Teva Sky Lake eVent® W's

[best all-around]

This new and improved version of a boot we’ve long loved (Editors’ Choice 2008) delivered the best combination of protection, traction, and stability. The 2013 Kailash ups the ante with even more support and underfoot armor than before, thanks to a new midsole made of durable PU augmented by a TPU film (see Tech Talk, right) that enhances the rigidity and structure of the boot.

“The midsole is firm and torsionally stiff, and combined with the V-shaped lugs on the Vibram outsole, made me feel mountain-goat sure even while carrying 45-pound loads on the sketchiest routes,” one tester said after a spring hike on the Elk-King Traverse in Oregon’s Coast Range. “Lacing them up tight from toe to ankle was fast and fluid with the pull-through hardware, and the grippy webbing lace loops at the ankle kept my foot completely slip-free inside the boot. I experienced zero toe bang even on steep downhill sections.” Another tester praised the ankle support: “The well-contoured and ample ankle padding provides just the right amount of buttressing, but it’s not so stiff that it hinders a comfortable stride.”

The Gore-Tex-lined, suede-and-nylon upper felt more breathable than most waterproof hikers according to several testers, and the rubber toe means there’s no sacrifice in protection. “I wore them up 10,839-foot Hahn’s Peak on a sunny, snow-melting day, postholing for hours,” says one Colorado hiker who was training for a spring start on the Pacific Crest Trail. One caveat: They’re on the heavy side. $209; 3 lbs. 4 oz.; m’s 39-48, w’s 36-43; scarpa.com

Expanding upon Teva’s line of women’s specific light hiking product is the Sky Lake eVent®. Unlike many women’s boots that are just clunky, sized down versions of men’s hiking boots, the sleek Sky Lake eVent® was designed from the ground up to fit a woman’s foot perfectly. So why choose between style and performance when you can have both?
– our Spider365 rubber will hold its own in a huge range of environments
– a thin nylon shank keeps your foot stable and in control
– an eVent® waterproof membrane keeps your feet dry from both sweat and water
– nubuck leather and mesh upper
– women’s specific design, shape and fit
– molded EVA foam in the midsole is light and durable
– a soft Shoc Pad™ in the heel gives you serious shock absorption
– a Mush® Infused Insole brings the absurd comfort of Mush into the Sky Lake eVent®