When your original footbeds in your boots wear out, the Ed Viesturs (EV SOLE) footbed by SOLE is a solid option to consider. Factory footbeds do their job for most people, most of the time. But even with a new pair of boots, an individual’s feet may require more than factory bootbeds can offer.

In my case, I needed cushion and arch support all the time. My experience with the Ed Viesturs footbed was a mixed bag of results regarding the match with the specific boot. What produced the mixed results has more to do with the thickness of the EV SOLE footbed and the physical construction of the boot.

However, there was never a lack of good cushion and arch support under pretty strenuous hiking, with daypack, and on long backpack trips with a heavy backpack in an assessment period that soaked up almost 10 months. It took a while to nail-down what might be a big consideration for consumers to think about regarding an aftermarket high-end footbed. And, for myself, it came down to how the interior heel design of your chosen boots will, or will not, work with the EV SOLE footbeds.

For example, I wear LOWA Mt. Expert GTX mountaineering boots for cold weather, and LOWA Cevedale GTX mountaineering boots for mild weather. When wearing these boots with the Ed Viesturs SOLE footbeds in them, the thickness of about four-millimeters at the heel of the footbeds set my heel higher in the boot. This caused friction and blisters. I was better off with the factory LOWA footbeds.

On the other hand, when I used the Ed Viesturs SOLE footbeds in my go-to anytime backpack and mountain hiking Merrill Outbound Mid-high boots, the SOLES worked absolutely great. I like the cushion. I need the cushion! With a fresh pair of good boot socks like FITS Sock Co., Swiftwick socks, Merrell socks, SOLE-dual layer, and many other modern high-performance socks, the EV SOLE footbeds are hard to beat.

I’m not a graceful person, and when I hike, walk, trudge, or run, my weight comes crashing down harsh with every step. The muscles on the bottoms of my feet are forever pleading with me for a break. That’s not going to happen in this life, so I have to find ways to artificially cushion my feet and support the arch’s that are trying to flatten out. It’s my view that these EV SOLE footbeds and any one of the other SOLE footbeds are a true improvement if, I say if, they work with the specific boots or trail shoes you intend to wear them with. The deep heel pocket, and the thick cushion throughout the footbed are perfect for me, given the correct boot fit.  The fact these footbeds are heat moldable can be a big asset to assuring a custom fit for your feet.

Moisture wicking ventilation and Plygiene antimicrobial help manage foot health and the smell of death that often originates in your feet. These SOLE Ed Viestures Ultra footbeds do the job they were created for. You’ve just got to match them to your boots.

Open-cell Polyurethane is used for the primary cushion element. That might be the first thing you’ll notice about these SOLE footbeds, the cushion is significant. The base layer is optimized to mold to your feet. And the top-sheet, with logo-graphics and Ed Viesturs signature is a perforated polyester weave. That’s three layers of components bound together in a footbed that may well have a much longer lifespan than factory footbeds.

High-impact activities like hauling gear up a granite slide, swift hiking on uneven terrain, and even marching on concrete along Wilshire Blvd. in LA trying to make an appointment on time, are what these EV SOLE footbeds are best at. And of course, you have to have the boots/shoes for the activity, but these sure make it nice.

You can find these Ed Viesturs Ultra footbeds at several outdoors gear suppliers and through online channels. Your investment will be in the $45 range, depending on your source.

Navajo Boots by Cushe.

By Mary Webb

Cushe Navajo boots live up to their name.  As the Navajo American Natives were efficient at adjusting to inclement weather, so are these Navajo boots!  With December and January comes the cold, particularly in coastal and mountain regions out west.  We laced up the boots and headed up to San Francisco and the Sequoia National Forest for some day hiking and a “little bit” of Christmas shopping.

These knee-high Cushe boots were gracious while slipping them on, the top of boot expanded substantially due to the elastic bands sewn securely on the sides.  It’s a wonderful feeling to step into the Navajo, soft faux fur throughout the interior instantly warms your feet and calves.

Faux Fur is coupled with sanded suede to provide a solid foundation, particularly at the base.  The suede encompasses the rear of the boot, with built in loops that accommodate the rope-like strings that crisscross their way to the top, snuggling you in warm like an infant Navajo in a papoose.  A fold at the upper rear portion of boot adds assured support.

Outsoles on the Cushe Navajo boots offered good traction.

We really like the wooden motif that acts as a fastener for the boot.  While it may take a try or two to get the wooden bead fitted into the looped string at other side, it does the job.   It may be tricky to wear thick gloves while fastening the boots, but certainly a thinner pair of gloves should suffice.

