I live in North Texas. My hikes are rocky, dust-choked, and arid. I’m more likely to step on a baby diamondback than slip on a patch moss. I need my boots to be light and breathable. Water-resistance isn’t a must-have when you get less than 40 inches of rain a year. The Piuma hiking boots from Italy’s Asolo are designed for exactly this kind of terrain. I tested a pair in Texas Hill Country, the Santa Monica Mountains and Joshua Tree National Park. I took them through sandy arroyos and across loose gravel paths. I even took them bouldering.