Garmont T 4 GROOVE G-DRY High-cut tactical shoes

There’s a lot to like about the Garmont brand. We were able to connect with them through writer Brook at the 2022 SHOT show. I’m always on the lookout for good footwear. Our readers tend to have military or law enforcement backgrounds, but who doesn’t like good footwear? I appreciate solidly manufactured shoes offered for a reasonable price.

The Garmont rep offered the Spotterup writers the opportunity to try out anything in their line-up. I settled on the T4 groove G-Dry high cut tactical shoes because they were designed for off-road trails and everyday wear. I spend a lot of time outdoors. I do a lot of hiking and running, and I am always looking for something that is waterproof, and comfortable when I hit the road. I prefer boots or shoes that I can run in. Let’s run through some of the top points about the shoe.

Right out of the box the shoes they sent fit me well. They were very comfortable. Garmont is an Italian company, and many of their shoes have a European shape and narrow toe box. I wanted a pair in a wide size but they didn’t make them; no worries, they sent me the next size up which proved to be a winner. If you are a size 10, I recommend selecting the size 10.5.; your feet will thank you. Consider when buying footwear, that you choose the best socks to pair with them. Anytime I am trying out footwear I will use them for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. However, I tend to put upwards of 8hrs a day in the boots and shoes that I field test. I live in a mixed-use community where I am able to trek over city streets, hills, grass, and different terrain at any time of the day. We get snow, rain, sleet, mud and ice here in Virginia. I’ve done well in these shoes and enjoy how Garmont assembled them.

The shoes use an anatomical tongue. The tongue matches the asymmetric shape of the top of your foot and ankle. It is thicker to the outside and progressively thinner toward the inside. This anatomic shape keeps the tongue in place resulting in better control, stability and comfort. One thing I instantly noticed about the tongue is the pull tab and the plushness of the tongue. The pull tab is useful for adjusting the tongue once you lace your shoes. Because we have blood vessels and a major tendon called the extensor hallucis longus in the area known as our instep, it is important to select footwear smartly. Lacing too tightly, or having boots without optimal laces can cause major discomfort. The tongue provides excellent padding, and Garmont uses flat lacing rather than round lacing, which I believe makes all the difference in comfort.

Garmont uses what they call the A.C.E. system with EVA bi-density midsole. EVA is an acronymn for Ethylene-vinyl acetate foam. EVA is a flexible, lightweight and soft foam. It is the material used for running shoes. Garmont mixes EVA with a firm heel to provide the foot with a mix of comfort, support and stability. The firm heel acts as a heel stabilizer/counter; it wraps around the heel of your foot, and holds the heel in position during the movements of running. Any internal support feature in the rear of the shoe should conform to the shape of your heel and have a stiff reinforcement. You will also notice there is a softness on the sole of the feet, but a certain stability as well. You want your footwear to offer comfort yet structure. You will feel confident when walking or running. One other point I should make; a stable heel ensures that the foot stays firmly inside the shoe. This prevents rubbing of the back of the foot and the formation of blisters.

Garmont created an interesting cut for the ankle of the shoe. They call it an asymmetrical cuff. The ankle cuff is lower on the outside and taller on the inside for better edging, greater overall stability and comfort when traversing and scrambling. Also, the ankle of the shoe uses padding around the heel. This padding allows the heel to lock in place for a precise fit around the ankle bones for better stability and support.

Garmont also created the shoes with precision lacing. Look at the shoes and you will notice eye-stays at the bottom of the shoe by the vamp, and at the top near the collar. The eye-stays at the throat of the shoe are metal and secure the laces firmly to the collar. The eyelets are cut into a sturdy fabric so that a laces will not tear through the eyelets. The combination of eyelets, eye-stays, precision lacing, padded collar, and the asymmetrical cuff should guarantee you a good ride when using your shoes.

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