Granite Gear Drysack used in Kelty Pawnee backpack on search and rescue training hike.

By Kevin Varner

Granite Gear Drysacks offer an affordable and effective solution to battling the elements. Winter and spring snow and rain present back country hikers with some of the harshest obstacles nature throws at them.  Aside from the cold, moisture is the greatest challenge during these times of the year.

Now is the time to invest in waterproofing gear.  Outdoorsmen have increasingly technical and expensive gear, including electronic equipment for navigation and communication.  These, along with clothing, food and fire supplies must be kept dry.

Many packs are marketed as waterproof or water resistant.  There is a huge difference between the two.  These packs claim to completely isolate their contents when submerged or at least effectively repel moisture in rain storms.  A common problem, however, which avid outdoorsmen are bound to encounter is a leaky or burst water container.

There is nothing worse than losing an expensive GPS unit to a burst three-liter water bladder inside a water resistant pack.  The best way to avoid this from happening is to compartmentalize all of the gear at risk of getting wet into dry sacks within the pack.  Having your gear in waterproof dry sacks within a waterproof pack is arguably the best line of defense.

Granite Gear offers a number of drysack models for mountaineers, hikers and backpackers.  These drysacks are extremely lightweight waterproof containers which protect one’s most precious possessions.  The latest dry sack model is the Uberlight dry sack which comes in four sizes: 7-liter, 10-liter, 13-liter, and 18-liter.  The 7-liter sacks are large enough to store nearly any electronic piece of equipment, but small enough to be used to separate pieces of gear.

Granite Gear drysacks come in a variety of colors including blue, red, green, and yellow, which allows the more organized outdoorsmen to color-code their gear.  Using the dry sacks to store miscellaneous medical supplies is a great way to create one’s

Out of the pack view shows the volume of protected gear you may find useful.

outdoor medical pack rather than purchase an expensive pre-made one.

Outdoorsmen often times try using cheap alternatives to “waterproofing” their gear, such as encasing their belongings in zip lock bags.  However, there are three main features of Granite Gear dry sacks which distinguish them as better and worth the few extra bucks.

The first characteristic is the reduced weight to one’s load.  The second notable feature is the roll top which forms a waterproof seal superior to any water-sealed zipper or zip lock bag.  The third and most notable feature is the eVent breathable bottom which allows for one way air flow.

Granite Gear has made many strides in the development of waterproof material.  Their most common model of drysack, the Sil, is comprised of a waterproof nylon fabric.  This fabric is extremely durable and carries a rating of 30-denier.  When selecting waterproof material or any durable fabric for outdoor activity, denier is important.  Denier is different from thread count in that it is a measure of the yarn  diameter density, while thread count measures the density of the weave in any give fabric.

CORDURA Brand High Tenacity Nylon is used by Granite Gear because it is stronger than regular nylon yarns. In the never ending search for offering the lightest and strongest back country gear, Granite Gear set out to take its ultralight drysacks to a new level that outdoors men and women never had available to them before. Taking the technology to a new level wrought the Granite Gear Uberlight dry sack.

Most main backpack compartment gear fit will in the tester's Kelty Pawnee pack.

There are two models of the Uberlight dry sack is the next evolution of drysacks by Granite Gear. One of the Uberlight drysack’s will be available with the eVent bottom, and one model will be available without eVent. Different back country applications may point to a preference for one or the other, so Granite Gear offers both. The Uberlight drysack with the eVent bottom will be available in March 2011. Granite Gear’s Uberlight drysack with the eVent bottom is said to be half the weight of the Sil drysack with the eVent bottom. The Granite Gear Uberlight drysack without the eVent bottom is available now.

Before Granite Gear introduced the Uberlight line of drysacks, the Sil drysack was the lightest drysack on the market. Weight was not the issue as each and every type of back country gear has its place, and the material used in the Sil is very durable while still offering ultralight weight savings. It gets down in the endless choices an individual makes when loading up the backpack and what works for each individual. Long distance backpacking and vertical mountaineering trips require hikers to be frugal with weight and gear distribution in the pack, so Granite Gear offers you alternatives.

