Scarpa Kailash GTX®

I'm getting ready for a Colorado backpack trip and needed some new hiking boots/shoes. I've found Backpacker magazine reviews are always helpful and I took 3 of their recommended shoes to the test: Hi-Tec V-Lite Mach 2, Scarpa Kailash GTX, and Kayland Zephyr. The Hi-Tec shoes were noticeably of lesser quality construction, however, they are cheaper in price than the Scarpa and Kayland. I didn't really like the lacing system. It was hard to make good adjustments on the upper and lower part of the boot independently. My foot is somewhat narrow to medium volume and I found it too big for my foot. I think the boot is better for medium to higher volume feet. The shoe insole/insert is nothing to speak of as it is somewhat thin. I would recommend an aftermarket. I also don't think the boot would be good for carrying more than a 35 pound pack. The soles were also not as sturdy or grippy as the other two boots. It was a much harder choice between the Scarpa and Kayland. I liked the color of the Scarpa as well as the actual shoe lace construction. The insoles are about the same as the Hi-Tec so I would recommend an aftermarket replacement. You can wear these boots comfortably right out of the box due to their partial suede construction. The soles will support comfortably a 40 pound pack, however, they aren't as grippy as the Kayland, not to say the Scarpa traction is not good. It just was slightly lesser than the Kayland. The lower eye-let construction was somewhat of a concern for me. I'm not sure if over time, the ends of the eyelets could break off as they have a pivot to them. Both the Kayland and Scarpa weigh pretty much the same when I weighed them on my scale...1 pound 6 oz per boot. What I liked about the Kayland is the stiffer sole, including its gripping power. It has more gripping points than the Scarpa. The polyurethane skeleton gives the shoe more durability and stability, though it's noticeably a little tighter around the mid-foot than the Scarpa (due to the its suede construction). I feel confident to say the Kayland can support a 50 pound pack weight. The lacing system and eyelets are great as they are linked to the exoskeleton and allow you to easily suck in or loosen the fore foot area to expand its width. I also thought the ankle support is better than the Scarpa. The Scarpa ankle support area flexes easily due to the suede construction. The insoles are a higher quality than the Scarpa. I wouldn't recommend changing them out until you have enough mileage to justify the cost of a replacement. Right now, it's hard to find the Kayland or the Scarpa on the internet. These two boots are definitely of great quality and construction. You decide. Order them both and wear them around your house. I tried them on each evening for about a week before I finally made enough mental notes to reach a final decision.

I'd also recommend: Kayland Zephyr

Outstanding boots! Feels broken-in out of the box. This shoe is true to the size no need to readjust for people who wear 1/2 sizes.

I'd also recommend: Merrel Boots