| 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 FOR HARD MILES
Zamberlan Baffin GT
Overall 4.5
The Baffin's full-grain nubuck upper, armorlike toe rand, and best-in-test traction make this boot our choice for the toughest terrain. The aggressive Vibram sole, with its large heel lugs, held tenaciously on loose and crumbly descents in California and Nevada, and it shed mud and snow instantly. Though the Baffin's ankle is cut a tad lower than the Scarpa and Lowa models (but equal to or higher than others here), the padded cuff and extra-supportive heel cup provide plenty of stability for loads up to 50 pounds. The Gore-Tex lining kept our feet dry, even when one tester got rain-lashed in an epic storm in Ohio's John Bryan State Park. Fit was spot-on for all foot types: "A snug heel and ankle, with plenty of forefoot room and no toe-crunching on the downhills," wrote one tester. The Italian craftsmanship and full-grain leather promise years of hard-duty service. The only bummer: Testers had to wrestle with the thick, stiff tongue, and the bulky logo patch interferes with lace cinching. Best for medium-volume men's feet; narrow to medium women's. $245; 3 lbs. 5 oz.; men's 8–12, 13; women's 6–10. (925) 398-8453; zamberlanstore.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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