The Uberlight was constructed from Cubic Tech CTF3 materials.  What is Cubic Tech (CT) CTF3?  Cubic Tech produces incredibly strong, lightweight fibers used in the construction of parachutes, sails, and, of course, drysacks.  According to the Cubic Tech website, the material is “15 times stronger than quality steel.”  It is quite difficult to believe because it is thinner than a Kleenex tissue and transparent.  True to their word, however, Cubic Tech could not be torn no matter how much pain we inflicted upon it.

Cubic Tech’s fabric withstood all the punishment our latest snowbound trip dished out.  The material is lightweight, transparent, and resembles the waterproof woven fiber tarps used to cover leaky roofs.  We found the Sil model very dependable and did not find the weight difference between the Sil and Uberlight to be very significant.  However, we found that the Uberlight had a much more effective eVent than the Sil and deflated much faster.

Fresh Air Junkie recently put these products through the gauntlet on a snowshoe trip in the mountains of Southern California.  We

Array of Granite Gear Drysacks.

backpacked from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the peak (elevation: 10,834 feet [3,302 meters]) of Mt. San Jacinto and were able to see the true colors of Granite Gear drysacks.

When hiking in snow and ice conditions, it is essential to keep every piece of cold weather gear dry.  A zero-degree (or lower rating) down sleeping back was my life line at our 9,000 feet bivouac site in January, and one must do everything to keep it dry. Though the Sil and the Uberlight models are not large enough to hold sleeping bags, Granite Gear does offer larger compression drysacks for this use.

When the weather dropped to subzero temperatures, we found an unexpected use for the dry sacks.  A neat trick to surviving a night in such conditions is to boil water and pour it in a plastic canteen or bottle.  Then place this bottle inside your sleeping bag which retains the heat and gives you roughly four hours of warmth during the night.  The only risk you run is that the canteen may leak and soak your sleeping bag.  This risk is greatly reduced if the bottle is wrapped in a Granite Gear drysack. Granite Gear drysacks are waterproof but not insulated, which allows the bottle to radiate its warmth without the fear of getting the bag wet. This technique was a lifesaver! (Note: author is a member of a search and rescue team.)

Granite Gear Drysack is compact when you want to store it.

After tough testing we have concluded that Granite Gear dry sacks are a worthwhile investment as it is a piece of gear designed to protect other gear.  Any back country hiker looking to ensure their gear is waterproof should consider investing in at least one drysack.

Granite Gear is a rock solid company that ensures affordable quality products.  When shopping, however, evaluate which model addresses your needs on a particular journey.

The Granite Gear Sil model dry sack is a classic winner as it offers the roll top waterproof lid and eVent.  It is less expensive than its counterpart, the Uberlight, by about $15.  It is about 1.5 oz heavier than the Uberlight, which may become an issue on extended journey involving the use of multiple drysacks.

The Uberlight is slightly more expensive but is more frugal when it comes to weight distribution.  When it comes to selecting a brand of drysack, Granite Gear is worthy of your consideration.

When you do your research on potential waterproof gear protection, your dilemma boils down to one simple question:  is the need to shed 1.5 oz per sack worth shedding an extra $15 per sack for your particular application and trip requirements? Either way, these Granite Gear dry sacks did the job we tasked them with, and there is no question about that.

By Rick Shandley

There’s a great reason why the LOWA Renegade GTX is a top seller amongst hikers who discover them. From the day we photographed them right out of the box in early September before a day hike, they have been worn almost daily up until this review, simply because Renegade GTX are so light and comfortable.

From the hike on that first day up Cougars Crest trail, an access point of the Pacific Crest Trail near Big Bear, CA, the LOWA Renegade GTX did not go through a break-in period nor produced hotspots at the heels or foot sides.

Waterproof GORE-TEX lining throughout the interior of the boots are partially responsible for the instantly wearable Renegades. But it’s also clear that the entire construction of the Renegade GTX, using a combination of new technologies and LOWA’s long history of making high-quality mountaineering boots and hiking shoes. LOWA seems to know how to manufacture into each boot the qualities outdoors folk will need, and they build in durable, stable, and comfortable construction elements that are second to none.

Renegade GTX mid-high boots are designed for long day hikes with a light pack, and they are excellent for overnight backpacks with

First day on the trail. No break in expected; none required for this pair.

moderate load weights of about 35-40 pounds. This pair of Renegade GTX’s where worn on hikes and overnight trips, but they also shined in wet, muddy and sometimes cold conditions around a horse property. They’d get far too muddy to simply scrape off the goo and blow into the house. Nope, more often than not, especially after feeding and watering the horses in the late evening, these LOWA boots had to be hosed off from the ankle to the Vibram soles.

