Page 84 - GUNS Issue n.01

Water, I’m not afraid of you!
All the boots taken into consideration in our test were characterized by a Goretex waterproof membrane, in five
cases the Performance Comfort version and in only one case, the Beretta Trail Mid, the Insulated Comfort version.
All boots, regardless of whether the upper was leather, fabric or hybrid, have passed the waterproofing tests with
flying colors. The foot remains perfectly dry when walking in wet vegetation and when crossing a stream, provided,
of course, that the water level does not exceed the height of the boot. From this point of view, therefore, we found no
appreciable difference between the different models.

all-season?
Thermal insulation, however, was a completely different story. Usually, hunters look for boots that can be used
the whole year but, sure enough, this is a difficult request to satisfy. Boots for intermediate climates are perfect
for autumn and spring, but they often are too warm for summer and too cold for winter. The ideal solution,
obviously, would be to buy two pairs of boots: one for hot weather and one for cold weather, although this
solution is certainly not cheap.
As for the models taken into consideration, the warmest are certainly the Berettas, equipped with a Goretex
Insulated Comfort membrane and an insulating layer. All the others are equipped with a Performance Comfort
membrane, suitable for intermediate temperatures, but what makes the difference are the material and cut of the
upper. The lightest are certainly the Aigles and the Crispis, which combine a light upper and a low cut, allowing for
better breathability. Finally, Lowa, Kayland and Zamberlan offer an intermediate level of insulation.
the importance of the terrain

As mentioned before, stiffness and comfort are inversely proportional and, inevitably, the increase of one of the two
corresponds to a decrease of the other. The evaluation of the right compromise between these two aspects must take
into account the terrain on which you intend to hunt. Those who hunt in the mountains will have to favor rigid and
stable models, such as the Berettas and the Zamberlans, while for the hunter who is used to tackle less demanding
terrains the choice can fall on the more comfortable Aigles and Kaylands. Crispi and Lowa represent a good middle
ground for those who want sufficiently comfortable boots that offer good stability even on mid-mountain terrains.

the MOst COMfOrtabLe

Aigle Altavio mid gtx H H H H H
Kayland Tuscia 2.0 gtx H H H H H
Crispi Ascent evo gtx H H H H H
Lowa Renegade mid gtx H H H H H
Beretta Trail mid gtx H H H H H
Zamberlan 966 Saguaro gtx rr H H H H H

the MOst rIgId

Zamberlan 966 Saguaro gtx rr H H H H H
Beretta Trail mid gtx H H H H H
Lowa Renegade mid gtx H H H H H
Crispi Ascent evo gtx H H H H H
Kayland Tuscia 2.0 gtx H H H H H
Aigle Altavio mid gtx H H H H H

All the boots in the test, equipped with Goretex membranes,
were perfectly waterproof.

82 OutdOOr gear_The besT hunTing booTs