America’s Best Backpacking and Outdoor Adventures
Hi Michael,
I hope all is well with you. I talked to you a couple of months ago about winter packs and you were extremely helpful.
I need new boots for hiking/light backpacking, and I have a very high-arched foot and wear after-market insoles. My last pair of boots were Kaylands and they were incredible, but off course they stopped shipping to the USA.
I’m wondering which boot you think is better Zamberlan 230 SH Crosser Plus GTX RR or La Sportiva Hyper Mid GTX?
Can I sound off for a moment about Gore-Tex and other supposedly waterproof/breathable membranes? I’ve owned four pairs of boots, a running suit and a pair of gloves that have been Gore-Tex lined, and got wet in all of them. Not wet from sweat or water going over the boots, but wet from rain (soaking through) and in the case of the boots, even wet grass. I think Gore-Tex should change its slogan to Guaranteed to Keep You Dry—If It Doesn’t Rain. How can manufacturers make these waterproof claims? People’s lives can depend on their gear.
Thanks,
Dave
Worcester, Mass.
Pack
Ribz Front Pack
$60, 12.5 oz. (small)
Sizes: Small (fits waists 26-36 inches), regular (fits waists 32-46 inches)
ribzwear.com
The Ribz Front Pack won me over when I first started hiking with it more than a year ago because it keeps my DSLR, a second lens, and assorted smaller items in a readily accessible place: right in front of me. So it has replaced a bulky camera chest pack I had worn for years because it’s comfortable and holds more while being less obtrusive. I’ve carried the Front Pack on virtually every backpacking trip since. Now the newly updated version sports subtle but laudable design changes that actually improve upon a piece of gear that I considered nearly perfect before.
Lightweight Boots
Zamberlan 230 SH Crosser Plus GTX RR
$170, 2 lbs. (men’s US 9/Euro 43)
Sizes: US men’s 8-12, 13, 14, women’s 6-11
zamberlanusa.com
Having hiked and backpacked all over America and the world, I’m convinced few places test a pair of boots—especially lightweight boots—like New Hampshire’s White Mountains. So to put these new mid-cuts through the ringer, I wore them on a recent 25-mile, overnight hut trip from Crawford Notch to Franconia Notch in the Whites—including one of the most rugged sections of the Appalachian Trail. And the Crosser Plus impressed me as highly supportive and tough for its weight.
Hi Mike,
Any recommendations on a lightweight backpack for overnight to five-day trips?
Todd
McCall, Idaho