The full grain American leather uppers have that classic look of traditional boots, to the extent that it comes as a surprise how light the boots actually are when you pick them up, and mounted on a Vibram Phoenix sole they exude a feel of quality. In practice the leather uppers are actually surprisingly soft and flexible, although both the toe box and heel cup retain enough rigidity and stiffness to protect the foot from knocks and bangs. Underfoot the footbed and insole are a little less padded and supportive than some giving a "firm" footfall that some may wish to customise for long treks with a replacement insole, but for day to day purposes the standard setup is certainly adequate.
We've tested the sole unit on a variety of terrains from Peak District peat moorlands to Snowdonia scrambles and we've not had any real issues. The grip is quite aggressive, particularly on peat where the lugs are deep enough to grip the peat even on steepish anged slopes. On rock the grip is again aggressive and positive, although this is where the durability of the 2.44mm leather uppers may come into question as it takes scuffs and scratches easily.
Where the KSB differs from the vast majority of boots these days is its choice of eVent for the lining. If there is anywhere that eVent holds a possible advantage over Goretex it's in boots, and despite being supporters of Gore in general we have to admit that the breathability of the eVent lining was a revalation. Even as the mercury reached the low 20s the boot remained surprisingly breathable for a full leather boot and at just 660g the KSB Skye X-Lite isn't that far off fabric boot weights.
Price: £100.00
Weight: 1320g
Colour: Brown
Features:
- 2.4mm American Full Grain Leather upper
- eVent waterproof lining
- Vibram Phoenix sole
Pros: eVent lining for breathability, Vibram Phoenix sole for grip. Price.
Cons:
Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.