Haix Group produces some outstanding personal protection gear in the form of high quality duty boots for a wide range of Police, Fire, and EMS functions. The Haix line of boots and shoes use a variety of technological advancements to increase the durability, protection, and wearability of the shoes professionals wear.
Haix has grown exponentially since CEO Ewald Haimerl took over his family’s business in 1992. From a regional shoe maker in Bavaria, Germany to a worldwide competitor in boots and shoes for professionals. The United States office opened in Lexington, Kentucky in 2003.
One of the most important investments a police officer can make is in your boots. Some officers receive issued boots from their department, but that doesn’t ensure those boots are designed as both protective and comfortable. Other officers have to purchase their own boots. No matter which category you fall into, proper shoes are extremely important to successfully carrying out your duties. Pain and discomfort in your feet can distract you from the job at hand, and cause long-term shoulder, back, and hip pain or injuries.
HAIX boots are a good option to help keep officers operating in the extreme conditions that officers face every day. HAIX boots offer built-in HAIX Arch Support, roomier toe boxes, oil and slip resistant outsoles, antistatic capabilities, and waterproof protection. I was able to try on these boots at SHOT Show, and they are very comfortable as well. Even the leather upper boots, were designed to keep my feet cool and comfortable, while providing great arch support.
Each boot style comes in high, mid, and low profile support sizes, providing a great amount of options to personalize the feel and desire of the individual officer.
Haix Black Eagle Tactical 20 Mid Boots
The more traditional Haix police duty boot offering is the Black Eagle Tactical 20 Mid boots. Using a combination of leather, GORE-TEX and other materials, the Black Eagle Tactical 20 Mid boots have the classic police duty boot look, but carry some very important upgrades for the modern street cop.
Though Haix is a newer name to the professional boot market, but I would recommend officers give them a serious consideration when selecting their next pair of duty boots.
Haix Black Eagle Tactical 20 Specifications
- Upper Material – Waterproof leather
- Inner Lining -GORE-TEX Extended; 3-layer GORE-TEX laminate, waterproof and highly breathable. Abrasion-resistant lining with optimized- climate comfort
- Inside – GORE-TEX
- Color – Black
- Leg height – 6 inches
- Sole – BLACK EAGLE 01 Sole
- MSRP $159.00.
Common Haix Black Eagle Features
- HAIX Climate System – Climate System with Micro-Dry lining at top of leg
- Insert – Comfortable, cushioning, moisture wicking, anti-bacterial. Separate heel shape for good cushioning and foot insertion with “AIRFLOW” channels.
- Running sole – made of rubber, resistant to oil and gasoline, non-marking
- Anti Slip – Very good grip on different terrains by profile configuration and use of a special rubber
- Durable Sole – Rubber mixture for long durability
- Double Hole Frame/Stone Shield – Stabilizes the shoe and guides the foot during unwinding movements, prevents uneven surfaces from pressing through to the foot
- Inner sole – Made of different EVA/TPU materials, light, cushioning, supporting
- Absorb – Permanent cushioning in heel area by special EVA material in the inner sole
- Energy Return/Supination Support – Inner sole in the front part of the foot made of a strong spring-back material for effective use of energy
- Pronation Support – Supports the center of the heel, prevents over-pronation (arch collapsing inward) by using a harder EVA material
- Stabilizer – Asymmetrical TPU for stabilizing the heel.
Haix Black Eagle Tactical 20 Features
- All Common Black Eagle features
- Sun Reflect – Reduces the heating effect of the upper leather by direct sunlight. Sunlight is reflected by the leather, keeping the leather and the feet cooler.
Author’s Thoughts
The Black Eagle Tactical 20 Mid boots are my first choice out of the Haix line, but just barely over the next boot, the Black Eagle 10 Mid Athletic boots. One of the main reasons I prefer the Tactical 20 boots is the water-proof leather construction. There are too many times an officer is in the elements, or exposed to substances that nobody wants on them. The leather provides the protection that officers deserve.
In addition, the Tactical 20 Mid boots are all black, as opposed to the black/gray (blueish) colors of the Athletic boots. Despite being black, the leather is treated to reflect sunlight and heat to keep the feet cooler than would be expected with leather boots. The outstanding arch and heel support features are real winners in my opinion, having found other manufacturer boots good in many areas, but failing in good structure support.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Athletic Mid
One of the Haix offerings that could be a potential law enforcement contender is the Black Eagle 10 Mid Athletic Boot. Combining outstanding microfiber and textile outer shell materials with GORE-TEX inner liner materials, the Black Eagle 10 Mid boots provide both waterproof and breathable characteristics. The Black Eagle 10 Athletic boots could be a great overall boot with a lighter, more athletic feel, but I place them second on my list of recommendations for the potential reduced protection against substances seeping into the boots.
The Black Eagle 10 Mid boots have a non-marking sole that is resistant to oil and gasoline, and is built to provide supine support. The Black Eagle 10 Mid boots are lightweight, but carry a lot of benefits.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Mid Specifications
- Color – Black with gray accent
- Inside – GORE-TEX
- Leg Height – 6 inches
- Sole – BLACK EAGLE 01 Sole
- Upper Material – Microfiber/textile combination
- MSRP – $149.00.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Mid Features
- All Common Black Eagle features
- Microfiber/Textile material for lighter weight and better breathability.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Low Boots
Finally, for those officers who want the protection of boots, but the maneuverability of running shoes, Haix offers the Black Eagle 10 Low boots. Having most of the same safety and support features of the other Black Eagle line of boots, the 10 Low boots have the flexibility of running shoes.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Low Specifications
- Material microfiber/textile
- Inside GORE-TEX
- Sole BLACK EAGLE 01 Sole
- Color – Black with gray (blueish) accent
- Leg Height – Low
- MSRP – $139.00.
Haix Black Eagle 10 Low Features
- All Haix Black Eagle Common features
- Running sole – made of rubber, resistant to oil and gasoline, non-marking
- Smart Lacing – easy moving, pressure free and quick adapting of the shoe to the foot (on low models only).
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of good duty boots on the market. I have worn Danner, Rocky, 5.11, Blackhawk and other boots while on duty. Most have performed well, though I have definitely preferred a few over the others for overall comfort and protection.
The Haix line of Black Eagle boots was very impressive to me at SHOT Show. Though I only had the different boots on for a few minutes each, they were very comfortable, and the quality of materials and craftsmanship was evident. The level of protection and arch/structural support are outstanding. I would definitely recommend officers consider the Haix boots as a possible duty boot option.