Hiking Boots
Archive
Old-school picks so good they've remained unchanged for decades
Sure, lasts, uppers, and midsoles all matter. But above all, get the ones that feel good.
Double Plastic Mountaineering Boot: A highly reliable style of footwear that prevents frostbite in alpine environments.
Vasque Sundowner: A svelte hiking boot that serves as a testament to how well-made products can endure despite evolving design trends.
Hiking boots get a long-overdue dose of style.
These products aren't messing around.
In the world of backpacking, there’s a band of craftsmen who have been making boots by hand since the Nixon administration.
A purpose-made shoe for your next (or first) FKT
You'll need lots of plaid, flannel, a pair of work boots, and a cap. With earflaps.
Looking for one shoe that can do it all? The Outback is a great choice.
Trail shoes still fall into two basic categories: (1) heavier-duty, backpacking-boot-inspired high-tops that can handle off-trail travel and have serious ankle support, and (2) lighter-weight low and mid cuts that are designed to be worn either on less technical terrain or when you’re shouldering a lighter pack.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2012 Summer Buyer's Guide, including the Merrell Mariposa waterproof jacket.
I'm moving to Puerto Rico and I need hiking boots to match the climate and terrain. Since I've got narrow feet, I've been considering the Vasque Breeze or Wasatch. What do you think?
I recently purchased a pair of hiking boots online, only to discover that they make my feet blister and hurt. How can I make sure my hiking boots fit well?
It’s “the perfect fourteener shoe,” one Colorado-based tester proclaimed, which is perhaps the best compliment a running-hiking hybrid like the PeakFreak can receive.
What's the best lightweight gear for a weekend backpacking trip?
ϳԹ picks the style essentials for February, including the Timberland Earthkeepers 2.0 Cupsole Moc Toe boots.
Classic boots, a backcountry-ready axe, and other awesome gifts for hikers.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Merrell Wilderness Canyon boot.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Columbia Hoodster boots.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoe
I'm worried about spraining my weak ankles when I go hiking in the Adirondacks this fall. Do hiking boots provide enough support? What's the best way to keep my ankles safe?
What hiking boots would you recommend for a several-month hike over varied terrain from the Mojave Desert to the East Coast? The boots I have now make my feet hurt. And go numb.
Design and Technology Special: The world's most streamlined and innovative new gear, gadgets, tools and toys, including Timberland's Lite Trace Mid boot.
Design and Technology Special: The world's most streamlined and innovative new gear, gadgets, tools and toys, including Merrell's Wilderness Canyon hiking boot.
I'm thinking of buying the Koflach Arctis Expe for trekking and general mountaineering (some technical sections) in the Garhwal Himalayas. But I saw some comments about these being tough to wear when trekking for long distances. Is there another boot I could use for these mixed activities? John New York, New York
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Scarpa Terra GTX hiking boot.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Montrail Mountain Masochist Mid GTX boot.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Vasque Taku GTX boot.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Garmont Zenith Mid boot.
ϳԹ reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Merrell Avian Light Sport Hikers.
