"as we've come to expect from garmont, the fit on the kiowas was best-in-test. the deep heel pocket and mid-height boots sucked us in and helped keep us in place over the long haul. even while running to beat darkness on a winter hike, our heels didn't budge. the smooth, flexing midsole definitely helped, too, while the gore-tex lining protected us nicely from outside muck and breathed through the fabric exterior well enough to keep sweaty-footed testers relatively dry. The aggressive lugs made short work of sticky mud.

"keep in mind: sensitive testers found the padding in the heel and tongue a bit minimalist.

"the final word: best for anyone who wants a leather-free hiking shoe that can comfortably schlep anything up to a weekend load."

—explore magazine, may 2008

• color: forest moss
• sizes: men's 7–14 (runs about half size small; if you normally wear a 10, order a 10½)
• material: waterproof ultrasuede and mesh
• origin: china (sweatshop free!)
• price: $129