20 Best Trail Shoes For Hiking (2023 Updated)

I have waited a while before reviewing to try the boots on various hikes. I tried a size 8 on in store and needed a half size up but they were not in stock. I purchased a pair of 8. 5 online, the process was easy and the goods arrived the next day.

The fit was perfect and I decided to give them a 3 mile walk tester, they are nice fitting for my feet and comfy, if a little stiff at first, they are grippy on surfaces and although my walk was over fields and hills on the road sections they stayed comfortable.

After the walk, i undid all the lacing and adjusted to my liking as it was tight out of the box, one to think about when putting on new boots. my next walk was an 8. 5 mile on varied terrain and this time they felt a lot more comfortable and had lost that stiff feeling, the soles have softened a bit, so now they are a to put on and get walking in.

I have yet to test the waterproofing, but time will tell. To sum it up, great once worn in a little, comfortable with varied terrain and different weight socks, can see these being used for 3 seasons for me, as I prefer mountain boots in the winter.

Great price and really pleased I purchased them.

I’m a total novice when it comes to hiking so I did my research on footwear. I read a lot of great reviews about these boots and decided to try them out. So first thing is to size up. I’m a size 7 and have a regular size foot.

I’m normally a size 7 and occasionally need a half size up. I read that the boots are narrow I bought size 7. 5 – it was too small. I got the size 8 and it fits perfect. I took the boots out for a test run and found to be that they are quite hard inside.

I suffer with plantar fasciitis so was a bit worried about it. We did end up walking longer than I planned (10 miles) and my feet were extremely sore for a few days after. I realise use upon further reading that I should have only walked a few miles.

I just assumed the boots didn’t need breaking in but they do. I’m going to replace the insoles for softer ones but if you don’t have foot issues like me then you’ll be fine. I have a different pair of Terrex hiking shoes which are softer so made the assumption the shoes would be the same.

The design and gore tex lining is great. The boots arrived very quickly and customer service were great with helping us with our questions.

These shoes are great for outdoor activities. The treads are grippy on an array of different surfaces and I really like the low cut for flexible, nimble movement. My feet tend to be a tad wider and shorter, but this model felt perfect right out of the box.

The front is a thicker stronger rubber which protects the toes from bumps and scratches. The heel support is also secure. You can see the color for yourself but I’ll add that it’s really nice looking up close as well.

I’m super happy with how this product fits/feels as well as the functionality of it. It’s a great value compared to other shoes in this classification. Thinking of buying a second pair just so I have an extra when these eventually wear out.

For starters, Salomon has finally figured out how to make boots that fit as expected. I wear a size 10. 5 shoe and unfortunately didn’t think to add the half size up for your typical hiking boot for the extra room.

So, it fits to size and I have no issues wearing it walking around. That said, I do have to put a bit more effort getting my foot in and getting the lacing just right so its not too tight. Basically get the half size up for that tiny bit of extra comfort and convenience.

Again not strictly necessary but something to consider. These boots are significantly lighter than expected. I usually wear a pair of Salomon Quest 4 goretex boots and in comparison these feel light as a feather.

After wearing them for hours walking I forget I’m wearing them. The laces are definitely different than your standard paracord style on boots but they tie up well and in my experience stayed tied and secure all day without double knotting.

Only reason I’m knocking off a star is the lack of a back loop to assist in putting on the boots. In its place is this little piece of leather that provides some leverage but not much. Handles terrain well and doesn’t sacrifice on grip.

The upper is very soft as well and on fairly established trails could support the extra weight of a backpack. Its also low cut enough you could get away wearing ankle socks with it on a hot sunny day.

They breathe ok for goretex but I can’t comment on how they handle heat as it hasn’t gotten warm enough. As for cold, well they’re not insulated boots but for mildly cold temps like early spring and late fall your feet won’t freeze.

TLDR Lightweight, good fit – but consider half size up. Great on feet for walking different terrain and worth wearing. Maybe not for backpacking overgrown trails. Too early to say for longevity.

I’ve come to these from a 5 pair run of X Ultra 3 mids, wide fit. I loved those boots. Averaging 500-650 sport hike miles per year over the various terrains and all weathers of the Western Pennines and West Yorkshire, UK.

I’m not yet many miles into my first pair of OutPulse mids, but I’m very impressed so far. Grip, mud shedding, and temperature control is on par with the X Ultra 3’s (very very good). The wear rate of the tread appears on par with the Ultra 3’s (very good).

