Hiking Boot Review

Hiking boot reviews and ratings

When buying footwear to trek through the rough terrain, consider how often you'll go and what type of activity -- day hiking or backpacking -- you'll do. That's exactly how hiking boot reviews discern great hiking footwear from the not-so-great. Backpacker magazine offers the best boot and shoe reviews, where experienced hikers evaluate dozens of pairs under rugged conditions. Outside magazine is also a good source, although testers focus mostly on lightweight low- and mid-cut hiking shoes. Both publications give annual awards to the best new hiking boots or shoes of the year.

Good Housekeeping, Which? magazine and The Seattle Times publish useful comparison tests of lightweight hiking boots as well. These professional reviews are supplemented by detailed (but not comparative) reviews from outdoors-savvy contributors to sites such as Trailspace.com, FitnessTravelGear.com and GearReview.com, and owner reviews on retail websites add details about fit and durability. REI.com and Moosejaw.com, in particular, make it easy to find the top-rated hiking boots and shoes for both men and women. Other publications, including Woodall's Camping Life, Shape and Boys' Life magazines, and the Los Angeles Times, offer limited "best of" lists of hiking boots and shoes.

On the other hand, some people prefer not to wear hiking shoes or boots when they embark on a day hike only occasionally. In these cases, trail-running shoes -- covered in a separate report -- are a popular choice. Some hikers take it even further, preferring minimalist trail shoes also known as "barefoot shoes" such as Vibram's FiveFingers. For now, expert reviewers recommend hiking boots and shoes that are supportive enough to protect your feet against rocks and tree roots in the trails, and that offer stability you won't find in everyday shoes or even barefoot shoes. For more information about barefoot shoes, see our report on minimalist running shoes.