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AND THE WINNER IS...
The North Face Trek Light Leather GTX $150
TNF should have named these boots the Border Collies. Ask them to do anything and the answer is "Great! Let's go!"
Why It's Cool: For the vast majority of wilderness forays—day trips and the occasional long-weekend jaunt—this is all the boot you'll need. >> At just three pounds, the Trek Lights fit squarely into day-hiker territory, yet I felt comfortable and stable lacing 'em up, then hauling a 45-pound pack—the steel shank adds just enough beef to the polyurethane midsole and nylon insole to carry the freight. >> The 2.2-millimeter-thick nubuck uppers looked handsome, stayed that way after several weeks of deliberately rude scuffing, and all the while kept my weakish ankles from misbehaving. >> The Eurosole lugged outsole offered great traction—and hey, it didn't track rocks into the house! >> A Gore-Tex Durakool membrane ensures waterproofness, yet breathes so well I couldn't tell it was there. >> A combination of snug heel pocket and roomy toe box is the right recipe for long, blister-free days.
Hmmm... I'd love to see these with a one-piece upper to eliminate the extra stitching along the side.
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Montrail D7 $80
A day in D7s proved the most fun I've had in ages.
Why It's Cool: These shoes give new meaning to the concept of "cross-trainer"—once shod in a pair, I could hike, run, bushwhack, and boulder with equal aplomb. >> Montrail built a solid foundation under the board-lasted D7s, using two layers of EVA, one firm and one soft, plus a fiber insole. The result? A cushiony suit of armor for your feet, tuned to flex up front for running and support agile moves on rock. >> A Vibram sole—seemingly impregnated with contact cement—latched on to any hard surface,
and the broad heel damped my stride while running. >> If your ankles can take the weight, so can these low-cut, two-pounds-per-pair kicks. On smooth trails, I was comfortable under a 20-pound daypack.
Hmmm... The shallow checkerboard lugs don't adhere well to sand-covered stone. >> Watch your anklebones on the scree—they're hanging out there in midair. |
Nike ACG Teewinot II $85
Forget the Porsche SUV that varies its suspension to suit the conditions. the Teewinots' cunning dual-lacing system serves the same purpose, and saves you roughly $89,915.
Why It's Cool: The upper laces tension the shoes normally, while the lower set snugs the front all the way down around your toes with a single yank. I left the lowers loose for walking, then tightened them for pinpoint control while scrambling. >> Furthering the dual-purpose character of the Teewinots is the Vibram outsole, which is lugged to grip going uphill and down, and stiff enough for off-trail hammering. >> Trail running? No problem with an air-cushioned heel. And the Phylon midsole, Nike's take on EVA, seemed to add noticeable lateral stability—vital on off-camber routes. >> The Teewinot's split-leather-and-nylon uppers felt breezy on a 90-degree day in southern Arizona.
Hmmm... With slip-lasted construction and minimal upper support, light day-hiking loads are the rule. |
Five Ten Guide Almighty $111
You'd have to receive mutant DNA from a lab spider bite to stick tighter to a slab.
Why It's Cool: The dot-pattern lugs provide decent trail traction yet adhere (and smear) to rock nearly as well as treadless climbing shoes. >> I found myself scampering way too high along a basalt ridge before looking down and thinking "oops." Fortunately, the Guide Almightys are stiff enough to edge well, too. >> A nice, thick toe rand facilitates jams. >> With an EVA midsole for cushioning, I could leap gaps and land softly on the other side. >> Mid-height, split-grain leather uppers provided excellent protection from scree scrapes, but Five Ten still kept the weight down to one pound eight ounces per pair.
Hmmm... With slip-lasted construction and a thin outsole, these guys aren't happy under big daypack loads. >> The toe box is narrow—good for climbing, less good for walking if you have a wide forefoot. |
Timberland Trail Vision $140
These shoes handled fast approach hikes as well as they did a 25-pound rucksack. Call Them fast-approach day hikers.
