Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

I am always surprised at how this little venture has taken off and grown.  What started as a simple search for an honest website listing the best gear has turned into a popular blog with more than 150 long format posts, magazine articles, evaluation relationships with every significant manufacturer in the business, and consulting projects involving product development, discrete testing, product placement/procurement and various other projects.  Through it all, we have maintained our independence and remained true to the principle which is embodied by the footer that appears on everything I write.

"Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.  
               

Made in Portland, Oregon USA so they are Barry compliant.  Every soldier now shipping out to Afghanistan gets a pair of the new Combat Hiker boots from Danner.  

I have been a Danner fan for a long time so I was pretty fired up when I learned that I would be getting a pair of their newest boots for evaluation.  I had heard bits and pieces about the Combat Hiker but hadn't seen them because they are not yet available to the public.  They're not even on the Danner website.  Fact is that all of the current production is devoted to our troopers headed for Afghanistan which is exactly the purpose for which these boots were made.   

At first glance they look very similar to the Danner Talus GTX but I can tell you now that the Combat Hiker is beefier.  I recommend a number of very good light mountaineering and heavy hikers as well as some lightweight trail boots and shoes but there are damn few offerings on the market that do a good job in the middle part of the spectrum.  And there are buyers in that space that are looking for a lightweight boot that provides good support and protection.  The Talus is a good 'tweener that I know caught the eye of the military procurement people but it is not made in America so it was taboo for anybody but the Special Operations units who enjoy a little more discretionary leeway.

   
Nice looking, all leather, Gore-Tex liner, Vibram Bifida outsole, 6+ inch height, abrasion resistant rand, upgraded insole and a sturdy but flexible ride.  My size US11.5 Regulars weighed in at just under 2 lbs per boot.

Danner responded by taking the Talus, tuning it up and making it in their Portland facility.  Presto chango, the Berry Amendment compliant Combat Hiker was born.  Apparently the Army liked what it saw because they bought $2 million worth last year and signed a $6.7 million follow on contract this year.

As far as I know, I am one of the first media guys to get a pair for evaluation so I will bump these to the front of the line and publish the results of my evaluation as soon as I can.  If Danner wanted to test these boots in Afghanistan like conditions, they should have come to Arizona.  From what I read in Not A Good Day To Die and Lone Survivor our terrain and weather is a lot like theirs.  

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.       

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.   

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.
 

I did some research awhile back on the best basic surgical type particulate masks to get for me and my family for things like SARS, Bird Flu and other things.  Seems like a relevant subject given todays Mexican Swine Flu problem.  I came up with the 3M Health Care Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask which is rated NIOSH 95 and meets the Centers for Disease Control standards for Tuberculosis Exposure Control.  

You can buy better more expensive masks but it is probably overkill for this kind of thing.  These are very good quality and come in adult (#1870) and children (#1860S) sizes.  These masks are fairly comfortable to wear all day and have a nice degree of adjustability.  I especially like the #1870 models for things like kits or BDU pockets because they are individually wrapped and lay flat.

You might have a little trouble finding them right now but when you get a chance pick up a couple cases and store them with the rest of your "just in case" stuff.  You do have "just in case" stuff right?  If you don't you should because grocery stores don't have nearly as much back stock as they used to.  Everybody does their computer managed, just-in-time restocking at night and any sort of a disruption in that supply chain could result in bare shelves and empty cupboards. 

I have seen it happen.  Don't get caught short.  Take a look at the everyday things you need to run your house and then consider how you would do it if you didn't have any power.  Stock up accordingly so that you can be self-sufficient for a couple of weeks.  Be prepared to take care of yourself, don't end up like this.        

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Disney characters they ain't.  Piracy is a business in this part of the world and business is good.  Seems obvious that a few trained and equipped security officers on each merchant ship could easily defeat these khat crazed criminals.   

Congratulations to the crew of the USS Bainbridge and the Naval Special Warfare Command for ending a hostage situation off the coast of Somalia.  Somali "pirates" harassed, boarded and then took control of the U.S. flagged merchant ship "Alabama".  The Captain of the cargo ship ended up negotiating a deal where the hijackers would leave the ship while he and four of the gunmen headed for the coast in a TELB or Totally Enclosed Life Boat.  

After one failed attempt to escape the TELB by the freighter Captain, four days adrift and the surrender of one of the pirates the problem was solved by Navy SEAL snipers set up on the fantail of the Bainbridge.  The result is that Captain Richard Phillips is safe and on his way home to see his family and his three captors are dead.

Three shots.  Three dead pirates.  The good guys win this time.  

Hopefully, this incident will lead to a change in how these situations are handled.  If it were up to me crews would be allowed to arm and defend themselves.  As it is now, laws in origination and destination ports forbid ships from carrying firearms.  Their only defense against rocket propelled grenades and fully automatic rifles is speed, fire hoses and luck.  At present there are 14 ships and their crews being held for ransom along the Somali coast. 

There are times when talking won't get the job done and a little 7.62 diplomacy is justified.  Good on the Obama administration for having the stones to give the green light.

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back. 
      

The ACR Firefly 3 is the most recent iteration of this line.  SOLAS compliant and powered by AA size batteries, it is a far cry from its Vietnam war era forerunners.

Do you carry one of these?  Well you should because in my opinion it is one of the most important pieces of equipment you could have in a backcountry emergency.

Wilderness search and rescue cases usually fall into one of two categories.  Somebody gets hurt or somebody gets lost.  In either case by the time the good guys receive the call for help and get headed in the right direction it is either late in the day or already dark.  Although it seems counterintuitive, that is a good thing because as long as they have a good light source, victims are easier to find at night.

The first public safety asset to respond is usually a helicopter.  The crew will fly the search area and look for lights.  Flashlights and fires are common in popular wilderness areas.  Everybody out there is using one or the other to run/bike the trail or sit next to in camp.  From the air these points of light are indistinguishable so they all have to be checked out until they find what they are looking for.   

But the consistent pulsating flash of a white strobe light is unique.  It stands out like a sore thumb and nobody uses one to light up a campsite or take a walk.  Strobe lights are designed to grab attention and that is exactly what you want when you need help.

