I bought these after extensively researching light hiking boots for a trip to hike Vancouver Island's coastal trails. These boots received glowing reviews from Outside and Backpacker, but some reader comments about the durability and fit of the shoes concerned me.

Well, believe the hype. These boots are incredibly light (say, the weight of a pair of thick-soled trail running shoes), yet extremely durable. This can be attributed to Kayland using a tough mesh-like upper over leather for the weight savings (also a better choice for the environment). The mesh is a unique resin-coated textile material that appears to be very durable and show no signs of wear after about 40 km of hiking. The fit is comfortable and took about 10 km to truly break in and feel "molded" to my feet. The outsoles are rugged Vibram rubber (also made of recycled materials) and more than handled the rocky, scrambly terrain. But are they truly waterproof? Oh yeah. I tracked them through numerous potholes and wet, muddy terrain, and the e-vent membrane not only kept out water, but breathed better than my heavy Gore-Tex boots.

One caveat, though -- These boots have a VERY narrow fit, and very average sized toebox. I have a narrow foot so the fit was snug, but I think the boots are supposed to fit this way, like a light, sleek hiker as opposed to a heavy, chunky boot. However, those of you with wide feet should avoid, in my opinion.

Nice shoes but they run very small. I wear a 12-12.5 and the 12s were way too tight on the toes. Unfortunately, Patagonia doesn't make a 12.5. Be sure to order up by at leat 1/2 size more than your normal shoe size.

This may be the last hat I ever buy. Water-proof, sweat-proof, and great-looking. The back attachment has a durable clasp with elastic to ensure a great fit. I was very pleased with my purchase!

The Volt jacket is the most versatile The North Face jacket I have found. It is very stylish and cut with a slim, modern look that allows you to wear it with everyday clothes, and the breathable material and water-resistant coating makes it a terrific light raincoat or running jacket. It also is made with a stretch fabric that is very comfortable.
To me, most rain jackets, even the expensive north face ones, just look silly when you wear them, unless it's absolutely pouring out. This jacket's water resistance and sleek styling makes it much more versatile. Although it's only water "resistant" and not water "proof", I found that the water clearly beads up on the jacket's exterior.
All in all, a very useful and versatile jacket that is well worth the money.

These are solid hiking shoes. I took them to Costa Rica and they performed marvelously. They have a rugged tread on the bottom, and the open lacing system gives them a cool sandal-hybrid appearance. However, before you purchase them, be aware of the following:
-- The "charcoal" color is not really charcoal, it's a dark green color. This is not apparent in the picture and a little misleading
-- They take a LONG TIME to dry once they get wet. The leather is waterproof and there is a neoprene sock material inside the shoe, which makes them more versatile when hiking in water or wet environments. But once they were submerged in water, it took them a good 2-3 days to dry out.
-- They run very true to size. I wear a 12 in almost every shoe brand, and the 12 fit me just fine.
In all, these are great shoes by a great company you can really trust in. Keen makes great shoes. If you're looking for a less traditional hiking shoe that is versatile enough to wear on the trail and off, this rugged sandal hybrid is for you.