Kayland Vertigo High Backpacking Boot - Men's - 2009 BCS

The boot ran small to size. It feels like a good boot. Having issues with different brands and spending to much sending them back each time.10.5 to tight and no 11 in sight. Got a 11 with another brand boot and too big. fustrated!

These boots are perfect for backpacking in winter or wet conditions! They are very durable and hold up well! The eVent waterproofing is great, and they're very comfortable, but also a tad expensive. If you can find them on sale, go for them; you won't regret it - I don't!

Plan and simple:
- Well designed boot. Ergonomic design matches the outer curvature of the foot perfectly.

- Climbing-rubber wrapped toe provides protection on the rocky trails that could otherwise scuff the living crap out of your boots.

- Definitely rigid enough to carry a multi-day pack. On the other hand, I did do the rock scramble at Old Rag Mountain in Virginia, which is no walk in the park, and they were flexible enough to provide maneuverability. On stiffness, I would have to agree with Kayland and give them a 6.5 out of 10.

-The high ankle provided some much needed support.

- I wear a 8.5 w so i got the size 9 (no wide available.) Surprisingly room toe box. The laces extend all the way down to the toe which allows a truly customized fit.

- The Event liner is much more breathable than Gore-tex. I haven't spent an extended amount of time in water so I don't have an accurate assessment of waterproofness, but the few puddles and streams that i crossed didnt give me any trouble.

- Plenty of grip and traction.

- No blister or any foot problems on first hike. My brother has the Asolo tps and he is still getting blister after 3 hikes.

- They could potentially use a new insert pad rather than the stock insert. It was a but rough on the ball of the foot.

- Highly recomended

- Previous boots: Asolo FSN 95 GTX

Most boots need a break-in period. These felt great right out of the box. Lacing to the toe allows you to have them as loose or as tight as you want them, although people with wider feet may find them a little snug around the toes. They breathe well, and seem just about waterproof. Arch support is adequate. I have worn these in snow and slush, and my feet stayed dry. I have also worn them on backpacking trips (with a heavy load) and found they are comfortable with good support. Overall, this is a fantastic boot.

First off, the comfort is instant if the shape works for you. A little slim in the forefoot for some; you may have to go up a half size. I have the previous year's model which seems pretty similar.
Seems w/p and pretty durable. The sole is very grippy on rock; with the trim profile these boots make great mountain scramblers.
Underfoot cushioning is okay, ankle support likewise. in my opinion these excel at scrambling and light-weight backpacking, and not so much for rough, heavy loads where you may want a little more support and perhaps cushioning..

Well after a couple decades I gave up on Goretex to keep my feet dry from the inside. I just have to admit I have sweaty feet and an allday hike would leave my feet like they had been standing in a tub all day, and of course that brings blisters. I have tried different insoles as I have long narrow feet and need to fill the boot volume, however most all insoles are insulating heat producers and contribute to the problem. The Kayland factory insole is a thin breathable unit which may not have the longevity desired, but with a felt insert below, serves me well for a great fit aided by the laces to toe design. After a couple weekenders, I spent a week long hike (with two days in the rain) and can now heartily recommend this boot, as well as the great service & tech advice from Backcountry.com. Good support and no blisters. The soles are a little slick and the boot runs narrower than normal, which is good for a A/B foot width like mine. They are my new "Old Friends".

I ended up changing to a different boot. I went up a size and they were still too narrow, and I was afraid to go up farther. I liked the quality and design, but couldn't get the right size.

I have done many summers leading 5-day backpacking treks in the Adirondacks, and I had always worn a mid-cut, lightweight hiking boot. I was in the market for some new boots, and when I looked at these initially I balked: they look too heavy and stiff for my tastes. Like a cross between an approach shoe and a mountaineering boot.

After I tried them on, I changed my opinion completely. These are MUCH lighter than they look, fit my (narrow) feet like a glove with no pressure points on the laces, and while they aren't as flexible as I'm used to, that might be a good thing as I get older.

I took them on a "break-in" 3-day trip over Labor day to the Pharaoh wilderness. 2 eight mile days with a 30lb pack with a 7 mile mountain hike in between. Nothing rigorous, but these boots didn't give me a single blister, and my feet weren't screaming to be out of them at any point. It was bone-dry, so I can't account for the eVent, but the rubber is sticky enough for any rock, and there is enough ankle support without inhibiting your motion.

Overall, this is a dynamite boot, and I'm glad I went for something new. I can't wait to test them out in snow shoeing season, and I feel that these could last me long enough to hand down to the kids I don't have yet.

I bought these boots prior to doing a 5 day section of the northern Long Trail in Vermont. I wear exclusively Smartwool socks, and this seemed to be a good combination. The overall fit and comfort of these boots was fine, and the break in period was minimal. The eVent seemed to mostly do its job, and while my feet got clammy when walking for hours in the rain and mud, they did not prune up.
My biggest complaint is that Kayland does not offer wide sizes. I wear a 9.5-10.5 and went with the size 10. I had plenty of wiggle room from top to bottom, but my feet get squeezed laterally during long descents. I would prefer a wide 9.5, which would have been a perfect fit. I am keeping the boots, but buying trecking poles to minimize the toe-bang.
Despite my complaining, I maintain that my overall opinion is quite good. These are high quality boots that didn't cause the slightest blister in very wet and muddy conditions with serious trail grades both up and down.

I took these straight out of the box and did 25 miles over two days. No blisters.

Just be careful not to twist your ankle.

These boots will stand up to almost anything. I have worn them in mud, snow, hot summer days, and my feet have never gotten wet. The only complaint I have is that the bed liner is a little thin and has caused some knee pain after long days in the boots.