I have participated in over 350 missions as a SAR Tech-EMT and the single most important piece of emergency equipment I recommend that people keep with them out there is a strobe light.  Not just any strobe light.  The ACR Firefly 3.  The blinking light feature found on high quality headlamps like the Petzl TacTikka Plus are good for backup but they cannot compare to the purpose built capabilities of ACR strobe lights.  The sharp, quick burst of light emitted by a Firefly is very different then the soft hues put out by LEDs or incandescent bulbs.  The Firefly 3 generates a full spectrum flash that pierces the darkness and punches through trees.

Unlike a fire, all you have to do it slide the switch to the ON position and set it out in the open.  It will run all night, can be seen for miles and won't get out of control and burn down half the forest.  The ACR Firefly 3 weighs only 3.8 ounces with two AA size lithium batteries, is waterproof and built to military specs.  In fact, ACR strobe lights have been standard issue for military pilots since the Vietnam War.

This is the same unit I include in the Wilderness Emergency Kits (WEK) that I make up for my friends and family.  It is what I carry in the field.  It is essential equipment so get one and strap it to your PFD, mount it on your pack or keep it with your survival gear.

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.  
    

Way ahead of its time, the Adventure Tech Silent Strike Viper Jacket from about five years ago.  It has a soft microfleece exterior, Gore-Tex, and a hanging mesh liner like the Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pack Jacket except better because it also has water resistant main, pocket and pit zippers and a very nice drop hood.  Too bad it is no longer made because it is exactly what many of us are looking for. 

I have a dream.  It is not a big dream.  In fact, I think it is a fairly simple little dream.  I just don’t seem to be able to make it come true.  For years I have sought a shell jacket for hunting that is as good as the ones that I use for skiing, mountaineering or backpacking.  The designs, features, technology, colors and fabrics are all out there and available.  They just aren’t all in the same jacket.

I have written about this many times in various places and based on the number of comments I have received from you, I am not alone.  What is it that we want?  A waterproof, breathable, jacket with a modern technical design in earth tone colors or camo that makes as little noise as possible.  That is it.  That is the elusive dream shell we seek.
 
Oh, there are some great shells on the market that come close but none that hit the center of the bulls eye.  Either they are in the right colors but don’t have all the right features or they have all the right features but not the right colors.  And that is the purpose of this article.  I want to influence the market by encouraging some industrious, leading edge company out there to bring all these  components together to satisfy that segment of users wanting first rate protection and stealth in one jacket.  My opinion is that the market for this type of jacket is much bigger than anyone figures.  Most people I pitch the idea to, like Arcteryx for instance, think that it is just for hunters and they don't really want hunters as customers.  Well yea, there are hunters that would like to have this jacket and I believe their numbers alone are sufficient to justify production but there are other people that want it too.  Who?  Military special operations, backcountry law enforcement, naturalists, birders, wildlife biologists, and wildlife photographers not to mention  all the hikers, backpackers, climbers and skiers that prefer muted, natural, environmental colors.  Hey, some people don’t want to be seen, they just want to blend into the scenery.

Since the Adventure Tech Silent Strike Viper Jacket isn't available, I would like Wild Things to modify their Alpinist eVent Jacket to be just as quiet and make it available in a good multi-purpose camouflage pattern.  And if I can’t have it in camo then I want it in sage green or coyote brown.  How tough is that?  I don’t think that is a lot to ask but apparently it is a big deal because I can’t get anybody to do it.
 
The truth is that I have been working with Wild Things on doing just that since April of 2008.  I tested the Alpinist and liked it very much, we talked about my little dream shell, I sent them my specifications and a couple jackets to use as examples, and they said they would make it.  The deal was that they would make ‘em and I would promote ‘em which I thought was a pretty for everybody.  I touched base with them periodically and they told me that they were working on it.  Then they told me that they had picked MultiCam as the camo pattern.  MARPAT Woodland is my favorite but MultiCam is nice and it would certainly work.  Then they told me they were getting a new curved hot press machine to do the hood brims.  Finally, in November, I was told that I would have the completed jacket before Christmas and I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  I am not a patient man so to have to wait 8 months for something I wanted so badly was a herculean challenge but I did it.  I waited.  Patiently even.  Every day, like clockwork, at 12:30 the UPS guy would show up with packages from the biggest and best names in the business but all I was looking for was that Wild Things logo.  And every day I was disappointed.  Christmas came and went and still nothing from New Hampshire.
 
A week before I was to leave for the 2009 Winter Outdoor Retailer show I sent a message to Wild Things asking if they were going to be bringing my jacket to the show.  I was told yes and that it had been a big hit at the SHOT show.  Yes!  Finally!  Wahoo!  Wait a minute.  What?  SHOT show?  Are you kidding me?  You mean to tell me that my dream jacket is finished and I have not seen it but it has already made the rounds at the SHOT show?  This was bad.  Not only was I pissed, I was crushed.  It was like getting married thinking your honey was a virgin and finding out on your wedding night that your new bride had already earned her spurs at Meet-The-Fleet week.

Alright.  I am a professional.  I can handle this.  I got to the show, started at one end of the Salt Palace and walked the floor scanning every exhibit just like I always do.  I had almost forgotten why I was so anxious when I came to the Wild Things booth.  There they were.  A small group of casually dressed, fit, 20 something males huddled around a short dark haired woman holding a MultiCam camouflage jacket.  My MultiCam camouflage jacket to be precise.  They had their grubby little mil-spec mitts all over my jacket.  They were definitely special ops guys.  Not good looking enough to be SEALS.  Too tanned to be Force Recon.  Not enough hair to be Delta or DEVGRU.  Too young to be Special Forces.  Too much meat on their bones to be PJs.  Must be Rangers.  Had to be Rangers.  Yep, they were Rangers. 

Under normal circumstances I would have been thanking these guys for their service and offering to buy them a cup of coffee but not this time.  I was in no mood.  I hovered intensely until they were done groping my masterpiece and then swooped in and confronted her.  Is this it I said?  Of course it was dumass, what was I saying.  I was so giddy with excitement I couldn’t even be mad.  They had made a few changes but it was pretty much what I had asked for.  It was not as quiet as I would have liked but it was a top notch technical shell made with eVent and in MultiCam.  It was beautiful.  So what was the deal?  Is this mine or not?  Not. It wasn’t even my size.

