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In this report

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Hiking Boots: Ratings of Sources
Total of 21 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Backpacker Magazine
April 2009
2009 Gear Guide
by Editors of Backpacker magazine
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This backpacking magazine tests more hiking boots than any other publication we've found, putting dozens of models through rigorous field testing (for a total of 5,000 miles in all). The April 2009 gear… guide recommends budget choices, as well as the best hiking boots and shoes in three weight categories. Many of the top picks in the 2008 and 2007 gear guide issues are also still available, and the earlier Editors' Choice boots are definitely worth considering.

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2. Outside Magazine
April 2009
2009 Summer Buyer's Guide: Trail Shoes
by Ben Hewitt
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Outside magazine recommends seven lightweight hiking shoes, picking the Kayland Vertigo Light for its 2009 Gear of the Year award. The brief review includes both pros and cons for each hiking shoe and is based on actual field testing in rugged conditions. The 2008 buyer's guide issue reports that 29 hiking shoes were tested for that year, but the number tested isn't reported for 2009.
3. REI.com
As of June 2009
Top-Rated Gear
by Contributors to REI.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This retail site makes it easy to find the top-rated hiking boots by showing the number of owner-written reviews right on the list of boots, under icons showing the average rating. When you click to see the actual reviews of a model, you can see a summary of the main pros and cons owners mention, and then read the detailed reviews.
4. Cabelas.com
As of June 2009
Footwear
by Contributors to Cabelas.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This retail site makes it easy to filter and sort the list of hiking boots sold here. You have to click on a model to find out how many customer reviews go into the average rating shown on the list, but quite a few hiking boots have accumulated a significant number of reviews.
5. Moosejaw.com
As of June 2009
Hiking Boots
by Contributors to Moosejaw.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This retail site shows the average owner rating of hiking boots sold here, but you have to click on the model to see the number of reviews on which the average is based. Quite a few hiking boots have accumulated enough reviews for the ratings to be significant.
6. Buzzillions.com
As of June 2009
Hiking Boot Reviews
by Editors and contributors to Buzzillions.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The reviews here are consolidated from several sites, including REI.com, Moosejaw.com and Zappos.com. Some of the top-rated boots have thus accumulated ratings from over 200 users, making them quite… significant. Editors also consolidate the main pros and cons identified by owners, so this is a very convenient site to browse. Editors' top picks seem to weight the number of reviews more than the average rating.

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7. Fixing Your Feet -- Prevention and Treatment for Athletes
June 2004 (fourth edition)
Part Two: Footwear Basics
by John Vonhof
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This reference book has two chapters on footwear, including a section on footwear for various climates and terrains. The author recommends buying the lightest-weight trail shoes or hiking boots that your… feet and ankles can handle. He recommends dry runs before overnight trips in new shoes. Regular running shoes and trail-running shoes are least apt to cause blisters. In regular hiking boots, the author notes that Vasque and Merrell have developed lasts with roomier toe boxes, but snug heels.

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8. National Geographic Adventure
Spring 2009
Spring '09 Buyer's Guide
by Steve Casimiro
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This annual adventure gear guide recommends five shoes for specific purposes, including the Vasque Breeze Low VST GTX for backpacking despite its light weight and low cut, plus the leather Keen Klamath Mid… hiking boot for its quick break-in period. This is a respected publication in the adventure field, but it's not clear how many other hiking boots were considered, or whether or not any testing was conducted.

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9. Zappos.com
As of June 2008
Outdoor Performance -- Hiking Footwear
by Contributors to Zappos.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This huge retail site publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of hiking boots, though not all major brands are carried. It's especially useful since there are separate ratings for comfort and look, as… well as an overall rating. The site is tedious to browse, since the only way to see the ratings is to click on each model, but it's a good place to check for reviews once you've narrowed your choice.

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10. Backpack Gear Test
As of June 2009
Reviews: Boots
by Contributors to BackpackGearTest.org
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Reviews here tend to confirm that few hiking boots and shoes are waterproof under all conditions. These owner-written reviews of hiking boots, shoes and sandals are much more detailed and comprehensive than… at most user-review sites. In order to enroll as reviewers, people have to be active hikers or campers, meet certain qualifications and state their experience as part of their reviews. The reviews are organized by type and model, but not consolidated in any way, so the site doesn't make it easy to compare or rank hiking boots. Since each reviewer provides details about his or her feet and specific field tests, however, this is an excellent site to check for reviews after you've narrowed your choice to two or three models.

