$170

by Ben Hewitt

Shana Novak

Mountain-Ready
With its sturdy, full-grain-leather construction, Gore-Tex liner, and plush EVA midsole, the Ascend is far and away the burliest, most rugged boot to win our respect this year. It's twice as heavy as the Stumptown but twice as supportive, too; it's the only boot here we'd recommend for schlepping a heavy (40-to-50-pound) pack all week long. And we'll admit it: In a market overflowing with flash, its old-school aesthetic won us over. It fit our wider-footed testers best—our most narrowfooted testers had trouble getting a snug fit—and it didn't win awards for breathability. But on cool days and demanding trails, the Ascend delivered. 27 oz; danner.com

• Men's Après Shoes
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• Men's Après Styles
• Women's Après Styles

2009 Summer Buyer's Guide Hiking Boots Reviews

Kayland Vertigo Light Gear of the Year	$180
Danner Ascend GTX	$170

2009 Winter Buyer's Guide Hiking Boots Reviews

Hi-Tec Multiterra Ultra 200 Killer Value	$105
Merrell Snowmotion 8 Waterproof	$120
Keen Summit County	$140
Keen Summit County	$140
Salomon Tundra Mid WP	$160
Hi-Tec V-Lite Gemini 200	$90
The North Face Vanton	$125
Merrell Winterlude 8	$120
Timberland Woodbury Shearling Boot	$120

2008 Winter Buyer's Guide Hiking Boots Reviews

Kayland Apex Trail	$160
Ulu Crow Rabbit	$180
Lowa Echo GTX	$165
Asolo Elysium GTX	$160
TSL Nordic Race	$259
La Sportiva Ultranord GTX-XCR	$125
Hi-Tec V-Lite Recon Mid eVent	$125

2006 Buyer's Guide Hiking Boots Reviews

Lowa Jannu Lo Gear of the Year	$125
Tecnica Prima Mid GTX-XCR Killer Value	$119
Zamberlan 140 Paso	$95
Montrail CTC Mid XCR	$140
Aku Energy Mid XCR	$125
Scarpa Enigma XCR	$129
Vasque Kota	$90
Merrell Passage Ventilator	$100
Five Ten Prodigy	$90
Columbia Skamania Pass	$120

2005 Buyer's Guide Hiking Boots Reviews

Garmont Eclipse XCR Gear of the Year	$120
Hi-Tec Vector Killer Value	$75
Vasque Breeze Low	$90
Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo	$145

Related Gear Features

• Revolutionary New Gear Outside Magazine, October 2009

  Outside's guide to the best new concepts in gear, garb, human performance, and green.

• Lighting Out Outside Magazine April 2004

  Want to go from day tripper to trail ripper? Lose the weight, hit the throttle, and have a 21st-century blast.

• Custom Cool Outside Magazine, October 2005

  Boost performance and play in perfect comfort by investing in innovative made-to-order gear

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