She explained that they had started out making the jacket for me and that my specs had pushed them to finally get the eVent fabric in camo.  They were working on it for me when they learned about a request from the Department Of The Army Ground Applications Office for a new 12 piece extreme cold weather system printed in MultiCam.  That friends and neighbors is when my jacket became their prototype Level 8 Hard Shell jacket for the Army.  So no, it wasn’t mine and it wasn’t gonna be mine.  They had bigger fish to fry and I did not rate.  There were no harsh words.  No raised voices.  No threat of legal action.  I just shrugged and went on to cover the rest of the show.  I thought I handled it all pretty well considering.  Hey, they picked the U.S. Army over me, what am I gonna do.  Have a chilled shot of Crown, kick the dog, punch the clown and move on.  That is about all I could do.  I don’t know the current status of the project.  They haven’t returned any of my subsequent messages but they did send my sample jackets back along with one of the finished prototypes.
  
I still have the dream and I would love to be the one that finally made it happen but who else could scratch this itch?  Well, I used to recommend the Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pack Jacket because for a long time it was the best game in town.  It is well built, uses Gore-Tex, is very quiet and comes in several different camo patterns.  However, despite my best efforts, Cabelas has yet to update this jacket and it has been eclipsed by the Sitka Nimbus Jacket which is not as quiet as the MTO50 but it lighter, has a more modern design and feature set including pit zips.  This is the jacket I am currently using and recommending but I think it is a stop gap between what they were offering and the much anticipated Gore-Tex clad Stormfront, Stormfront Lite and Coldfront Jackets of the 2009 line.
 
TAD Gear now makes the excellent Predator and Raptor Hardshell Jackets using eVent as their waterproof/breathable laminate.  They are not available in camo but they do come in gray, foliage green and multi-environment brown.  The only thing that keeps the TAD Gear jackets from being the best in this class is the noise factor, otherwise they are outstanding products.  However, I do have one suggestion for TAD.  I am not a fan of the Duck Pocket.  Yes, it is unique and innovative but I cannot for the life of me figure out what to put in it so I say get rid of it and save a fews ounces.   
  
Integral Designs makes a couple of great lightweight eVent jackets, the hoodless Cruiser and the popular Thru Hiker.  Camo is probably too much to hope for with them but something in a sage green or coyote brown would be nice and I think they would be a big hit especially with the guys keep their shells stowed until it rains or snows.
 
Right about now you are probably wondering which waterproof, breathable product is better.  The venerable Gore-Tex or General Electric’s eVent?  That is a good question and one that I have been investigating myself for months now.  I was raised on Gore-Tex and I have been a fan since the late 70’s.  It works for me and has served me well but despite my loyalty, I have to remain open.  I have to tell you that the eVent stuff that I have evaluated from Wild Things and Integral Designs is very good.  It “breathes” very well and so far it has been water and windproof.  Is it better than Gore-Tex?  That is not a simple question and I am not prepared to answer it yet but there is a reason I used the Wild Things Alpinist as the basis for my dream jacket.  There is a reason I want TAD Gear to offer those jackets in camouflage.  There is a reason I am pushing Integral Designs to add a stealthy color or two.  There is a reason that I am evaluating products from RAB, Westcomb and REI.  That reason is eVent.
 
Sitka, TAD Gear, Integral Designs, and Wild Things all make great gear.  Will one of them be the first to build the perfect shell for stealth loving outdoorsmen?  Or will it be somebody else?  Maybe Cabelas, LL Bean, Otte Gear, Browning, Adventure Tech, Under Armour, or Propper?  We will find out soon because I think we are closer than ever.  

EDITORS NOTE - I have received dozens of email messages alerting me that I am still recommending the Wild Things Alpinist Jacket on the Shell Layer section of this site.  Thanks guys but I know.  It is still there for a reason.  I am still recommending that jacket because it is a great piece of gear.  The fact that my deal with Wild Things didn't work out doesn't change that.  I use and promote great gear, not just great gear made by people that I get along with.

I didn't tell the story to bash Wild Things, I told the story because it was interesting and indicative of how things work in this business. 

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.       

The Adventure Tech APCU Level V Soft Shell Pant from Propper International are made of Schoeller NanoSphere.  They are the perfect trail pant as long as your trip doesn't include busting through heavy briar patches and sticker bushes.

If you are an old hand in the boonies or in the know on wilderness clothing you have heard the adage "cotton kills."  I follow that sage advice but I also spend most of my field time in Arizona.  Oh we get plenty of rain and snow but it is seasonal and mostly specific to geographic regions and altitudes.  The result is that we wear a lot of cotton, especially when hunting quail or hiking in the foothills and deserts.  And because we live in the land of jagged rocks and sharp stickers, long pants are de rigueur.  

The pants that I have worn and the ones that I see most often on other Southwest outdoorsmen are Carhartts.  Usually the Mens Double or Single Front Canvas Work Dungarees because they are comfortable, last forever and are just about the only thing that stands up to things like Mesquite, Manzanita and Cholla cactus.  The drawbacks are that their pocket configuration is still set up for construction workers, they are heavy, they tend to be warm and they are cotton. 

My style of hunting takes me off trail most of the time.  Bushwhacking in this country requires the magnum level protection offered by the Carhartts, but for trail running or traditional backpacking it is over kill.  I have been looking for a light weight alternative for some time and have had pretty good luck with the TDU or HRT pants from 5.11 and VersaTac Mid and Light pants from RailRiders.  They are very sturdy, made for high activity and have all the pockets tactical operators want and need.  However, they are made of cotton or cotton blends.

I have been a big fan of Schoeller cloth since I first used it ski patrolling many years ago.  It is extremely tough, stretches, breathes well, dries quickly and sheds water.  I tried a set of custom made Schoeller cloth pants from Beyond Clothing a few months ago but it didn't work out.  Good idea, bad execution.  So I sort of lost interest in the idea.  That is until I saw a set of the APCU Level V Soft Shell pants in a recent U.S. Calvary catalog.  The pants are an Adventure Tech design but made by Propper International.  

