Navy SEAL Field Tested: GORUCK Mackall 45 Shoe Review

I just received a new pair of the GORUCK Mackall 45 for a field test and review.

I was really psyched to receive these new digs as I had seen them online and heard a few good things about them. If you follow our stuff – you will know that having proper foot wear and taking care of your feet is a big deal. It should be because if your feet get blistered or trench foot your going to wish you had taken the time to get your gear right.

I really like these shoes as they fit right out of the box. No break in period. None. I wore them out to hike and work in 95 degree Florida heat and got properly soaked. This tells you alot if a shoe can take repeated full sweat soakings and not degrade in the sun and heat.

No hot spots. No heel slipping. No messing around with different socks or lacing. I like to wear thick socks to absorb the sweat and also give my feet space to breathe.

WATCH THE UNBOXING

I’ve included a video of the Mackall 45 unboxing so you can see exactly what you get when they arrive.

I’ll also be adding photos showing the construction, materials, toe protection and the aggressive lug pattern on the outsole.

First impression?

These look like they were built to be used.

And that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a rucking shoe.

WHAT IS THE GORUCK MACKALL 45?

The Mackall 45 is GORUCK’s premium version of its Mackall rucking shoe.

The name comes from Camp Mackall, the North Carolina training facility associated with U.S. Army Special Forces.

The 45 is built around the idea of having one shoe that can handle multiple missions:

Ruck. Train. Hike. Travel. Work. Repeat.

GORUCK describes it as an all-purpose shoe that can go from rucking to workouts to travel and everyday wear.

The Mackall 45 has a more traditional-looking leather/suede upper than the standard Mackall.

That’s one of the first things I noticed when I pulled it out of the box.

It looks less like a typical running shoe and more like a rugged training shoe that you could actually wear all day.

MACKALL 45 SPECS

According to GORUCK:

  • Upper: Premium pigskin nubuck suede + full-grain cow leather
  • Lining: Ultra synthetic suede
  • Midsole: Low-durometer shock-absorbing EVA response foam
  • Outsole: Triple-compound high-traction rubber
  • Insert: Custom dual-density comfort insert
  • Heel-to-toe drop: 13 mm
  • Last: Neutral
  • Toe box: Wide
  • Weight: 12.6 oz per shoe in size 9
  • Lacing: Classic punch eyelets with flat-woven athletic laces
  • Construction: Built in Vietnam

That 13 mm heel-to-toe drop is worth paying attention to if you’re using these primarily for rucking.

GORUCK says the offset is designed to provide a rucking-friendly platform and reduce strain on the calves and Achilles.

Check price at GORUCK.com

FIRST IMPRESSION: THE FIT

This is where the Mackall 45 immediately impressed me.

Perfect fit right out of the box.

I didn’t have to spend an hour trying to figure out the lacing.

I didn’t have to wait for the upper to stretch.

I put them on and they felt right.

The wide toe box gives my toes room without making the shoe feel sloppy.

The heel felt secure.

And the shoe has a solid, planted feeling underneath it.

That’s important when you’re carrying a ruck.

A running shoe can feel great when you’re moving fast and light.

A rucking shoe needs to feel stable when you put weight on your back.

That’s a different test.

LOOK AT THAT TOE BUMPER

One of the first things I photographed was the toe area.

The Mackall 45 has a reinforced toe and a rubber outsole that wraps around the front of the shoe.

That’s something I like seeing on an off-road rucking shoe.

Because trails aren’t clean.

You have:

Roots.

Rocks.

Sticks.

Sand.

Mud.

And occasionally you kick something you didn’t see.

A good toe bumper is cheap insurance.

I’ll be watching this area closely as the miles accumulate.

THE LUG PATTERN

The outsole is another area I’m paying close attention to.

The Mackall 45 uses GORUCK’s triple-compound high-traction rubber outsole.

The goal is obvious:

Grip.

The outsole has a substantial tread pattern designed for off-road use.

My first test will be on wooded trails where I regularly encounter loose dirt, pine needles, roots, sand and uneven terrain.

I’ll be looking at:

  • Traction going uphill
  • Traction going downhill
  • Side-hill stability
  • Mud shedding
  • Wet roots
  • Sand
  • Rock
  • Long-distance comfort

A shoe can look aggressive in a photograph.

The trail will tell us the truth.

FIRST RUCK TEST

The first test is simple.

I’m heading into the woods with my dogs.

I’ll be carrying a ruck.

No special laboratory testing.

Just real-world miles.

That’s how I like to test gear.

Use it. Abuse it. Put miles on it.

Then report what happens.

I’ll be paying attention to how the Mackall 45 feels after the first few miles and how that changes as the distance increases.

I’m especially interested in:

Comfort.

Traction.

Stability.

Heel lockdown.

Toe-box comfort.

Durability.

And how the shoe feels under a loaded ruck.

INITIAL VERDICT

It’s too early to give the Mackall 45 a final rating.

I’ve only had them for a few hours.

But first impressions are very good.

Fit: Excellent

Construction: Excellent first impression

Toe protection: Very good

Outsole: Looks aggressive and ready for the trail

Comfort: Excellent right out of the box

Rucking potential: High

But here’s the deal:

A shoe review isn’t finished on Day One.

It’s finished after the miles.

So I’m going to keep wearing these.

Rucking.

Walking.

Hiking.

Training.

And working around the trails.

Then I’ll come back and update this review with actual mileage and field experience.

UPDATE COMING

I’ll update this article as I put more miles on the Mackall 45.

And beyond.

We’ll see how the outsole wears.

We’ll see how the upper holds up.

We’ll see how the toe bumper performs.

And most importantly:

We’ll see how my feet feel after carrying a ruck for miles.

That’s the real test.

Update September 28

I have been wearing these new shoes non-stop. Out of the box I took off and did miles of trail work carrying gear in Florida heat. I was completely covered in sweat and the shoes were soaked fully. They wore like a well fitted glove and no blisters or discomfort.

I took them home and washed them off outside and then took them inside to a sink and scrubbed with a little bit of soap. I set them out to dry and wore them to a coaching job workshop and job interview two days later. I have worn them on local mountain bike trails, and coaching locally at the gym/school (I got 6 miles in yesterday). These shoes truly can be used for many different types of work and play.

Disclosure: GORUCK provided the Mackall 45 for testing/review. This is an initial first-impression review based on the shoe’s condition upon arrival and my first field test. Long-term conclusions will be added after additional mileage.

Coach Brad McLeod

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