Yes, the Vibram Evo outsoles would get loaded up with horse crap and country mud, yet we wouldn’t change a thing regarding Vibram traction on a myriad of terrain types. Up in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico early winter thunder storms can change the rocky arid landscape in a hurry. Trails get washed out and you must contend with deep, slick mud and relocated boulders of all sizes. Regardless of the terrain, whether we were in the High Sierra, Gila National Forest, or the San Bernardino National Forest, the traction and stability of the LOWA Renegade GTX boots worked awesome. The single observation experienced during the assessment period was and is the super-grip and overall traction the Vibram Evo outsoles offer.

Aggressive Vibram sole pattern are no-nonesense and work great.

On Soap Box: As a side note, one of these days we could do a story just on how Vibram soles have been a standard benchmark for traction on backcountry boots for longer than most of us have been alive. Vibram Soles usually are only mentioned as part of a story, but the quality and general superiority of this company certainly deserves to be shared as a standalone product used on boots that have conquered the heaviest of expeditions to the farthest reaches of this planet. Off Soap Box.

After wearing these boots for almost two months of daily wear in work and play, they show little wear with the exception of a trace of salt stains from sweating feet on long hikes and tiny pebbles that seem happy wedged into the lugs of the outsoles. On the street, the insole cushioning and climate controlled footbed was very comfortable. Worn with casual clothes, the Renegades just looked like a nice pair of suede boots. It is noteworthy how well the Nubuk uppers continue to look like fairly new boots.

The combination of GORE-TEX waterproof lining and Nubuk leather uppers of the Renegade GTX appears to have a lot to do with the

Renegade GTX are not for heavy backpacking, but they're excellent for moderate weight packs and long hikes.

new-like condition these boots still enjoy. GORE-TEX keeps water away from the foot, the Nubuk leather works with the GORE-TEX to allow the entire foot to breath, and permit moisture to wick away. Nubuk is a high-grade, highly breathable leather similar to suede, but instead of roughing up the inside of the animal skin like suede, Nubuk leather is the roughed up outward skin surface of the animal skin. The outward surface of animal skin is much tougher and resilient than the underside of the hide next to the skeleton merely because it must be tough enough to endure the harsh sun and winter cold. Nubuk leather is said to be extremely durable and long lasting, and so goes our expectations for these LOWA Renegade boots.

If you get a chance to inspect the quality and precision of the tight stitching connecting the various components of the uppers, you get an idea of how well these boots are made. And for a suggested retail price of about $200.00, LOWA Renegade GTX boots offer the potential for many, many miles of hiking and longevity.

One of the more evident qualities we enjoyed about the LOWA Renegade GTX mid-high hikers is the relatively lightweight they are on your feet. That’s where LOWA uses their new patented innovations in the polyurethane Monowrap Frame midsole. On the exterior, the Monowrap midsole extends up from the outsole about an inch at the forefoot and the heel section and two-inches at the foot arch on both sides of the foot.

Renegade GTX footbed offers good cushion and comfort. Top welt on the uppers is nicely padded and never chaffed nor hindered the walking stride.

This LOWA midsole allows for a lighter overall boot weight while still providing solid foot stability and rigidity on any terrain they encountered in the assessment period. What is more tangible than merely sensing the lighter boot weight is the very cool quality of loping and jogging for short distances in these boots. No, these Renegade GTX boots are not trail runners, but just the awareness of a lighter weight and the inclination to break out in a short sprint is the one characteristic of these boots that revealed how light they really feel on the feet. LOWA weighs these boots at about 2.4 lbs for a pair of size 9 U.S. feet. Well, our test pair is a size 14 U.S. and whatever they weigh in this mongo size does not diminish the fancy free feeling when they are laced up snug on the feet.