The outsoles are made with Phylon EVA.  Phylon is very lightweight, made of EVA foam pellets that are compressed, expanded in heat and then cooled in a mold.  Navajo has a sleek molded design in the outsoles as well as a rubber toe cap.  There are ample grooves in the bottom of soul that provide traction on wet surfaces.

Moisture along the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA will arise from the immense precipitation along the Pacific Ocean.  We took the Navajo to the mat along the slick surfaces of the bridge and did not experience any difficulty regarding traction; the rubber toe cap offered assurance for the next step taken.  Gusts along the bridge were reported at 30 miles per hour during our stay, and the feet were kept warm as the faux fur embraced the frontal padding.  Wind did not find its way inside the boot due to properly stitched enclosures. These booties are nicely crafted.

Cushe Navajo's walking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Christmas shopping in Union Square challenged the Navajo boots on comfort, and they succeeded.  The thick rubber soles absorbed a lot of impact along the pavement.  The soft faux lining was kind to each step, and we still stopped for some window shopping and a coffee near the pier.  Who wouldn’t!

Up in the Sequoias, there’s a lot of snow in the National Forest, more than three feet during our stay.  While the Navajo are not meant to be worn as a snow boot, they don’t mind getting a sprinkling of snow on them.  Again, we were kept warm and comfortable along the snow-paved trails of the Sequoia National forest, a difference of about 25 degrees cooler than San Francisco.  Again, the thick rubber soles kept us a bit above the chilly ground and we liked that a lot.  While we chose brown to accompany our wardrobe, the Navajo is also available in Black and Sand colors.

The Native Americans are very skillful at putting their resources to best use.  Cushe accomplishes this objective in their choice of materials and purposeful design.  For $150 MSRP, you can step into comfort without stepping out of budget.

Specifications:

Shaft Height:  11 1/2″ (size 7)

Circumference:  12″ (size 7)

Fit:  True to Size

Insole:  EVA

Outsole:  Phylon EVA

Upper:  Sanded Suede/Faux Fur

www.cushe.com

We recently put the Vasque Summit GTX (MSRP: $200.00) to the test on an ascent to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto in the San Bernardino National Forest. Mt. San Jacinto scales more than 10,800 feet and is the second highest mountain range in the state of California. A boot named Summit ought to be up for the challenge. There were still patches of snow even in early June. The melting snow provided a myriad of surfaces to challenge the Summit GTXs features such as snow, ice, dirt, running water and mud.

We started out early in the morning and had all afternoon to enjoy the high country. The boots were noticeably heavier than common day hike shoes but were not overly heavy like some other models of boots. We weren’t in any particular hurry and took our time. The boots were already broken in as we had taken them on several small day hikes prior to our summit ascent.

The melting snow caused the streams to flow at full capacity, and we were eager to trudge through the running water and test the

Summit specific Vibram outsole design offers good grip and self-cleaning lug voids.

waterproof Gore Tech liner. The padded collars allow you to tighten the uppers and seal the boot without cutting off circulation. The tightened uppers also gave terrific support when crossing the uneven surfaces and prevented a rolled ankle when crossing a fallen tree in Wellman’s Divide.

Summit GTX was a bit difficult to lace and tighten at the base of the foot, but tighten very well at the upper portion along the ankle.

The padded insoles and inner nylon lining tend to contract inward making for a very snug fit around the foot. The perfect fit ensures that there is no slippage inside along the sole and reduces the chances of blisters. Many novice hikers dread the uphill ascent and relish the downhill descent. Many experienced hikers understand that the downhill descent can be much more brutal on the joints and there is a higher chance of developing blisters.

A loose fitting boot often causes blisters along the balls of the feet, heel, or toes on the downhill as the sole of the foot slides forward with each step. This can also put a great deal of strain on the toes as they slide forward into the toe of the boot. The reinforced rubber toe on the Summit GTX and the snug fit ensure that this slippage doesn’t occur and detract from a comfortable downhill descent.

During the breaking in period of the Summit GTX boots, there was a bit of slippage on the back of the heel on the uphill ascent. This slippage however disappeared after about a week of day hiking. An old trick to breaking in leather shoes is to stand in a running stream for a small length of time to soften up the rigid leather.

Note the thickness of the leather used on heel overlap.

Anyone who wears these boots will immediately understand that they were built for rugged durability rather than speed. Weighing 3lbs., 14oz., these boots are not intended for casual day hikes or a quick race to the top of the hill. Summit GTX boots are designed with the intent to support backpackers on extended trips through the rugged high-country.

