Hiking Shoes
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Outside tester and mountain guide Andrew Skurka summed up the Lone Peak best in his roundup of backpacking shoes: “[It’s] a favorite of thru-hikers, who appreciate its extra-wide toe box and generously cushioned 25-millimeter stack height when putting in long days on well-maintained trails.”…
This shoe won our Gear Guy’s test of the best men’s light hikers. “This pair was so comfortable and capable during both the hike and scree-slide tests that I wore them on a bonus hike,” he wrote. “Credit the cushy midsole, coupled with an OrthoLite insole, the…
Our gear columnist called these shoes “close to perfect.” Their versatile build “sits at the intersection between a runner, a travel slipper, a water shoe, and a low-cut hiking boot,” they wrote. “The Mesa has replaced at least three other pairs I used to rotate through (flip-flops, hiking boots,…
Thanks to these boots, hiking went from painful to pure bliss
The Moab Vent is one of the best hiking shoes, according to adventure guides. “It is a little sturdier than a trail runner, with a stiffer sole, and great traction,” wrote Dave Logan, owner and head guide for Four Seasons Guides.
Now’s a great time to save a few bucks on hiking gear
Keen's Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain describes how he got into the shoe business.
Outside contributor Wes Siler called these the best hiking boots he’s tested. “If you need ankle support and weather protection, then you’ll find more of that in these Altras at less of a weight penalty, and with more comfort, traction, and support, than you will in just…
The gap between performance and style has never been wider—or has it?
We featured the Odyssey Triple Crown in our Summer Buyer’s Guide roundup of the best men’s hiking gear. “A wide toe box accommodates trail-swollen feet, while the stiff, cushioned midsole doesn’t pack out quickly,” our tester wrote.
These aren’t the sleekest boots, and we’re perfectly fine with that. One of our testers covered thousands of miles in these kicks and she loved the nylon shanks in the outsole as well as the stiff rubber over the toe.
Keen makes some of the most comfortable sandals we’ve tested and the Astoria West is no exception. While we wouldn’t wear these for thru-hiking, we like them as a daily driver and for casual day hikes. The grippy rubber sole kept us confident on wet rock. “Perfect…
In his latest video for Backpacking TV, Eric Hanson breaks down what kind of shoe might be the right choice for your hiking style
Kicks to keep feet fresh no matter what your mileage
The Moab shoes have been around for years now, garnering love and a cult-like following from hikers across the country. This low-volume option for women is completely waterproof and has a Vibram outsole for extra grip and durability.
This gear has kept me active without bogging me down
We love the Boulder X’s classic leather build, super cushioned sole, and grippy Vibram rubber outsole. Contributor Jakob Schiller fully endorsed it in his article about the best approach shoes. “I loved them so much I wore one pair for four years straight,” he wrote.
An ideal shoe for high-altitude adventure runs
You don't need mountain trails out your door to get your boots ready for a big hike
Saola’s Cannon shoe is one of our favorite pieces of eco-friendly gear. Each part of the shoe is environmentally friendly or sustainably sourced. The soles are built with Bloom foam, which takes harmful algae out of water systems while the uppers are made of recycled canvas and plastic bottles.
Weather’s nasty? No need to stay inside if you’ve got a pair of these.
We tested 37 hiking boots and La Sportiva’s Stream was the best lightweight boot of the bunch. At 31 ounces for the pair, the Stream is also fully waterproof, but impressed us with how breathable it was in dry conditions. Our tester wrote: “I couldn’t believe how much traction…
The Kona Flip-Flops are the perfect do-it-all summer sandal. The EVA-molded footbed gives comfort and structure while the outsole has high-traction reliability. In our review of summer flip flops last year, our tester especially liked “the fuller coverage of the poly webbing” and antimicrobial treatment.
