As expected, there were no problems in this department. The Gore-Tex lining will hold out for a long, long time, and the Crossover sole with SuperGum rubber provided plenty of grip in the mud and on the steep sections. With a classic Tyrolean design, the Asolo Fugitive GTX's are reminiscent of lace-up hiking and ski boots of the '50s and '60s. It's an attractive retro style for a pair of sturdy boots that will keep your feet solidly planted on terra firma.

The first priority for any hiker should be comfort. The bad old days of having to break in stiff and uncomfortable boots before a trip are thankfully a thing of the past. We still recommend that you spend a couple of days in a new pair of boots before committing them to two weeks of wandering around the fjiords of Norway, but when you first put on new boots, they should feel comfortable from the start. With most of today's technical materials, they aren't going to get more comfortable the more miles you put in. Weather string(151) "Scopri tutta la serie di scarpe e scarponi da montagna prodotte da SCARPA: materiali e tecniche innovative, ideali per qualsiasi tipo di escursionismo!" With a name more typically associated with skis and bindings, Salomon's Cross Hike boots make the ideal footwear for an apres ski trek. Their design is reminiscent of high-tech alpine ski boots yet their light weight offers your feet relief after a day of downhill skiing. Merrell's Moab 2 boots are distinctly American: They're big, they're boxy, and they give your feet plenty of room to move about in. Emulated by many other bootmakers over the years, Merrell's models are durable without being stodgy and are often sufficiently insulted to do double duty as winter boots for urban commuters.

In terms of fit, while comfortable, the Vasque shoes have a narrower design than the other models we tested. And of course, being low-cut shoes they offer less protection than the boots we tested. However, if you're considering something less obtrusive and lighter that some of the big hiking boots here, the Vasque Breeze Lt Lows are a more affordable alternative. How to choose the best hiking boots for you First off, these aren't your grandfather's Timberlands. You no longer have to spend days breaking them in before your camping trip. The Mt. Maddsen's were supple and comfortable right out of the box. The mid-rise uppers are soft and while the boots are heavy compared to models like those from Scarpa and Salomon, the Timberlands can inspire confidence and make your feet feel like they are protected from the elements, even though they do not have the work-boot like heel and toe protections that the Asolo boots offer. Salewa touts its boots as "blister-free" (at least for the first year) and in our many miles and weeks of testing we had no reason to doubt their claim. The Pedroc Pro Powertex are comfortable yet snug, employing a similar lacing system and net of Kevlar cables used on the ultra light Pedroc Air's. It makes for a nice snug fit without binding or pinching, and we found it even accommodates wide feet within its regular form factor.

The Trail 2650 Campo's use a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit waterproof synthetic upper that is intended to be lightweight but still keep your feet dry. It uses a gasket design in which there's no tongue but rather a sleeve your foot slides into. This not only contributes to the waterproof aspect of the shoe but also keeps out irritating dirt and pebbles. In a variety of rainy conditions we never found reason to complain. For shorter walks that’s not a problem, but for longer walks that could result in rubbing or even blisters. Unfortunately, my first walk in the boots, at around ten miles, caused blisters on both heels.

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Dealing with weather is the second factor for hikers. If crossing the lava flows of Iceland is what you're after, you're going to have some days of rain, and you won't have time to waste drying out your boots along the way. So waterproof boots are a necessity, including gusseted tongues, which are attached to the shoe all along sides to keep out dirt and water. Most of the models we reviewed have both features. Terrain Why wouldn’t Scarpa want to challenge that and get in on the popularity of the fast, lightweight boot market? The overall design of the RocFly is more similar to a trail running shoe than a boot. The mesh uppers are breathable but not waterproof, for example, which makes them light and cool enough for hot summer sojourns. The softer, cushier soles are also great for longer hikes and those of us with more sensitive knees. For occasional hikes and everyday comfort, La Sportiva's Ultra Raptor II GTX are hard to beat. They are forgiving and light enough to be worn all day, grippy enough to handle slippery trails, and subtle enough to wear in most offices. Hiking boots today can be as much of a fashion statement as they can be a technical tool that can make or break a serious mountain hike. Salewa manages to combine both in its Pedroc Pro Powertex Mid PTX, one of the most comfortable boots we tested.