Reebok Rapid Response RB8694 Review: Lightweight tactical work boot that feels more like a sneaker

I’ve been wearing the Reebok Rapid Response RB8694 composite toe boots in desert tan for work and general use, and I’ll be straight: I usually hate safety boots. They’re often bricks on your feet, stiff, and by the end of the day you just want to toss them in a corner. With these, the first surprise was how light they felt for a 6" tactical boot with a safety toe. Not running-shoe light, but clearly lighter than most work boots I’ve owned.

I used them mainly in a mix of warehouse, yard, and light field work: concrete floors, gravel, metal stairs, and a bit of wet ground. I also wore them casually with jeans and cargo pants on weekends just to see how they feel in a normal day. I didn’t baby them – dust, some water, plenty of bending and kneeling. No special break-in ritual, just straight into regular use.

Overall, they come across as a work-focused boot that leans strongly toward comfort rather than hardcore military rigidity. If you’re expecting a super stiff, fully waterproof combat boot, that’s not what this is. If you want something that gives you safety features, ankle coverage, and side-zip convenience without killing your feet, then they’re much closer to that lane.

They’re not perfect: the tongue design is a bit annoying, the tan color shows dirt quickly, and the composite toe still adds some stiffness. But in terms of daily wear, especially if you’re on your feet a lot and moving around, these feel more like a beefed-up sneaker than a traditional work boot, which for me is a big plus.

For what you get – composite toe, EH protection, side zipper, decent cushioning, and a known brand – the price point is pretty reasonable. You’re not paying the premium of top-end tactical brands, but you’re also not in bargain-bin territory where boots fall apart after a few months. Considering people are getting one to three years of daily use out of them, the cost-per-year is fair, especially if you prioritize comfort.

Where the value really shows is if you’re on your feet all day. If a boot saves your knees and back a bit because of better cushioning and fit, that’s worth more than saving a few bucks on a stiffer, cheaper pair. The side zipper also adds real day-to-day convenience. It sounds like a small thing, but when you’re getting in and out of boots every day, laces-only get annoying fast. Compared to similar side-zip tactical boots from Under Armour or Bates, these hold up well on comfort and price, especially with the safety toe and EH rating included.

On the downside, they’re not waterproof, they get dirty fast in tan, and the tongue design is a bit sloppy for the price. Also, if you want a boot you can resole and keep for five years, this isn’t that. You’re basically paying for a comfortable, modern work boot you’ll run hard for a couple of years and then replace. For most people in regular industrial or security jobs, that trade-off is acceptable.

Overall, I’d say the value is good: you’re getting a boot that actually feels nice to wear, meets safety standards, and lasts a reasonable amount of time. There are tougher boots out there and cheaper boots out there, but this one sits in a sweet spot for people who care more about their feet than about owning the most rugged tank of a boot.

Design-wise, the RB8694 leans hard into the tactical / duty boot look: desert tan suede, nylon panels, chunky outsole, and a side zipper. If you like that military style, you’ll probably think they look pretty solid. If you prefer low-key work shoes, these will stand out a bit. Personally, I don’t mind the look, but the tan color definitely shows dust, oil, and scuffs more than black boots. After a week in dusty areas, they already looked “used,” which is fine for work, but not great if you want them to stay clean-looking.

The side zipper on the inside of the ankle is the main design win. You lace them once, dial in the fit, then you pretty much use the zipper to get them on and off. There’s a small leather tab with Velcro at the top to keep the zipper pull from flapping around. The zipper itself runs smoothly and didn’t snag on me, even with dust around. This is one of those features that, once you get used to it, you won’t want to go back to lace-only boots, especially if you’re changing shoes in and out of work multiple times a day.

One design annoyance is the tongue length and bulk. It’s heavily padded, which is nice on the shin, but it’s a bit too long and tends to creep up and stick out if you don’t manage it well. Another user mentioned cutting small slits and threading the laces through to hold it down – I get why. I didn’t go that far, but I did have to take a few extra seconds each morning to flatten it out and tighten the laces a bit higher to keep it in place.

