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- Verified Buyer
How these Palladium Pampa Travel Lite boots rate depends very much on why you are thinking about buying them. If you want to look like you're wearing stylish paratrooper boots as you wander around town, then these might just be the ticket. But if you intend to use them for actual outdoor activities, keep looking.These boots are not plush but they're not stiff and hard either. Any cushion comes from their soft sole. It is easy to take your thumb and push into the sole like it is a partially deflated basketball. If you step on something like a thorn, it will go right through the sole into your foot. There is no shank either. But the real deal killer for hiking is the lack of a gusseted tongue. Any debris that ends up on top of the boot will have a good chance of migrating into it.The boot does have a nice look. The orange accents really pop against the black. The materials used for the upper is attractive although, again, they don't look particularly durable. Most of the upper is made from a nylon that looks like something you're more likely to find on a jacket than a shoe. The lacing system is nice. It's not speed lacing like you would find on a running shoe but it is faster than regular laces. The fit is a little smaller than a typical 12 (the size I ordered) but not by much. The laces are stretchy so your foot is never really locked in tight but the fit isn't sloppy either. It would say it is about right for casual wear. The soles have no real arch support. Those who need arch support will have to replace the insoles. Those with flat feet will likely find these comfortable.Ultimately, casual wear is how I would describe these boots. They look good and fit fine for this purpose. I don't recommend them for outdoor activities. They're just not built for this purpose.
