La Sportiva Venture XCR Mid ($125):
There’s gonna be a lotta ground to cover, and you never know what you’ll be up against. So geocachers assume they'll see it all: water crossings, mud, rock, pavement, dirt, hardpack—the works. In sum: be prepared. And for that, the La Sportiva Venture XCR Mid boot has you covered with exceptional out-of-the-box comfort and all-weather construction. Did we mention exceptional comfort? Of course we did, and we'll say it again, because you won't—repeat won't—get blisters from these babies, even on the longest schleps. The cool-running mesh-leather uppers fit like your favorite Levis, and they're backed up by an ultra-breathable barrier of Gore-Tex XCR for weatherproofing. La Sportiva obviously tapped into its climbing shoe quiver with the Venture, because its FriXion outsole uses a rubber compound that's grippy on the loose stuff and downright sticky on smooth surfaces. The outsole isn’t as unforgivingly rigid as many hikers, and that's an advantage where sensitivity and precision maneuvering on tricky terrain come into play. Not to sound like a skipping CD, but as multi-mile trail comfort goes, the contoured heel checks blister-causing heel lift, and the cushioning of the entire heel area eats up bumps like shock absorbers. Contact 303-443-8710, www.sportiva.com.
