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

The Wolverine Omni hiking shoe is quite possibly the most comfortable and well-built shoe we’ve tested this year.

 If you’re an avid hiker, you expect a shoe to be lightweight, supportive and extremely durable. Loose dirt, jagged rocks and daily casual use greatly reduce the life of a typical hiking shoe. So we had high expectations for the Wolverine Omni, a new lace-up oxford style hiker due out this fall.

We expected the Omni to be just as durable and rugged as the company’s work and construction boots that incorporate full grain leather uppers, heel and toe protectors and a rugged construction that any tough-guy with a jackhammer over his shoulder would be proud to wear.

The Wolverine Omni has full leather uppers with rubber heel and toe protectors.

The shoes met our visual expectations, incorporating everything we mentioned above, including a removable footbed that’s molded and provides full cushioning for added comfort. The foot bed is called OrthoLite, and aside from also being breathable, it also incorporates an anti-microbial treatment to absorb odors. The Omni also uses Wolverine’s MX outsole that features individual compression pads. These absorb impact and return energy as you step and also provide adequate traction on loose dirt and gravel.

We were sent a pair in dark brown but the Omni is also available in black or concrete, and comes in either a low or high-top version. We put the Omni through daily three-mile dog walks every morning for a month and a few day hiking excursions in both loose dirt and jagged rocky trails. During that time we found that the shoe’s water resistance works well, especially if you slip while crossing a stream and accidentally dip your foot into it for a second or two.

The OrthoLite foot bed is anti-microbial treated and provides an extra cushion for your feet.

Although the Omni was rugged enough to handle getting dirty, wet and provide plenty of traction, even with a heavy daypack, we were most impressed by the shoe’s comfort. The shoe feels more like a casual sneaker than a hiker. Yet, it continues to prove to you that it can tackle just about any situation you could put it in. It’s the kind of shoe you wouldn’t think twice about throwing at a hungry black bear that wanders into your campsite. Then again, we liked these shoes so much we wouldn’t dare risk losing them. For more information on the Wolverine Omni, visit www.wolverine.com

By Dan Sanchez

An Argon infused vest, odor-eliminating shirts, shoes with adjustable insoles, and UV light water purification are some of the new technologies that manufacturers are using to rethink outdoor gear and apparel.

Dad’s old Army canteen and heavy wool jacket seem like museum relics, when you compare them to the latest technology being used by manufacturers of outdoor gear and apparel. At the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, where manufacturers of outdoor products showcase their newest items, the use of existing and new technologies is moving at a fast pace. This may make us rethink how we see and use traditional camping gear and apparel.

Argon Insulated Vest

Klymit Kinetic Vest

The use of Argon gas as an insulator is commonly used in welding, home window applications and more, but Nate Alder, CEO of Klymit in Ogden, Utah, developed a synthetic fabric called Nobel Tek, that incorporates chambers that can be filled with a pocket canister of Argon gas. 

The wearer can adjust the level of warmth by adding or venting the amount of Argon witin the fabric. Furthermore, the technology eliminates the need to layer apparel for changing temperatures, and makes this method the only adjustable insulator on the market.  Aside from Argon being superior at insulating warmth over current synthetic and natural insulators on the market, Klymit’s technology can make outdoor apparel extremely lightweight and thin (only 10mm thick fully inflated).

There are many other uses for this technology and Klymit is already selling their insulated vests on their website. You can find out more at www.Klymit.com

 Anti-Microbial Shirt

Silver isn’t anything new, but its use as an anti-microbial active ingredient is currently used to eliminate odors in shoes, building products, water purification and more. The problem is, silver quickly oxidizes and changes color, making it extremely difficult to add it as an anti-microbial on outdoor performance apparel.  After six years of development and perfection, Agion’s newest technology, Agion-Active,  is a patented method of utilizing silver in white fabric with no concern for discoloration. It’s also a natural anti-microbial and can be inserted into the DNA of the fabric rather than as a topical agent, making it last the life of the fabric.  You can find out more information on Agion’s technology at www.Agion-tech.com

Comfort Adjustable Shoe

Wolverine iCS System

Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz found her perfect pair of shoes that took her back home to Kansas. But the wizards at Wolverine came up with something that’s more than just fantasy;  an insert that can be adjusted to your particular comfort level. The company’s iCS system allows full adjustment of the shoe’s insole, allowing you to select the perfect comfort level for all-day hiking, low or high arches, improve stability, maximize shock absorption and more.

