Zamberlan  996 Vioz GTX Hiking Boots - Men's

I wear my “Zamberghinis” almost every day on the job as an exploration geologist in Alaska and I would NEVER pick a different boot. The break-in period was a bit rough, so plan accordingly if you decide to get them (don’t put them immediately to the test on a 15 mile day out of the box… don’t ask my why I know) but once they form to your feet you’ll never want to take them off. The tread design is very distinct: it almost feels like your foot “rocks” forward with each step. The only downside is the leather is fairly soft and can get gouged up in scree/talus slopes, but other than that, an all around bombproof boot.

I bought these boots just over two years ago and used them moderately. These boots were one of several pairs I had, so they were not used a ton. Just after the two-year warranty expired, I realized that both soles had come apart near the front of the boot - to the point that they were unusable. I contacted Zamberlan. They initially told me that the would take care of resoling, I sent them my address information, and they "ghosted" me - did not respond to multiple emails and submissions on their customer service website. There is no phone number to call to contact a person on the Zamberlan website. I have had many pairs of boots. This is the first to fall apart this way, and the customer service response was astoundingly poor. Stay away!!

I bought these after seeing all the 5‑star reviews (“Zamberghinis”) and really wanted to like them. After about 150 miles, I can confidently say these are the most uncomfortable boots I’ve owned. No matter what, my plantar area gets sore on every hike. I’ve swapped through every liner and sock combo I own, but the heel blisters still happen. The toe box was originally too narrow and gave me blood blisters, but that stopped after a few hikes once it stretched out. I verified I was in the right size based on the maker’s guidance. They’re also noticeably heavier and clunkier than my Sportiva boots which I’ll be going back to. Unfortunate.

This is my 5th pair of Zamberlans I think over about 12 or 14 years. The Zamberlan wide lasted boots provide the best fit for a wide foot (10 1/2 W) of any other boot/shoe I’ve found. These are now my daily wear after many years of running and doing damage to arches, heels and ankles. And they’re very nice looking too so they go everywhere with me. I like the version with the rubber wrap around the toe for durability outside but this version is the go to all round boot. Thank you Zamberlan!!

wore these for my multi-day everest base camp trek. i wear size 13 (pretty large) and didn't have room in the bags for these, so i wore them for the travel as well. ABSOLUTELY love them. very VERY comfortable, real 100% waterproof, bullet proof.

These are probably the best hiking boots I have ever owned, even better than my Asolos. Hopefully they will hold up better than the Asolos with their reputation for the sole separating after a few months of use. The ankle support is excellent and grip on slick or loose dirt surfaces is superior. I wore them for a couple of weeks to help break them in and then switched back to a synthetic boot from another manufacturer at the onset of summer. As it has started cooling down now, I switched back to the Zamberlans. It was then that I realized just how much more comfortable they really are. I wear them with custom orthotics with no problem. Zamberlans are well worth the money. Be sure to buy some of their leather care cream to go with them and apply it every few weeks to maintain the leather.

Best boot I have had in the last 55 years. Comfortable fit. Rugged and durable. Craftmanship is supurb. Easy to lace. Secure on the feet. I've hiked 500+ miles in these boots, and they fit like I just bought them. I started hiking in 1969 and have backpacked in every major and most minor mountain ranges in the west. My highest recommendation.

I purchased a pair of these boots 5 years ago. Gave them a 5 star review then but it looks to be gone. I have hiked the Rocky Mountain National Park 4 times, took them on backpacking trips local hiking and for long hours at trade shows and my feet are always comfortable. Wipe some of their waterproof grease on them and they look like new. This is the best pair of hiking boots ever. You pay a little more but it’s worth it.

Footwear is an incredibly personal experience. We all have our own requirements and expectations and different body shapes. Footwear also changes as it shapes to your foot and as they wear. I’ve had boots that were comfortable at first and gradually became unwearable. This is true even among a single brand. These are the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned and they continue to be comfortable throughout their entire life. I wear boots almost exclusively. If I don’t have boots on I’m wearing sandals. I own about a dozen styles of boot, most are variations of hiking boots but also a couple pairs of mountaineering and hunting boots that are only worn for those activities. I honestly don’t wear any of the other hiking style boots. None of them are as comfortable or provide the same level of protection and support. These things are as close to 4 wheel drive as you can put on your foot. They’ve got a lot of ankle support that makes a huge difference on uneven surfaces. My feet don’t get tired in these. The fact that they are leather and the design doesn’t include a joint near the toe means there’s nothing to annoy your toes being worn all day. They stay dry in the worst Oregon weather I can throw at them and even when I get too deep or it’s impossible to stay dry, they maintain their shape when they dry if steps are taken to dry them properly. I made the mistake of falling into the ocean surf fishing while wearing them and continued to wear them for several hours wading. As soon as I got home, they were rinsed off well and stuffed full of paper towels to dry and I still wear them today. I failed to do the same thing with another identical pair and the inside separated from the liner which created a crease near the toes and made them unusable. I wear these year round in weather ranging from over 100° to subzero and my feet are always comfortable as long as I’m moving. They’re not specifically insulated but they have enough materials in the construction to provide insulating benefits. There’s boots I’ve really liked and I’ve owned more than one pair but there’s no other boots I’ve owned 9 pairs until these. I don’t know what I’ll do if they’re ever discontinued. I’ll probably just buy as many pairs as I can afford. I have two pairs now that I am going to have resoled which is something I’ve never had to do before. Usually when the sole wears out, the entire boot is shot. Not the case here. I’ve tried to find something negative about these boots and I can’t. I don’t particularly care for the laces as they don’t last long but I tend to immediately replace them with some indestructible laces and forget about it. These are just the closest to perfection in footwear I have ever found. They’re that good.

I've had Asolo boots for the last 25 years, didn't love my most recent pair so decided to level up to the Zamberlans. So far I am very impressed with these. They look great and well made. I've done about 10 miles in these, mostly flat tails to start breaking them in. They feel great. I am usually a 9.5 or 10 (la sportiva) but according to the size specs I am a 9. I tried on a 9.5 an it was indeed too big, the 9 is perfect for my foot. I wear a darn tough light hiker and these after my short time with them feel like I can wear them for miles. Excited to get some weight on and start trekking in these!