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Zamberlan 320 Trail Lite EVO GTX

rated 5 of 5 stars
photo: Zamberlan 320 Trail Lite EVO GTX hiking boot

Out of the box comfort and Italian-made quality! Khumbu worthy! An Asterisk (*) notes some comments after 85 miles in the Khumbu, including EBC.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • New design Vibram sole
  • Gore-tex lined
  • Comfortable
  • Sturdy for the weight
  • *Tougher than they look

Cons

  • Cost, for some, maybe
  • Goretex, for some as well
  • *Braking could be better (but so could my balance)

In my saga of needing to replace my entire quiver of footwear, a sturdy hiking/light backpacking boot was next on the list. Find a good fit with Zamberlan, I stuck with the brand. And I can't lie, I do love Italian-made leather boots. These are no exception. 

I only needed a few steps down the hall after putting them on the first time to know they fit great and were going to need very little break-in time. The first hike was a quick 3-mile loop in the wet forest of the Cascades. The new design of Vibram lives up to its billing, especially in terms of the braking. I found myself barley slipping on the mossy roots and rocks in the trail. Those times I did, the boots caught right away.

They are a shorter boot, coming to just the top of my ankle but they are sturdy enough to prevent a lot of the inevitable ankle rolling on an uneven trail. I found myself going out of the way to walk through mud and water on the trail and the boots stayed dry.

What I like most though, is that they should last for many years and many miles because of the quality materials and construction. Don't let the price scare you. They might need resoling, but I doubt I'll wear them out. Zamberlan is still a family-owned company and they have been at it a while now. Give 'em a try. You won't be disappointed. Oh...REI actually carries these so buying was easy!

* July 2025 Update * These were the shoes of choice for my recent trek to Everest Base Camp and other points in the Khumbu. They performed extremely well. Tough enough to stand up to the grind and light and comfortable enough to wear all day without worry. I had no foot issues. None.

The only problem, if you can call it that, was with the braking. And maybe it was more my balance but there were a handful of times I wasn't as sure-footed as I hoped. And, to be fair, it was some steep downhill I could have been side-stepping a little. I'm 67, both knees replaced and a repaired back so that it with a grain of salt.

These shoes were great. What I love most is they are not much heavier than trail runners but they offer much more support and durability. I got home and cleaned them up and they look none the worse for wear. Still worthy of 5 stars. The photo is taken just below, "Crampon Point." A shout out to Madison Mountaineering for the great accommodations and wonderful meals during my 2-day stay at EBC!

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Background

Got a pair of Fabiano Super Cragman Leaders back in the mid-'70s and have been loving Italian boots ever since.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $300

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Specs

Men's
Price Current Retail: $229.99-$300.00
Historic Range: $227.94-$300.00
Reviewers Paid: $300.00
Women's
Price Current Retail: $300.00
Historic Range: $300.00
Product Details from Zamberlan »

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