Hiking Boots

Lightweight hiking boots for more challenging trails

Lightweight hiking boots tend to be somewhat taller than mid-cut hiking shoes, providing more ankle support. Leather uppers are often ventilated with strips of mesh, so they're more comfortable than all-leather boots in hot weather. The mesh also keeps the weight down to an average of around 2.5 pounds per pair.

Based on reports from weeks of backpacking field testers, Backpacker magazine gives a 2009 Editor's Choice award to the Kayland Zephyr (*Est. $190). Traction proved excellent even on wet rock, and the Kayland Zephyr was comfortable without a break-in period -- even without aftermarket insoles. (Many hiking shoes and boots need third-party insoles to be really comfortable.) The comfort is partly due to a lacing system that allows for width adjustments. Waterproofing is also excellent, with a breathable eVent membrane. Backpacker editors recommend this boot for loads up to 50 pounds. An average men's pair weighs 2 pounds 7 ounces. It looks as if the Backpacker award caught both Kayland and retailers by surprise, so the Zephyr may be hard to find until shipments catch up. They're easier to find in women's sizes.

We found the most recommendations in reviews for the Vasque Breeze GTX XCR (*Est. $160), which comes in two widths for both men and women. As the name suggests, these hiking boots incorporate some mesh in the uppers for ventilation, as well as Gore-Tex XCR for breathable waterproofing. This well-ventilated hiking boot is a top pick among women reviewing hiking boots at Moosejaw.com. It also earns high marks from both men and women at REI.com and at Buzzillions.com, although a few owners complain of premature wear or defective waterproofing. It weighs 2.5 pounds.

The Montrail Torre GTX (*Est. $130) boots are lighter at 1 pound 13 ounces (for an average men's pair), but unlike most lightweight hiking boots, these have all-leather uppers instead of a leather-mesh combo. Montrail makes hiking boots with gender-specific lasts based on digital scans of over 800,000 feet, claiming to fit 80 percent of the boot-wearing population; reviews say they do seem to fit uncommonly well. They come in medium and wide widths for men, and in medium width for women. We found especially positive reviews of this boot from women rating it at Moosejaw.com, and several men reviewing it at Trailspace.com say their boots were comfortable right out of the box.

For hikers who need even more widths, the all-leather Lowa Renegade GTX Mid (*Est. $195) comes in three widths for men and two for women, with gender-specific lasts. One tradeoff is its weight: 2 pounds 13 ounces for an average men's pair. However, a Camping Life review wholeheartedly recommends the women's version for comfort, and this hiking boot has also earned reasonably high marks from both men and women reviewing it at REI.com in the past -- but with some criticism for lack of durability.

As a budget choice, it's worth considering the Hi-Tec Altitude IV (*Est. $90) -- though the 90-day warranty is much shorter than the usual one-year warranty on hiking boots. Owners give these all-leather light hikers high marks at several sites that publish reviews, including REI.com. Owners praise their comfort and say traction is excellent, but that the waterproofing technology isn't as protective as a Gore-Tex membrane. An average men's pair weighs about 1.5 pounds; this budget hiking boot is also available in women's sizes.

For women who can wear a medium width, the top-rated light hiking boot is the Asolo Stynger Gtx (*Est. $200) -- see the Women's Hiking Boots page.

Heavier-duty hiking boots

Mid-weight hiking boots with all-leather uppers offer more support than lightweight leather/mesh boots for hiking on challenging terrain. Reviews recommend them for backpacking with heavy loads of 40 or 50 pounds or more. Mid-weight leather boots are also warmer -- a boon in cold weather, but problematic in heat.

Boots with all-leather uppers are the most durable hiking boots, but are also the heaviest, averaging around four pounds a pair. Mid-weight leather boots are stiff, so they can take weeks or even months to break in. Until that point, reviews say, they can be fairly uncomfortable, with hot spots and blisters a problem.

Reviews recommend several hiking-boot brands for backpacking, but two specific Gore-Tex-lined models by Asolo get the most recommendations in owner-written reviews. Some, but not all, owners say they were comfortable right out of the box, with no break-in period. They are available in men's medium and wide sizes, plus sizes specifically for women. Owners praise them for being waterproof, but some report a break-in period and they're definitely heavy. An average men's pair weighs 3 pounds 12 ounces.