This shoe is a multisport machine, tackling technical approaches, long hikes, and overnight backpacking trips
The Rose sandal looks great, but can handle some adventure, too. The front toe bumper provides extra protection from rocks and sticks, and the rubber outsole has multi-directional lugs—like you’ll see on hiking boots or running shoes—for increased traction.
Outside gear tester Jakob Schiller can’t say enough about the Chandler CNX shoes. These kicks held up against the abuse of both his children as they grew in and out of them. He says, “Even after years of wear, they’re in great shape. I can’t say that about any…
The Salomon X-Mission 3 is a versatile, comfortable hiking shoe for people with narrow feet, according to one of our gear columnists, who said it “will do just fine for everything but the gnarliest backpacking trips.”…
The best part about the Wilder is that while it excels at being wet, it feels just as comfortable on land. It features a mesh and neoprene upper on a grippy, lugged outsole. That upper is reinforced for support with a heel cup in the back and rubber vamps toward…
We crowned this the Gear of the Year hiking shoe in our 2019 Summer Buyer’s Guide. They’re fully waterproof, and gave us confidence to power through puddles and light streams, thanks to the Gore-Tex construction. The cherry on top was the lightweight Vibram outsole, which kept our feet secure across…
A road-warrior parent of two small children shares his favorite gear for wee ones on the go
The beloved max-cushion brand is branching out with its new Sky collection
For years, Vasque has been known for its straight-out-of-the-box comfort and has made a substantial contribution to the world of leather hiking boots with its classic Sundowner. The sportier St. Elias has a full-grain all-leather upper with a Gore-Tex waterproof liner, a soft EVA footbed for cushion, and a urethane…
Hoka One One went for an uncharacteristically subtle approach to the day hiker with the Tor Summit. You get the maximum cushion and rocker you’re used to with Hoka but also a Vibram Megagrip outsole with extra sticky lugs and a nubuck and suede upper with a eVent membrane bootie.
The Thyrus boot is built for day hikes and quick weekend backpacking trips. With a Perwanger waterproof leather upper and Gore-Tex liner, it’ll be a completely dry hike, regardless of how hard it’s raining. The upper and dual-density footbed are complemented by the popular Vibram Megagrip sole for traction on…
The Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM is lighter, more comfortable, and more supportive than any other boot I've tested. They're not stylish, but hey: Looking good in the woods is overrated.
The first-of-its-kind approach shoe returns in spring 2019
We had the chance to see the brand’s new packs, running shoes, hiking boots, and apparel nearly a year before they’ll hit shelves.
Say goodbye to cement blocks—the latest crop of hiking shoes and boots is lighter and comfier than ever
Five adventurous kicks that look good enough to wear in the office
After years of testing, I've determined that these must be the most versatile approach shoes around
We stopped six trekkers passing through Oregon to find out what they love most so far
As summer approaches, the risk of deadly heat stroke grows. Here’s a list of gear and advice on how to avoid it.
A basketball-hiker mashup? These two brands totally make it work.
The perfect mix of heritage, style, durability, and comfort
Outfit your base camp—for less than $160
Treksta releases an award-winning new boot with a hands-free lacing system
The latest hikers are lighter and more tricked out than ever before.
Hiking boots get a long-overdue dose of style.
Lightweight and bomber, these are the shoe-boots you want when the singletrack gets muddy.
Eliminate goggle fog with such a simple fix? Genius.
Shoes fall into the “do not skimp” category when it comes to gear.
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.
Outside picks the best hiking gear of June 2012, including the Helly Hansen Odin Fastpack.
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.
I need a shoe for hiking several miles in the heat that has sticky rubber for wet rock and comes in size 14. I've found that approach shoes are too hot and heavy, and the rubber on trail running shoes isn't sticky enough. Worse, brands like Sportiva and Salewa don't carry anything that fits.
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 planning a hike through the Narrows in Zion National Park, which involves wading up the Virgin River. What do you recommend to keep warm? Dry is obviously not possible. How about footwear? Connie New Haven, Connecticut