Truly waterproof & breathable!
Whats not been said about these boots already? If youre smart, youve already checked out Backpacker Magazines review of the boot when it won Editors Choice Award in 2009. I will attempt to give my humble review (even if it seems redundant) so folks who are on the fence about these boots take the leap. First off, waterproofing & breathability: Kayland intelligently uses Event fabric as the waterproofing membrane which is what makes the boot waterproof, breathable and light. Event is probably most known as the fabric used in Sea to Summits line of dry bags and compression sacks. Not only does it totally block water, even when submerged for hours, but you can watch and hear the air come out when you compress your bag. Try that with GoreTex Is it any wonder these boots block water and allow air to escape, keeping your feet dry? I have purposely hiked in ankle deep creeks just to see if theyd stand the test over long periods of exposure to water. They do indeed; each time my boots come off, my socks and feet were completely dry. I have even (accidentally) dunked my feet deeper then ankle level crossing more than one stream and stayed dry! After passing the water test, these boots out-performed other boots on wet rock and slick surfaces thanks to the Vibram sole (which I expect to last longer than the boots). As far as being light weight? Whatever theyve done, its been done right cause these boots do not sacrifice stability for less weight. Theres a durable polyurethane exo-skeleton that when laced, locks the boots extremely well on your foot, providing stability without being too rigid. This also makes them great when packing heavy loads as they wont bog your feet down like other bulky leather boots. Lastly, no additional inserts are needed. Kayland does a great job making the Zephyr ready to wear right out of the box. One warning though: be mindful of the size. Ive found them to fit snug so beware if you have wide feet.

Awesome boot
Very comfortable,and durable boot. I am an arborist and i climb everyday at work. I am amazed at the traction i get even on the slickest of limbs. Toe box is a bit tight,but after break in it's no sweat.

Brilliant Boots
I searched for quite a while to find hiking boots that were both affordable and stylish while maintaining absolute quality. The Zephyrs fit the bill. I wear them now as my winter boot and they are performing brilliantly. Warmer than my Tennies but never too warm, the eVent material is winning me over. My feet breath well and have yet to get wet (and I've made it point to walk through just about every puddle or snow bank I pass). The fit is great. A lot of people made some complaints about the tight toe box of the Zephyrs but being a climber used to stuffing my feet into shoes far too small for me I find them familiar and comfortable. The laces cinch down around my ankle great and I've experienced almost no ankle roll while maintaining all the mobility I need for a comfortable hike.

Great boots
These boots are perfect. They are very light weight for the amount of stability and comfort they provide. Excellent grip on all surfaces so far. They took no time to break in. The insole that the boots come with is the best I've seen, but I still switched to my superfeets. However, for those without plantar fascitis the included insoles should be more than enough. After reading reviews about the narrow toe-box I was weary, but I have no such issues and my feet are more than average width. The jury's still out on durability but I have no reason to doubt it, they seem very well made. I can see why they received the backbacker mag editor's choice award.

Fantastic boot
I tried this boot out for one 4 mile hike. The heel and support are fantastic. My only complaint is that they don't make a wide. I have a 13 wide and got blisters on the outside of my small toes and unfortunately had to return them. The toebox is too narrow and no way to widen it. I loved the support and feel but if it's too narrow....I wish they made a wide!!!!!!!