Just to piggyback on this thread -
I bought a pair of boots recently at Rack Room Shoes. They look similar to the SWAT boots with a few exceptions -
the upper is a mix of 600D nylon and leather and
there is no Thinsulate
Other than that, they seem similar. The zipper on the inside is very nice. Lots of room in the toe box. Reasonable cushioning. Good protective height. The 600D nylon is the same stuff that jackets are made from, so I think it would protect your ankles in a slide. It is also more flexible than all leather. The outsole on the heel is rounded, so you can walk more naturally.
I wore them this weekend on a 190 mile ride to/on the Blue Ridge Parkway and found them to be very nice. One big benefit that I discovered is that, if you stick your feet out sideways into the breeze, air can blow through the boot, cooling your feet off. Obviously, this would not be a bit benefit in the winter!
I paid $59.95 about two weeks ago. They also had a sale - the second pair of shoes is one-half off regular price.