Vasque features American tanned leather manufactured from SB Foot Leather in Red Wing, MN. The dark brown leather provides a stylish water resistant surface that withstands water, snow, sand, and mud. Leather is a proven and time old boot material for true mountaineers. The Vasque leather is thick, waterproof, and sturdy, giving the boot function and style.

The rigid ankle support decreases any pronation or supination and reduces the chances of twisting ankles on changing trail surfaces. Dual-density polyurethane soles are molded to fit any foot arch. The insoles are constructed from kinetic fiberglass and supply structural support and rigidity to the boot. Vibram has designed out soles specifically for this model of boot which provide traction on the most slippery of trails. These features of Vasque engineering ensure that ankles and arches are provided with the best possible support for balance, handling and weight distribution.

Vasque Summit GTX boots are a year round boot and can stay warm and dry in relatively cold conditions. The exterior of the boot is

Front view of Vasque Summit GTX boots.

waterproof leather and the tongue is sealed allowing users to trudge through water. The inner lining is made of nylon and Gore Tex which repel water and aerate moist feet. These features, coupled with an appropriate pair of boot socks, should ensure dry feet. Vasque boots also sport Dry-Tech contoured foot beds intended to promote air flow within the soles to provide cushioning and aeration.

These boots are intended for extended trips while carrying moderate to heavy loads.  Any person who has shouldered multi-day pack loads and tackled high-country trails strewn with granite rocks of every size understands the need for ankle support and a boot able to handle trail shocks of every kind. Vasque Summit GTX are certainly a worthy consideration for your next pair of backpacking boots.

By Kevin Varner

Yes, BearPaw’s Buckingham Women’s Knee High Boots are great to look at and very fashion-forward. But the moment you are hooked on BearPaw’s Buckingham Boot, is the moment you snuggle your tootsies into the ultra plush, fluffy soft, wool and sheepskin interior. Ahhhh!  You will be tempted to forgo the socks and go bare foot in your BearPaw’s!

Perfect for a snowy walk around your neighborhood with your significant other and or – your Golden Retriever, but equally at home with tights and a casual skirt on a winter shopping trip followed by lunch. Even slogging through a foot of snow to a Gallery opening, you can be sure your BearPaw Buckinghams will keep you cozy and looking good.

Fold the soft suede flaps up, down, or halfway – the other gals will be green-eyed with envy of the look, you fashion maven you! If frequent gym visits have given you slightly more muscular calves – no worry – the six wooden toggles buttons on both sides of BearPaw’s Buckinghams will accommodate in style and make slipping in and out of them easy.

While there are many BearPaw shoes, sandals and boots to choose from, the Buckinhams worked very well while late winter and early spring snow storms were still gripping the Midwest, and nights won’t warm up for many weeks to come. At a retail price of $84.95, the Buckingham boots proved to be comfortable, warm, and they seemed to fit nicely with many combinations of apparel. But mostly they are simply comfortable.

Buckingham outsole is sturdy and offers solid foot support.

Buckingham is available in black or brown. The sheepskin footbed is not only cushy and warm, but it also serves to wick away moisture from the foot. These boots stand about 13.5-inches tall and mated to a sound rubber outsole with a ¾-inch heel.

All in all, we found the BearPaw Buckinghams boots to function very well for the purpose of keeping your feet coddled in warmth and comfort. And for the same reasons these kind of footwear are so popular with folks who like to simply slide into some big slippers and get out of the house, we find it hard not to agree.

By Kathryn Alexander

Zephyr Mid GTX TF light in weight. In fact it’s light enough run in. This boot is designed for durability and performance not to mention both the Zephyr Mid and High versions are currently being used by several elite divisions of the British military forces.

Zephyr Mid is constructed of sand-colored split-leather with Cordura® panels and cuffs, it utilizes LOWA’s PU Mono-Wrap construction combined with the LOWA All Trek rubber sole package. GORE-TEX® laminate lining is specifically designed to provide comfort as well as moisture- and temperature-management. For a deeper look at the full Lowa Boots lineup, go to: www.lowaboots.com .

