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Outside Magazine August 2001

Charge of the Light Brigade
They're fast, they're feathery, hey're superfly. The year's best lightweight hikers.
By Jonathan Hanson


Intro | Mountain Athletics Drop-In, Nike ACG Air Dredge, and Hi-Tec Remote Mid | Merrell Chameleon Velocity, Salomon Super Raid, and La Sportiva Energy | Asolo Focus, Scarpa Vento Mid, and Vasque Fusion GTX

OK, SO YOU'RE NOT trudging up some distant 6,000-meter peak with a 55-pound pack. Instead, you're zipping up a well-marked trail in the Adirondacks. Why burden yourself with heavy rock-crushing lug soles and full-grain leather uppers for a day hike in August? Our selection of lightweight hikers are built to handle rough trails and daypack loads up to 20 pounds or so. (Indeed, with board-lasted construction, firm midsoles, and nylon shanks for rigidity, they're just
like hiking boots, only lighter and more comfortable.) But with grippy outsoles and reinforced uppers, they're also made to take a beating. With that in mind, we took nine of the best out for some serious punishment. Here's how they stacked up.



 
Intro | Mountain Athletics Drop-In, Nike ACG Air Dredge, and Hi-Tec Remote Mid | Merrell Chameleon Velocity, Salomon Super Raid, and La Sportiva Energy | Asolo Focus, Scarpa Vento Mid, and Vasque Fusion GTX