Propper makes clothing for the government and military including the outstanding APECS Parka and Trousers that I recommend in the Shell Layer section of this site.  I have been aware of Adventure Tech for at least 10 years and have been a big fan of several of their products.  I used their military Gore-Tex shell trousers for 5 years as a SAR Tech-EMT with our Sheriff's office Mountain Rescue Team and I think they are best-in-class.  In fact, they are the same design as the current APECS Shell Trousers.  For a short time Adventure Tech also made a shell jacket called the Silent Strike Viper that I think was the best shell ever made for anyone that needed waterproof breathable protection in a technical mountaineering shell that was also quiet.  It is as quiet as Cabelas MTO50 fabric.  What ever happen to it?  Beats me, I have tried for years to talk with them about making the Silent Strike available to the public but nobody ever responded to my inquiries.  It is a shame too because that jacket is still the one to beat in that niche as far as I am concerned.  I am not sure what Adventure Tech is doing now or what their connection is to Propper.  Their website is much different than it was and they are only showing the APCU line.  

Anyway, the APCU Soft Shell pants have been great for me so far.  I have 5 or 6 outings in them so far and I really like them.  They fit me well which is to say that they are full cut, the belt loops handle my standard Wilderness Instructor Belt perfectly, and they have good cargo pockets (although I wish they were as big as a standard BDU pocket) but it is the Schoeller fabric that makes them special.  It is lightweight, stretches, breathes, durable, repels wind and water, dries quickly and is quiet.  It is important to note that they are very durable to abrasion but will snag and pull on the really sticky stuff which is really only a big deal if you are concerned with how they look.  That is not an issue for me.

Check them out.  I think that you will agree with me that these pants are perfect for the trail.

EDITOR'S NOTE - a particularly astute reader sent me an email pointing out that in the article above I stated that the RailRider VersaTac Mid and Light pants are cotton or a cotton blend which he said was incorrect.  He is absolutely right.  They are 100% Nylon according to the tag.  I stand corrected.  Please forgive the error, it was unintentional.  Thanks Larry.  Good catch.

Also, as long as I am here again, I am a little disappointed in two things.  First, the generic Velcro patches that close the thigh pockets on the Soft Shell Pants has become completely useless.  For pants this expensive Propper should being using the good stuff.  Second, what is the problem with the people at Propper?  I have been a Propper fan for many years and supportive of their products here and in other places but I can't get a phone call returned to save my life.  Not just the media contacts but even the V.P. of Marketing won't return phone calls or email messages.  Very bad form guys.  I hope you are more responsive to the troopers in the field that wear your stuff.      

Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.

Old Ben would be heart broken if he knew what we were doing with our gift.

Talk about your voodoo economics.  Yesterday, the Federal Reserve "purchased" a trillion dollars worth of Treasury bonds.  We don't have that kind of cold, hard cash right now so the Fed basically wrote an IOU.  This is an unprecedented step.  It has never been done before and represents a last ditch attempt to jump start the economy.  With interest rates near historic lows, our bag of tricks is pretty much empty.  This Treasury debt was created because the government doesn't have the money to fund the (bloated, morbidly obese, engorged or insert your own descriptive adjective here) federal budget.  To bottom line it for you.  We used IOUs to buy IOUs.  

If that sort of sounds like a house of cards it's because that's exactly what it is.  Most people don't know or understand the knifes edge we are walking but deep down they feel uneasy.  Like something is desperately wrong but they are not sure what.  It is like when you are working with a trauma patient and they look you dead in the eye and tell you they are going to die.  We call it and document it on the encounter forms as a feeling of impending doom.  Most of the time, the patient is correct.  Ammunition and gun manufacturers are running double and triple shifts to meet demand but firearms retailers still can't keep anything in stock.  Is there a correlation between our collective feeling of impending doom and the run up in ammo sales? 

Here is a little bit of information that came across my desk recently.  It is rounded off a bit but it helps me keep these big numbers in perspective.  

One million seconds equals 12 days
One billion seconds equals 32 years
One trillion seconds equals 32,000 years

According to the Department of Treasury Bureau of Public Debt, as of 3/18/09 and not counting the Feds most recent spending spree, the United States government owes $11,034,225,094,391.  That's eleven trillion and change.  That number is just debt, it doesn't include other obligations to big entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.    

By way of comparison.  The US public debt in 1964, the year of my birth, was $311,712,899,257.  At the turn of the century, 1999, it was $5,656,270,901,615.    

President Obama seems to be doing OK though.  Five days before taking office he picked up a cool $500,000 for another book publishing deal and he will be on with Jay Leno tonight.  

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

Protect your hands.  That may sound like an incredibly obvious and unnecessary statement but it is the truth.  Your hands are amazing tools and they are pretty tough but they are also highly prone to injury.  Especially cold injury.  They are also great heat radiators and very important to good ventilation when you are working hard in the boonies.  From rope rescue work to shooting to mountaineering, good gloves are the answer to many problems and in my opinion, you can never have enough of the good ones.

Here is my list of recommended gloves.

Hanz Flame Resistant Gloves (simply the best all-around glove I have ever used)
Outdoor Research Alti Gloves
Outdoor Research Alti Mitts
Outdoor Research Mutant Mitts (government sales only)
Outdoor Research Poseidon Gloves (government sales only)
Mechanix Wear Original Gloves (in Coyote)
Mechanix Wear Original Vent Gloves (in Covert)
Cloudveil Troller Glove
Mountain Hardwear Habanero Glove
Black Diamond Guide Glove
Cabelas Gore-Tex Thinsulate Deluxe Shooting Gloves
Cabelas Gore-Tex MTO50 Whitetail Extreme Shooting Gloves
Camelbak Max Grip NT
Camelbak Combat
Camelbak Friction Fighter NT
Blackhawk Python Advanced Light Rappel Gloves
CMC Rescue Riggers Gloves
CMC Air Rescue Gloves
CMC Rescue Rappel Gloves
Fingerless Industrial Weight Kevlar Knit Gloves (for rope rigging) 

Currently under consideration

Hestra Army Leather Gloves
Hestra Heli 3 Finger Gloves
Hestra XCR 3 Finger Gloves
Hestra Soft Shell Short Gloves
Hestra Primaloft Extreme Liners
Black Diamond Patrol Gloves 
Grandoe Logan Mountaineering Glove


 Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

I am a layering guy.  That is how I was taught and my experience as a mountaineer, hunter, SAR Tech and ATVer has only solidified my belief in that methodology.  Three layers to be exact.  Base.  Insulation.  Shell.  Only occasionally will I carry a fourth layer in the form of a synthetic wool shirt over my base layer. 