Color: Black or Desert Sand

MSRP: $185

Merrell Outbound Mid Leather backpacking boots deliver comfort, firmness of sole, and ankle support you’ll need in the back country.  Although the Merrell Outbound Mid Leather backpacking boots are not specifically designed, nor rated for, severe cold weather use, they ran into some stiff weather nonetheless. Because of the waterproof GORE-TEX Gasket construction, GORE-TEX Performance Comfort Lining treated with Aegis (bacteria control) and waterproof full-grain leather boot uppers, these Outbound boots kept the feet dry and warm (with two pair of wool boot socks) in temperatures down to 20-d

If you’ll recall, it wasn’t all that long ago where the best you could do for setting up your boots for winter weather was to waterproof the uppers, seal the sole welts, and wear more than one pair of winter socks — a lighter inner pair and a heavy-wool outer pair. Modern boot insulation materials were not as available as they are today. The point being, these Merrell Outbound boots are waterproof to begin with and they worked great in cold weather with two pair of boot socks on each foot.

The Outbound boots we tested required no significant break-in period, as they were comfortable and ready to work soon as they were laced up. We say this because the first trip they were worn on took us into fairly rugged terrain with dropping temperatures, mud, ice, slush, and a couple feet of snow fall. There were no dry, summer-like, trail or test scenarios for this boot during our core-evaluation time. It was all nasty weather and, perhaps, colder than ideal.

Voids between lugs allowed good self-cleaning in mud and snow. The Vibram outsoles offered solid traction on dry trails, and in wet, slushy conditions.

Comfort kicks in soon as you slip your feet into a pair. Your feet bottoms rest on 4.5mm thick (.2-inch) Ortholite foot bed and Grade 4 Spring Motion insole, a combination designed to work with the padded, yet breathable bellows tongue, and padded Lycra boot-top collar. Merrell mid-sole Air Cushion technology enables the boot suspension to absorb trail-contact shock up to four times the body weight. If you pull out the foot bed, you’ll notice the indented impression at the heel end of each boot. This pronounced cup is a central construction feature that keeps the heel centered and stable in the boot. Adding to this notion of comfort and stability is the silicone molded synthetic instep and heel stability arm, exterior full-length toe and heel bumpers, and deep lug (7mm) Outbound Vibram soles.

All this is cinched to your foot with robust metal hook and eyelet lacing system that secures the laces without abrasion. Laces are long enough for a single wrap around the boot collar before tie-off, which is nice for that extra snug feel. The padded boot tongue not only adds comfort, but it helps when you take long strides and, with every step, your shin is in full contact with the front, tongue padded, part of the boot.

With pack weights of 40 to 50 pounds, Merrell Outbound boots provided the kind of ankle and foot support you’ll need for multi-day and long-mileage trips with significant pack weights. These are true backpacking boots! Outbound has the integrated foot-bed, insole, midsole, and outsole technology built into these boots to cushion and absorb those trail shocks your body endures with a heavy pack on. They are designed with enough outsole rigidity to provide stability with a heavy pack on, and with enough ankle and foot support to protect your ankles from being easily twisted on rocks and uneven ground.

Packed up and on the trail, the Merrell Outbound Mid Leather boots lacked nothing.

For those of you researching a true backpacking boot that has all the design characteristics, plus a relatively light physical weight (3.5 pounds for men’s), that you need to literally live in them for days at a time, these are boots you are wise to consider. They retail at a price point of $210.00 a pair. They look good, work perfect with a pack on, and they never were less than completely comfortable. No blisters, no hot spots. There is no reason to think the Merrell Outbound Mid are anything less than high-quality backpacking boots that’ll return your 105 bucks investment per foot on a single multi-day trip into the backcountry. They are available in men’s sizes: 7-12, 13, 14, and 15.

It would be great if these boots were crampon and snow-shoe compatible as they also proved very capable of protecting the feet in mild to moderately cold temperatures outdoors. Outbound Mid Leathers are right on the borderline of being boots you can drive a vehicle in comfort. They are a little more specialized that that. Although during one test trip in winter conditions, these boots were exclusively worn while driving a pickup on icy, ugly, snow covered dirt road mountain terrain, and they were the only boots capable enough to keep the feet warm, dry, and comfortable for several days. Recommended? It would be irresponsible not to.

Five-Ten (5-10) Exum Guide boots are multi-purpose, and built for comfort and friction-induced traction.  The Exum Guide Boots were designed by climbers and mountaineers with decades of experience and input to deliver a well built hiking boot. The Exum Guide uppers, mid-sole, and insole are the products of that long experience to keep feet comfortable in an all day trail hiking experience.  

