SCARPA mens Maverick Mid Gtx

Product Information

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. We were impressed with how comfortable this Hoka walking boot was. Founded by two French adventure athletes who clearly know a thing or two about mountains, the boot feels lightweight underfoot, with a protective, yet responsive midsole foam. We had no problem doing faster hikes in this shoe, and appreciated the extended heel geometry, which allowed for a stable feel on the trails. Using Gore-Tex for waterproofing and an Ortholite interior sole to keep your feet comfortable, La Sportiva deploys some unique elements to make everything just a little bit kinder to your feet. The boots use an elastic material around the counter lining, for example, with a folded over piece of material to help you pull the boots on. It's easy on your Achilles tendon and unlike the usual loops at the heel of most boots, it won't get caught on twigs and underbrush. 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.

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.

Specifications

Of course, that’s not to say that this will be the same for everyone. Every foot is different. A couple of blister plasters and some extra tightening of the laces was all I needed to be on my way again. Finally, consider the construction of the hiking boots. If you're a hot-weather, public trail day hiker, you'll want a boot that is light and breathable. On the other hand, if you often find yourself on more challenging hikes in cooler climes, you'd be better served choosing a heavier boot with more foot protection and greater warmth. More from Tom's Guide

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 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 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. They look great – better than the Salomons in my opinion – and they’re fast, lightweight and agile. In theory, everything that I’m looking for in a boot for adventures both local and in the mountains.The TX Hike GTX are the alter ego to Sportiva's other entry in our top hiking boots list, the Ultra Raptor II. Whereas the Raptors are softer and tend to cosset your feet, the low-cut TX Hike GTX are big bruisers with solid but hard soles that emphasize protection over comfort. The shoes' Vibram soles feature more aggressive 5 mm lugs and a wider toe box than typical La Sportiva hikers. There's also more toe protection in the TX Hike GTX shoes than you'll find in light-weight, speed hiking designs. And while these shoes aren't heavy in the old-school Timberline sense, they are heavier than many other shoe-style hikers, which translates into improved durability. 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. 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. Why wouldn’t Scarpa want to challenge that and get in on the popularity of the fast, lightweight boot market? 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