NAME:	Raymond Estrella
EMAIL:	rayestrellaAThotmailDOTcom
AGE:	49
LOCATION:	Orange County, California, USA
GENDER:	M
HEIGHT:	6' 3" (1.91 m)
WEIGHT:	210 lb (95.30 kg)

I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, plus many western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round in all weather, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I make a point of using lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. Doubting I can ever be truly UL, I try to be as near to it as I can yet still be comfortable. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring/chilling. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with brother-in-law Dave.

INITIAL REPORT

The Product

Manufacturer: Asolo
Web site: www.asolo.com
Product: Everland GV
Year manufactured: 2009
MSRP: N/A
Size: Men's 11 (US)
Sizes available: Men's 6 to 13.5 in half sizes (UK)
Weight listed per boot (size 8 UK): 16.6 oz (470 g)
Actual weight of test boot 18.5 oz (525 g)
Color reviewed: Cendre/Major Brown, also available in Anthracite/Gunmetal and Graphite/Gunmetal

Asolo Everland GV

Product Description

The Asolo Everland GV boots (hereafter called the Everlands or the boots) are a light weight hiking boot, the beefiest of the company's Freeland line of boots. It should be noted that in Italy where these are made "hiking" refers to what we would call trail walking or light day-hiking, not backpacking like many of us in the US think of it. Even though it is aimed at this market my pack weights are such that I will use this for both day-hiking and full-on multi-day backpacking trips.

The Everland is a mid-height boot. In actuality they are more like a high-top trail-runner than any mid that I have owned. They stand 6 in (15 cm) high at the front or tongue area. The dark brown and tan areas of the boots are made of water-resistant suede leather, while the light brown areas are polyester. To make the Everlands truly waterproof a Gore-Tex lining has been included. A very small bit of rubber, and a bigger section of rubberized fabric protects the very front of the toe area.

Front and Back

The tongue is gusseted to help keep water and debris out of the boots, but only protects from water entering to within an inch (2.5 cm) of the top of the ankle cuff. A nylon loop on the upper center section of the tongue holds the laces in the center of the tongue to keep it from sliding sideways into the boot.

The flat nylon laces run through eight pairs of eyes. There are no speed hooks or locking rings. This is back to basics lacing.

Soles

The soles are from Asolo and Vibram and are called Syntex. They are attached to the boot with adhesive rather than a stitched welt construction. The soles are quite thin. The deepest lug is 0.25 in (0.64 cm) at the heel.

Inside of the boots are some very thin insoles that along with the foot bed underneath them are what the company calls the Vario Asoflex system. It is made of three different materials.

The midsole is made up of two types of EVA, a full firm midsole and an added softer area at the heel to give some shock absorption. The insoles are just thin foam.

Insoles

This concludes my Initial Report. I will be getting these outside for some major backpacking shortly. Won't you please come back in two months to see how they do in the field?

My thanks to Asolo and BackpackGearTest.org for the chance to put them to the test.

Test Report by Ray Estrella

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