When we took delivery of a couple pair of 5-10 shoes, we knew the company was best known amongst the rock-climbing elite for many years. But what we also realized was how the Exum Guide boots, that appear so straight forward, would prove to be such solid hiking boots. These Exum Guides are not clumsy or bulky. They were worn on long road trips where driving to the destination was part-and-parcel with getting to the trailhead, and they were comfortable.

Non-sealed waterproof leather uppers of the Exum Guide are mid-high, with rough-out leather running from the front and top of the ankle area and back to the heel. Additional smooth leather runs from the lower ankle area and forward to the toe. The entire lower foot area is encased with Five-Ten’s exclusive heel-cage that is essentially a rubber shield around the leather uppers to provide additinal ankle support and stability.

The heel cage on the Exum Guide boots encase soft leather upper from heel to toe for increased suppport.

There are a total of 21 eyelets on each boot that soak up the super long laces. At first, it didn’t mean much. But as the Exum was worn daily over many weeks on the street and on the trail, it became evident that the density of the boot laces secured the Exum around the feet all day, in comfort.  Lacing eyelets in the well padded boot tongue keep it in place, providing a nice cushion for the front and top of the foot.

As a result of this simple and straight forward lacing system, the Exum’s rarely needed retying or adjustment. Once they were laced up in the morning, they were good to go for hours. The small size of the actual metal eyelets did pose a challenge with re-lacing the shoes. Larger eyelets would make changing out a pair of boot laces much easier. Although the laces that come with the Exum Guides held up very well.

Used as approach shoes or for day hikes into the snow fields, the Exum Guides are compatible with crampons. These shoes are not insulated for warmth, but they are waterproof and built for day sessions practicing with the ice-ax,  and rope-work.

5-10 Exum Guide boots evaluated over several hikes, many miles, and lots of surfaces.

An illuminating coating on the raised logos on the outer sides of each Exum makes them stand out in a beam from a headlamp when you’re trying to find your boots in the dark. That’s a nice touch, but the illuminating material does tend to wear off. The wear does not eliminate the “Glow In the Dark” material altogether as the boots can still be easily seen in the headlights of vehicles if you’re wearing these boots on the street or riding your mountain bike at night.

Although the insole is generally comfortable, the Exum is very compatible with gel-inserts if your feet are flat or need the extra cushion. The Exum has the right amount of outsole firmness to support crampons, and provide a traction platform for push-offs on rock surfaces. They have good flexibility for long, swift, day hikes where you’ll appreciate the lightweight and snug fit.

Sizing of the Exum was exactly as ordered. Break in time, in our case, was not a factor. There were no issues with blisters or foot discomfort associated with the Exum’s design due to rubbing at the heel or top-rear of the uppers against the lower calf muscles.

The Exum Guide boots we reviewed weren’t put to extreme rock-clinging examinations, they were worn often and they were worn for many miles on trail hikes and running amok on city streets. The Stealth tread pattern design is continuous from heel to toe with a cross-pattern of oval cleats positioned in overlapping angles to provide traction points. Firm push-off pads at the toe and outer sides of the foot and inside of the heel provide a sturdy base.

Push-off zone at the toe with extended, slightly back-cut, edge to hold onto traction surface.

Push-off sections at the toe of the Stealth soles provide an extended, slightly back-cut, edge to grab and hold onto a surface. The rubber compound for the soles on the Exum Guide boots are designed to provide shock absorption and the friction needed to keep your boot bottoms in contact with the rock and trail surfaces you are likely to experience in climb approaches and on hiking trails. The Stealth rubber compound is a little more general purpose than a dedicated rock climbing shoe, but sound traction characteristics are evident in the Exum.

Exum Guides do great with an overnight backpack or day-long hike with enough gear and water to get you to your destination, and back. Exum Guide boots are not intended to be a multi-day, heavy pack-weight type of boot. Yet, since every person is different, this observation is subjective and definitely not a critique. If you plan on wearing a boot intended for day hikes on a long backpack trip, you will definitely draw your own conclusions. The 5-10 Exum Guide boots are priced at $129.95 MSRP.
 

ABOUT STEALTH RUBBER

5-10 Exum Guide outsole and lug pattern is continuous front to rear. Note push-off zone at the toe.

From its early beginning in the 1980’s, 5-10 footwear started with the outsole rubber compound, and built the uppers to compliment and offer long wearing durability. It is that fine line between the traction afforded by a climbing shoe or boot outsole and the physical weight of the climber that determines adhesion with the surface. And at what point would the rubber outsole compound give way to gravity and lose traction?

