The right footwear for stomping through puddles

No matter your true age, if you hike in the "offseason" in the Northwest, you are still a kid at heart.

By this time of year, any trails that aren't snow-covered will be pockmarked with mud puddles. Any hiker out there will be stomping through those puddles like a kid on his way to school.

Unlike the youngsters, though, most adult hikers don't appreciate the feel of soggy socks and squishy shoes all day. Thankfully, boot makers have perfected the use of waterproof liners in today's trail footwear, and one of the best wet-weather boots we've found today is the Lowa Zephyr GTX.

Available in both mid- and low-cut designs, the Zephyr GTX features leather-and-Cordura uppers backed by a Gore-Tex membrane to seal out water while still letting your feet breathe. The Zephyr Lo sports a slightly higher cut than a traditional trail shoe, providing a bit more low-ankle and arch protection, while the Zephyr Mid provides solid ankle support, as we found when toting a 40+-pound pack over the rough terrain of Olympic National Park's Klahhane Ridge.

The boots feature a medium-volume fit, with a slim heel cup and plenty of forefoot width for a comfortable fit right out of the box. The fabric/leather uppers require little or no break-in, so you're good to go right off the shelf.

The Zephyr utilizes Lowa's "Cross Sole" unit that offers tons of lateral support to prevent twisting and strain on your foot. The Cross Sole features a full-length shank tied to the outsole to provide outstanding foot protection as well as great traction on mud, rock and even snow.

The Zephyr GTX Lo runs $165 while the Zephyr GTX Mid sells for $185. More information: www.lowaboots.com.