When you think of Italian designs and footwear, hiking boots might not come to mind. However, the Italians have a proud history of mountaineering and trekking, and a good old fashioned pair of full grain leather boots is something my brothers from across the Pond do very well. Hi-Tec is a company that specializes in making feet happy, and their Bergamo Waterproof boots feature top notch Italian design in the form of a full grain upper made for stomping tough terrain. They sent me a pair this spring, and I’ve been putting them to the test since they arrived. After a full summer of hiking and backpacking, the verdict is in: read on to find out if you should go red, white and green for your next pair of hiking boots.
First impressions were good with the Bergamos. A very polished design and good quality leather are the first things I noticed about the boots. Additionally, the color is rather unique. The Hi-Tec Bergamo boots are somewhere between a blue and smokey-gray color. Forget your standard brown, the Italians want you to stand out on the trail! The weight of these boots is a bit more than your average hikers, but that is due (in part) to the full waterproof Dri-Tec membrane that surrounds them. Hi-Tec says these babies are ideal for wet and uneven ground, and I figured that the Uinta Mountains would be the perfect testing grounds for them.
I used the Bergamos primarily for backpacking. Treks to Kings and Tokewanna Peaks promised lots of uphill miles, plenty of scree and talus, and of course, lots of wet ground. The Bergamos handled every piece of terrain with ease. Once the trail got rough, the Vibram outsoles did a great job of gripping in any condition. I crossed wet logs, slogged through mud, and picked my way through streams without any slips or stumbles. When it came time for summit climbs, these boots excelled. As any Uintas hiker knows, the peaks are simply giant piles of talus. It’s truly “ankle breaker” terrain, but the solid build on the Bergamos kept me from becoming a victim. I can’t count the number of times I looked down to see the boots wedged in between two sinister looking rocks, and yet, my feet never cried “mercy.” Impressive. On downhills the grip and protection was just as good, allowing me to descend back to camp without the help of da choppa.
The Bergamos are certainly impressive boots, but this review ain’t all peaches and cream. My biggest complaint with these mud-stompers is ankle pain, and a lot of it. On short hikes, I had no trouble to speak of. Once the miles started stacking up (10+ mile trips), my ankles became achy messes. I never got a single blister; my pain was more of a deep ache near my bone. It seems that support comes at a price. Full disclosure: I have very skinny ankles. Freakishly skinny. There’s a chance that my need for tight lacing on the uppers was the cause, but even after giving a very loose tie to the boots, the pain remained. I highly recommend trying these on before purchasing to make sure you don’t have a similar issue.
I beat the Hi-Tec Bergamo boots as best I could all summer, and they came away smiling. Despite smashing them into rocks, submerging them in streams and caking them with mud, they look almost brand new. Seriously. I brushed them off after every trip and there’s nary a trace of the miles I put on them. I never got a single blister, and they kept me comfy (minus the ankle pain) and dry.
The Good: Hi-Tec Bergamos are fully waterproof, great for backpacking, and can take a serious beating.
The Bad: Boots caused ankle pain after heavy miles; definitely try before you buy.
The Verdict: The Bergamos are like Army tanks for your feet. If you are looking for a waterproof backpacking boot that will last, give them a look.