With an engineering degree, a passion for climbing new routes up sheer rock faces, and an incident that pushed the fulcrum point between friction induced traction, and a free fall, the driving force behind 5-10, Charles Cole, sought answers. Cole tested compounds. He worked at mathematical equations involving physics, current technologies and best practices for putting the rubber on the rock whilst keeping it there long enough for the climber to secure another foothold, another handhold.

Cole’s ultimate rubber compound formulas are used in all of 5-10’s shoe applications. And, with so many outdoor shoes that cannot be resoled, 5-10’s are resolable and resole kits are available. This capacity to design solid outdoor shoe and boots built to endure several years of hiking and climbing along with the ability to resole makes 5-10 Exum Guide boots well worth your consideration to own a pair.

 By Rick Shandley

The Fortis’ construction includes some of the highest quality materials available, including waterproof GORE-TEX boot liners, and full-grain leather and Cordura uppers. These are materials that are sometimes taken for granted as they have almost become the standard. But if you are in the market for a new pair of boots, these are the features you’ll be looking for.

Orange shark-teeth shaped cleats on the Fortis outsole are slightly raised above black tread blocks to offer superior traction on any terrain surface.

The Fortis boots required little break-in time, and they fit exactly as expected with no surprises. A well-designed eyelet and hook lace system doesn’t tear apart the boot laces, and allows you to snug-up your feet for most any terrain you’ll likely navigate.  

Boot tongues are generously padded for foot-top comfort, and attached up to about mid-ankle.  The tongue folds and lace system keep the boot top fairly well sealed from water intrusion through the boot lace system. As with any boot type you choose to own, if you are expecting real wet weather or significant stream crossings, a pair of boot gaiters in combination with the Fortis boots will keep your feet dry and confidence level high.

Padded boot collars at the top of each boot are easy on the lower calves. A concave drop-away on the collar allows the back of the upper ankle/lower calf a full range of vertical motion.

Individual Comfort System (ICS)

Note ICS disk dial and clear instructions molded into underside of outsole. Cool trick!

Yet, with all the above high-end boot making materials and construction design, the Fortis ICS technology is what really separates this boot from the majority of contemporary hiking boots with regard to dialing in foot comfort specific to you. Individual Comfort System means you can physically change the boot suspension at the heels with four primary settings and four sub-settings. Simply snatch out the removable insole, turn it over, and remove the amber-colored composite disk. Instructions are clearly visible; each insole is identified as Right or Left foot.

For example, you like a firm boot but you have an outward pronation (your shoes wear at the outside of the soles because that’s your natural walking gate). To increase foot support and stability with an outward pronation, you simply remove the ICS disc and line-up the amber-colored disk-setting between the firm setting “F” and the “O” setting for outward pronation.  We were impressed just how intuitive the custom adjustments are once you remove the insole and turn it over.

The ICS disc is secured into the insole via interlocking teeth-like structure much like a mechanical gear-set meshes one to the other. That’s it. Re-insert the insole into the Fortis, adjust the other boot, and you’re ready to go. The entire ICS adjustment process takes no more time than lacing up the boots in the first place. However, with this kind of adjustment capability you can truly tailor your fit to your needs. Keep in mind: Each boot should be set at the identical calibration on the ICS disk.

OVER ALL IMPRESSIONS

The Wolverine’s Fortis was an excellent hiking boot, not only for the ICS customization capability, but for the entire package.  You can wear the Fortis day-to-day whether you are walking, hiking, or driving to your destination. They are light on the feet and extremely comfortable with one pair of socks, padded or not.

The boot laces are slightly long, and they don’t double wrap around the top of the boot very well. So the slack in the laces sometimes tend to catch and untie. This is minor, and a double knot is the fix.

In addition to countless daily wear sessions, the Fortis (size 14’s) was worn on sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Angeles National Forest of California and a long (almost 20 mile) one-way backpack trip in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico. Now, the Fortis is not specifically a backpacking boot (one with very firm outsoles, midsoles, and firm ankle support structure. But they are very much a sound consideration if you want a sturdy three-season hiking boot where you may call upon them for backpacking with a light to moderate weight load.

Wolverine Fortis on day two of a long, one-way, backpack in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico.

That said, the backpack trip in New Mexico was a hike where the water load in the Gregory Peak backpack (heavy-duty military version) in addition to gear that was distributed to support a group of 16 souls, made for a 60 pound pack on day one. The trail elevation ranged between 6,500 and 8000 feet above sea level on rocky, loose soil, and stream-side terrain. Each Fortis was set on Firm, and for the entire trip, including the energy run-down just before settling into camp for the night, my Fortis-shod feet where the very least of my aching bones.