Why It's Cool: The Trail Visions' rockered sole and flexible forefoot made bushwhacking and scrambling—even a bit of trail running—effortless. >> Thanks to a mid-height upper, a polyurethane midsole, and a lugged Vibram outsole, I took them on a full-day excursion with a heavy load of camera gear and enjoyed gobs of comfort and support. >> Leather-and- nylon uppers lined with Gore-Tex XCR breathed decently, yet shed water in the one pathetic stream still flowing near my desert home. >> They're
customizable! If you need a little heavier-duty version, order the all-leather uppers. For hot climes you can delete the Gore-Tex option and save $40.
Hmmm... There's a lot of friction in the lacing system, making quick adjustments frustrating. |
Hi-Tec Incline $60
Hi-Tec has always offered a lot of boot for not much money, but this time they outdid themselves.
Why It's Cool: The Inclines' split-leather- and-nylon uppers offer more support than I've yet found in $60 boots. I wouldn't hesitate to sign them up for backpacking duty, yet at just two pounds five ounces, they're super light. >> With all the wiggle room up front, my toes felt like they'd scored an upgrade to business class. >> An EVA midsole cushions your stride, while a steel shank firms up the arch support and a fiberboard insole adds a layer of pro against rocks underfoot.
Hmmm... The top two lace holes are simply punched through the padded lining on the upper. It's difficult to thread the laces, and even more difficult to tension them. |
Merrell Eagle III $80
Meet high-topped, Vibram-soled boots that zip down trails with the feel of your OLD tennies.
Why It's Cool: The nylon-and-split-leather uppers kept my anklebones out of harm's way, but were still light, flexible, and breathable. >> A running-shoe-inspired, air-injected EVA midsole helps with that soft-trail feel, but the nylon insole fended off trail-rubble jabs much better than track shoes ever could. >> The lugged Vibram sole digs in on loose surfaces yet flexes like it's hinged—perfect for walking. >> Some stouter boots could take a pointer from the Eagle's easily tightened laces and excellent lace locks.
Hmmm... This recipe is for rucksack loads. Don't overcook it with a Sherpa-size pack.
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Lowa Tigre Mid $130
These tigers were perfect for exploring the southern Arizona wilds where big cats still prowl.
Why It's Cool: You need tough footwear to fend off rocks and cactus, and the Tigres' high-topped split-leather uppers and generous toe and heel rands did the job—staying sharp-looking to boot. >> You don't need deep outsole lugs for desert hiking, but soles must have teeth. The Tigres' Vibram soles have a full set. Traction in dirt or over nasty volcanic ridges was excellent. >> Rocks under my feet proved no problem for the polyurethane midsole and nylon shank. >> The ankles and tongues are lined with leather, which adds a layer of thorn protection and comfort. >> An eyelet-and-hook lacing system works well and collects no debris.
Hmmm... There's a fair amount of stitching exposed to boot-weakening abrasion. |
Danner Radical 45 GTX $135
After hoofing it up off-camber trails, I had to ask: Are my feet equipped with gyroscopes?
Why It's Cool: These shoes would ace a SoCal seismic inspection, with a beefy polyurethane midsole sandwiched between two nylon inserts. The
package is ultra-reassuring; the soles feel twice as wide as they really are. >> Danner's outsole has shallow lugs pointed every which way. Result? Great traction, without those trail divots that undermine the Leave No Trace philosophy. >> Thanks to the flex in the two-millimeter nubuck/nylon uppers, I wasn't hindered while looking for mountain lion sign way off-trail. >> A Cambrelle lining wicks away perspiration, which dissipates through a layer of Gore-Tex.
Hmmm... The two-pound-13-ounce boots could go on a diet. |
Salomon Pro Trek 6 $135
Salomon dropped a Jeep body on a Lexus chassis. Within the first mile, you'll feel the difference in the ride.
Why It's Cool: Thanks to a cushy, dual-density EVA midsole, I felt like I was wearing my favorite running shoes, magically tricked out with a lugged sole and full-height split-leather uppers. >> Shock absorption is good: Thanks to the soft-compound lugged sole, I could leap between slabs like they were made of foam. And despite the cushioning, lateral stability proved very secure on slanted surfaces. >> With a rand that encircles the boot, the Pro Treks are like a mini-bumper-car—rocks just bounce right off. >> Ditto water, thanks to a Gore-Tex lining.
