Most of the United States and Canada are being baked-alive during a massive heat wave. (Climate change deniers be darned). What’s worse, the dew point (the atmospheric temperature below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form) has been incredibly high — competing with records set in 1980. High dew points mean the air is saturated with moisture and it feels very uncomfortable.

When temperatures, humidity levels, and dew points reach these record-setting levels, boot-wearing becomes…

…let’s say, “challenging.” For me…

* Tall boots like Dehners are absolutely out of the question. Meant to be worn with breeches, there is no way my body could tolerate the heat held on my legs by tall black boots and wool breeches. No way.

* Cowboy boots are only slightly better. Even the height of cowboy boots that fit snugly on my legs such as Lucchese boots that have a less-than-generous calf circumference makes these boots feel uncomfortable as my legs can’t breathe that well. My feet and legs get hot and sweaty.

* Shorter motorcycle boots like my favorite Chippewa Firefighters are a choice when/if I ride my Harley in hot weather. For some reason, these boots don’t get hot as long as I am riding. However, even these boots feel uncomfortable if I stand in them in the full sun. (They are black, after all.)

So what’s a boot guy to do?

Since I absolutely refuse to wear unhealthly flippity-flops or dorky crocs — I choose military-style tactical boots. I don’t have many pairs of these boots; in fact only four pairs as of now (a new pair has yet to make the website).

But proven by practical experience when “S” and I chose this style of boot to wear in arid, desert Utah for our Crazy-Awesome Adventure, this type of boot proved to be comfortable for wear in the hottest of weather.

So as we endure another awfully uncomfortable heat wave with high humidity and dew points, when I do have to venture outside, these are the boots I choose. (Heck, today, I am even wearing them at the office.)

Life is short: be tactical in the choice of boots.