Fortis is not recommended as a long-haul weeklong backpacking boot, nor does Wolverine market them as such. But these boots did extremely well under the weight of a heavy backpack on a two-day trip, on the feet of a 200-plus pound individual.

Fortis is, however, highly recommended as a seriously well-built boot using cutting-edge innovation in design and best practices for making a hiking boot in general. At a suggested retail price of $200.00, the Wolverine Fortis’ are high-quality, customizable, and comfortable three-season boots. Bring on the rain and rocks. Bring on those elements that attack your feet on the trail. Fortis appears to be a hiking boot that is up to a challenge. They worked well for us.

By Rick Shandley

With more than 90 years building mountaineering boots, Lowa understands how to create an all-weather mountain boot regardless of the terrain and the weight in your pack. Made in Italy, the Lowa Mt. Expert GTX mountain boots are top-tier gear for high alpine treks where rocky, muddy trails and stream crossings can be treacherous.

Rearview of the Mt. Expert GTX with grooved heel for crampon.

The first three qualities noticed in the Mt. Expert GTX was foot comfort, stability, and evident toughness. Perhaps the red and black colored split-leather uppers grab attention and seem a bit loud at first, but any misgivings where dashed simply by the design and quality of performance the Lowa Mt. Expert GTX delivered on the trail with a 40-plus pound backpack.

At slightly more than 3.5-pounds a pair, the Lowa Mt. Expert GTX boots lace up snug on the foot with a single pair of boot socks and rendered a sense of the needed stiffness on the bottom, firm ankle support, and flexibility throughout the heel-to- toe-contact cycle on the ground. Although these boots appear to be on the heavy side, they are rather light; no heavier than any purpose-built mountain boot made for backpacking and serious mountaineering use.

Mt.Expert GTX is Gortex-lined, but split-leather exterior uppers are almost impervious to water as seen submereged in Rock Creek, CA.

However, the Mt. Expert GTX is heavy-duty and not the type of hiking boots you wear with casual clothes as you stroll down the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica, California. These boots are trail boots of the caliber you lace up just before you hoist up your backpack and lock the car at the trailhead.

Having worn the Mt. Experts on four separate excursions, with and without a backpack, I can tell you they required little to no break-in time. The construction and materials used to create a foot-hugging, comfortable platform to walk in yielded none of the blisters or soreness once expected from any new pair of boots. Even after a couple days of exclusively wearing these boots on the trail, the suspension, stability and traction they deliver make them a superior boot for the conditions they were worn in. Since winter is yet to arrive, these boots will be used for future trips where we will have cold, snow, and ice. However, there was lots of water crossings and muddy trail sections where I did wear these Gortex-lined boots and water intrusion, wet feet, or over-heated and sweaty feet, where not an issue with the Mt. Experts.

The Lace Up
Part of the comfort experienced with the Mt. Expert GTX can be attributed to the Lowa Flex Fit 3D approach that’s also new for 2009. Inherent in the Flex Fit is the LaceLoop where the lace-hook is not anchored to the boot upper, but rather suspended on tough fabric loops that allow the boot laces to be securely fastened over the top of the foot, yet able to flex with the motion of travel. Flex Fit 3D allows the ankle to flex naturally while maintaining the boot stability.

Notice LaceLoops used for top of foot to allow flexibility while maintaining stability.

Vibram Sole
An all-purpose mountain boot requires a rigid out sole for difficult, demanding terrain. The Mt. Expert GTX is shod with a Vibram Mulaz semi-rigid outsole with rigid toe push-off zones for accurate and stable foot placement. These Vibram soles are step-in crampon compatible, self-cleaning, and use an undercut heel front section to assure positive grip on any mountain surface you might find yourself working on. A more expensive Poly Urethane midsole absorbs shock and works with a full-length plastic stabilizer in each boot. The soles are cemented to the Mt. Expert GTX uppers and are fully replaceable; an uncommon feature amongst current manufacturing trends. 

Waterproof Comfort
Lowa uses patented Gor-Tex waterproof lining in the Mt. Expert GTX for a comfortable and smooth fit which lessens the likelihood for blisters and sore feet. Climate-control footbeds, a C4 comfort tongue, and Primaloft insulation combine to make the Mt. Expert GTX extremely comfortable for such an extreme boot. The Gor-Tex lining runs up to just below the second-from-the top lace hook, and almost the full-length of the tongue. Sure, there’s going to be trips where you’ll have to wear your knee-length gators for deep-snow and water-crossings. But the way the tongue, Gortex-lining, and tongue fold are designed, the Mt. Experts will keep your feet dry in most any conditions just like they come from Italy. Bear in mind, the split-leather uppers are fairly impervious to water all by themselves. Check out the photo of the GTX boots submerged in Rock Creek to note the uppers do a good job long before the Gor-tex comes into play; yet these boots can breathe.

