Timberland’s All Mountain Inferno Mid Hybrid is the perfect lightweight boot for fast hikers looking for additional support from a mid-ankle design.
Most fast paced hikers and backpackers prefer the freedom of a light shoe that fits below the ankle. This allows for better freedom of movement but lacks any ankle support that’s needed when you reach steep or rugged areas. Fortunately Timberland’s All Mountain Inferno is available in a mid-ankle design, and is a great choice that provides extra support while maintaining all of the characteristics of a fast hiking shoe.
The All Mountain Inferno Hybrid features a combination of mesh and a synthetic upper that’s very breathable and is combined with a GORE-TEX® membrane to keep your feet dry. A padded and gusseted tongue and a scree collar keep out debris from getting into your shoe. This comes in handy when you’re moving quickly over sandy terrain, while the Vibram®outsole’s provide excellent traction.
We teamed up the Timberland All Mountain Inferno Hybrid with a pair of Dahlgren Light Hiking socks and made a quick pace up a six mile trek that started along a sandy dry river wash, up hard-packed dirt, and scrambling over waist high boulders to reach the top of a 9,000 foot peak.
Like most fast hiking boots, the All Mountain Inferno Hybrid’s upper is very flexible and allows it to perform like a running shoe when you need it. But on uneven terrain, the boot’s TPU plate and Polyurethane insert in the heel provided lots of stability and support. The boot fit true to size, this one being a men’s 11.5 (US) and the speed-laces tighten up easily and quickly.
What we liked most about the Timberland All Mountain Inferno Hybrid is the traction and light weight feeling that you don’t normally expect from a mid-ankle boot. The removable OrthoLite® insole also helped to provide a very comfortable experience and kept our knees and ankles from absorbing extra shock on the trail.
Our test pair came in a green Kiwi color, which got us lots of attention on the trail. While some people liked the color, others thought it was too bright. Timberland offers the All Mountain Inferno in brown and it’s also available in a low-cut design; both retail around $120. For more information, visit www.timberland.com