The wave-disc in the heel lets you set the amount of firmness or cushion that feels best for your individual use. The iCS system is available in Wolverine’s casual and outdoor line of footwear. You can find out more at www.Wolverine.com

Ultra Violet Light Water Purification

SteriPEN UV water purifier

It’s safe to say that Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other organisms are bad for your health. That’s why for years, hikers, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts have been chemically treating or filtering back country water. But there’s an increasing use of UV light as a method of killing harmful organisms and bacteria.

UV light kills organisms in a matter of seconds and many of the systems available can treat a liter of water at a time, up to several hundred liters on a full battery. Manufacturers such as SteriPEN and Camelback are using light technology as a lightweight and effective method that’s catching on with many outdoor enthusiasts.

The use of UV light as a method to purify water  has been in use for several decades by many city water municipalities. But advancements in new technologies allows it to become adaptable to small, portable devices that can be taken on camping, hiking and backpacking trips with ease. For more information on UV water purification devices, contact: www.Steripen.com and www.camelback.com

Easy GPS For The Rest Of Us

Lowrance Hand Held GPS Systems

While GPS systems have been around for a while, there are many outdoor enthusiasts who find themselves GPS challenged. Setting way-points, saving tracking files and more can be a task in itself. Fortunately, GPS systems are becoming easier to use. Manufacturers such as Lowrance make a hand held GPS system with touch screen navigation, high-resolution topo maps, and up to 32GB of memory for storing photos, MP3’s and more from one device.  This makes it simple for the GPS challenged to find their way with a built in compass and altimeter, store trails for future use and have entertainment all in one hand held unit. For more information, contact www.Lowrance.com

By Dan Sanchez

New hiker-mid Wolverine Fortis

Fortis is the new mid hiking boot from Wolverine^®  designed around the state-of-the-art Individual Comfort System (ICS^TM).  The men’s Fortis waterproof hiker is the next generation in performance footwear from Wolverine. Fortis allows wearers to customize their comfort by selecting the amount of firmness or cushion needed with the removable heel disk dial. The Fortis hiker incorporates additional comfort and performance enhancements including a GORE-TEX^® waterproof lining, lightweight full-grain leather and Cordura upper, padded collar and durable outsole for increased stability on uneven terrain. Color choices for this mid-hiker will be black, brown and olive. Also available in Nubuck. Fortis will be available in Fall 2009 at a suggested retail price of US $200.00.

About Individual Comfort System (ICS)

The ICS system is a removable insole with an adjustable heel disk that allows the wearer to set the amount of cushion or firmness where it’s needed. Wolverine ICS offers four options for customized wear. Each dial should be set at the same comfort level for optimum performance.

• Firm: Increases energy return and provides an extra spring in your step for all day wear
• Outer Support: Delivers increased stability for higher arches and for individuals that wear their shoes out on the outside edge or walk with an outward tilt (otherwise known as supination)
• Cushion: Provides additional cushion under the heel for maximum shock absorption
• Inner Support: Offers additional support for flat feet and fallen arches and for users who wear their shoes out on the inner edge or walk with an inward tilt (otherwise known as pronation)

New Wolverine Omni mid-hiker.

A new hiker for Fall 2009, the Wolverine Omni, comes in two styles – the Omni shoe ($120) and mid-top Omni Hiker at the suggested retail price of $160 US.

Omni incorporates  modern styling that includes a waterproof tumbled full-grain leather upper with a rubber toe and heel guard.

A removable molded full-cushion Ortholite^® footbed with mesh sock liner provides breathable comfort and support with anti-microbial function. Quick and secure speed lace system allows you to slip in and cinch up for a full day of backcountry travel.

The footwear was created with lightweight direct-attach construction and Wolverine MX^® outsole that provides customized comfort through individual compression pads that absorb impact and return energy with each step.

The version of Omni shown here is dark brown. Omni will also be available in black and concrete.   We’re looking forward to offering you a product review on the Wolverine Omni and Fortis by summer’s end.