Little details: the pull loop at the back is on the small side. If you have big fingers or gloves on, it’s not that easy to hook and yank. Also, if you’re picky about colors, this tan is more of a light khaki than a deep coyote brown, so it pairs fine with khaki or green pants, but it’s not a dark tactical brown. Overall, the design is functional and thought-out, with some small quirks that you either learn to live with or tweak yourself.

Comfort is the main reason I’d recommend these. Out of the box, they were way more comfortable than most safety boots I’ve owned. I didn’t get hot spots or nasty blisters in the first week, which is usually my test. The padding around the collar and tongue is thick, so your ankles and shins don’t get chewed up by the laces. The insole and EVA midsole combo really help on hard floors; standing on concrete for hours is still tiring, but it’s noticeably less punishing than in a stiff, flat work boot.

The extra-wide composite toe makes a big difference. I’ve had boots where, by midday, my toes felt like they were in a clamp. With these, even after long shifts, my toes weren’t screaming. I could wear thicker socks on colder days without feeling cramped. If you’ve got wider feet or hate narrow safety toes, that’s a strong point in favor of this model. I did add a slightly more supportive arch insole on one day just to compare, and it fit fine without making the boot too tight.

In terms of weight and flexibility, they feel closer to a high-top sneaker than a traditional work boot. The sole flexes enough that walking feels natural, not like you’re stomping around. There is some stiffness at the toe area because of the composite cap, but that’s expected. They’re not fully waterproof, but they handle splashes and light rain decently, especially if you spray them with a waterproofing product. I did get a bit of moisture inside when I stepped in water almost up to the top of the boot, which is normal – they’re not sold as waterproof.

Heat-wise, the mix of suede and nylon breathes better than full-grain leather. My feet got warm but not swampy, even on longer days. No crazy odor issues so far either. For all-day wear, walking 8–10k steps, I’d say these are comfort-focused boots that get the job done. If you need something ultra-rigid for ankle support under heavy loads, you might find them a bit too soft. But if your main concern is not wrecking your feet by the end of the day, they’re a solid option.

The upper is a mix of suede leather and ballistic nylon, which is pretty standard for tactical boots. The suede panels take the brunt of scrapes, while the nylon keeps the weight down and lets the boot flex more than an all-leather work boot. After regular use, the suede shows scuffs and dust, but no tearing or deep damage. The nylon panels haven’t frayed on me, and the stitching lines look neat and consistent – no loose threads out of the box on my pair.

Inside, the removable Foot Force F2A insole is a dense but cushy polyurethane. It’s not as soft as some memory foam insoles, but that’s honestly good for all-day wear because it doesn’t bottom out as fast. Under that, you’ve got an EVA midsole, which is the same basic stuff used in a lot of running shoes. That’s why the boot feels much more forgiving on concrete than a typical work boot with just a hard rubber midsole.

The composite toe is extra wide, which I really appreciated. With some safety boots, your toes feel jammed into a hard shell. Here, I had room to wiggle my toes, even wearing thicker socks. There’s no metal anywhere, so they’re safe for metal detectors and also don’t get as cold as steel toes in low temperatures. On the downside, you still feel that harder front when you kneel and bend your toes; it’s just less harsh than steel.

The rubber outsole is dual-density and has a decent lug pattern, not super aggressive like a hiking boot, but enough to grip on varied surfaces. After walking on metal chips, gravel, and some oily spots, the sole didn’t chunk or peel. It’s also resistant to a bunch of stuff on paper – oil, heat, abrasion, chemicals – and while I didn’t test all of that in a lab setting, nothing weird happened under normal industrial-type use. Overall, the materials feel like a compromise between durability and comfort, leaning slightly more toward comfort, which for daily wear is a trade-off I’m fine with.

Durability so far has been pretty solid. The outsole shows normal wear but no chunks missing, no separation at the heel or toe, and the rubber hasn’t glazed over or gone slick. The stitching around the toe and sides is still intact, and the nylon panels haven’t torn. The suede does mark up and scuff, but that’s cosmetic. If you’re working in dirty or abrasive environments, expect them to look used fairly quickly, especially in this tan color.