Sierra Nevada Trail Test
Starting from the 10,300-foot elevation at the Mosquito Flats trailhead on the Morgan Pass trail, I hiked up the Little Lakes Valley to Mono Pass (12,000 ft. elevation) and spent a night at Chicken Foot Lake sitting at 11,100 feet.

Toe section is rigid to assure your foot stability as you push-off.

 Walking from the lower paved parking lot about a half-mile from the trailhead, the Mt. Expert GTX boots let you know you’re walking on an even surface as the soles are firm, like ski boots. As soon as I embarked on the rock-strewn trail, the Lowa’s hit their stride up Crank Case Hill, across several stream sections and stair-steps where logs and boulders are used to shore up the trail and offer pack horses a hoof-hold. Sections of the trail are fairly steep and sometimes lengthy. Small to large rocks are part of the dusty crushed granite soil where there’s more opportunities to twist an ankle between two-rocks than not. It’s a trail mountain bikers would have to walk up most, if not the entire way.

Arriving at Chicken Foot Lake (5.8 miles from trailhead) early in the afternoon, I had enough time to un-shoulder the Lowe-alpine FTX Cerro Torre backpack, pitch the Hilleberg Kaitum 3 tent, set up camp, and explore the granite slides cascading down from the peaks surrounding Chicken Foot Lake. Without the weight of the pack, the Mt. Expert GTX were every bit as comfortable and stable as they were under a full backpack. Although I was not fully acclimated to the altitude, and had to pay attention to my physical exertion levels, I did climb and tested traction in several steep rocky approaches to the peaks.

Note the undercut heel for bite and traction lugs throughout the foot arch.

Pacific Crest Trail Test
There are approach sections to the Pacific Crest Trail in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Angeles National Forest where the terrain is steep and rocky; approaches such as the Windy Gap Trail out of Crystal Lake, CA. But for the most part, the trail is smooth going. On this type of trail surface, the Mt. Expert simply allowed long-gated strides where the heel touches down and the toe-follows up. At a rather quick pace, with a full pack, the Lowa boots offered momentum and the ability to cover ground in comfort.

Overall Assessment
In general, the Lowa Mt. Expert GTX boots are, as they tested, highly capable mountaineering boots that are hard to beat where traction, rugged construction, quality, comfort, and longevity or desired characteristics. As has been stated above, these boots are not casual shoes you can wear around town or even drive your vehicle with these rockets on your feet. They are designed for severe use in severe conditions and wicked weather. One aspect most valued regarding the manufacturer is that they are Italian made shoes, crafted by alpine craftsmen in an alpine country, for alpine purposes. These are not “pretender” boots. They are the real deal.

It would have been great to see a broader size range made available for the Mt. Expert GTX, as it would to have a more neutral color scheme. Yet these objections are negligible and subjective to individual needs and taste.

When it comes to boots or running shoes of any size, I seek a size 14 U.S. fit so I can wear two-pair of socks and have room for foot swelling on long hikes. To my surprise and relief, these boots fit so well that my usual U.S. size 13 feet (size the boots came in) were never in jeopardy of being uncomfortable. Neither of the above less-than perfect observations would deter me from buying or recommending the Lowa Mt. Expert GTX as a next-generation mountain boot of the highest order.

By Rick Shandley

Specifications:
2100273099 Red/Black
Model Year 2009
US 7 – 12, 13
Weight Per Pair (Men’s 9): 3.50 lbs
Suggested retail price: $ 350.00

Gortex lining enhances boot-fit in addition to a waterproof barrier. Note the tongue folds that also prevents water from surging into the boot.Rearview of the Mt. Expert GTX with grooved heel for crampon.Note black waterproof bumper to protect boot upper against rock and trail abrasion.Note: LaceLoops from toe to ankle top. Crampon ready.

Your investment on this mountaineering boot will be in the range of: $425.00 for the women’s or men’s Nepal Evo GTX. You can purchase La Sportiva and research most all your mountaineering gear by working going to: www.Whittakermountaineering.com .

Women's La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX

Men's Nepal Evo GTX by La Sportiva