Asolo Khumbu

Excellent boot all-around. Excellent traction in all terrain, completely waterproof. Comfortable and cool. Very good impact resistance, very well-made boot for backpacking, hiking and at-home wear.

This is a serious boot suitable for all outdoor enthusiasts. The fit is excellent, both with the original insole and with after-market insoles. The narrow heel provides a stable platform for foot and ankle support, and prevents unpredictable movement and loss of stability of the foot.

The lacing system is adequate for custom fit around the ankle and arch of the foot. The speed laces are small and sometimes can be difficult to use in extreme cold, but they're stainless steel, not plastic! No worries about shattering in the cold there.

I wore this boot for two weeks around the house to break it in, then went on several hikes. I wore low-cut, ankle high socks to keep cool, and there was no chafing. With a really heavy backpack on (55lbs), it proved to be an excellent performer, rarely losing stability except in the bottomless, runny mud. It breathes very well, as the sweat was only on the surface of the sole and Gore-Tex lining.

The ankle and foot support it provided was really comfortable, and there were no pressure points unless I tightened the laces to the point where my feet tingled. The ankle support is one of the strong points. The leather works well with the liner and laces in a dependable all-around system of ankle support without the resistance or abrasion on the foot and ankle you get on most other boots.

I wore these boots wearing low cut socks and shorts in a torrential rain that lasted three hours and 9 miles with my day pack on (30lbs). The boots filled with water due to the fact that we were completely unprepared for weather and dressed very light, but that's the case with any boot. Again, no discomfort! Took a day in the sun to dry, then went right back to hiking with my day pack again and no issues were noted from the water the day before.

I had these on in creeks, and I stood in them for a while up past the ankles to cool off with no leaks. The rubber outsole is a great feature in that it provides a significant amount of abrasion resistance from rocks and sticks. The sole is appropriate for the foot, a narrow-lug with lots of traction. I've had other boots with wide-lug soles, and they feel clumsy next to this boot.

I've had these now for 8 months, returned my Vasques and kept my Asolos, that's how confident I am of these boots! The construction is excellent, and no doubt they will serve me for a long, long time.

They feel like mountaineering boots with the flexibility of day-hikers, very supportive yet well ventilated in the summer. On the flip side, they're very warm in the winter, and the traction can't be beat in all seasons. All in all, a well-built boot that can handle whatever is thrown at it, its stable and predictable, comfortable. After all this time, they still maintain their original shape.

If you're looking for a boot that can do just about anything, go anywhere and still maintain the traction, weather ability, and support, look no further. In my humble opinion, these are the go-to boots that I'd love to have with me when the world turns to mush and I have to bug out!