Your friend's pack fits only 45 liters, and it looks like you'll be carrying the heavy stuff. Outfit your feet with the Merrell Men's Traverse Backpacking Boot and count on excellent traction, support, and shock-absorption even under a heavy load and across tough terrain. Slip-lasted construction and a Vibram Backpacker sole with Trek rubber keep you gripped to that sloping rock face, even when your pack tries to answer to the call of gravity. Merrell gave these leather boots compression-molded EVA midsoles for support and Air Cushion midsoles to take the sting out of downhill jaunts. A TPU rear stabilizer keeps your heel in place for precise footing and less blisters. Should your trek involve hardpack or ice, the Traverse Boots work with most styles of crampons.

Traverse streams, small glaciers, and mountain faces in these Merrell backpacking boots.