Hiking Boot Review

Hiking boot reviews and ratings

We found the best reviews of hiking shoes and boots at Backpacker magazine, where experienced hikers test more than 30 pairs under rugged conditions. Outside magazine only tests lightweight low- and mid-cut hiking shoes, and editors at both publications give annual awards to the best new hiking boots or shoes of the year. We also found the owner-written ratings and reviews at REI.com particularly valuable; this site makes it especially easy to find the top-rated hiking boots and shoes for both men and women. Keep in mind that for day hiking and ultralight backpacking, some people prefer to wear trail-running shoes -- covered in a separate ConsumerSearch report.

In recent years, reviews show a trend away from heavy-duty all-leather hiking boots -- except for off-trail backpacking with heavy loads. Instead, expert reviews recommend buying the lightest hiking shoes or boots that will serve your needs. Several studies have shown that wearing one extra pound on your feet takes as much energy as carrying five or six pounds in a backpack. Despite this, we found more owner-written reviews this year for light hikers and heavier midweight leather hiking boots, which remain popular. This may be partly due to their greater durability.

While well-constructed leather hiking boots can be seam-sealed and waterproofed, lightweight hiking boots and shoes usually incorporate mesh for ventilation, using breathable linings for waterproofing. Breathability becomes a big issue in hiking-boot reviews, since these linings vary in how well they release the inevitable sweat that comes from exertion. Reviews say eVent breathes better than Gore-Tex XCR, which in turn breathes better than standard Gore-Tex. However, even hiking shoes and boots using the same type of lining get different ratings for breathability, so specifications don't tell the whole story.