Zamberlan 996 Vioz GT Hiking Boot, 8 M US

I bought this same boot in 2009 to backpack the Long Trail. Ended up doing it twice so I have about 540 rugged miles on them plus whatever amount went on them after that. These feel a bit stiffer out of the box than my original pair but that doesn’t bother me. Long story short, the quality, durability, fit and comfort is amazing. I have narrow heels as well as a low volume foot and it’s about impossible for me to find a boot where I don’t get heel slip, which I don’t with these. I’ve never had one blister or lost a toenail with these and the support is better than any hiking boot I’ve ever owned. For reference, I carried an expedition pack weighing 53 pounds (to avoid frequent food buying trail detours and also staying in shelters ), and my feet felt great in these boots, so I didn’t hesitate to re-purchase them 15 years later. Traction was great and of utmost importance with a pack that weighed almost half of me, especially on the Long Trail, which is no slouch of a trail. They’re not a lightweight boot, however, and for day hikes I prefer to wear trail shoes. As you can see from the photo of my older vs newer boots, the style is basically the same, which I’m very happy about because why change what doesn’t need changing? The old boots are still waterproof and warm, although I did have to reattach the sole with construction adhesive but that was my own fault for wearing them while digging a ditch that filled with water. So don’t do that :) I recommend ordering a half size up. The vendor was terrific and boots arrived within a few days.