Hey good lookin’

Never judge a book by its cover, right? Particularly in the case of outdoor gear, if it’s super stylish and looks good, more often than not, it’s lacking in function. Imagine then how surprised I was when I got to take the vibrant Dachstein women’s Super Leggera DDS Boot for a test hike and found it to stack up as much in function as it did in the fashionista department!

If the shoe fits…

Wide-footed ladies will sing the praises of Dachstein’s Super Leggera DDS. I was delighted to finally fit into a boot with my wide feet that had plenty of room in the toe box or forefoot area, particularly going downhill. Even so, I still found an excellent snug heel fit, that despite the hiking boot being ridiculously light and comfortable, continued to sit well without annoyingly slipping around. The more time I spent in the boot, the more it felt as though it was moulding to my foot shape – which after 5 hours of hiking on the first day was a pleasant sensation!

My European shoe size 39 (UK 6) was a perfect fit, so I guess it’s safe to say that they run to standard size.
There’s nothing I’m not too fond of more than wearing hiking boots – there, I’ve said it. It would take more than all my fingers and toes to count how many hiking boots over the years I’ve purchased, worn once or twice and then passed on to other less discerning hikers or are still in my shoe collection forlornly staring up at me each time I open the cupboard door. As mentioned, these boots were initially appealing for their looks alone, yet I quickly discovered how amazingly comfortable they were right from the start. The manufacturer describes one contributing factor to the hiking boot’s comfort as “Dachstein Aeroknit uppers”. I would describe them as ankle-hugging knitted cuffs that manage to be flexible and supportive at the same time.
When I combined the boot with a mid-weight merino wool sock, it didn’t rub, chafe nor give me the feeling of pressure points whatsoever, even after hours of walking. What was impressive was the overall freedom of movement that I felt wearing the boot. There was no restrictiveness. Dachstein explains that this is due to the boot’s Vibram Motionflex sole that has flexible zones which team up with equally flexible uppers to enhance a ‘natural walking’ motion. Who’d of thought!

First impressions: Grips on gravel trails

Because I’m an impatient person, I love the new-fandangled art of speed hiking. So, I did just that for my first test hike with the Dachstein Super Leggera DDS Boot. Spent in the foothills of alpine terrain, I speed-hiked on the first day for approx. 5 hours on chiefly wet, slippery surfaces and one week later for around 4 hours on what was a typically hot summer day. Gravel, uneven terrain that included tree roots, wet grassy slopes and at the summit, larger boulders to scramble over were no problem for this class-act piece of footwear. While I certainly wouldn’t call it a technical boot, meaning to my liking, there is not enough torsion stiffness of the sole to take it into more challenging routes. It gripped exceptionally well on both occasions, especially on slippery areas such as wet grass. It also notched up points for walking over nasty loose stones, particularly on the descent. A perfect lightweight boot for mountain walks in light terrain is how I would best describe the boot’s suitability.

Waterproof yet comfy foot-climate

It took about an hour of strenuous hiking before I started to wonder why my feet were still feeling relaxed and not at all clammy despite the heat of the day. I can only assume that the functional woven fibres of the upper fabric were to thank. An extra splash through a flowing creek bed to test the acclaimed watertight membrane liner, and my feet remained completely dry – not bad! My doubts about how the thin, soft woven fabric would hold up were utterly unjustified…
When I got home at the end of my hiking route, I was amazed at how pleasant my feet felt. No fatigue, no blisters, no sweaty socks and no nasty odours. Impressive!

Outsole in focus: diverse terrain conqueror

On flat lowlands, and I would imagine even walking around town if you had to, the boot’s sole is smooth, even and simply put, comfortable. However, it comes into its own on the uneven rocky underground. It still feels flexible, and light yet gives enough confidence of solidity on gnarly terrain. Another bonus that protects against scree and scrub is the TPU thermoplastic that has been directly sprayed onto the protecting surrounds.

My Summary

If I could find one criticism, it would be that the shoelaces tend to soften over time and need to be frequently tightened – annoying when you want to move fast. On the plus side, if I could choose just one stand out feature (yes, aside from good looks and comfort), it would be no smelly feet. Meaning, after an average of 4 to 5 hours of wear, I took them off and still kept my friends! It should be noted that the Ladies Super Leggera DDS is a light, soft, feel-good boot, so don’t think Everest. In my opinion, it is a perfect day hiker boot and compatible with carrying light to a medium daypack. It would also be suitable to wear on a multi hut-to-hut trek whereby the carrying load is kept to a minimum.
In the past, I have experienced most hiking boots having a thick and full cuff, which was not the case with this boot—a definite advantage when it comes to weight and breathability. Also, the fit and sizing of the boot fit me perfectly. In most boots, after wearing them for lengthy periods, I find that pressure builds up in the midfoot area. Evidently, “these boots are made for walking” because I experienced none of that this time around.

For hiking in low to mid alpine/highland terrain, the Super Leggera DDS is a keeper in my books! Let’s hope another colour appears soon!

An Overview

• Extremely light
• High breathability, even in summer temperatures
• Superior comfort, yet excellent stability
• Watertight thanks to the label’s own DryDs Membrane Liner
• Excellent support/brake control on the descent/good grip, particularly on gravel and wet grass via a Vibram® MotionFlex Sole and Lorenzi TPU heel protection
• Removable insoles for airing
• Classic lacing system right up to ankles

More product reviews in the Bergzeit Journal:

• Merino wool underwear in review
• Osprey trekking backpack in review
• A solar recharging kit in review