Garmont Summit GTX

I have hiked with these boots in New Mexico on a ten day hundred+ mile trip. They stood up excellently and showed little wear other than the scuffing. The Gore-Tex keeps your feet dry through anything, even six inch puddles. They provide excellent suppot and have a relativley stiff sole.

My only problem was the fact that they do not breathe well enough for my sweaty feet, and I ended up having a major loss of skin on my feet. This could have possibly avoided if I had broken them in longer. The stiching came out a small bit on the instep, but that was the only problem I have had.

If you can find them on sale they are an great buy. Even if they aren't, it's still a good buy. They provide plenty of support and will last a long time and keep your feet dry.

Two tips: use Nikwax or beeswax (even though the boots are already waterproof with Gore-Tex) to keep the leather from drying out and cracking, and two, put seamsealer on the stiching right when you buy them. This will help hold the stiching together longer by keeping out dirt and grit, and since stiching is usually the first thing to fail on a boot, this is a good thing. They are great boots.

Although Garmont is relevently new to the market, the company has been making boots for over 40 years. Their experience in boot craftmanship has allowed them to put together such a great boot as the Summit. It is a stiff boot with VERY tough leather that is made water-proof by the Gore-Tex Membrane.

I highly recommend these boots to any hiker because they are light enough to use for day hikes and sturdy enough to use for much longer excursions. They are often compared with the Vasque Sundowners, but after having owned a pair of both, there is really no contest. The Garmonts are an all around better boot in construction, longevity, and because they don't carry the Vasque name, they are usually a good deal cheaper. I highly recommend these.