Jack Wolfskin Wilderness Lite Texapore Mid

Our take If your winter adventures tend to include steep terrain and heavy loads, you need support to match. This boot’s TPU lasting board—the stiffest construction in the test—kept our feet secure and provided enough rigidity for strap-on crampons. “We trudged through everything from 6 feet of packed snow to rocky scrambles and even climbed steep ladders, and my feet always felt supported,” said one tester after carrying a 45-pound pack on a 17-mile section of the Great Range Trail in the Adirondacks. The TPU welding on the ankle and the stiff Vibram outsole prevented our ankles from rolling on a rocky hillside on New York’s Three Brothers.

The details The thick EVA midsole offers maximum cushion, and the proprietary waterproof membrane breathed well in temps up to 60°F. A mesh-and-synthetic upper cuts weight, though the boot is still on the heavier side. Testers generally praised the grip: “It’s stable on steep inclines, slick rock, and scree,” says one tester of the chunky, rectangular lugs. “However, it did slip a bit on packed snow.” Bummer: The laces are a bit short—swap in a longer pair.

Trail cred “The Wilderness Lite provided support through 20 miles of rooty terrain, gnarly boulders, and wobbly scree,” our New York tester reports.

m’s 7-14, w’s 5-11