Hmmm... That soft suspension relegates the Pro Trek to light duty. With more than 30 pounds in my pack, every underfoot protrusion made itself known to my arches. |
Scarpa Taiga $150
Twenty years ago, a boot this light and tough could only have come from an advanced civilization. Now it comes from Italy!
Why It's Cool: The Taigas' nifty three-layer outsoles—polyurethane foam, a nylon exoskeleton, and Vibram sole are a cocktail of shock absorption,
lateral rigidity, and traction. >> The nylon midsole and resin-impregnated fiber insole add cushioning. At two pounds 14 ounces, they're day hikers, but my 45-pound backpack and I were comfortably supported, too. >> The Taigas are my new favorite bushwhacking boots—their lateral stability makes it easy to boulder-hop. Credit the heel counter, a reinforced cup made from Salpa, a proprietary blend of rubber and pulverized leather. It locked me in place no matter how klutzy I walked.
Hmmm... With a backpack on, I could feel sharp ridges through the arch area. |
Asolo FSN 95 GTX $150
From the box to your foot, these Asolos are good to go.
Why It's Cool: I usually log a couple of day hikes in a fresh pair of boots before shouldering a monster pack. Yet the two-pound-12-ounce FSNs are so well tuned that they don't need a warm-up. >> These shoes deliver resilient support and comfort—you can thank a polyurethane midsole and thermoplastic insole. >> The reinforced heel locked my foot in place; no slop means no blisters. >> Asolo's proprietary outsole exhibits Vibram-like traction. >> The uppers displayed better-than-average support for a split-leather-and-nylon construction. >> A Gore-Tex lining keeps creek water in the creek.
Hmmm... Their resilience has its limits—when I tried loads over 45 pounds the boots felt squishy. |
Tecnica Smart Mid GTX $150
If smart means light, these boots just aced their SAT's.
Why It's Cool: Day hikers should be light, and at two pounds eight ounces, these suckers are just that. >> Similarly, such boots should be stiff in the rear and moderately flexible up front. Check. >> When it comes to shock absorption and arch support, nothing beats a polyurethane midsole and nylon insole. The Smarts have those, too. >> Mid-height nubuck uppers provide durable ankle support and protection, but they're cut low enough in the back not to bite on downhill trails. >> Splashproofness is built in, courtesy of the Gore-Tex lining. >> Tecnica's proprietary carbon-rubber outsole is just aggressive enough to provide traction without getting bulky.
Hmmm... Lateral stability diminished noticeably as loads topped 40 pounds. |
Vasque Apex $220
If I had to have my ankle bones surgically removed, I suspect I could still haul 50 pounds while wearing these Vasques.
Why It's Cool: No matter how much weight I piled in my pack, the tall, firm, one-piece nubuck leather uppers locked my feet and ankles in line. >> Leather-lined all the way to the toe box, the Apexes are sensuous to wear. >> The four-pound-four-ounce Vasques ace lacing: Pulley hardware made cinching easy. >> The combination of polyurethane midsole, nylon insole, and full-length steel shank isolates your feet from rough ground while packing two weeks' worth of gear. >> Stiff, stiff, stiff Vibram outsoles humbled terrain, yet offered enough rocker to prevent a clunky Frankenstein feeling.
Hmmm... On steep uphills, the double tongue proved confining. |
La Sportiva Glacier $225
Will the locals at the end of your trek speaK a different tongue than those who sent you off? Here are your boots.
Why It's Cool: The Italian-made Glaciers are just looking for trouble, with three-millimeter-thick, full-grain, rough-out leather uppers that are immune to abrasion. >> La Sportiva glued on a seriously lugged crampon-compatible Vibram sole. >> A polyurethane midsole, backed up with a steel shank and a nylon insole, pounds terrain into submission—you'll never feel a poke in your arches. >> I tried to exceed the Glacier's load capacity, but then my back gave out. >> All that armor adds up to only four pounds four ounces—making the Glaciers a featherweight in the mountaineering world.
Hmmm... I'd like to see the top edge of the tongue rolled over and stitched. Single-thickness leather can chafe. |
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