Review - Belleville Mini-Mil minimalist boots

(This product provided by the manufacturer for review)

A while back, I was given the opportunity to review what was at the time, one of the most minimalist military-type boots on the market; the Belleville Tactical Research Kiowa. Low slung, light-weight and comfortable, the Kiowa is still one of the better boots on the market, but I think Belleville just outdid themselves.
A few months back, they released the Mini-Mil boot. Designated a training boot by Belleville, this boot had a brand-new sole developed by Vibram for the express purpose of being used in the Mini-Mil boot. With only a 5mm heel-toe differential, this is - to my knowledge - the single most minimalist military-type boot on the market.
So, as always, let's start with the specs, and go on from there.

• A true minimalist boot with a 5 millimeter “drop”
• Exclusive Vibram® “Tarsus” oil and slip resistant rubber sole
• Highly breathable unlined leather & nylon upper
• Double & triple stitched seams for enhanced durability
• Padded Achilles support
• 8” height

In a nutshell, the Mini-Mil is pretty much an updated version of the old jungle boot. Well, at least in the black leather version. Unlined, the boot is extremely lightweight at under 2lbs for the pair, and does breathe quite well. It is obviously not water-proof, but can be easily treated with a water-repellent. The leather part is of course also readily treatable and with the good stitching and lack of vents in the instep, it holds up nicely to snow and ice. 

The sole is a thing of beauty. With a heel-to-toe differential of only 5mm, this is almost the same drop as the New Balance Minimus line of shoes which clocks in at 4mm. Even my feet, conditioned to wearing Fivefingers and other minimalist footwear almost non-stop for years, can't really feel much of a difference. The boot manages to keep you very close to the ground and provides a surprising amount of ground feel, aided by the insole which is thin and flexible. The grip is also impressive, the low-profile lugs of the Tarsus sole gripping aggressively on a variety of surfaces. 

The upper, made from leather and Cordura nylon is - as mentioned - completely unlined. The exception is a few, padded, welts right over the Achilles tendon area. The upper is flexible and comfortable, with the lacing system being the typical speed-lacing that most will be familiar with from other boots of a similar type. The tongue of the boot is of course welted, which prevents debris from entering the boot. 
Of special note is how wide the toe box is. It allows my wide, hobbit-like feet, plenty of room for my toes to splay out, further encouraging a proper, natural gait. That being said, sizing is generous and if you were primarily intending to use this boot in hot weather, I would recommend going a half size down from your usual, possibly even a full size. 

From the side you can somewhat tell that this is a low-profile boot. 

Here you can see the pattern of the excellent Vibram Tarsus outsole.  The wear you see is the result of  a couple of months worth of constant use as a daily-wear boot. The sole is wearing extremely well. Note the toe-like pattern towards the front. That's a nod towards the Fivefingers.

The upper is - as mentioned - unlined Cordura and leather. Yes, this boot IS made in China. So, no, not Berry Compliant. A Berry Compliant version would be an outstanding addition to the line-up.

The construction quality is very clean, just like the previous boots I've had from Belleville. You can see the welted tongue here, which goes all the way to the top of the boot. 

Here you can see the padding over the Achilles tendon area. It isn't much padding, but it does seem to make a difference. 

I am a big fan of sturdy pull loops on shoes and boots, something that I have run afoul of in the past. It does not appear that I will have any such issues with the Mini-Mil.

This part of the sole appears to have been made with the use of ropes in mind.  Nice to see such forethought go into the design. The entire sole flexes readily in 3 dimensions as well. 

I'm always pleased to see traction grooving like this on boots and shoes. Makes moving downhill in terrain much better and even helps when rock climbing.

The rope area is repeated on both sides of the sole. 

Flexing the boot like this requires very little effort. There really is almost no structure in the sole at all, so as I mentioned, it moves with your foot easily in all 3 dimensions. 

A brief video to demonstrate the flexibility of the sole. 

Here you can see the wide toe box. I really cannot stress enough how comfortable this boot is.

And a quick action shot, just to show the boot moving WITH my foot, not against it. 

I have had the opportunity to wear this boot in a variety of different terrain, ranging from rocky desert, to boulders/cliffs/, to snow and ice, and of course, in an urban setting as a daily wear boot. In all those different settings, the boot has been a pleasure to use, in the sense that it largely went unnoticed. I have experienced nothing in the way of hot-spots, blisters, or any notable discomfort while wearing this boot. It has been an exemplary performer and I fully intend to purchase a pair of the tan, rough-out, leather version for summer use. 

There are a few things I'd like to see done for a future version. Primarily, I'd really like for the 5mm drop to go away entirely. As a transitional tool for people getting into minimalist footwear, that's excellent. But for those of us that spend most of our time wearing minimalist shoes like Fivefingers, for both training and daily wear, it is simply not necessary to have that drop. 

I would also be very seriously tickled pink if Belleville were to incorporate a flexible, penetration-resistant layer of aramid fabric in the sole. That would take this boot from something really only aimed towards training, and make it into something that you could confidently wear in-theater. And lastly, the insole could be a little more wicking. It doesn't seem to do much for keeping your feet dry, and I will likely replace it at some point in the near future with a pair of Ecco Comfort Fiber insoles, which I have used extensively in the past with good results. 

Other than those niggling details, and I am being VERY pedantic, the Mini-Mil is simply an outstanding boot. Lightweight (far more so than several different pairs of trail-running shoes I dug out of my closet the other day), comfortable, durable, and even rather handsome, the Mini-Mil is testament to Belleville's dedication to continually improve their craft. I can't wait to see what they come up with next!\
I do feel that it is necessary for me to repeat and emphasize Belleville's warning about the use of this boot. If you are not already used to wearing minimalist footwear, you should take it very easy when starting to wear the Mini-Mil, and the same thing goes for any minimalist footwear. 
There is NO arch support, there is NO shock absorbing cushioning. And it is damn well by intentional design. I have seen people complain about the lack of arch support and frankly that shows nothing more than rank ignorance about the nature of this product. So. Go slow. Take your time. In my experience, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. 
Keep checking back in, once I purchase a pair of the tan Mini-Mil boots, I will be adding a review of them as well. 

Thanks go to the Tactical Research crew at Belleville for letting me review this boot.