Garmont Flash III GTX Review

Garmont Flash III GTX Men's Light Hiking Boot

The Flash III GTX is Garmont’s light hiking boot designed for medium treks and light backpacking. The shoe features a Vibram sole and Polyurethane support which will last 5+ years if the rest of the shoe is taken care of. Compared with some other light hiking boots, namely the Merrel Moab GTX, the Garmont is less flashy and more neutral in coloring and design. This pays off in spades when considering durability, there is less stitching to fray and the continuous piece of leather is built to last.

This product contains leather, a fabric liner and rubber sole. The lacing style is very durable yet thin and holds a knot very well. Two optional lacing loops on the upper allow for increased support or a more relaxed feel. The toe cap is completely sealed with rubber and the stiffness of the entire boot is reinforced with Gore-Tex which allows for ventilation one way and water proofing the other. These boots could end up feeling warm on a hot day, especially compared to the Merrell Ventilator but the increased stiffness and support will be a plus on longer hikes 10+ miles.

The Flash III also comes with Thermo Shim inserts to help adjust shoe volume and cushioning. I found that even without these shims the Flash III is very comfortable and has plenty of padding. While the inserts don’t offer as much contoured support as a Superfeet insert, they are certainly a step in the right direction and a testament to the high quality of these boots.