Asolo Corax GV

Our Take You’d be forgiven for mistaking the Corax for a mountaineering boot, at least until you put it on. Combining the support and ruggedness of an alpine boot with the lightweight comfort of a backpacking shoe, the Corax was our go-to for big trips under a heavy pack. On a four-day trek through Montana’s remote Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, we never worried about our 50-pound load on off-camber trails or scrambling up trailless, rocky slopes to Lake of the Clouds. A PU midsole in the heel (the rest of the midsole is rubber), along with a PU heel lock and secure lacing along the cuff, kept everything locked in place. Surprisingly, the Corax requires minimal break-in time, and our only blister after the inaugural backpacking trip was from a pebble that had worked its way inside. Tradeoff: price.

The Details We were hard-pressed to find a scratch on the tough Kevlar-and-suede upper after a summer of use, and the same goes for the tall rubber rand that encircles the lower boot. Thanks to the thick construction, the Gore-Tex waterproof/breathable lining seemed almost gratuitous—we soaked the boots nearly up to the ankles in search of cutthroat trout without so much as damp socks.

m’s 7-14, w’s 6-10.5