Review: Zamberlan Salathe 226 GTX

The Zamberlan 226 Salathe Trek GTX hiking boots are comfortable right out of the box, requiring little to no break-in time. And, thanks to outstanding craftsmanship, they are surprisingly light for how much support they provide. This mid-cut boot has the same enhanced maneuverability of its predecessor, the 215 Salathe, but provides six inches of ankle protection lined with waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membranes that are guaranteed for the life of the shoe. They also kept my feet plenty dry during semi-submerged creek crossings. The Hydrobloc suede leather upper section is soft, lightweight, and flexible. The soles are constructed of burly Vibram Pepe with Megagrip rubber to function on both trails and rock, and they are resoleable to boot. Finally, their “to-the-toe” lacing system makes for a versatile fit that is adaptable to climbing and hiking adventures—and made it easy to accommodate my wider foot. $330; zamberlanusa.com.