I choose my base layer to match the expected temperature range and situation.  It is either a light, mid or expedition weight polypro zip t-neck from REI or Patagonia, although I am looking at some wool and fish net bases also.  Then I always wear my shell unless it is just too warm to wear anything over the base.  The insulation layer is the variable.  When I am moving and generating heat, the insulation piece is in my pack.  I pull it out and put it on, when I stop to glass or eat or bivy, between my base and shell layers where it is protected and does me the most good.  This way I don’t need any wind or water protection built into my insulator which keeps it as light as possible.
 
The only question is, synthetic or goose down.  That is an easy decision.  If there is a chance that the down could get wet, meaning moderate temperatures around or higher than freezing, I choose the synthetic.  Otherwise I use high quality down.  When it is cold and you are a day or more from the truck, there is nothing better than goose down.  Period.

Here are the insulation pieces that I am currently recommending.  I will make changes to this list when necessary.

Down
Western Mountaineering-Flight Series Jacket
Western Mountaineering-Meltdown Jacket
Nunatak-Skaha Plus Sweater
Nunatak-Torre Down Parka
Mont-Bell-U.L. Down Inner Jacket

Synthetic
Insport-Level 3 High Loft Half Zip Pullover
Outdoor Research-Saturn Suit
Patagonia-Das Parka (can use w/o a shell)
Sahalie –Butterfleece Zip-T
Mont-Bell-U.L Thermawrap Jacket
Marmot-TR6 Jacket with pit zips

Wool
Cabelas-Windshear Trek-Tech 100% Wool Quarter-Zip

Insulation pieces currently under consideration.
Wild Things-Primaloft Sweaters without the hood
Mont-Bell-Climaplus Wool Windstopper Jacket (can use w/o a shell)
Integral Designs-Rundle Jacket with Primaloft
Integral Designs-PLQ Jacket with Primaloft
Patagonia Lightweight R4 Jacket
Cabelas-Polartec Classic 300 ECWCS Specification Jacket
Cabelas-Military Weight Polartec Power Stretch Union Bibs
Cabelas-Mountain Sherpa Jacket
Wild Things-Belay Bibs with Primaloft
Wild Things-EP Pants with Primaloft
Wild Things-Primalight Sweater with Primaloft
Wiggys-Alaska Range Parka Liner L-3 20deg thickness
Wiggys-Alaska Range Parka Liner L-6 minus 20 deg thickness
Wiggys-Alaska Range Parka Liner L-12 arctic thickness

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

Read some of my other pieces on shell gear and you will see that I put a great deal of importance on protective shells.  I have spent a great deal of time looking at what the market has to offer for all users.

Two things stand out in this category.  First is the rise of eVent as a viable alternative to industry standard Gore-Tex.  This may the one thing that finally drives Gore to revamp their current confusing and forgettable product classification titles.  Second is the emergence of high quality technical mountaineering style shells in camouflage or stealthy colors like sage green or coyote brown.  This is an issue that I have been talking about for many years and while I don't think we have seen the best yet, we have come a long way from where we were and I am very happy about the progress.  Interesting to note that this niche is still not being addressed by the biggest players in the business.

Here is the Current list of shell layer layer pieces that I am recommending.  Changes will be made as Necessary.

Turtleskin Snake Armour Gaiters
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters
Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pack Jacket
Cabelas MTO50 Quiet Pack Bibs
Propper USMC APECS Gore Tex Parka Digital Desert
Propper USMC APECS Gore Tex Trousers Digital Desert
Propper USMC APECS Gore Tex Parka Digital Woodland
Propper USMC APECS Gore Tex Trousers Digital Woodland
Adventure Tech Silent Strike Viper Jacket (not currently available)
TAD Gear Predator Hardshell Jacket v1, v2 and the new eVent v3
TAD Gear Predator Hardshell Cargo Trousers
TAD Gear Combat Anorak
TAD Gear Pro-Lite Jacket
Rivers West Cascade Mountain Jacket
Rivers West Steelheader Jacket (not currently available)
Arcteryx Theta AR Jacket
Arcteryx Sting Ray Jacket 
Arcteryx Beta AR Jacket
Marmot Minimalist Jacket
Marmot Precip Jacket
Carhartt Waterproof Breathable Jacket
Carhartt Waterproof Breathable Coat
Carhartt Extremes Coverall
Carhartt Waterproof Breathable Waist Overalls pant
Sitka Nimbus Jacket
Wild Things Alpinist Jacket
Integral Designs eVent Cruiser jacket


Items currently under consideration.

REI Ultra Light Jacket
REI Shuksan Jacket eVent
Cabelas Space Rain Ultra Pack Rain Pullover Jacket
Propper APECS Air Force Tiger Stripe Parka
Propper APECS Air Force Tiger Stripe Trousers
Cloudveil Koven Jacket
Clouveil RPK Parka
Cloudveil RPK Pant
Integral Designs eVent Thru Hiker Jacket
Integral Designs eVent Pullover Jacket
Patagonia Storm Lite Jacket
Mountain Hardwear Stimulus Jacket
Mountain Hardwear Argon Jacket
Mountain Hardwear Quark Jacket
Outdoor Research Flex-Tex Gaiters
Outdoor Research Furio Jacket
Arcteryx Alpha LT Jacket
Ground Extension Jacket eVent
Rab Latok Jacket
Wild Things Superlight Alpinist Jacket

Thanks.
 
Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.

Boots, boots, and...shoes.  I admit it.  I am the Imelda Marcos of outdoor footwear.  For every one of my favorite outdoor activities there is a veritable cornucopia of specialized shoes or boots to choose from.  Fact is, the market is over flowing with choices which makes it very difficult to zero in on what really works.  Fortunately, for you, I enjoy the process of identifying, securing and evaluating the best boots and shoes available.  Here is my recommended boot list which I guess should really be called the Recommended Footwear List since it includes trail shoes and all terrain runners.

