| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Backpacker Magazine – June 2008
Get maximum support, traction, and protection without wafflestomper weight or break-in. Welcome to the new breed of all-terrain, any-load boots.
Big-Load Support | Fast & Light | Best for Hard Miles | All-Day Comfort | Best Fit | Bargain
BEST FIT
AKU Lagorai GTX
Overall 4.0
Big-load boots don't get any more slipperlike. As one tester noted, "Wear them for a while and the cuff will soften, the forefoot will give slightly, and they'll conform to your foot as if they were custom made." Credit the super-soft leather in the ankle and tongue, which was easy on our ankle bones even when we laced the boots tight for downhills. Testers scrambled the slippery, slimy Great Range in Adirondack Park and then picked their way around the crumbly desert Southwest, and in all conditions reported great traction and ankle support. Underfoot protection is rock solid, thanks to the stiff nylon shank, but shock absorption is minimal; some testers reported sore feet after extra long days. The Lagorai's lace hooks extend farther toward the toe than most models, which helps accommodate a wider range of foot shapes. It also makes them easier to get on and off, and you can open them wide to speed drying. A Gore-Tex liner provides total waterproofing. Scramblers beware: The lack of a protective rubber toe rand allowed excessive wear on the leather. Best for medium-volume, medium-width feet. $210; 3 lbs. 8 oz.; men's 7–13; women's 5–10. (877) 864-7249; akunorthamerica.com.
Big-Load Support | Fast & Light | Best for Hard Miles | All-Day Comfort | Best Fit | Bargain

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READERS COMMENTS
Does anyone have any input on the difference between the Scarpa Barun GTX and the Scarpa Ladakh?
I'm looking to purchase a pair or either one of these and was wondering if anyone knew pros and cons when comparing them to each other.
Thanks in advance.
Still stupid all 6 of these boots have the same readers comments
I'm a size 12.5 and have a hard time finding boots. 12's fit good but can jam the toes on a down hill, 13 too loose and rub. Anybody make a narrow 13 or long 12 or how bout a nice 12.5?
Hey....just bought these boots from Zappos.com on advice of this site. I've worn them all day with a 2 mile walk through the neighborhood. I'm leaving for Utah's Zion National Park this Sunday and intend on wearing them.....so far...so good. It's funny as I've made plenty of fun of people who buy boots and wear them the next day out on the trail but the boots I had intended on wearing were bruising a toe. I guess will get a "come to Jesus" test in the coming week. I'll report back.
This is stupid, Hey Backpacker.com try reading your READERS COMMENTS section, if I went to buy a pair of boots by how well a reader found them I would have been screwed, for every single one of the boots listed (Big-Load Support | Fast & Light | Best for Hard Miles | All-Day Comfort | Best Fit | Bargain) they all have the same READERS COMMENTS. Good thing I have a great pair of boots from Asolo.
My size is 15-D. Where can I find some good hiking boots? Please send answer to: jayad135@yahoo.com
My comment was in regards to the Hi-Tec Peak II.
I actually just bought a pair about two weeks ago at the Army surplus store on Hampdon and Broadway in Denver.
They are great so far. I know boots pretty well as I am a Wilderness Ranger with the U.S. Forest Service. I go through a lot of boot. I am pretty impressed with these guys so far. The only gripe I have is they are not full grain leather all the way around. There is a seam near the instep. This was a problem on some boots I bought last year in Tibet because the seam ended up splitting after a lot of use.
We'll see.
But, they are available in the US!!! And for the price they are a great deal.
This looked like the right boot for me, then I learned that they are not available in my neck of the woods. I kinda feel cheated.
It might be nice if this shoe was offered in the US......
I found that this boot was available online only in the US in Maine....I would like to try this on at a store prior to my purchase. I have high arches and narrow feet, which severely limits the choices of shoes, much less boots, that I am able to wear. I suffered through 6.5 years in the USMC with gov't issued boots....if I have to buy them now, I would rather purchase something that was readily available to the general public....I would like to have reviews of readily available footware in the future.
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