THE NEED

Finding shoes for myself has always been a difficult task, for multiple reasons. I wear a size thirteen and I am flat footed, so that creates some issues when buying shoes. Whether the shoe had a high arch or the store didn’t carry my size, it could get frustrating. I specifically needed a shoe that could keep up with me. There are days when I am on an outdoor desert range but then doing urban CQB right after. I didn’t want to carry multiple pairs of shoes with me depending on the situation. I needed a shoe that would work in a multitude of environments. Then I tried out the 5.11® A/T Trainer.

THE DETAILS

Let’s dive into the shoe. The 5.11® A/T Trainers is equipped with the company’s A.T.L.A.S. (All Terrain Load Assistance Systems) technology. This includes multi-directional high traction thread pattern, Ortholite® comfort foam, Echo Lite high rebound foam, and is compatible with the A.T.L.A.S. support plate. These shoes are designed to tackle any workout you throw at it. The A/T Trainers come in four colors; Black, Cinder, Dark Coyote, and Turbulence. They also have a range of sizes of four to fourteen, with some half sizes in between. This shoes is a great deal for only $130. Learn more about the specs. 

On the range

MY EXPERIENCE

At first I was skeptical because of the issues I previously mentioned, maybe it wouldn’t fit right or have a high arch. I put the shoes on they fit perfectly! I was pleasantly surprised with how well they felt right out of the box. There was little to no break-in time. I was confident enough to wear them the next day to a training event and for an evening workout.

I have been wearing these shoes for a few months now and I have nothing but great things to say about it. The 5.11® A/T Trainers have held up beyond expectation. The workouts I have done with these shoes have ranged from standard lifting, interval training, and sprints. The furthest I have ran in these shoes is two miles. I had no issues while running. They are not my favorite long distance running shoes but they are not designed for that, so that’s not an issue for me.

Wearing the 5.11® A/T Trainers on tactical training days has been amazing. My feet never feel overly hot from the sun beating down due to the breathability of the shoe. Whether it was a range day or an official department training event, the shoes perform with zero issues. I would definitely recommend these shoes to anyone who lives an active lifestyle or just in need of reliable footwear. I cannot speak highly enough of these shoes. They are now my go to for any mission life throws at me.

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions the best way to reach me is through Instagram – @the_tacticalguy

Tyler