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• • • • gear RUGGED SHOES Light hiking from the rat race to Hawaii's Kalalau Trail text: Jason Turbow If you're looking for versatility in footwear, rejoice. Today"s performance footwear will take you from the city streets to the most rugged trail in a single bound. To test the latest. we chose Hawaii's Kalalau Trail-a rig- orous beast of a hike that presents nearly 30 miles of jungle trails, cliff- ledge paths and river-bound rock-hopping. To enjoy the Kalalau Trail you need either good shoes or good feet-ideally a combination of the two. We can't help you with your feet. but we can reveal the ups and downs of today's trail shoes. The follow- ing footwear is ideal for weekend to week-long hikes in tropical and temperate climates where you will be negotiating steep inclines, uneven ground, stream-crossings and the chance of being caught in a rain- shower. 1> HEAD AD,APT_700,MAP.GTX This isn't your father's tennis racquet. Head has expanded its sporting goods presence with a full line of walking and hiking boots. The ad.apt system consists of a pliable insole that helps control heat and adjusts to the foot with each step. The boot stayed surprisingly cool in the Kauai heat, considering its Gore-Tex inner lining and water-resistant suede and upper leather. The 700 is an extremely comfort- able boot. and with a nobule-encrusted, futuresque Vibram outsole. An eyelet popped out on just the third wearing, but even without the eyelet the 700 offered good flexibility and padding in all the right places, The separate heel portion of the sole is fashioned from polyurethane material for outstanding shock absorption. and is housed in a reinforced frame that returns energy with every step. Head. www.head.com. 46 oz. $159.95 1.1