Description of Kayland Apex Trek Mountaineering Boot - Men's:
Lace up the Kayland Men’s Apex Trek Mountaineering Boot for demanding Himalayan treks or your next trip to the Cascades. Thanks to its rigid platform and eVent waterproof breathable membrane, this boot tackles everything from rugged trails to summer glacier crossings. The Vibram Tsavo sole provides traction on slick terrain, and Kayland’s Ankle Lock System adds support.
Bottom Line: Head for the summit with the Apex Trek.
Reviews (6):
Average Rating:
still great, but not an 'all mountain' boot 08-17-09
I love these boots, and I'll still giving them a 5 star rating, but with a qualification: these boots are sufficient for any climbs above 40°F where crampons are not required. Outside those limits, I prefer to have a bit more boot.
LACK OF STIFFNESS: I needed crampons all the way up and down Mt. Baker. As compared to my "big leather" boots or my plastics, with these I couldn't front-point with my crampons. The boot and my foot just flexed away. For reference, I'm 5'10" and 180lbs.
The lack of longitudinal stiffness meant I had to side-step. A lot. While that isn't normally a problem, these boots also lacked lateral stiffness. My ankles were able to pivot a bit too much, forcing me to use additional muscle strength to prevent it. That in turn put a lot more strain on my knees.
I nearly rolled my ankles a couple times descending from base camp with a full pack. That never happens with my heavier boots.
INSULATION: We paused for snacks at 9,300'. In the few moments paused there, my toes went from tolerably cold to nearly numb. It was slightly below freezing and the wind was gusting around 40mph. The boots stayed dry all the way down the mountain, slogging through corn snow.
While great on the hike in to base camp, and excellent on other lighter climbs, they are not quite enough boot for "big" mountain climbs.
I just returned from a trek in Nepal. I received the boots from backcountry.com just a week before the trip, so I had no time to break them in.I know how dumb it looks, but the trip just fell into our laps and we had to go. The Kaylands didn't need breaking in. They were just a perfect fit for my 51 year old size 13 feet. The Apex is super light and solid as a rock. I have been a Vasque fan since the first Sundowner. I am on my third pair, and I also have a pair of Highlanders that I may never break in. The Kayland Apex boots did everything I asked them to do, with ease. No blisters or hot spots. The only hot spot was Nepal,@100deg.F. each day. Never thought I would have a heat stroke in Nepal. The only problem I had in regard to the boots, were keeping the porters and other staff on the trek from trying to convince me to give them the boots when the trek was over. They were all wearing sandals, which just blew us away. Fantastic boots for the money!!!! Thank you, Kayland.
The Apex Trek fits the slot nicely between a backpacking boot and a mountaineering boot. Kayland rates the sole stiffness as a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 and I think the average backpacking boot would have a stiffness of 4 or 5. What Kayland has done with the Apex Trek is to shape the rocker with a curve upwards in the front which allows the normal stride to be comfortable while still giving all the support of a stiff soled boot. I use this boot for backpacking and can do 12-15 mile days with all the comfort of a softer boot, yet I don't have to fear scree or rough crosscountry travel. The event liner keeps my foot dry and transfers prespiration from my socks leaving my foot dryer than GTX. The soles accept some types of crampons. The boot is extremely light weight when compared to most light mountaineering boots and yet there is no limitation on pack weight due to the construction of the boot.
The only "con" besides the appearance [ugly color] is that I'm not crazy about the self locking eyelets at the center pivot point. They are difficult to get to lock and then are difficult to get to release. Its a small objection because overall the boot is superior to any others in its class.