Here’s another aspect that we’ve experienced with other boots worn far less than the LOWA Renegade GTX we assessed is the lacing system and the boot laces themselves. LOWA’s derby style lace system allows for quick snug-up of the boots first thing in the morning. What was noticeable with this pair of boots was not so much the ease of lacing them up for a comfortable fit, but no friction points on the lace hooks and eyelets to fry the shoe laces. Again, it appears the quality level of every detail is meticulous. And burning through a fresh set of boot laces due to poor quality of the laces themselves and the lace eyelets is something we’ve seen on equally prices, but inferior quality hiking boots in the past.

Overall, the LOWA Renegade GTX light backpacking/relentless hiking boots come highly recommended by folks who have written reviews on them in other media. Yet the size 14’s this writer had latched to his feet substantiated the comfort and capability we found true in our own experience. Winter is fast approaching for 2010, and it’s fair to say these boots will continue to be a go-to boot for daily wear on hikes, approach shoes, light snow days, long-distance road trips, and mucking out the horse stalls in muddy, grimy conditions where a high-pressure hose rinse is the only way to clean them off. It is expected these LOWA boots will hold up extremely well for a good while.

Ahnu Firetrail Winter is a cross-training running shoe designed to secure the foot and adequately absorb trail shocks. The Vibram outsole offered good traction on the many terrain types we wore them.

This shoe uses a Hydrophobic mesh that acts to repel external water and moisture of the type you’ll encounter on any trail run. Our experience with the water resistant capacity of these shoes was good. Dew soaked spring grass along the trails and occasional stream hopping where no problems.

A complete shock absorbing system called XTR offers the midsole comfort and support that works great with the outsole and uppers to provide a good, snug, comfortable fit that works great for long hikes and runs.  Swift pace trail hikes, flat-out runs, and day-to-day scoots around town are all strengths we found in the Ahnu Firetrail Winter shoes. Men’s sizes run 7-14. Our test pair was in Mood Indigo.

Shoe weight was not a factor for us. We enjoyed the stability and comfort more than a few additional ounces of weight savings might

Wear it for trail running, fast hiking, road running, or walking.

offer. Little break-in time was required for the Firetrail. Ahnu does a good job of constructing a good fitting shoe right out of the box. In our experience on many hikes and day-trips with Firetrail Winter was a hot-spot and blister free one.

On trail runs, the comfort and support level of the Firetrail Winter worked well for the tester. They lace up secure and are good for training runs, fast hikes, and daily wear. Our experience with the Firetrail Winter has certainly crossed over into spring and early summer. Firetrail Winter trail shoes have proven very comfortable and wearer-friendly on weekly hikes and trail romps. Firetrail provide as sturdy a platform for long, low-gear-weight hikes as we could ask for.

As with most trail-specific shoe designs we’ve encountered, we found the Firetrail Winter to be less adept on pavement, but that’s an individual choice.

For more information, go to: www.ahnufootwear.com

By Rick Shandley

Each CFT3 drysack shown here is available in the sizes outlined below. Suggested retail prices range from $38.00 to $48.00 U.S.

SD BTU Parka: Serious warmth for wicked cold!

Sierra Designs cuts to the chase in severe weather with the BTU parka. We had the BTU out in icy-cold weather on several trips requiring the outer layer of insulation to not only provide warmth, but a primary barrier to piercing wind-chill, driving snow, freezing rain, and designed for maximum mobility.

These aren’t easy characteristics to build into a mountaineering jacket, yet these qualities make the Sierra Designs BTU jacket their top level performance parka for several reasons we experienced that makes this parka one of our future go-to pieces of cold weather gear.

For starters, the Sierra Designs BTU parka is aesthetically pleasing and non-puffy. Oh, the puff factor is there, but it’s contained on the interior of the parka. It can be worn in the harshest ice-laden, wind-crazy conditions whether you are in the backcountry or a more civilized environment. The weatherproof outer fabric is not only tear resistant, but it has that aesthetic thing going for it; it looks good in our perspective.

Brother Bernard burrows into the SD BTU on a 20-degree day at 7,000 feet elevation.

Now, we wouldn’t give a second thought to wearing the BTU parka into the main lobby of The Peaks Resort in Telluride, Colorado during a blizzard or a crystal clear 0° day. You can wear it anywhere, on any freezing day, in any city, country, or winter playground around the world. And to think it was designed for extreme mountaineering work is just another feather in the cap. It’s a serious cold weather alpine jacket, but it is not limited to the place it is worn. That’s what is cool about this jacket.

