What did you do while wearing the boots?

Kirnishni: The first time I wore them I went for a fall hike with a few friends in Gatineau Park, Que. We chose a decently challenging trail with lots of up-and-down sections where we had to do some scrambling over boulders, tree roots, fallen logs and muddy riverbanks. I’d say it was a fairly thorough gamut of hiking conditions. Later in November, I tried them out for a variety of activities — easy trails, walks around the neighbourhood and even gardening. The boots are pretty versatile.

What was your impression of them?

Kirnishni: As with most hiking boots, there’s always a bit of stiffness at the start before you properly break them in, but even taking that into account, the boots were a comfortable fit (which was a pleasant surprise as I’m picky whenever I try on different shoes). The insides are soft but sturdy and conformed to the shape of my foot. At the same time, my feet didn’t feel stuffy after three and a half hours of hiking and I didn’t get any blisters the first time I wore them despite the fact that these were completely new shoes. On the hike, parts of the trail were waterlogged and I found that the boots gripped really well in these conditions. At one point, I tripped on a tree root, submerging my foot up to the ankle in a puddle of dirty water, and when I pulled it out, the water just rolled off the boot — so I can attest with confidence that these are definitely waterproof.

Would you purchase this on your own?

Kirnishni: Yes. The price is well within the expected range for this type of boot. Judging them in comparison to the hiking boots I’ve bought in the past, I wouldn’t regret the purchase. You get what you pay for — in this case, that’s a comfy pair of boots that hold up well in all kinds of weather and activities.