Zamberlan 320 Trail Lite EVO GTX

Out of the box comfort and Italian-made quality!

In my saga of needing to replace my entire quiver of footwear, a sturdy hiking/light backpacking boot was next on the list. Find a good fit with Zamberlan, I stuck with the brand. And I can't lie, I do love Italian-made leather boots. These are no exception. 

I only needed a few steps down the hall after putting them on the first time to know they fit great and were going to need very little break-in time. The first hike was a quick 3-mile loop in the wet forest of the Cascades. The new design of Vibram lives up to its billing, especially in terms of the braking. I found myself barley slipping on the mossy roots and rocks in the trail. Those times I did, the boots caught right away.

They are a shorter boot, coming to just the top of my ankle but they are sturdy enough to prevent a lot of the inevitable ankle rolling on an uneven trail. I found myself going out of the way to walk through mud and water on the trail and the boots stayed dry.

What I like most though, is that they should last for many years and many miles because of the quality materials and construction. Don't let the price scare you. They might need resoling, but I doubt I'll wear them out. Zamberlan is still a family-owned company and they have been at it a while now. Give 'em a try. You won't be disappointed. Oh...REI actually carries these so buying was easy!

Background

Got a pair of Fabiano Super Cragman Leaders back in the mid-70s and have been loving Italian boots ever since.