Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review

June 4, 2025
Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review

With a company history that dates back to Nelsonville, Ohio in 1932 — where they are still headquartered — Rocky Boots clearly knows a thing or many about making tough, cutting-edge footwear and accessories for the outdoors, job site, western apparel, public safety, and military users.

The Rocky Mountain Combat Boots next to a recurve bow and arrows in the field. This is a nod to how versatile these boots are, whether you’re on range duty or out bowhunting.

Recently, Rocky sent me a pair of their new Mountain Combat boots to evaluate. The experience was indeed positive. The Mountain Combat is a coyote tan leather and composite performance boot designed for outdoor pursuits in rough terrain. This boot comes in a 6” and 8” height and either standard or waterproof. I had a choice from Rocky, and I opted for the 6” or chukka-style shoe, non-waterproof. Its $156.00 MSRP places it between an entry-level boot and pricier options.

On Good Footing

Out of the box, I noticed the pair had even stitching and precisely glued seams. The Rockys ran true to size for me and were very comfortable as delivered and required little break-in period. I developed no hot spots on either the foot or ankle from the design. So far, so good.


Rocky Mountain Combat Boots walking across a rocky causeway streaked with algae and shallow water. The coyote tan leather contrasts with the darker, slippery surface of the wet stones. Outsole lugs are dug into the jagged terrain, demonstrating grip in challenging conditions. Small bits of sand cling to the midsole edge and the lower leather, indicating recent traversal through loose terrain. This image belongs to the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review and emphasizes traction on uneven, wet surfaces.
Marching through sand onto a jagged, algae-covered causeway was no lightweight effort. The lugs bit into the wet rocks without hesitation, even with moisture underfoot.

For the outsole, the Mountain Combat is what Rocky calls “multi-directional.” The lug pattern is variable, like on an off-road tire for good grip on uneven surfaces, mud, snow, shale or sand. The outsoles are oil and slip-resistant and a quick step on some Mobile 1 on my garage floor confirmed this. Then, I had to clean up the mess.


Pair of Rocky Mountain Combat Boots displayed inside their original packaging. The coyote tan leather uppers have even stitching and glued seams that indicate quality. The composite performance outsole can be seen peeking from beneath each boot’s toe. The removable insoles and export hang tags lie next to the boots in the box. This image is part of a Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review highlighting the unboxing experience.
Fresh out of the box, the coyote tan Combat Boots look crisp and well-constructed. Every seam is straight and precise — no wrinkles or glue marks in sight.

I marched the boots through the sand to one of my favorite causeways. Clambering across the jagged rocks was no problem, and the lugs on the soles held fast to the wet algae. The shank of the Mountain Combat is fiberglass. It provided proper, stiff support for the sole and made the boot feel stable. Some boot brands do not have these hardened soles, and you will notice it on sketchy terrain when the floor of your boot flexes. Not here.

Rocky Mountain Combat Boots Details

TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane that comprises the toe cap of the boot. It is not a safety cap, but it will fend off light strikes that may befall your phalanges (or piggies). The TPU cap is placed for durability where we all know our footwear takes hard kicks, and this is a welcome feature. Both the toe cap and a heel protector are sewn into the outsole.


Close-up of the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot’s full-grain leather upper highlighting the tight grain pattern and uniform coyote tan coloration. The leather appears smooth with a slight matte finish, and stitch lines run parallel along the quarter panel. Minor scuffs near the vamp show natural wear after minimal testing. The seams are crisply stitched, with no frayed threads or puckers. This image provides evidence for the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review’s comments on upper material quality.
Examining the full-grain leather upper shows tight, even grain and consistent staining. No blemishes or weak spots, which speaks to Rocky’s quality control.

The inside of the boot fabric is lined with Külkōte, a thermo-regulating textile coating whose technological explanation is beyond my ken. However, suffice it to say that it results in a cooling effect. Rocky Boots is one of the few companies that have a certification for applying Külkōte, which is based in Park City, Utah. Totally not supported by science, but the inside of the Rocky’s felt cooler to the touch than another pair of similar low-top boots.


