Merrell Men's Erie Mid Wp Hiking Boot

Product Information

The Gore-Tex Extended Comfort treatment found on the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II provided superior waterproof protection while also releasing moisture. The Moab boots come in two widths, which isn’t the case for most of the boots we tested (including our top pick). Feet: Use a ruler or tape measure to measure your foot (from the heel to the tip of your longest toe) Be sure to measure both feet.

Sure, you can tromp through the woods in many different types of shoes, including hiking shoes or trail-running shoes, but if you’re carrying weight on your back, you need that extra support to keep stable. Although they still feel as flexible in the foot, these boots are now more rigid around the ankle, so they’re perfect for backpacking trips with heavy packs, when you need the extra support. Overall, we thought these boots were less appealing for actual hiking—and definitely not a fit for backpacking or mountaineering adventures—because they were rigid, prone to causing hot spots, and less breathable than our picks.

Topo Athletic Trailventure Waterproof Mid 2 ( men’s and women’s): These boots are nearly as expensive as many of our picks, but the mesh upper wrinkles as you bend your foot, a sign of cheaper materials and blisters to come. While we recognize the Altra Lone Peak Mid 2 for its phenomenal support, this unique zero-drop boot is also one of the most comfortable options in our review. Please do not use the `Remember me` option if using a computer with public access or that is used by more than one person. She cut her teeth in the Wind River Range, Tetons, Beartooths, Absarokas, and the Eastern Sierra Nevada, just to name a few of her favorites.

The Nubuck leather upper and 3D Flex Ankle Hinge also provide excellent comfort as the leather is stiff enough to provide support and flexible enough to mold to the shape of your foot for a more customized fit. We felt unstable hiking across rocks and roots because the laces tended to loosen; after a few miles, our feet ached. Durability: The footwear designers we interviewed said that a good pair of hiking boots should last from 300 to 500 miles (depending on the type of hiking, the weather conditions, the hiker’s gait, and the pack weight) before the cushioning becomes ineffective.Another unique favorite of our testing team is the Scarpa Rush 2 Mid GTX, which features a PRESA rubber outsole with Supergum rubber compound and a strategic tread pattern that maximizes grip and agility on the most technical trails. By checking this box, you agree to receive recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e. Overall, boots like the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX and the Altra Lone Peak Mid 2 provide more support for the feet and ankles than almost any other models we tested. There are hundreds of options out there, and we've whittled our list down to these top-performing contenders. To be fair, many of the boots that we tested are trail runner/hiking boot hybrids and are focused on high performance in a less durable design.