I've been looking for a good all-purpose hiker with extra stability and traction for my back country jaunts, and Lowa's Vento QC boot fits the bill perfectly.

The mid-height boot has given my feet all the love they need for extended day hikes, off-trail exploration, and even a few overnight camping trips. I'm sold.

I spent a month in Norway this summer, adventuring in the mountains of the Romsdal area. When I was packing, my shoe of choice was the Vento QC shoe because I wanted a boot that was light enough to kick around town in, but supportive enough to get me up and down the steep rocky trails for which the area is famous. I also needed something comfortable enough for the Molde Jazz Festival but burly enough to get me up rocky trails -- if you could even call them trails -- with 5,000 feet of elevation gain and a loaded climbing pack.

There's a lot to like about the Vento QC. First, I love the mid-height cut. Lower cut shoes don't give me the ankle support I want on really rocky trails, and I've suffered many minor twists and sprains over the years due to the wrong footwear. On the other hand, higher cut boots can be restrictive and insensitive when I'm trying to cover ground quickly in slippery stream beds or through talus fields. The Vento QC strikes a nice middle ground.

Unlike a lot of lightweight hikers, the Vento has a good amount of stiffness thanks to a 3/4 length nylon shank. This gives the shoe lateral stability and prevents unwanted flex; at the end of the day, my feet are happier for it. I found this particularly handy on the descent off a massive cliff just opposite Norway's famous Troll Wall.

We'd roped up for the 24-pitch ascent, but the return was a rocky, rutty, absolutely horrible sheep path littered with millions of ankle-twisting jagged rocks. My friends were falling over left and right, but I stayed upright and my feet didn't hurt at the end of the day. I also loved Lowa's super grippy "Cross" outsole -- the aggressive lugs really grabbed the wet, mushy Norwegian mud.

Finally, these boots are perfect for summer. There's a lot of mesh on the shoe, which lets it breathe really well in warmer weather. The Vento also sports a Dri-Lex liner that wicks away sweat really well.

Available in men's and women's sizes.

Bottom Line : Good light- to mid-weight hiking boot perfect for strenuous day hikes and approaches, as well as shorter overnight backpacking trips.