Getting in Gear: lightweight boots for muddy spring hikes
20.04.11
With spring here, hiking opportunities are reopening in the foothills of Western Washington as well as in the sage-covered coulees of the Columbia Plateau.
Early-season hiking, though, means mud-slickened trails and lingering snow on higher routes. Firm footing is vital as you navigate those slippery surfaces.
With that in mind, we set out to find the best lightweight hiking boots suitable for exploring Washington's spring-ready trails. The Kayland Zenith easily earned the title of "best boot" from both our male and female testers.
Kayland kept weight off the boots by creating an upper made of stout nylon, with strategic use of leather for extra support and stiffness where most vital. The design gives the Zenith rock-solid ankle support in a boot that weighs just 3 pounds per pair (for men's size 12).
During testing, we found the moderately soft Vibram outsole provided solid grip on both the rain-slick basalt of Frenchman's Coulee and the slippery mud of Middle Tiger Trail in the Issaquah Alps. An eVent liner makes the boot waterproof while still highly breathable, so you'll be comfortable in the sloppy wet spring conditions in the foothills, as well as on hot afternoons in the deserts of Central Washington.
Source: The Seattle Times