But first, some comments about this subject.  1)  Feet are weird, continually changing and very unique to each person.  The perfect boot for you may not work at all for me no matter how much I want it to.  There is no one best boot or shoe; there is only the best boot or shoe for you and your funny, ugly feet.  2)  Problems most likely come from poor fit and or poor quality socks.  Most people wear their boots too short and too narrow.  Find a master boot fitter or error on the big side.  Go at least ½ size, maybe even a full size up from your street shoes and then get some top notch socks (yes, there is a corresponding sock list).  According to the Docs, your feet may expand and contract up to a full size over the course of an outing.  4)  The amount high quality products out there for your feet is stunning but the names, models and color offerings change constantly.  That’s fashion for you.  I blame the suits and the posers in the marketing departments of these companies.  More formal schooling and fancy letters after their names then real time in the sticks sweating and humping big loads.  Shameful.  Anyway, here you go.  These are what I like and what I use.  Hope you get something out of it.  See detailed evaluations of each in the "Feet" category. 

EDITOR'S NOTE-Over the past 12 months we have reviewed and tested more than 130 pairs of boots and shoes looking for what we feel are the best on the market.  We are not finished yet, as you can see from the list of what is still under consideration, but this is the creme of the crop so far.  These are what I am using in the field.  They are not listed in any particular order. 

Light Hiker/Trail Runners
Lowa Renegade GTX
Danner Talus GTX (soft tread-great for sneaking around)
Danner Pronghorn GTX Hunting 8 inch
New Balance MT908OR
Montrail Hardrock 08
Montrail Hardrock Mid GTX
Brooks The Beast
Salomon Explorer GTX

Heavy Hikers
Asolo FSN 95 GTX
La Sportiva Glacier
Danner Rain Forest GTX 8 inch insulated
Danner Quarry GTX 6 inch
Danner Quarry GTX 8 inch
Danner Santiam GTX 8 inch insulated
Lowa Ranger GTX
Kayland Contact eVent

Light Mountaineering
Kenetrek Hardscrabble Hiker
    Mountain Extreme 400 is the 10 inch insulated version
Lowa Tibet GTX
    Hunter GTX Extreme aka Sheep Hunter is 10 inches with Primaloft
Scarpa Escape GTX
Hanwag Mountain Light from Lathrop & Sons

Mountaineering
La Sportiva Spantik insulated
La Sportiva Nuptse insulated
Scarpa Inverno insulated
Lowa Mountain Expert GTX insulated

Snow Pac Boots
Sorel Conquest insulated

Duty Boots
Danner Recon insulated
Lowa Mountain Boot GTX
Danner Blackhawk II

GTX, by the way stands for Gore-Tex.  eVent is another waterproof breathable laminate that is said to breathe better and is starting to show up in the footwear market.  I have noted the boots on the list that use it.  Also, insulated boots use between 200 and 1000 grams of Thinsulate unless otherwise noted. 

Boots and Shoes Under Consideration
Bates Tora Bora Alpine
Lowa Creek II
Scarpa Kailash GTX
Scarpa Liskham GTX
Lowa Baffin Pro GTX
Lowa Silberhorn GTX
Vasque Alpine LT GTX
Kenetrek Mountain Light
Kayland Apex Trek eVent
Garmont Dakota
Merrell Cadence Waterproof Mid
Lowa Uplander GTX
New Balance 1500
Cabelas Outfitter Pro Hunting 9"
LL Bean Cresta All Leather
Lathrop & Sons Lundhag Polar Quest
Zamberlan Baffin GT
Hi-Tec Peak II
Kayland Dragonfly eVent
Kayland Legend eVent
Asolo TPS 520 GV
Zamberlan Oregon GT
Zamberlan Lhasa GT
Boreal Tacul Trek
Asolo Power Matic 200 GV
Garmont Tower Lite GTX
Garmont Vetta Hike GTX
Danner Desert Eagle GTX
Kenetrek Cowboy Pac Boot
Danner Vandal
Hanwag Banks GTX Hiking Boot from Lathrop & Sons


Here is the complete list of footwear that I am working with.  Footear Evaluation List-revised 9/15/08

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back. 

A picture perfect or "chamber of commerce" winter day in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Hoofing it on the trail is still the best way I know of to burn calories and clear my head. 

I get messages from readers everyday.  It is great to hear from you and I appreciate you support very much but it still surprises me that so many people are reading what I write.  There have been a number of recurring themes to your comments that I would like to address today.  

First and foremost it is clear that you appreciate my approach to this whole thing and that there is an audience for honest, straight forward opinions about gear.  According to you, the articles are informative and entertaining which must be the reason for the sites steady but strong growth in popularity because it certainly isn't my stunning good looks.  It is a little weird though.  I got my first "hey you're that Hardcore guy on the internet right" the other day at REI.  Ironic isn't it that the non-people person guy gains a little notoriety which causes him to have more interaction with...people.  It must be the 'stache.  Chicks dig it and men admire it.  Anyway, I sincerely thank all of you for visiting this site.  I am glad that you get something out of it.  There may be some subtle changes going forward but good information on great gear will remain the cornerstone of Hardcore Outdoor.    

Second.  Many of you would like me to expand the subject matter beyond gear.  Aside from the always lovely and talented Mrs. Nelson, I have two great passions.  One is gear and the things I do with it and the other is politics.  While I hold strong, principled opinions about both I am always challenging them with new information.  I have tried from the start to keep this site focused on gear and not let my politics seep through but the truth is that it is hard to separate me from current political topics and events.  I usually know what is going on and always have something to say about it.  How this country is governed is not only important to me, it is a fascinating study of people.  Again, ironic that a non-people person person is so taken with the study of people.  It is also interesting to note that the articles that have elicited the greatest amount of feedback from you are the ones that have digressed into areas other than gear.  So, I will open things up a little.  Not much, this is not going to become a political rant site nor will we deal with private issues like religion.  I don't have an axe to grind, I am not interested in taking up any causes and I am not writing any manifestos.  Just some political condiments now and then to spice things up. 

