Hiking Boots

As we transition from winter into spring, trails will be icy and muddy, so having a good pair of boots is essential to keeping your feel warm and dry. Here are some of the best boots for this season.

The North Face Women’s Safien Mid GTX

$200

A comfortable hiking boot with a sturdy midsole designed for absorbing hard shocks. They’re waterproof, have a solid mudguard and toe cap and hold your heel in place. The lacing system is slick and the tongue stays snugly in place. One of the plushest new hikers on the market and they look great.

Keen Women’s Pyrenees $190

The Pyrenees are light hikers that provide amazing support and waterproofing. They give great traction on rough terrain. They don’t need much breaking in and we had no blisters even after long alpine approaches. Keen boots are great for people with wider feet. The leather outers and metal eyelets will last many seasons.

La Sportiva TXS GTX $240

Like all of La Sportiva’s footwear, the txs is stylish and easy to fall in love with. They’re high performance boots for serious treks. The sticky soles are effective on steep slabs. The high-cut helps protect above your ankles in thick bush and the Gore-tex membrane helps keep your feet dry. There’s a short breaking-in process, especially in the heel, but after a few days out they’ll be good to go.

Boreal Ordesa $170

They Ordesa is a high-end nubuck leather boot with a soft flex and low ankle. At 1,530 grams for a size 9, they’re at the lighter end of the scale for an all-leather boot. Great for long day treks. The Vibram sole wraps the underside of the boot and has deep lugs where it matters. The tread is aggressive and good for muddy slopes.

Tecnica Forge GTX $380

The Tecnica Forge is a heat moldable boot, integrating technology similar to that which is used in mouldable ski boot liners. The Tecnica Forge gtx will appeal to those who want a pair of great trekking boots that have a lot of innovative features. They provide out-of-the-box comfort, a fast lacing system and supportive feel. You’ll be surprised by how light the boot feels on your foot at only 595 grams. Fittings must be done in person.

Arc’teryx Acrux TR GTX $340

The Acrux series from Arc’teryx is one of the best lines of shoes available for serious backcountry users. This new boot is waterproof, tough and they don’t require any breaking in. They’re very light and the treads grab wet rocks and slippery timber. Going with a light boot will make a world of difference on long approaches or treks.

Scarpa Kailash Plus GTX $340

The support you get from the Kailash may put these at the top of the list for best backpacking boot. They stay dry during creek crossing and give you excellent footing on loose rocks. On lower fifth-class scrambling, they provide great grip for moving up and down. They come with a bigger price tag, but when you’re in the mountains you want the best for your feet.

Salomon Outback 500 GTX $250

The redesigned Outback 500 gtx is lighter and better fitting than previous models. It has a comfortable sculpted collar, a beefy tread with big lugs and comes in at only 500 grams. The burly chassis assures stability when moving over talus and boulders. They provide great arch support and have sturdy laces. Great for moving fast in the mountains.—gripped