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11. Trailspace.com
As of June 2009
Footwear
by Contributors to Trailspace.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Owners post reviews and ratings of various kinds of hiking footwear here, and you can filter the reviews by brand, or into any of nine categories. What's nicest about this site is that you can sort the… lists by availability, as well as by average rating, and the list shows the number of reviews on which the rating is based. Though most hiking boots and shoes have only one or two reviews, a few get more coverage.

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12. Outdoors with Dave
As of June 2009
Hiking Boot Ratings
by David Erickson
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment These reviews of men's hiking boots are by an outdoor enthusiast and his sons. The detailed ratings cover 12 separate factors, and all 14 hiking boots are ranked in order of overall score. Unfortunately the reviews aren't updated often, so not all the top-rated boots are current models.
13. Camping Life Magazine
June 2008
2008 Footwear Buyer's Guide
by Editors of Camping Life
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This publication is aimed at car campers rather than hikers and backpackers, so field tests of footwear are rare. This buyer's guide recommends nine hiking boots new for 2008, but the descriptions are based on features, with no testing documented. We did find a Feb. 2008 review based on two women's experience with the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid.
14. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
Hiking Boots and Shoes
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Most hiking boots have accumulated only a few owner-written reviews and ratings. However, once you've narrowed your choice down to a few models, it's worth checking here to see what owners have to say.
15. GearReview.com
Not Dated
Footwear Reviews
by Various Editors
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In addition to many single-product reviews of hiking boots and shoes, this site offers three comparative reviews reporting the results of months of field use by several testers. Unfortunately, it's not easy to find the comparison reviews, and none seem to be very recent. Many of the older reviews here are still relevant, but the newest hiking boots and hiking shoes don't seem to be covered.
16. Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail
1998
Footwear (Chapter 7)
by Roland Mueser
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The recommendations in this book are based on interviews with 136 long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Mueser recommends fabric boots or shoes that dry out fast rather than trying to keep water out -- at least on a trip of more than one or two days. The only backpackers who had no problems with blisters wore regular running shoes instead of hiking boots.
17. Big Sky Fishing
Not Dated
Recommended Hiking Boots
by Editors of BigSkyFishing.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This site recommends sturdy hiking boots with plenty of ankle protection, saying that trail shoes just don't cut it in wilderness areas where there's more risk from sprained ankles than from bears. The… author, a wilderness guide, favors Vasque boots but also recommends The North Face and Salomon hiking boots for durability. He says Lowa boots tend to be lighter, while Columbia lightweight hiking boots are the least expensive, yet reasonably well made. The review includes links to a buyer's guide and an article on fitting boots.

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18. Are we there yet?
April 22, 2008
Kayland Vertigo High Usage Report
by Gerrit Padgham
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Blogger Gerrit Padgham reviews the Kayland Vertigo High boot, reporting on his experiences with it on a trip to the Antarctic. He says the boots grip well on snow and wet rocks, but not on hard ice where… any boot needs crampons. An earlier review posted March 16, 2008, provides Padgham's detailed first impression of the Kayland Vertigo High boot. After several hikes, he enjoys the stiffness of the shoe's sole, and has not had any blisters or hot spots.

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19. Backcountry.com
As of May 2009
Shoes
by Contributors to Backcountry.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This retail site shows the average rating for each hiking boot that's accumulated at least one owner-written review. You can sort the list of hiking boots to put the top-rated models first, but you have to click on each model to see how many reviews go into that average rating.
20. TheBackpacker.com
As of June 2009
Reviews -- Boots
by Contributors to TheBackpacker.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This long list of hiking boots shows the average rating, but it's organized alphabetically with no way to show the top-rated boots first. It's a good site to check, however, once you've narrowed your choice to two or three models. It's interesting to see that some well-known hiking boots get less than stellar ratings here.
21. Maine Today
May 15, 2005
Need Hiking Boots? Consider the Demands Before Buying
by Carey Kish
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This older article is useful for general buying advice, relying on information from Todd Forsyth, co-owner of Maine Mountain Works in Portland. Forsyth recommends plain leather rather than a Gore-Tex lining, because the Gore-Tex keeps moisture from sweat in the boot. No specific hiking-boot brands or models are recommended.

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