
A light drizzle has been coating the Tillamook State Forest for the past 24 hours, so I'm excited to see how effective the Hi-Tec ion-mask waterproof technology holds up to the Oregon rain. According to the shoe tag, ion-mask is a plasma coating that penetrates all exposed surfaces of the boot, allowing it to repel water, dirt, and mud. The process means there's no uptake of moisture in the fabric itself, which makes the boot highly water repellent and stain resistant.
The first thing I notice as I lace up the Hi-Tec Rainier boots is how durable the rustproof hardware feels. As I cinch down the laces, I can feel the TPU heel locking system around my ankles. The height of the TPU feels a little uncomfortable at first, but after walking around a bit, the leather starts breaking into my stride and evening out.
By the time I reach the Tillamook State Forest, the rain has stopped and the fog is settling in. While the ground is soaking wet, the temperature isn't much colder than 60 degrees, so I'm glad this version of Hi-Tec hiker isn't insulated.
The instant cushion of the 4:SYS, six density PU / CMEVA backpacking midsole doesn't disappoint. While the leather around the ankle needs to be broken in a bit, the midsole and insole are comfortable right out of the box.
All in all, the boots are great. They're comfortable, stable, and keep my feet dry. They're the second pair of Hi-Tec boots in my closet - the first being the Jackson Hole 400s. Hi-Tec's instant cushion combined with stable platform continues to win me over, especially in their upper-tiered product.
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