And the BTU outer shell is completely waterproof and breathable because of the Tropozone technology used in the fabric.  Insulation next to the body is comprised of 800-fill goose down that generates warmth when you are not active, but with enough ventilation options built into the parka to manage the heat when burning calories during mountaineering, or any cold-weather activity. This is not a parka you can easily stuff into a stuff sack for backpacking; it’s a little more purposely built to be the primary insulation for a day of crampons and ice axin’. It’s a heat source, no doubt, and it may be too warm for some activities. But realize this: even when your core heats up to the point you’ll slip out of the BTU for a couple minutes or longer, you know it is “the” safety zone when your body chills down and becomes affected by the true low temperatures you are operating in. We didn’t see less than five degrees below zero, but this parka is certainly good for much colder temps than we experienced.

BTU is generously cut and designed to allow under-layering apparel to be worn with complete mobility of the arms and upper torso. A shorter-cut hem allows the mountaineer to wear climbing gear, pack, or harness without the jacket hanging up below the hip belt or web gear. Storm closures permit you to seal out snow or cold air intrusion from the parka’s hemline. These adjustments are also found at waist level.

BTU's down insulated hood is fully adjustable and roomy enough for wearing optional headgear.

Enough room is built into the insulated parka hood so you can wear a climbing helmet, or headgear used for a myriad of activities such as search and rescue, law enforcement, or highway maintenance. The down-insulated hood is totally adjustable from the top-rear of the hood and at each side of the face. Enough fabric is built in to the transition between your neck and your chin to snuggle into the warmth chamber without interfering with your forward vision.

We wish more upper arm, zippered pockets were designed into all cold weather jackets. The BTU features a good-sized, absolutely weatherproof,  pocket on the upper left arm of jacket, easily reachable with the right hand for stored items like yo’ money or compass.  It would be a nice touch to offer the BTU for us left-handed folks, but they are still a welcome feature nonetheless.

A larger zipped pocket on the upper left side chest area is handy for storing your gloves when working with bare hands. Two zippered, and flannel-lined, hand warmer pockets are large enough to accommodate your paws with or without gloves on. On the interior of the BTU parka, deep storage pockets facilitate larger items like water bottles or whiskey flasks kept close to body heat. An upper left interior pocket with zipper closure secures your valuables. The BTU parka’s primary torso zipper worked flawlessly, even in the dark. That is huge for us. Full length Velcro-secured closures provide storm-welt sealing over the primary torso zipper, and we couldn’t ask for more from a parka. Same goes for the Velcro closures on the wrist cuffs aided by elastic in the cuff ends. All the adjustable draw cords at the parka hem, waist, hood, and neck areas allowed us to tailor ventilation and fit.

While the Sierra Designs BTU parka is available in Black, Brick/Granite as color options, ours is the Vine/Granite color scheme. We found the green and grey color to be very sociable when wearing the BTU for everyday winter warmth. Some cold-weather parkas are so bright and scream “look at me” or “find me quick,” that they are less appropriate for blowing into an office building during a snow storm in the course of a business day. For all the warmth and ruggedness the BTU parka delivers in a mountaineering environment, those same qualities play very well for wearing it to the office on any winter day. The warmth is guaranteed whilst the styling is practical and subtly always in style.

SD BTU with backpack for the night hike.

Overall, this SD BTU parka meets every feature/benefit the manufacturer claims with regard to performance and warmth. Yes, we can recommend the Sierra Design BTU Parka. How they kept the initial investment to less than a grand while insulating with 800-fill goose down, we may never know. Many strategic manufacturing and business decisions are limited to the trade off in quality components vs. cost to build at a reasonable expectation of return. All we can deduce is that Sierra Designs has achieved economy of scale and design in a parka that actually gives the wearer an expectation of safety and confidence in killer cold conditions.

Review and photography by Rick Shandley

Specifications:

Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

MSRP: $299.00

Colors: Vine/Granite, Brick/Granite, Black

Gear Source List:

• Sierra Designs BTU Jacket
• Lowe-Alpine Cerro Torre 65:85 backpack
• Kelty Foraker -15 Down Sleeping Bag
• Merrell Outbound backpacking boots
• Mt. Khakis Original Alpine pants
• Timex WS4 Expedition Watch

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.