Not too long ago heavy over-the-ankle leather hiking boots were considered the footwear of choice for scrambling up peaks and traveling rugged trails with a heavy load. Now rugged low-cut options like the Vasque Men's Kota GTX Hiking Shoe offer a lightweight alternative to their clunky predecessors. Although they may not be the best choice for those who have a history of twisting their ankles for everyone else they're definitely worth trying. The cleat inspired Racer X lug outsole grips with tenacity on everything from snowfield traverses to scree-choked gullies. But what really separates the Vasque Kota GTX from its look-alike running shoe cousins is the stiff molded thermoplastic urethane (TPU) plate with heel stabilizer that gives the shoe such a supportive underfoot feel on uneven terrain. The 1.8mm waterproof nubuck and pig suede leather upper with rubber toe bumper stands up to off-trail abuse while a Gore-Tex® liner serves as a layer of protection from mis-steps at shallow stream crossings. In their 2007 Gear Guide Backpacker magazine crowned the Vasque Kota GTX Hiking Shoe for men as the Best Low-Cut for Backpacking. One reason they singled this shoe out for praise was the fact that a test pair roamed 400 miles before the outsoles wore out. Right out of the box the Vasque Men's Kota GTX Hiking Shoe is a little bit stiff but after a few test drives around the neighborhood they break-in nicely yet maintain the stiffness one desires for carrying an overnight pack on varied terrain. Do your adventures usually take place in dry environments? Then be sure to check out the Vasque Kota Day Hiker a similar model that does not include the Gore-Tex® liner.