The higher cut adds protection from ankle strains and debris sneaking in over the top.

For trail running in cool or sloppy conditions the Garmont Women's Kiowa XCR Trail Running Shoe is a nice compliment to your low cut pair. They also double as a great pair of lightweight hiking shoes. The higher cut improves support and does a better job of blocking out mud puddle splash and pebbles. The Anatomically Directed Design® tongue feature also helps to seal out mud and debris. Instead of making it a uniform thickness throughout the product engineers at Garmont found that enhancing the padding on the outside portion of the tongue reduces tongue drift. The benefit is greater comfort due in part to a more intimate fit with the lower leg and top of the boot which then does a better job of sealing out debris. Another major feature of the Garmont Women's Kiowa XCR Trail Running Shoe is the Gore-Tex® XCR® lining a seam-taped waterproof and highly breathable liner that prevents water from seeping in on wet days.