Overall: 4.1
　　Excellent fit, sturdy support, and classic styling earned this hiker kudos as an all-around great value.
　　A day after blistering his shins while climbing in stiff mountaineering boots, Steve laced up a new pair of Crestas ($169) and marched off into Montanas Selway Bitterroot 　　Wilderness. He credits the dead-on sizing, no-slip heel cup, and flexible-yet-supportive tongue with saving him from certain pain over the next 12 days. Other testers concurred about the excellent fit, a result of three width choices and a high-volume toebox that anticipates normal "trail swell."
　　Jon gave the Crestas an enthusiastic thumbs-up for stability and support after hauling a 95-pound load out of the Grand Canyon. The support is due to the thick (2.5 mm) full-grain leather, which kept its shape after break-in, a padded ankle that cinches without pinching, and a stable footbed. The comfort was so good that Kari would "hike all day, then wear the Crestas on a 3-hour drive home." Weatherproofing and traction were also top-notch. Kari said the Gore-Tex liner and fully gusseted tongue were "as effective as wearing dry bags on my feet." She also liked the aggressive tread and rigid sole, which let her scramble up wet rocks and edge along steeps in the Whites.
　　Our complaints were minor. Gina found the heel cup too big for her narrow heel, which caused some slipping. And we all wished there were a toe cap to prEVENT scuffing.
　　Contact: L.L. Bean, (800) 809-7057; www.llbean.com.
　　Montrail TORRE GTX
　　Overall: 3.9
　　These slipperlike midweights feel light on your feet without sacrificing protection.
　　Gina summed up our initial impression of the Torre GTX ($150): "Felt good out of the box and only got better." Break-in was speedy due to the soft nubuk uppers, which conformed to feet of varying shapes, and the deep Achilles notch, which minimized rubbing behind the ankle. The supple leather and rigid sole offered, in Annettes words, "a lot of support and no excess bulk. They feel like shoes, not clunky boots."
　　After toting a 45-pound load for a week on Californias Lost Coast, Gina said, "The Torres provided dependable traction on rain-slick boulders, and great arch and ankle support on the rocky cliffs and beaches." Support is bolstered by cushy ankle padding and quick, snug lacing. A half-length steel shank adds stiffness, but be cautious about overburdening these boots. Jon and I wanted more midsole cushion for big loads.
　　A Gore-Tex liner kept two testers feet dry during a week of driving rain on the Lost Coast, yet the relatively thin (2 mm) leather made them tops for hot-weather hiking. A slightly higher cut would keep out debris better.
　　Our main reservation with the Torre was the thin leather. The sturdy rubber toe cap did an admirable job of protecting our toes, but the upper on Mikes boot suffered a bad 　　gash from a sharp piece of limestone.
　　Contact: Montrail, (800) 647-0224; www.montrail.com.

　　DUNHAM TRAIL TRIUMPH
　　Overall: 3.7
　　This boot boasts ample padding and cushion, and a sole thats best suited to packed trails.
　　Comfortable padding, thick full-grain leather, and dependable support earned the Trail Triumph ($150) all-around praise from testers. Steve called them "dirt-tough boots, with good underfoot cushion and a sticky sole."
　　The Trail Triumphs required a longer break-in period (at least a week of steady hiking), but as Mike said, "Once broken-in, they molded perfectly to my feet and never lost their shape." They proved best for low-volume feet and narrow to medium heels, and are available in four widths.
　　Testers were mixed on the merits of the sole, which is made from a proprietary material called Snail Rubber. Kari and I both liked its springiness on forest trails and grip on wet rocks, but after a few trips on abrASIve sandstone, Mike pronounced, "The Grand Canyon will eat this sole soon." We got excellent ankle support from the stiff uppers and well-padded collar, and good torsional stiffness for traversing boulder fields. Downside: This was the heaviest boot by 8 ounces.