
I was about two miles from the car, kicking my feet and legs against a heavy patch of brambles somewhere near the Colorado-Nebraska border, and glad to be wearing boots.
Once through the nasty patch of bush and back to more moderate terrain, I was happy those boots were light and flexible as I moved quickly back to the car.
On my feet were the ECCO Biom Terrain Plus, a mid-cut hiking boot that nicely balances weight, protection and comfort.
I lean toward lightweight footwear, running in minimal shoes and wearing “trail running” shoes on long treks even with a heavy pack. When the trail ends and bushwhacking begins, I like boots that allow the foot to move as naturally as possible while still protecting my feet and grabbing the earth.

I tested the Biom Terrain Plus boots for a month that included long days on snowy hillsides and bramble patches on the prairie. With a burly tread, protective yet supple yak leather upper, and a flexible sole with low stack-height for a boot, I was pleased with the performance all around.
Gore-Tex lined, they kept my feet comfortably dry in cold to cool weather and on steep terrain that would have been tricky in lighter shoes. As an all-around hiking and bushwhacking boot and for winter sports, the Terrain Plus is a solid boot for those looking for lightweight, rugged footwear. —Sean McCoy


