German brand Jack Wolfskin develops gear to help you handle yourself in the hills in all conditions, but in these , they've focused on the cold and icy conditions you encounter in winter and at very high altitudes. Aggressive tread on the outsoles is designed to combat slick, snowy conditions, but works well on crumbly rock and wet grass, too. However, with a Texawarm fleecy lining, these boots are really only for those who live in very cold climates or plan to do a lot of , but own different footwear for spring, summer and fall.
The lining will keep your feet very warm, which is only desirable when outside conditions are very cold, and breathes well when it's cold out. For such robust boots, they're surprisingly lightweight and the midsole has a bit of flex so you can walk with normal gait, while you will get a little trail sensation underfoot on rocky paths. The lining itself did pose a little bit of a problem for us, as combined with a narrower toe box it meant there wasn't quite enough room for our toes.
Once we sized up, we found that our feet had plenty of room, but the lacing system didn't really allow for a very snug fit around the ankle. Ultimately, this meant a little rubbing and toe bashing on a steep downhill, though thicker socks might limit this. The waterproof lining works great as long as you don't go too deep and the reinforced uppers do deliver plenty of protection against rocks.
The price is good and we like the lack of , but we'd be more likely to wear the.