Pair of Rocky Mountain Combat Boot insoles removed and placed side by side on a white surface. The top side has a monochrome graphic pattern, while the bottom side is a vivid fuchsia hue. The different layers and thickness of the foam can be seen, suggesting adequate cushioning underfoot. Slight dust particles on the patterned surface hint at prior in-boot placement. This shot relates to the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review by showing an additional feature used for emergency signaling and comfort.
The removable insoles feature a black-and-white patterned topside with a fuchsia bottom. They are bright enough to flash if you need to signal someone’s attention.

As an added feature, the removable insoles of the Mountain Combat have a black and white patterned topside and a fuchsia bottom. The bright mixture of pink and blue makes a stand-out hue that can be used for signaling in an emergency. I imagine it would be eye-catching for a rescuer since it is not the usual orange or yellow. I could not find a reference to this function for fuchsia. Maybe one of you knows the answer and will pipe in on the comments section. Of this, I am curious.


Detailed view of the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot’s composite outsole showing multi-directional lug configuration. The lug edges form angular, irregular shapes intended for solid traction in various terrains. Small flecks of dirt and grass are trapped within the treads, hinting at recent field use. The outsole material appears dense and oil-resistant, matching the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review notes about slip resistance. This close-up shot underlines the boot’s technical lug design for outdoors, tactical and military applications.
Close-up on the multi-directional lug pattern reveals a chunky design. It looks like an off-road tire tread — grippy on mud, snow and shale.

The upper of the Rocky boot is a flesh-out, full-grain leather. The tongue and collar of the upper are a nylon-type fabric. At the instep and outstep are panels of SuperFabric. SuperFabric was developed in 1996 by Dr. Young Hwa-Kim, who was working toward a new material to prevent needle sticks in medical gloves. This is where it gets fascinating.

The good doctor and his company, Higher Dimension Materials, Inc., created a proprietary technique for mechanically fusing a flexible grid of tiny hard epoxy plates to a cloth. It’s not a surface treatment, but a bonding process. This results in a hardened textile that is durable, water-repellant, air-breathing, and scuff, slash and stain resistant. This material is used by Land Rover, Ferrari, Dive Rite products and Black Yak mountaineering gear, among many other manufacturers.


Tight shot of the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot tongue area displaying a woven Rocky logo tag. The tag reads “Rocky” in white letters on a black background with stitching visible along the edges. Surrounding the tag, the coyote tan leather and nylon tongue material meet, showing neat seam placement. Light shadowing around the collar accentuates depth and texture. This detail image reinforces the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review by spotlighting brand heritage and craftsmanship.
The Rocky logo tag stitched to the tongue. It’s a subtle nod to its Nelsonville, Ohio, roots and its nearly 100 years in the game.

Rocky incorporates SuperFabric into the in- and outsteps at mid-boot to prevent rope burn and wear if you are climbing, rappelling or fast-roping. It’s an added touch in the Mountain Combat that adds a sort of “armor” to this part of the shoe. Some other features of the boot are metal eyelets on the upper 2/3rd of chukka, and mil-spec laces with heat-fused aglets.

Conclusion

The Mountain Combat 6” boot is a comfortable chukka that looks good with jeans or BDU pants. I have been mostly wearing them in the garage while making knives and sheaths, or in the field shooting my recurve bows. They will also likely go on a hike in Utah in the coming months.


Close-up shot of the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot’s TPU toe cap and integrated heel protector sewn into the outsole. The translucent polyurethane overlay covers the leather where wear usually occurs, offering extra durability. Tiny scuff marks along the TPU edge suggest the boot has been lightly tested in rugged conditions. The leather under the TPU remains unblemished and smooth, indicating proper protective coverage. This detail photo underscores a feature highlighted in the Rocky Mountain Combat Boot Review regarding TPU impact resistance.
The TPU toe cap and heel protector take a beating without showing scuffs. It’s not a steel toe, but it will fend off nicks and light strikes.

When researching the Mountain Combat, I was intrigued by the advanced technology that the Rocky staff used in their choices of specialty materials and their implementation on the actual boots. Remember, this is a mid-level boot with an MSRP of just $151, not the truly expensive stuff. This is a lot of boot for the money.

I appreciate that Rocky Boots were thoughtful in their design. It shows why the company has been innovating for nearly 100 years.

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