Typical day before hiking up Snowdon I find that my sons Hitec hiking boots (about 2 months old) have half of the sole broken!

Many of our testers and friends are stoked that boot design is trending toward lighter models because a light boot feels nimble and makes boulder hopping and off-trail travel feel all the better. Therefore, we recommend sticking to trails that are a little more maintained rather than forging your own path cross-country through significant talus and scree. If you’re looking for an all-leather boot to wear around town: Consider the stylish Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boots ( men’s and women’s).The Cross Hike pair’s lacing system, which cinches down with a pulley, can be tough to secure tightly. When these accumulate on the bottom of shoes and boots, it is a result of poor tread design and depth. We continue to put miles on our favorite models after formal testing ends to see how they hold up long-term, too. We also found that the laces loosened over time, so use proper lacing techniques to ensure the boots stay locked in.

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex is perfect for those seeking versatile performance within a modern hiking boot. The Hoka brand is known for their iconic midsole cushion — these shoes and boots offer maximum comfort thanks to 2+ inches underfoot. pounds per pair, the Scarpa Rush 2 Mid GTX features high performance in a lightweight and agile package. If you sense discomfort in the fit, sizing, or performance of a pair of boots when you first put them on, it might be worth trying some different options. During that time, she has hiked in the Pacific Northwest, the high deserts of Utah and Oregon, and beyond, all while carrying a 35-pound toddler or a 20-pound infant on her back.

pounds, it offers the comfort of a running shoe along with the support and waterproof durability that you'd expect from a hiking boot. The recycled content found in the waterproof mesh upper not only kept our feet dry during every submersion test but actually breathed well enough to be worn in the alpine during the heat of summer.

Keeping your feet dry is aided by choosing the best boots for your intended uses, as well as noticing when your feet become wet and attending to them. The Kinetic Fit insole is a thoughtful inclusion, adding an extra layer of comfort and softness to each step. My misgivings about their robustness on rocky trails were put to bed after several hikes in the Peak District - they were fine and show no damage from sharp rocks.

Most of these boots have a longer lifespan than, say, a standard running shoe, though the lightweight mesh options won't last as long as a full-blown leather boot. High performers like the Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX also feature innovative technology combinations such as the Fixion XF 2. Boots with tall shaft heights, like the La Sportiva Nucleo High and the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex, easily withstood deeper creek crossings. While we don't expect synthetic uppers to last as long as leather ones in general, we've seen these boots time and time again last several hundreds of miles. The Quest boots strike that ideal balance of being both breathable and waterproof—a combination that can be tough to find.