People keep asking me what party I belong to and the truth is, I am and have been a registered Independent for many years because I refuse to be pigeon holed and I refuse to be told what to think.  I had a Government teacher in high school that I liked to argue with and he got back at me by driving me crazy for a few weeks with a question I couldn't answer to his satisfaction.  Every day at the beginning of class he would as me why I was going to go to college.  He finally relented when I answered "to learn how to think".  His immediate counter was "why do you want to go to law school"?  I thought for a moment and said "to learn how to think like a lawyer".  That stuck with me.  My political beliefs are an amalgam of everything I have learned, seen and experienced in my life and they defy a simple label.  I don't go along just to get along.  I think for myself and am prepared to pay whatever that might cost me in terms of wealth, friendship or comfort.

Third.  You want to know why I don’t ever post your comments?  I don’t post comments because this is not a forum, it is a blog.  A blog is written by someone just arrogant enough to believe that other people will be interested in what he has to say but doesn't have the patience to deal with all the potentially bothersome comments from the nattering nabobs of negativism.  Posting comments leads to a public back and fourth and frankly that is more administrative work than I care to do.  I have enough on my plate.  However, you should know that I do respond to all comments privately through email.  If you like the give and take of a forum, my two favorite are Monster Muleys and Backpacker Magazine.  Two totally different groups of people that also love the outdoors.    

Lastly, the most common question I get is why I love it “out there” so much?  Sort of a touchy feely question for this group I thought but whatever.  I go “out there” because I love it.  It is pure, honest and uncompromising.  Black and white.  Good and bad.  No BS.  No gray areas.  It never lies to me and it never cheats me.  It is also an adventure.  A contest of my wit, skill and grit against the boonies.  From a therapeutic viewpoint, it is so big out there that any problems I am wrestling with in my head seem puny and insignificant by comparison.  Even the major league downers like the colossal buffoonery I am seeing in Washington and Wall Street cannot survive a good work out on the trail.  It may take 10 miles and some extra sweat but I always feel better when I get back to the truck then when I left it.  The physical effort, the beautiful scenery, and the humbling size of the mountains are still the best medicine I know of.  And, at least for now, it is free.   It is also a great place to think.  Some of my best stuff comes from these sessions.

Case in point.  Here is one of my recent epiphanys.  It has always bugged me that people bring their dogs with them on the trail.  It is not because I don't like dogs.  I like dogs, real dogs not those Paris Hilton clutch dogs, I am a Black Lab owner.  I just don't think they belong on the trail or at least any semi-urban mountain preserve trail that I happen to be using.  What really chaps my ass though is when they, the dogs, crap on the trail and they, the owners, don't address it immediately.  But it dawned on me recently that I didn't feel the same about horseshit on the trail.  I was horrified when I realized that I had not been applying my judgmental morality equitably and fairly.  I was in fact showing a prejudice against the dog in favor of the horse.

It struck me immediately that I had to rectify this incongruity in my program lest my hypocrisy be revealed to the world and my credibility ruined.  This was a fly in the ointment.  A flaw in my universe that demanded attention and a workable solution even if the entire notion was a direct violation of the 30 second rule imposed on me by my brother (more on that later).  Now, I am aware that this would cause the normal person no heart burn whatsoever if they had thought of it at all but I am not normal.  Anyway, I could apply the same set of rules to the horse riders that the dog owners are subject to, which is to pick up after their dogs with the blue bags that are strategically cached throughout the preserve but as anyone who has been around horses for any length of time or ever seen a parade knows, the sheer volume of waste that spills out the southern end of a north bound horse makes this inconvenient if not completely impractical.  At the very least, it would require a great deal more blue bags which I know the city cannot afford in this economy.  So it was obvious, the only viable position for me to adopt on the matter was that I had to accept the occasional dog turds on the trail.  It took me about 2.5 miles to work that all out but order was eventually restored to my world and all is right again.  I adapted, I improvised, I over came.  Nice eh? 

So, you want talk about something other gear once in a while.  OK, here you go.  Hang on.

 
I say this place needs a good, thorough cleaning and fumigation from one end to the other.  It has been a dirty, filthy, stinking cesspool of greed, arrogance and self-indulgence for far too long.  Kick everyone of them out and start over.  

Speaking of colossal buffoonery on Wall Street and in Washington DC.  I am not the smartest guy in the world, I readily admit that, but I do have a college degree in political science and have held management positions with two of the largest accounting firms in the world so I am not a complete dummy.  Does anyone else think that it just might be time to stop everything and demand the resignation of all of these people?  I mean stop paying, stop working, stop buying, stop traveling, stop making deposits, stop producing anything until these yoyos figure out that they are way out of line and we have had enough. 

Regardless of where you reside on the political spectrum you have to be disgusted with the mess that we are in and stunned by the amount of money our elected and appointed officials are throwing at it.  As of today, our government has spent or pledged more than 9 trillion dollars to clean it up.  That is money we do not have.  Money we are borrowing.  Money our children and grandchildren will still be repaying long after we have turned to dust.  We’ve never done this before.  In fact, no one has ever done this before.  Debt of this magnitude is unprecedented in all of history.  Does anyone even know what a trillion is?  Do we actually have a trillion of anything?  Where do we keep it?  I would like to see a trillion of something laid out in front of me.

I keep hearing that the problem was that the investment bankers came up with these debt instruments that were so complex nobody really knew how to analyze and grade them so they just graded the firms issuing them and they sold like hotcakes.  Dear reader, the problem goes much deeper than that but the two main culprits I see here are complexity and debt.  We have made things way to complex for our own good and we have become way too comfortable with buying things, everything, on credit.  You know there was a time in this country when you didn't buy something unless you had the money.  Asking to pay over time was something only the poor did.

What's worse is that we are now participating in a world economy where we compete with people in other parts of the world whose labor costs are much lower than ours.  Their labor costs are much lower because their standard of living is much lower than ours.  We won't or can't compete with them which is why jobs, companies and entire industries are moving out of the United States.  Business is about profit and it goes to the most advantageous environment or it dies.  What's worse is that we are allowing foreign workers to sneak into this country by the hundreds of thousands which displaces American workers and depresses wages.  People say that they are just doing the jobs that Americans won't.  Tell me, please, when did Americans become too good to bus tables, clean hotel rooms, rake leaves, flip burgers, wash cars or hang drywall?  About the same time we started borrowing all this money I guess. 

