Hiking Boots and Trail Shoe Reviews

KEEN Summit County Winter Hiking Boots are waterproof and insulated winter boots that are good for snowshoeing, winter hiking, and peakbagging. They have KEEN’s signature oversized toe box with body-mapped insulation to keep the parts of your feet that need extra insulation warm. Large non-marking lugged rubber soles provide a good …

The Salomon Toundra Mid WP winter hiking boot is a lightweight boot that is perfect for hiking and snowshoeing in winter weather. Rated for -40 F, the Toundra Mid WP is insulated with Aerogel, an ultralight foam insulation that NASA developed to protect the Mars probes from extreme cold. Considered the …

Salomon’s Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots blur the line between more traditional hiking boots and trail runners, combining the best attributes of both. They have a wide toe box with plenty of space to wiggle your toes, a beefy toe cap to protect them, and a stiff heel counter …

The Vasque Snowburban II UltraDry is a heavy-duty winter hiking and snowshoeing boot with an UltraDry waterproof/breathable membrane and 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, making them suitable for cold weather use. Vasque doesn’t publish a temperature rating for them but they’re comparable to other 400-gram insulated winter hiking boots (-40F) …

The Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 is a trail running shoe built for covering long distances comfortably while giving you confidence with each step, no matter the terrain. The Speedgoat’s most impressive feature is its Vibram MegaGrip rubber outsole with 5mm lugs that grip any surface, no matter how wet …

The Vasque Breeze AT GTX is a waterproof/breathable hiking boot with an EVA midsole and TPU shank that’s been engineered to take on challenging terrain. Good for backpacking, peakbagging, and off-trail use, these boots have plenty of toe and side protection for your feet and ankles with mesh and leather …

Xero Shoes’ Z-Trail Sandal is a thin, light, flexible trail sandal for men and women, great for followers of the “barefoot”  and zero-drop shoe movements, and anyone who doesn’t want to carry extra weight but would like to bring camp shoes or river crossing footwear on their trip. They’re also …

The Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 Aero is a lightweight mid-cut breathable hiker for men & women.  These are made without the waterproof/breathable membrane typical of most hiking boots and offer good support for those who prefer more ankle support over trail runners or hiking shoes.  Traction is great thanks …

The Oboz Bridger 10″ BDry is an insulated winter hiking and snowshoeing boot with a BDry waterproof/breathable membrane and 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, making them suitable for cold weather use. Oboz doesn’t publish a temperature rating for them but they’re comparable to other 400-gram insulated winter hiking boots (-40F) …

There are three kinds of winter hiking boots: insulated winter hiking boots, mountaineering boots, and pac boots. Which kind of winter hiking boot is right for you? Here's a detailed guide that explains the differences between these so you can pick the right footwear for winter hiking, snowshoeing, winter backpacking, and winter mountaineering.

Merrell’s Moab 2 Ventilator Low Hiking Shoes are the best-selling non-waterproof hiking shoes of all time for the simple reason that they’re stable, affordable, and available in wide sizes. I hiked in them for many years myself, all over the Catskills Mountains and the Gunks in New York State, and …

I’ve developed a case of Plantar Fasciitis in my left foot this summer, a painful repetition injury often caused by hiking or running that presents itself as chronic heel pain. The pain is caused by the inflammation of the ligament that connects your heel bone to the ball of your foot. I’ve …

Altra’s Lone Peak 4 Trail Runners are hiking and running shoes with an extra large toe box that lets your feet spread out and relax for more comfort on long hikes or runs. Made with breathable mesh, they drain well, dry quickly, and provide excellent underfoot protection on rocky or …

When I started winter hiking I had problems with cold feet. As a newbie, I’d bought Merrell winter boots with 200 grams of insulation.  I tried some tricks like putting aluminum foil and mylar under my insoles in the hope of reflecting more heat back to my feet, but that didn’t …