an additional point of traction when needed. You will find the toe area is part of a runner toe cap that will prevent sole separation in rugged conditions. The rubber toe cap will also protect your toes from loose rocks that inevitably fall on your foot when hiking or hunting.
The outsole of the Union not only aids in stability, but it is what provides traction. Using an aggressive outsole made from Vibram’s XS-Trek formula ensures good footing in all but the worst conditions. In wet muddy conditions this sole is self-cleaning, grips on wet river rocks and is still sure footed on oily concrete floors.
You will have all day comfort thanks to the polyurethane midsole and Ortholite insole. Unlike other midsole materials polyurethane will not lose its ability to dissipate the shock from every footstep. The Ortholite insole further reduces felt impact thanks to its gel like properties. Unlike gel insoles Ortholite is not prone to wear from abrasion and debris you pick up in the field. You will find the polyurethane midsole and Orthlite insole will drastically reduce leg and back ache as well as general leg fatigue.
When 5.11 Tactical designed and built the Union 6” WP, they built the boot with action shooting competitors, hunters and serious hikers in mind. I am certain your dad or you will put them to good use.
The AMP family of packs is built to survive use of daily carry, trips to the range of use by all but the most serious of hikers or professional first responders. The only reason I say serious hikers and first responders may not like this pack is the lack of a waist belt to stabilize it. That said there are attachment points for a 1 ½” belt such as a TDU or Skyhawk could be threaded through to give you that extra stability.
5.11 constructs the AMP’s body from 500 denier nylon and the bottom from 1050 denier. This combination ensures that gear will not tear through the pack and that it will be highly stain and water resistant. To further increase the pack’s resistance to the weather, 5.11 laminates its proprietary TAC-LAM to the nylon. I stuck the AMP 32L out in our recent rains for an hour and there was no water on the inside.
To ensure you are comfortable carrying a load, there are close cell adjustable padded shoulder straps with a removable chest strap. They are contoured so they wrap around your shoulders. The neck area has a soft nylon wrap to keep the straps from wearing your neck raw.
The main pocket has two mesh zipper pockets to secure small items such as bug spray, personal first aid supplies, etc. On each side are open pockets that can carry a water bottle or items such as shooting sticks. Atop the outside of the body is a soft zipper pocket to carry glasses, camera, etc. You will find a low profile zipper pocket on each exterior side as well.
5.11’s biggest innovation on the AMP packs is the removable panel on the front of the pack. Each AMP pack ships with a Hex-Grid panel that allows you to attach various pouches to fit your needs. 5.11 has numerous replacement panels including a medical panel, admin panel and others. Under the attachment flap is on more pocket for frequent use items.
Another feature that sets the AMP family apart from other backpacks from 5.11 is the built-in thermo molded semi-rigid frame. This frame ensures the pack does not collapse when opened to load or unload and keeps the load stable when moving. Additionally, the center of the pack is recessed so it will not rub on your spine and to give airflow.
As you can see, 5.11 is building gear not only for duty but for those who are active shooters and outdoors people. If you get your dad or grad the Coyote Union 6” WP or any of the AMP backpacks they will be ready for most any adventure.