I am trying to decide between the Asolo Superfly GTX (sold in Europe) and Asolo Spyre GV (sold in USA). Do you know much about these boots and have any recommendations? Any help would be appreciated. Do you know of any problems with ordering from Europe? Roy Mooresburg, TN
Do I have to have boots with a foot shank for hiking the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island? Donna Victoria, BC
I need a good, lightweight woman's hiking shoe that I can walk about 15 miles a day on hard surfaces and still use to hike a few trails when I go to China this summer. Breathable is a must, as its going to be hot.Charlie Los Angeles, CA
I'm doing a one-day 30.1-mile hike on the AT in April to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. What are the best boots for training/distance hikes?CharlotteCharlotte, NC
I'm trying to find lightweight hiking boots. I'm used to trail running shoes but want something more sturdy. But every hiking shoe I've tried forces my foot to pronate. Running shoes are neutral or they correct for pronation, but hiking boots encourage it, and it hurts my feet and knees. The stores sell expensive inserts, but those don't work for me, they leave my foot pronating with some arch support. Thoughts? Mark Seattle, WA
Would love you to recommend good shoe or boot for snowshoeing. I like to run in my snow shoes but need good shoe. Cindy Santa Fe, NM
My girlfriend wants a functional snow boot that will keep her warm, dry, and pretty. Help! —Dave Ostmann Chicago, Illinois
As a recent transplant to Colorado, I realized I should be in the market for a decent winter boot (that could optionally be used year round). There are so many options out there with so many mixed reviews. I'd like to keep the purchase below $200. Any suggestions? JohnDurango, CO
If you were only going to take one pair of shoes or boots to Belize to hike in the jungle, visit some ruins, and screw around on some zipline and cave tubing tours, what would you take? I'd love both a male and female option (for my companion).-AdamBoulder, CO
When the going gets tough, the tough tighten up their Enigmas. Like an up-armored light hiker, the Enigma has the body of a sneaker and a Vibram sole shaped for cruising, but it plows through mixed terrain like a Hummer. Rigid support won’t wilt under a heavy pack, and…
Consider this eVent-lined four-wheel-drive boot the Subaru of hikers; it has superb ankle support with a deeply contoured Achilles to cut out calf rub. kaylandusa.com…
With flat lace loops that don’t interfere with cinching snowshoe bindings, ample insulation, and a waterproof-breathable membrane, the Lynx can handle the wet and cold as well as any boot here. And with its trim and understated style, it blends nicely for urban use. 3.1 lbs;…
Some low-cut shoes beg for mercy under the weight of a 40-pound pack. But the Passage Ventilator can bear a load, thanks to a muscled chassis that includes an injection-molded plastic plate in the midsole and a broad outsole that provides a stable platform for every step. Molded plastic…
A waterproof inner bootie, full-grain leather upper, and stiff sole make this a legit snowshoe boot. A removable shearling insole makes it legitimately cozy. uluboot.com…
With five layers of protection from the elements in a soft removable liner, this is the warmest boot here (it’s rated to 75 below zero). Traction is pretty damn good too, thanks to a proprietary outsole with specially formulated, grippy pads. 4.4 lbs; baffin.com…
You wouldn’t expect Guinness to make anything but stout, and you shouldn’t expect Five Ten to make a shoe that can’t climb. The Prodigy has obvious rock-shoe features: sticky Stealth C4 rubber on the outsole and a profile that allows tight-quarters foot placement without pinching wide feet. The Prodigy…
A Gore-Tex liner, built-in gaiter, and synthetic wool interior make this shoe watertight and warm. asolo.com…
This is the lightest-weight boot here. But there was just enough Thinsulate insulation to keep testers’ feet toasty on aerobic outings, and the protective sole is just stiff enough to handle strap-on crampons or snowshoes. Runs narrow. 2 lbs; columbia.com…
Though it’s not billed as a trail runner, the Kota is constructed on a running-shoe last, and it shows. Racing to beat sunset, I sped down north Georgia’s Hemp Top Trail in these shoes and reached the car with no foot fatigue. Underfoot, the cleatlike tread bites the ground, while…
The faux-shearling collar and fleece lining are cozy. The Vibram outsole and air-cushioned midsole add traction and comfort. And the specially treated synthetic insulation fights stink. Rated to -40F. merrell.com…
If glacier travel or some winter peak bagging is on the docket, the M-Possible is the ticket. This carbon-lasted, fully rigid mountaineering boot is step-in-crampon-compatible and, thanks to a layer of insulation, a heat-reflective layer, and a NASA-approved Aerogel footbed, warmer than the inside of a tauntaun. Soft-shell…
Testers didn’t want to take this shoe off, thanks to its blend of trail-worthy guts and low-key style. The sole’s balance of support and flexibility was perfect for speedy trail hiking. And while the rubber toe cap makes it look like other approach shoes, the Paso has a wider…
Mellow stroll to a mountainside lodge? The Gemini 200 is just your speed. This faux-fur-lined, insulated boot has a waterproof suede exterior, feminine side lacing, and a comfortable cushioned midsole. hi-tec.com…
Long Haulers Of all the full-on backpacking boots we tested this year, none was as comfy as Timberland’s Washington Summit. While it’s tall and rigid enough to handle loads north of 45 pounds, even our most blister-prone tester, who normally avoids big boots like giardia, was wooed by its athletic-shoe…
Though some manufacturers like to throw around the sexy-sounding “approach shoe” title, the CTC is no marketing gimmick. When my trip up a creekbed turned into a bouldering session, the CTC proved as nimble and grippy as a traditional climbing shoe. Wrapped in sticky rubber, the narrow toe box…
Good for SnowshoeingThe waterproof and insulated Summit County will keep your toes warm and your feet supported as you click off the miles. Bonus: The sole hardens as temps plunge. Rated to -35F. keenfootwear.com…
After a week slogging through wet snow and mud with a fully loaded pack in New York’s High Peaks, one tester was sold. “Impressive grip—and way more supportive than they look.” Two other props: A heat-reflective lining ups the warmth factor, and they’re just low-key enough to wear around…
Cheaper shoes exist, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that beats the Prima for dollar-per-mile value. It’s light enough for a day hike and sturdy enough for a week in the Grand Canyon, and its midcut height and waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex XCR liner will handle the sloppiest edges…
Good for SnowshoeingThe Vanton isn’t TNF’s most technical boot, but it’s waterproof and rated to 40 below zero, plus the outsole’s rubber gets grippier as temperatures drop. thenorthface.com…
Like the Sorels and Patagonias, these boots have a metallic lining—aluminum in this case—that reflects heat back to your foot and boosts warmth by about 20 percent. Its lower cut and sneaker-like comfort make it great for day hikes, but you’ll need gaiters if you’re going snowshoeing in powder.