If that were not enough, my biggest fear is that we have at last reached a point on the proverbial slippery slope where those in our society with their hands out wanting something outnumber those doing the producing and giving.  That my fellow citizens is bad.

The machine is out of whack folks.  What we are going through now are the shakes.  Convulsions.  Withdrawls.  Something has to change, dramatically and I think it is going to be our standard of living.  I don't think that we are going to like how it turns out either.  We are at a crossroads.  We have a choice.  Stay divided, turn on each other and pick ourselves apart or suck it up, pull together and work it out.  I do know one thing for sure.  Hope may make you feel better but it won't fix the problem.

Why aren't we grabbing pitch forks and marching on the capital?  Why isn't Private Snowball stomping Private Pyles guts out?  We are distracted.  We are too busy watching Oprah, American Idol or plugged into our iPods, texting or surfing the web to notice what is happening.           

The kicker, as my uncle David likes to say, is that the people who got us into this situation are still on the job.  They are the ones telling us that they know how to fix things.  It appears that we are going to let them try. 

Yep, these are some of the things that I am thinking about.  They are what I worry about. 

I need to take a hike.  A long one.  Maybe even a double.      

Wade Nelson
Editor

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.        

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back. 

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.
  

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.

The Lowa Renegade GTX is light, soft and flexible but is still supportive and waterproof.  Best of all, for those seeking stealthy footwear, they are very quiet and offer excellent tactile feedback.   

I got to spend some time with my brother on his elk hunt this year.  This hunt was special because it was a bow hunt, in a great unit during the rut.  That's mating season for you non-hunting readers.  We would be snooping and pooping very close, within feet at times, of bulls weighing 700 pounds or more.  The normally wary and elusive animals let their guards down once a year due to a hormone induced fog that drives them to seek the company, albeit for a short time, of the females of their species.  Noisy, slobbering, stumbling bulls are all over anything that even sounds or smells like a female.  Yea, you're right.  It is just like college. 

Anyway, stealth was the order of the day so camouflage, scent control and noise discipline were critical to our success.  Not so much for the bulls, they were pretty much oblivious, but for the cows because they are the ones that will give you away.  I took a little criticism from our ace caller, Jay Scott, because my boots were "too loud" as I trailed him and Cody.  See, I was the designated greenhorn camera man on this little adventure.  I brought three sets of boots to test over the week that I planned to be up there.  Danner Pronghorns, Danner Blade GTX and Cabelas Meindl Alaska Hikers.  The Meindls are a big, heavy boot that makes a low clunking noise when they hit rocks so they never even made it out of my bag.  What surprised me was that even the Danners with their lightweight and soft soles, were deemed too loud.  

This quiet boot discussion got me to thinking.  One of the top bowhunters in the country, Dr. Randy Ulmer, lives here in Scottsdale and I know he sometimes wears a Salomon trail running shoe.  I have tested that shoe and it doesn't have nearly enough support for me on the trail let alone for elk hunting.  Don't get me wrong, I am not putting myself in the same class as Randy Ulmer for anything but I am astounded that he is able to use such a light, unsupportive shoe.  Anyway, like I said, the question got me to thinking that I needed to find a good boot for bowhunting.  I'm pretty sure I did. 

A good bowhunting boot should be lightweight but still supportive and it should be waterproof to keep your feet dry and warm.  Most importantly though, it has to have a flexible, soft and quiet outsole for silent sneaking around.  Immediately the Danner Talus came to mind but that was about it until I tried the Lowa Renegade GTX which is the subject of this article.  I think that you bowhunters out there will really like the Renegade.

 
These are genuine Lowa and they come with everything you would expect from a renowned bootmaker.  Quality construction, good design, nice features in a light, comfortable hiker.  They are not as burly as say the Ranger GTX but they aren't supposed to be.  These are made for a different purpose.  Nice lacing system.  

Here are the particulars.

Class-light hiker
Height-7 inches, 7 loops/cleats
Materials-Nubuck leather with a Cordura ankle band
Insulation-none but the low to medium thickness lining is uniformed throughout and conforms and holds the foot well.
Waterproofing-leather is treated for water repellantcy and there is a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable liner.  Mine are leak free so far.
Cushion-good, nice balance between comfort and support for light loads and day hiking on the trail.  The mid and outsoles are thick enough to blunt sharp rocks but you can definitely feel the road.       
Flexibility-excellent, very pliable but not flimsy.  These boots are very easy to walk in. 
Tread-Vibram Vialta provides good shock absorption and grip but the best characteristic is that it is very quiet on most surfaces and terrains.  Lugs are descent and appropriate for the intended purpose. 
Volume-medium to full.  Arch support is good and the heel cup is roomy.   
Width Availability-Yes, the Renegade GTX is available in wide and narrow widths and extended sizes.
Weight-my 45s (Mens 11.5US) weigh 1 lbs 8 ozs per boot
Crampon Compatibility-no.
Quality-high, made in Slovakia.
Break In-none, they are comfy and trail ready right out of the box with no problems.  A lightweight but sturdy boot.


Nothing fancy but the interior is uniformed, smooth and comfortable for long periods of time.  The fully gusseted tongue lays down nicely.  The collar wraps the ankle well but also has a nice Achilles notch that is cut out.

The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is not a heavy duty boot but it is a sturdy all purpose light hiker that is made well.  It is great as a knock around town boot that can also do double duty on the trail for day hiking.  If I were going to put on some jeans and tour the city all day or go for shorts and spend the day on the orienteering course, this would be an outstanding choice.  These boots are that comfortable. 

However, both the pedigree and construction of the Renegade allows them to be used for more serious activities and as I said they have an incredibly quiet but grippy outsole.  Even if you are not one of the very few people that hunt big game with a bow and arrow the Renegade might work for you.  I even think that they would make great patrol or urban tactical boots and they come in basic black.

Thanks.

Wade Nelson
Editor

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.