Blackhawk Terrain Mid-Training Shoes, by Pat Cascio

A good shoe is important to survival, be it in the city or out in the boonies. Without a good shoe, you may fail in your survival efforts. We’re looking at the Blackhawk Products Terrain Mid-Training shoe.

Discount Big Box Store Shoes

I know. I know. We all have to watch how we spend our hard-earned money these days, and I’m no exception to this. I certainly understand the discount shoe stores and big box stores, who sell cheap shoes, and I mean this not only in price but that they’re cheaply made. Oh sure, they initially look really well made; however, in short order, they start to fall apart. There’s been more than a few times in my life when all I could afford were some “mart” shoes or hikers, because of a lack of funds. However, in the end, I wasted my hard-earned money. The footwear simply did not stand-up as I thought they would.

Important To Outfit Feet With Best Footwear You Can Buy

One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your body, your feet in particular, is to outfit them with the best footwear you can buy. In the end, you really will save money over the discounted shoes you can find just about any place. It really is a no-brainer. If you ask me, it’s best to save up your money until you have enough to get good footwear. It’s just that simple.

Water-Proof Shoes or Boots, Not Water “Resistant”

Our feet take a terrible beating every day when we walk on them, so why not treat our feet to the best shoes or boots we can find? If you are especially looking at long-term survival, you absolutely must get the best boots or shoes you can find. In my neck of the woods, in Western Oregon, we get a lot of rain. So, for me, that means I need water-proof hikers for seven months out of the year. I spend a lot of time outdoors, believe it or not, and wet feet are not any fun.

If you are stuck outside for any length of time in a survival situation where your feet will get wet, you know how miserable your entire body gets. Wet feet are no fun, period! Furthermore, we’re not talking water “resistant” footwear; we are talking water-proof shoes or boots.

Homework on Water-Proof Shoes or Boots

Speaking of water-proof shoes or boots, you have to do your homework and make sure that they have a genuine water-proof lining and not just some spray-on water-proofing material. The spray-on material doesn’t last, at least not for long. Even if you purchase boots that have a water-proof lining, like Gore-Tex, it tends to break down after several years, and then your feet will get wet. Be advised.

Wear Hikers All Year ‘Round

It isn’t necessary where I live to wear water-proof boots or hikers all year ‘round, but I often do. During the summer months, I can go without water-proof hikers. However, when the weather starts changing, I change my hikers. I have several pair of water-proof boots, too. These boots are worn during hunting season, whenever I get a chance to get out there and actually hunt. The higher boots are much better than mid cut or low cut hikers; the higher boots help keep my feet drier.

The Blackhawk Terrain Mid-Training Shoe

I own one pair of Blackhawk boots that are water-proof. Unfortunately, they have discontinued that particular model. I use these water-proof boots sparingly. Enter the Blackhawk Terrain Mid-Training shoe, which is actually more of a hiker than a shoe. It’s not a high cut hiker but rather a “mid height” shoe that goes above the ankle.

Features

Blackhawk advertises these shoes on their website as “light-weight and comfortable, and versatile with the added strength of a boot.” These shoes are really great for law enforcement, security, or just everyday wear, if you ask me.

Here are some of the features of these shoes:

• Memory Foam Insole that provides support,
• Lycra Lace Pockets,
• Webbing pull tabs,
• TPU molded counter on the heel and toes helps center the foots,
• Raised embossed cow suede leather,
• breathable mesh upper, non-slip EVA rubber outsole, and an anti-microbial lining.

The memory foam insole conforms to the foot and cushions every step you take, too.

Available in Black

This shoe is only available in black, so be advised up front. However, black goes with just about any clothing you are wearing.

Lightweight and Comfortable Out of the Box

The first thing I noticed, when I took the Terrain Mid Training Shoes out of the box, was how lightweight they are. That’s excellent! I don’t like wearing shoes or boots that feel like anchors on my feet. Secondly, when I put the shoes on, they felt like an old friend. There’s no break-in period needed, and this is also important to me. I’ve owned some pretty expensive boots in the past, costing well over $300, and it took a month or longer before they conformed to my feet and were really comfortable. So, when a pair of shoes comes out of the box and is a good fit and comfortable, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. The workmanship is second to none on these boots. Not a flaw could be spotted.

The non-slip EVA outer sole is something to see. The design and material means that these soles really grip in any weather and any terrain, outside of walking on ice. I just love it when a new pair of shoes or boots feel great on my feet right out of the box.

Like An Old Friend

Wish I had these shoes when I was in law enforcement or doing private security work. Yeah, I had some “police” shoes, and they were “okay” for the most part, but they just never felt like an old friend the way these Blackhawk shoes feel on my feet.

I’m really fussy, or particular, when it comes to footwear. That’s not a bad thing. On my recent yearly doctor visit, my new doctor wanted to check out my feet, and he said I had the youngest looking feet for a gent my age. I try to take care of my feet as best I can. They’re the only ones I’ll have.

Pleased With How They Performed Over the Past Summer

I wore these Terrain Mid Training Shoes on and off over the past summer, and I was very pleased with how they performed. Living out in the boonies, we don’t have a lot of paved roads to hike on, but there are plenty of dirt/gravel logging roads to explore, and you really need a good pair of shoes or boots– something that will grip the road and not allow you to fall. Since my hip replacement well over a year and a half ago, I’ve become more than a little self-conscious about falling. I was advised that it simply isn’t a good idea to take a bad fall with the new hip, and I haven’t! I don’t want to go through that surgery and long recovery period again, so good shoes that grip the road are important all that much more to me.

Retail Price

Full retail price on these Blackhawk shoes is $79.99. I honestly expected them to cost a bit more than that. I do shop around and keep a pulse on the price of a lot of things. I’ve had similar boots in the past. While these other boots performed as advertised, they were actually a lot more money than these shoes from Blackhawk.

Only “Bad” Thing– Aren’t Water-Proof

The only “bad” thing is, they aren’t water-proof. I have sprayed them several times with some water-proofing spray to help repel the rain. If I plan on being outside any length of time, during the wet weather we have seven months out of the year, I’ll wear one of my water-proof hikers. However, for short-term wet weather wear, these shoes from Blackhawk will sure get the job done. A can of spray-on water-repellent isn’t a bad idea to use on any shoes or boots, even the ones that are actually water-proof; it helps preserve the leather and fabric for a good long time.