Product Review: Asolo Men's TPS 520 GTX Boot

So for our little 4 day excursion into Peru's Lares Valley, I decided to get myself a serious pair of hiking boots. Even though we would only be carrying daypacks, I needed a boot that could support my weak ankles, propel me up steep trails to 14,000 feet and withstand some extreme scree surfing. After months of research I decided on the Asolo TPS 520 GTX.

At first glance these boots are as attractive as they are formidable. Full-grain leather uppers with superior ankle supports, Vibram insoles and dual density soles at a total weight of almost 3.5 lbs. Putting them on felt like slipping into a pair of old sneakers.

Break-in was done along the Appalachian Trail at High Point, NJ and Delaware Water Gap trails. While not always the steepest of trails, they are known to be rocky and can put some serious wear on the best of boots. There is a stiffness in the shank of these boots that does not go away with break-in. Which is great with highly technical trails with heavy loads but makes for less comfort on the typical backpacking route. I would also recommend that, if you plan on wearing thick socks or have anything but the narrowest of feed, to get the wide cut version. Asolo by design seems to cut their boots narrow with a low volume toe box so the extra width will add to your comfort. All told, between training with a heavy pack through the trip I logged about 200 miles in these boots. To date it the mileage is approaching 350.

After continuing to use these boots throughout training and the trip, I can say that these boot performed superbly. They stood up to harsh Andean conditions and showed little signs of wear after 40 hard fought miles. My feet stayed dry in stream crossings (no gaiters, but the streams did not come over the boots). Minor point but if you bang your toes on alot of things like I do, then it would ahve been nice to have a higher toe guard as the leather takes a beating on rocks.

Overall, I would highly recommend for advanced hikes with medium to heavy pack loads. However, I would go with a boot with a bit more forgiveness in the mid-sole for less challenging hikes or treks where you are only required to carry a daypack.


Pros

- Top quality construction
- Excellent ankle support
- Rugged dual density soles hold up on rocks
- Effective waterproofing
- Seriously stiff mid-sole

Cons

- Price (Retail $215)
- Stiff midsole may not be to everyones liking
- Difficult to size due to narrow cut (particularly when your local store does not carry them)

Final Thought: World class boot for advanced hikes with moderate to heavy packs

Gear Review: Katadyn Pocket Water Filter

We always like to research (sometimes ad nauseum) the gear we buy, so this piece of equipment was no exception. Truthfully this was the first water filter we were going to buy so we wanted to do it right - get something that would survive being dropped on a rock or trampled by a pack horse. So, we settled on the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter.

First off - weighing in at a hefty 20 ounces (presumable not built for the "go lite" crowd), height of 10" and retailing at around $200 we're not sure why it is called a "pocket" water filter. However what this filter gives up in portability, it makes up for in durability. Made of heavy duty aluminum, this was the filter we were looking for.

Our first shot at using the Katadyn was on the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario. While the scenery was perfect the water was a bit murky so we figured what better place to break it in. We pumped greenish-brown water in and got clear, clean water out. Good start but who was going to take the first swig? We flipped a coin and Sunny came out on the short end...I drank and lived to tell ("tasted" like good, clean tap water). Note to self - when pumping murky water, use the pad to clean the ceramic filter each day. Whatever makes the water green (ie. algae) also clogs to tiny little pores in the ceramic.

So, off to Peru we go..surprisingly enough (or maybe not so much) we used our water filter more in the hotel than out on the trail. We were scared off drinking straight tap water by all the health warnings against nasty things like hepatitis...with bottled water in the fridge running $7 a bottle we decided to pump our own. On the trail, we plunged our filter into the cold streams of the Andes that all appeared beautifully pristine until you realized the valley floor was COVERED in llama, shall we say, droppings. So pump we did..

Manufacturer specs say with a clean filter you can pump 1 liter per minute which we found to be fairly accurate. You can pump as furiously as you like thanks to a solid, all aluminum handle that won't snap off like "lesser" filters. The technology behind the scenes is 0.2 micron ceramic depth filter, fine enough to filter out just about anything you can throw at it (however Lepro is still questionable and is purported to be able to make it through even .1 micron). I like this quote from the manufacturer but not sure how to confirm the stated fact that the "silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa".

We liked the lifetime guarantee and the 13,000 liter capacity on the filter; ensuring you won't be running out to buy a new cartridge after every trip. The kit comes with a carry case, sterile and non-sterile tubing and a cleaning pad for the ceramic. All in all...if you are looking for an indestructible, reliable, high capacity filter....this will do it for you.

Pros:

• Katadyne - a leading name in water filtration
• Construction / durability
• High capacity

Cons:

• Cost
• Weight (about 20 ounces)
• Murky water can easily clog the ceramic filter (typical of any ceramic filter)