The side zipper, which is usually a weak point on cheaper boots, has held up well. It still runs smoothly, teeth are aligned, and the pull tab hasn’t bent or broken. The Velcro tab at the top also still grips fine. If something is going to fail long-term, I’d watch the zipper first, but based on my use and what other long-term users report, it seems to last a couple of years of regular wear without major issues.

One user mentioned getting about two years in a steel fabrication shop doing 10,000 steps a day, which lines up with what I’d expect from this kind of boot. These are not built like heavy, all-leather, resoleable work boots that last five-plus years, but they also don’t feel cheap or disposable. They sit in that middle ground: durable enough for daily wear, but eventually the cushioning and outsole will wear out and you’ll replace them rather than rebuild them.

Water resistance is “good enough” rather than bulletproof. Splashing through puddles, wet grass, or brief exposure is fine. Stand in ankle-deep water or work in constant heavy rain and they’ll let some water in. The materials themselves can take some abuse, and if you spray them regularly with waterproofing, you’ll extend both the look and some of the water resistance. Overall, I’d rate durability as good for the price and weight, just don’t expect them to survive the absolute harshest conditions for years on end.

On the job, the RB8694s cover the basics very reliably. The composite toe and EH rating tick the safety boxes for most workplaces that require protective footwear. I bumped the toe on pallets, metal edges, and random junk a few times, and the protection felt solid. You don’t get that cold, heavy steel feeling either, which is nice if you’re in and out of different temperatures. They’re also non-metallic, so if you pass through metal detectors or work around sensitive equipment, you’re good.

The traction is decent on the usual suspects: dusty concrete, metal stairs, gravel, and the occasional oily patch. I didn’t experience any scary slips. The sole pattern is more “all-purpose work” than aggressive hiking, but for warehouse, light industrial, or patrol-type use, it’s fine. If you’re constantly on slick, wet floors, I’d still be careful and maybe look into boots known specifically for extreme slip resistance, but for mixed environments, these hold their own.

In terms of support, the ankle coverage is enough for general stability, but this isn’t a stiff mountaineering boot. It flexes a fair amount, which is comfortable but means it’s not the best choice if you’re carrying very heavy loads on uneven terrain all day. For normal walking, climbing ladders, and going up and down stairs, the flexibility is actually a plus. The side zipper also makes it easy to air your feet out or take the boots off quickly during breaks, which sounds minor but is pretty nice in real use.

I’d say these boots are best suited for: security work, light-duty law enforcement, warehouse, fabrication, and general trades where you’re moving a lot but not wading through mud or harsh chemicals all day. They perform well for long, active shifts where comfort and decent protection matter more than extreme ruggedness. If your job absolutely destroys footwear in six months, you might want something heavier-duty, but for average to moderately rough use, these handle it without drama.

On paper, the Reebok Rapid Response RB8694 is a 6" tactical / work boot with a composite safety toe, side zipper, and a mix of suede leather and ballistic nylon. It’s marketed as a military/tactical style, but in reality it sits right between a duty boot and a light work boot. Shaft height is ankle-high, so you get ankle coverage without that heavy 8" boot feel. Mine are the desert tan version in size 10.5, which fits true to size compared to my usual sneakers and work boots.

The boot is 100% non-metallic, so it’s friendly for metal detectors and security checkpoints. That means composite toe instead of steel, and no metal shank. It’s rated for electrical hazard protection and meets ASTM F2413, so for most job sites that require a safety toe and EH rating, you’re covered. The sole is a dual-density rubber that’s supposed to resist slips, oil, heat, metal chips, abrasion, and chemicals. I can’t verify every claim in a lab, but I did walk on oily concrete, metal grating, and dusty floors without any scary slips.

Inside, you’ve got a removable Foot Force F2A polyurethane insole with extra cushioning in the heel (their “Shock Eliminator” thing), and an EVA midsole under that. So the whole setup is more like a running shoe midsole dropped into a boot upper. That’s probably why they feel much softer than a typical work boot out of the box.

If you like simple, no-nonsense boots, the presentation is pretty straightforward: no fancy packaging, no extra laces, no gimmick accessories. You get the pair of boots, the stock insoles, and that’s it. Most of the value is clearly in the build and comfort features rather than extras or presentation fluff.