The Asolo PowerMatic 200 GV (*Est. $275) hiking boots earn top marks in owner-written reviews at four sites -- REI.com, Backcountry.com, Moosejaw.com and Zappos.com -- with praise from both male and female testers. Douglas Gantenbein, the "Gear Guy" at Outside magazine, recommends these boots for backpackers who want fairly stiff support. Tests in 2007 at Backpacker magazine call the waterproofing "infallible" and name them as the best choice for wide feet.

The less expensive Asolo TPS 520 GV hiking boots (*Est. $250) also earn high praise in owner-written reviews at several sites. TPS stands for triple power structure, a design that incorporates three different shock absorbers for specific areas of the sole. Owners praise these boots for both durability and comfort, even when backpacking with heavy loads, and Backpacker magazine recommends them even for hiking off-trail.

For men, the 2009 Backpacker magazine's gear guide recommends the more expensive Zamberlan Lhasa GT RR (*Est. $280) Gore-Tex-lined leather boots as the best all-around boots for heavy-duty backpacking on rough terrain. Testers praise them for outstanding durability in rocky, muddy and snowy terrain, along with excellent support and comfort. They're made in Italy. An average men's pair weighs 3 pounds 11 ounces.

Zamberlan also makes a well-reviewed hiking boot that comes in women's sizes as well as men's, the Zamberlan Civetta (*Est. $260). The lasts are gender-specific for a better fit, but are only available in a medium width. The Civetta is among the top-rated hiking boots among owners at REI.com for both men and women; several owners say they're the best boots they've ever had, comfortable even when not backpacking. They're still heavy, but weigh a bit less than the boots discussed earlier, at 3 pounds 8 ounces for an average men's pair.

The Kayland Vertigo High (*Est. $145) hiking boots don't weigh much less at 3 pounds 5 ounces, but offer the advantage of an eVent waterproof membrane, for better breathability than Gore-Tex. This hiking boot earned the 2007 Editors' Choice award at Backpacker magazine as the best boot out of 110 pairs tested. Editors say that these well-constructed hiking boots provide enough support for carrying 50-pound loads, and are a good fit for all but very wide feet. These boots come in both women's and men's sizes, and receive enthusiastic reviews from both men and women -- with lots of praise for the breathable waterproofing. A detailed review by Gerrit Padgham recommends this hiking boot based on his adventures with it in the Antarctic, where its traction proved excellent on all but hard ice where any boot would need crampons.

For the biggest range of size widths for both men and women, Backpacker editors recommend the New Balance MO1500 (*Est. $160), saying they're "simply the closest thing we've found to off-the-shelf custom boots." They're leather, but quite light at 2 pounds 11 ounces, and come in four widths for men, three for women. Based on this, plus excellent support for 40-pound loads even on rough or wet terrain, editors give these hiking boots a 2009 Editors' Choice award. The Gore-Tex lining proves truly waterproof. Testers report that the boots tend to slip on wet rock -- but they're worth considering if it's the only way you can get a good fit.

For an even lighter option, the award-winning Scarpa Kailash GTX (*Est. $190) is still available. An average pair weighs just 2 pounds 4 ounces. Recommended for backpacking on rougher trails with heavier loads up to 45 pounds or so, Backpacker magazine editors gave this hiking boot its 2008 Editors' Choice award. An updated review in the 2009 Backpacker gear-guide issue, based on a longer test period, reaffirms the hiking boot's comfort, sturdy construction and good traction. Reviewers at Buzzillions.com confirm the traction.

It's getting hard to find backpacking boots that don't have a Gore-Tex lining, but some owners prefer the superior breathability of a leather boot without it. Experts say that a well-constructed full-grain leather boot with excellent waterproofing can keep feet dry in rain or snow, plus let less moisture accumulate inside from sweat and condensation. The Scarpa SL M3 (*Est. $255) uses silicone-impregnated leather uppers for its waterproofing -- no Gore-Tex, and gets good reviews for excellent construction. Like Zamberlan boots, Scarpa boots are made in Italy with gender-specific lasts. Owners say the Scarpa SL M3 provides excellent support, but the soles are stiff and the break-in period can be quite long. An average men's pair weighs 3 pounds 13 ounces.