The cushioning of the sole is wonderful. It’s not running shoe soft, but is a good improvement in comfort over the Ultra 3’s, which I already found excellent. There’s a little welcome pop of rebound with every step, particularly from the heel area as you roll onto the ball of your foot.

The sole is cushioned/protective enough to prevent jagged/pointed rocks, cobbles and stones from digging into the sole of your foot. It’s a very comfortable ride. Regarding the width of the toe box, it seems a little wider than the regular Ultra 3’s, and marginally narrower than the Ultra 3 wide fits.

I’ve fallen lucky as they’re just where I’d want them in terms of width by the time my feet have swollen during a hike. I’m a size 11UK and Ultra 3 mid wide fits weighed 506g per boot. The OutPulse in a size 11UK weigh 443g per boot.

Minor annoyances, the laces are a little too long, so without a hodge-podge of knots, run the risk of catching the hook of the opposite boot. Also, being a flat profile lace and flat profile loops, making the fit snug towards the toe end is awkward and difficult to achieve.

Entry and egress is quite a squeeze too, again because the flat profile laces don’t slide when you try to widen the tongue aperture. Hopefully they’re durable and last as well as the Ultra 3’s. I was averaging between 650 and 750 miles per pair with those.

These are made with a completely different construction, and materials I’m not familiar with. I’ll stay hopeful they’ll do the mileage and certainly have no cause for concern this far. Mine are the blue, orange and tan colourway.

Like I mentioned in the title, these boots are the worst of both worlds in terms of their “waterproofing”. I’ve worn plenty of goretex boots in the past and know what to expect. Your feet might get a little warm, but they’ll stay dry.

However, these boots are absolute foot-ovens. Breathability is hands down the worst of any goretex boot I’ve ever owned. Worst of all, I found out yesterday that they are not waterproof. Not even close.

I had these boots in a small stream with water not even up to the first lace eyelet, and water immediately permeated the boot. When I noticed this, I thought to slightly submerge the other foot to make sure it wasn’t just one boot that might be defective.

Unfortunately, same story with the other boot, so these will be going back. In terms of fit and comfort, they’re decent. Nothing to write home about. The toe box is wider than most Salomons and overall fit is slightly small (size up a half size).

The extra width was appreciated. The outsole is great, and will be the one thing I miss about these boots after I return them. Super grippy in any situation you throw at them. The midsole however, could definitely be softer, especially for the hard-and-fast hikers out there like myself.

All in all, I had high hopes for these boots and after purchasing them, I thought I had found the right boots for me. They ran really hot and I was willing to be okay with that, but once I discovered the waterproofing issue, that was a complete and total dealbreaker.

Purchased to replace a ten+ year old pair of Timberland hiking boots because the “shoe lace hole” insert at the top of the boot broke and fell out. They were all leather, less padded, lighter weight and physically smaller in size.

Wish the old style were still available for dog walks around town. Until I find something similar, I will keep the old ones. BUT the new boot is extremely well made, has much more padding and overall foot support and will be great for serious hiking and trails.

I purchased my regular shoe size and there is still room for a thick sock which is exactly what I would wear for hiking. The price was remarkably low, given the quality of this boot. If they last half as long as my current pair, I will be thrilled.

Bought the shoes in September. After using these shoes for two months, the skin came loose around the entire shoe. The store where I bought them repaired the shoes. Now I have used the shoes for a few months this spring and then I discovered that the sole is completely worn at the back under the heel.

Complained in the store but they said it was because I used them on asphalt. They do not want to give me the money back. The soles are made of recycled rubber and may be far too soft. I loved these shoes, they fit me perfectly but such expensive shoes should last longer.

I will never buy Timberland again. So disappointed.

I have an older pair of Timberland White Ledge Waterproof boots that I have reserved for cold weather/snow conditions. For at least 12 years, I’ve beat on these things. While the tread has worn down some and I’ve replaced laces a few times, the uppers are solid, but a little rough.

Besides needing a good polishing, some of the waterproofing has worn thin. Given the good experience, I decided on a new pair choosing the Chocorua Trail 2. The leather and waterproofing are upscale and look great.

I usually wear either a 7 Wide or 7. 5 Meium. Ordered the 7 Wides. When they arrived, they slipped right on with good toe room, but a bit snug across the midfoot. I sent them back to Timberland and obtained a size 7.

5 Medium. These were still snug, but manageable. I’ve worn them several days. Like most Timberland over the ankle boots I’ve had, these are a little stiff. Initually, I feltl some ankle rubbing, but, after some break-in, they soften up.

