Vasque St. Elias GTX Hiking Boot

Vasque St. Elias GTX Hiking Boot: http://youtu.be/lrDvzVgkJPM

Vasque Men's Snowburban UltraDry Insulated Boot

New for 2012! The Vasque Snow Junkie insulated boot is ready for cold weather aerobic activities. Using Vasque’s UltraDry waterproofing system and lined with 200 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation, the Snow Junkie is your go-to winter boot for snowshoeing, winter hiking and backpacking.

Made from a combination of waterproof leather and synthetic textiles, the upper of the Snowburban UltraDry boot is durable yet lightweight and a rubber toe cap and molded rubber heel yoke serve to further reinforce the boot and support your foot. The lace system of the Snowburban UltraDry boot allows for a secure fit during longer hikes and the low profile lace webbing over the foot slides easily in and out of a snowshoe binding while the metal eyelets at the ankle offer durability on off trail and deep snow excursions. A D-ring at the toe of the boot lets you quickly fasten gaiters down and keeps snow from bunching up under the toe of the gaiter.

Under foot you'll find a dual density, EVA midsole for lightweight cushioning as well as a TPU instep plate and textile forefoot plate for increased protection. Vasque's Perpetuum Last creates a good fit for steady, long distance hiking. Mid traction lugs help you keep your footing on crusty snow and frozen mud and a soft fleece collar at the inside of the ankle adds a touch of comfort and warmth.

Kahtoola MICROSpikes Traction System

We're here today taking a look at the Kahtoola MICROspikes. Kahtoola MICROspikes are comprised of an elastomer rubber harness that fits around your footwear so it doesn't need any harnesses or straps. This elastomer harness can stretch to fit all kinds of different footwear – everything from heavy insulated winter boots, standard regular hiking boots, down to even trail running shoes. Let's take a look at how easy it is to put the MICROspikes on. Because I'm not sitting in a chair here, I've already started the front.

 

The front of the MICROspike is clearly labeled. There is no left or right on the MICROspike, so really what you do is just loop it over the front of the shoe. Make sure to line up that bail bar in the center of the toe. And then in the back of the MICROspike you've got a nice pull-tab. So you can just pull it right up over and around the shoe, everything will seat right in. And you're ready to go. You may need to make a couple of small adjustments, maybe slide the back up or down a little bit and make sure it's fitting comfortably on your piece of footwear. MICROspikes are available in both red and black and their sizes run from Extra Small, which will cover youth sizes 1-4 all the way up to an Extra Large which will cover a men's size 14-16 in a shoe. It's a little bit smaller if you're using a very big boot. The Extra Large will cover an 11-13.5. Of course one of the great things about MICROspikes is how small they pack up. So you can pop them in your pack for anytime that you think you may need some more traction out on the trail.

 

Kahtoola also sells a small tote sack as an accessory. This can be purchased separately to store your MICROspikes in your pack. The teeth of the MICROspikes consist of a 3/8 inch stainless steel spike and chain. What's nice about this system is that none of these teeth are locked into a static position, so they can have kind of a camming action when they bite into ice and snow. While we're taking a look at the spikes and the chain, it's important to take a look at this other feature here in the front which is the bail bar. This bail bar keeps these chains together and it keeps your foot from blowing out the front of the MICROspike when you're descending on a slope.

How To Fit A Hiking Boot

This is a helpful video on how to properly fit your hiking boot or hiking shoe from the wonderful and experienced people at backcountryedge.com . Which if you have never had the chance to check them out do so . Great customer service plus great prices but the best thing about them is your purchase is guaranteed for life .

How To Dry Leather Hiking Boots

This is a video on how to dry out your hiking boots or shoes after hiking in the rain .

How To Care For Hiking Boots And Shoes

Quality boots are an essential element of hiking equipment. Taking care of your hiking boots will help ensure foot comfort and protection while out on the trail. Additionally, cleaning and storing hiking boots properly will help keep your favorite pair durable, reliable and supportive for a long time.