At 2.4 pounds per pair, this scrappy boot performs above its weight class. Made with super-sturdy nubuck and full-grain leather, the Skamania was still standing after going 12 rounds with a full pack on my back. The key is the midsole’s rigid nylon shank and molded EVA cushion, which together…
Good for SnowshoeingEven on the coldest days of field testing in Vermont, the waterproof-breathable Summit County kept our toes toasty. Plus the insulation is infused with carbonized bamboo to reduce odor. keenfootwear.com…
This is the warmest boot we tested this year (rated to 60 below zero). The key is a removable, quick-dry felt liner, with an inner heat-reflective layer that also helps draws moisture out of the boot, plus the mid-calf height keeps the snow out with the pull of a…
Stripped-down light hikers can leave weekend adventurers craving a little more of everything. But, just like my pre-ramble, all-you-can-eat Southern breakfast, the Eclipse XCR fills the plate. Balancing strength and flexibility, this waterproof Gear of the Year winner made a meal of Alabama’s rugged Pinhoti Trail in a hard winter…
Good for SnowshoeingThe diamond-pattern sole dug into snow and slush, while the shearling lining and shock-absorbent insole made the Woodbury feel like an outdoor slipper. timberland.com…
Nothing flashy or newfangled here. Rather, the fully insulated Beluha impressed testers the old-fashioned way. It received high marks for ankle support, traction, and, thanks to the fleece-lined cuff and tongue, comfort. TAGS: high cut, tough nubuck leather uppers…
ONE TOUGH CUSTOMERThe Breeze Low keeps its cool in warm weather with ultrabreathable nylon mesh, deployed here on both side panels and tongue. But the Breeze is no featherweight: Bands of leather cradle the scuff-prone mesh, shielding it from abrasion, and a plastic armor plate below the midsole guards against…
Good for SnowshoeingGaiters attach to a D-ring at the tongue base, and, like others here, a ridge on the heel keeps your snowshoe strap from slipping down. Tip: The sole is shank-free, so be careful when clomping around on rocky terrain. merrell.com…
Our favorite mountaineering boot this year, the Vajolet is ultralight (just 3.2 pounds) and comfy enough for daylong snowshoe outings. But thanks to a beefy nylon shank, it’s also plenty stable and rigid enough to wear with crampons. TAGS: mountaineering, uninsulated BonusIts soft forward flex makes for…
SPEEDY HYBRIDVector charts a course that’s swift, stable, and true. The reason? Hi-Tec injected the shoe with a hypodermic needle full of running-shoe DNA—it’s very flexible and weighs only 13 ounces. But like a heavy-duty hiking boot, the Vector proved surpris-ingly water-resistant. Bonus: A closed-mesh upper and tongue let my…
Good for SnowshoeingThe rubberized body of this waterproof-breathable, military-style boot is insulated with ultralight material. But it has a softer side, too, with a faux-fur collar and tongue. salomonsports.com…
Snowshoe runners and fast-and-light hikers, rejoice. Salomon’s most popular running shoe is now winterized, with insulation, Gore-Tex waterproofing, and a higher cut for keeping snow out.