Hiking Boots and Trail Shoe Reviews

I recently got back from a 250 mile section hike along the Northern Virginia part of the Appalachian Trail, where I hiked the trail using La Sportiva Wildcat 3.0 trail runners instead of the La Sportiva Ultra-Raptors that I wore most of last year. In this review, I’ll explain the pros …

Do you replace the factory insoles in hiking boots or shoes with better ones that are more supportive or comfortable? Example Comments I use Green Superfeet insoles in my Asolo TPS 520 boots because my arches need more support. If I don’t use them I get plantar fasciitis and I have to stop …

I started breaking in a new pair of boots today. My current pair of Asolo TPS 520’s (left) is in need of resoling and some repair work by a qualified cobbler. I’ve hiked at least 1000 miles in them over the past 2 years and they’ve served me well.  That’s …

I am a day hiker and a backpacker who likes to hike in trail runners most of the year. They’re soooo much more comfortable than hiking boots, they dry much faster when they get wet, and wearing them lets me feel the trail beneath my feet. I’m also a long time …

The guys at Hillsound really wanted me to review their Trail Crampons because they’re one of the first direct competitors of Kahtoola Microspikes. First off, I wish Hillsound had named this product differently because it’s so easy to confuse them with the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pros. The Pro model is a …

Montbell’s Stretch Semi-Long Spats are highly breathable soft shell gaiters that keep sticks, stones, and other trail duff from getting inside your shoes or boots during a hike. I never really liked wearing gaiters for three season hiking before I tried these gaiters, but now I am a convert. I use …

I’ve switched to La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Trail Runners for three season hiking. These are fantastic shoes for hiking and backpacking in mountainous terrain where you need excellent traction and protection for your feet but don’t want to lug around the weight of a heavy leather boot. I switched from Inov-8 …

Sock liners are thin wicking socks worn underneath a heavier hiking or snowsport sock. The biggest benefit they provide is blister prevention, particularly when you are wearing a stiff leather hiking, mountaineering boot or skiing boot that has very little give to it. They’re often not needed for softer synthetic …

Forty Below makes synthetic camp booties ($69) that are great for winter camping and mountaineering or for just wearing around the house. Cold feet no more! Picture this. It’s winter, and you’ve been snowshoeing or backcountry skiing all day. Your socks and boot liners are wet with sweat and you …

Mostly Asolo Boots I switched to Trail Runners this year for all of my 3 season hiking. It was transformative and while I'm cautiously on the fence about using them for winter backpacking and mountaineering, I'm willing to do some experimenting there. My feet however, may never be the same. …

Trail Runners for Winter Hiking I got a pair of La Sportiva Crossover GTX trail running shoes to see whether they’d be good for winter hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire this winter. Earlier this year, I successfully made the transition to from leather boots to trail runners …

Trail Shoe Epiphany I love my new Inov-8 Roclite 320 trail running shoes. Having endured hiking in wet leather Gore-Tex lined boots for years, I can’t convey to you the freedom that I feel being able to splash through any puddle or stream with so little consequence. On hindsight, I …

I don't think I'm going to be able to wear these trail shoes to the office, ever again. We had very dirty weather this weekend in Boston, with 3 inches of driving rain and high winds. I stayed in town instead of heading up to New Hampshire in order to …

If you want to go winter hiking but don’t own a pair of specialized mountaineering boots and you want more traction than  microspikes, you should consider getting a pair of strap-on crampons. I own Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons that fit onto heavy hiking boots that have a rigid last. …