SCARPA Pursuit GTX

I wore this low-cut hiker/trail runner for almost 300 miles through mud, rain, and extremely rugged terrain. It never failed to excel. The EVA midsole and TPU plate have enough support to handle light loads (up to about 15 pounds; I switched to higher-cut boots for heavier loads). And I felt the exceptional shock absorption in my knees and ankles, which were less sore than usual, even after long trail runs.

My feet stayed dry thanks to the Gore-Tex liner, and traction was excellent on all surfaces, especially steep and muddy trails. The recycled synthetic leather and mesh upper still looks new, even after the beating I gave it. $125; 1 lb. 12 oz. (m’s 43); m’s 39-48, w’s 36-43; scarpa.com.