I recently received a pair of Black Diamond X2 leather fire boots. Any time your fire department issues you a new piece of safety gear that’s part of your firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), you’ll also get a red, multi-page Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA) User Information Guide (UIG), which is attached to most safety attire. The UIG is larger than a Rand McNally road atlas, and the front cover lists a ton of scary-sounding warnings about using your ensemble while engaged in “ultra-hazardous” activities–but all I wanted to do was try on these boots!
Regular black and yellow rubber fire boots can sometimes look like rain boots or fisherman boots–the Black Diamond X2 boots did not. When I first pulled them out of the box, they looked like armored, galactic, Stormtrooper space boots. They have an impressive, intimidating look to them, which screams that these boots are meant for serious and extreme firefighting. I like that.
After donning my new X2s (I promise I followed all the UIG safety precautions), I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they were and how well they actually fit me. I have to admit, I still like the traditional black and yellow rubber fire boots because they’re easy to get into and out of, but they’re sloppy inside and after extended wear, such as on a multiple-alarm fire, they hurt my feet from lack of arch support.
I’ve also tried other leather fire boots in search of arch support and comfort. At first they were very comfortable because they fit more like a work boot instead of a rain boot, but the snug fit made them difficult to get into when the bell went off. A couple of times, I almost fell over trying to quickly get my feet into the leather boots. I also noticed that even though they were “waterproof,” it felt like moisture was accumulating during defensive operations when wading around in ankle-deep water. Then, after putting them in the boiler room to “dry out,” it seemed like the leather shrunk up, because they were a lot tighter and it took some time for them to loosen up. Not to mention they also looked like Cossack boots instead of fire boots.
The Black Diamond X2 leather fire boots are nothing like what I just described. The X2 is a superior fire boot all around. Standing 14 inches high, the top leather band is flared out, which makes it easy to don and doff the boot. The pull-on strap system is integrated into the leather upper band for firm finger grips, rather than using a leather “loop” strap, which can break with wear and sometimes folds down inside the boot when you insert your foot, producing an annoying sensation during extended operations. There’s also a built-in heel jack that allows you to use one boot as leverage when you need to quickly remove your foot from the other boot.
The Fusion upper fabric is made of Nomex, Kevlar and Teflon F.P.P.E., which makes the boot flexible, extremely durable and surprisingly light; however, there’s enough rigidity in the X2 to keep it from flopping over. The shin guard tibia protector starts at the top of the foot and flares out laterally for maximum protection and form-fitting comfort.
The sole has excellent traction, and the wide steel-toe cap is covered with a durable, molded rubber, as is the ribbed heel protection panel, protecting the boot from rough abrasion. The heels’ ribbing also helps keep bunker pant cuffs on the boot and not under the sole. The double-ridged steel shank and the rest of the safety features of the boot meet the NFPA 1971 standard (2007 edition).
What’s really cool about this battle-ready fire boot is that every pair can be custom fit to three widths: medium, wide and extra wide. The X2 uses an Ortholite footbed insert–an anti-odor, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, breathable, tri-density, shock-absorbing insert pad–with TPU arch support and heel cradle support. The medium fit has one footbed and two “filler” insert layers. For a wide fit, remove one filler insert and re-insert the footbed. For the extra-wide fit, remove two filler inserts and re-insert the footbed.
No matter the fit, a three-point heel-lock system helps keep your heel firmly fitted inside the boot so it doesn’t “lift out” with each step or while climbing ladders. This boot also easily accommodates orthotics.
I had numerous drill opportunities to wear these boots while climbing ladders and working on roofs. The other night, my truck company responded to a water job and my feet stayed totally dry. So I’m hard-pressed to find any negative feature about this boot. It’s a great boot and extremely comfortable. (I really didn’t expect to like them this much.)
I guess the only negative feature is the price. The Black Diamond basic rubber fire boot runs $132. The X2 runs $291. Simply put, this is a high-end boot, but there’s nothing more uncomfortable during a working fire than boots that hurt your feet. The bottom line: You get what you pay for.
At a fire, you’re either on your belly or on your feet. The Black Diamond X2 leather fire boot is worth the investment for your personal safety and comfort while working under extreme emergency conditions.
Black Diamond X2 Leather Fire Boot
Pros
+ Comes in three widths;
+ Easy to don and doff;
+ Flexible, durable and lightweight; and
+ Meets NFPA 1971 standard (2007 edition).
Cons
– Price.
Black Diamond Protective Equipment
400 Trade Center 128,
Ste. 2990
Woburn, MA 01801
Tel: 800/459-5895
E-mail: customerservice@bdfire.com
Web: www.blackdiamondfootwear.com