The feeling, while snug, is comfortable and secure. I’ve had no sense of overheating. It’s too soon for me to judge the waterproofing nor durability. Hopefully, they’ll perform as well or better than the White Ledge boots.

First off im NOT a hiker. Im a fat guy from missouri who decided to go hiking in the Rockies. After looking at Merrels and Salamon boots in the $175-230 price range i wasnt happy with the fit and feel.

The gentleman at the store suggested these and they were Very comfortable. I bought them on a thursday, and wore them on an 11 mile hike up 2,000 feet that saturday, and my feet never hurt once! No break in, and no blisters! They are absolutely not a replacement for snow cleats, but in mud and over rocks they performed exceptionally! They felt pretty warm at first but still breath well.

And my feet stayed completely dry after walking through creeks and up a waterfall. I highly recommend these boots! Looking at how theyre made i dont expect them to last alot more than a regular shoe would, but for the price ill gladly buy another if these wear out.

Unlike the $200 boots iv read many reviews about not lasting~.

As an avid runner and occasional hiker, I have never had a need for hiking boots. I’ve always made do with duck boots or chacos. (Love my chacos, they cannot be beat. Please try to challenge me on this.

) However, with a July trip to Zion national park looming, it sounded like I was going to need some hiking boots. Off to try on boots I went. I am a hard size to find in women’s boots so I figured I would be stuck in the mens.

So that’s what I tried on. Not to trash talk the mens boots selection but they were pretty clunky for my feet. Leaving the outdoor store with no boots, online shopping was my next stop. My best friend and her mom are the diehard hikers in my life so I drifted to where they had found their favorites.

Columbia. Why not try and see if they might possibly have a size for me. AND THEY DO! Size 12, not too clunky and VERY comfortable hiking boots. I was very surprised to also find that they are not too hot in texas humidity and heat.

Thank you Columbia for having a womens hiking boot for me. I’ll have to report back on how they do at Zion. 🙂 happy outdoorsing!.

I have worn Columbia shoes (hiking boots, hiking shoes, sport shoes) for years. I usually pay more per pair than I did for these Crestwood shoes, but I wanted to try their “wide width. ” In addition, my older Columbia shoes were beginning to wear out (after a lot of use), so I needed to purchase new shoes.

In the past, I have not had an issue with regular width Columbia shoes, but I recently bought thicker socks and thought the “wide width” would accommodate the socks better. I could use the new, thicker socks with my older shoes (regular width) even though my feet were slightly snug (but still comfortable).

I bought this pair, and their width was less roomy than both of my regular width Columbia shoes from two years ago. In fact, the new Crestwood pair had a much smaller/narrower toe box than any Columbia shoe I had ever owned.

Even with thinner socks, my feet felt cramped in both the width and toe box areas. I checked the interior labels to make sure the shoes were wide width, and the labels stated that they were. I also noticed that the shoe tongues were not attached on their sides like they had been on all of the previous Columbia shoe models I had purchased.

This just made it more of a pain to put on the shoes, but that wasn’t a deal breaker. I was very disappointed in the fit, but I thought I would purchase the same pair again just in case I received a defective pair.

The second pair’s width had more room than the first pair, but they were basically the same width as my old regular width Columbia shoes. The toe box on this one was tolerable, but not nearly as roomy as my previous regular width Columbia shoes.

I returned the first pair and kept the second only because I needed a pair of shoes. I like the look of them, but the fit isn’t my favorite. These shoes are definitely NOT “wide width. ” Perhaps next time, I will go back to the more expensive Columbia shoes, because these do not have the same quality as my previous pairs.

I just hope that the narrower width and cramped toe box aren’t the trend for Columbia shoes now, especially because I will need to find another shoe manufacturer if this is the case. Bottom line, I would not recommend this particular pair of shoes.

I tried on a bunch of shoes at the store–from “cheap” to the top-line brands costing 3X the price of “cheap. ” Unbelievably, the most comfortable I could find were these Hi-Tec shoes at only $55. From the minute I put them on I liked them, which is rare for my wide feet.

In fact, I tried to buy two pair at the store that day but they were out of stock. So I wore my first pair home and then ordered the second pair online when they came back into stock. These are built well and despite daily wear they are holding up.

So I might not need that second pair for a long time. Oh, well, to finally get shoes that are comfortable, it’s worth storing a pair for the future.

I recently bought a pair of Hi-Tec Raves Vent Low Trail Mens Shoes for myself. Both my husband and I were looking for a pair of waterproof hiking shoes. I gave up looking in the women’s section. I finally found a pair of comfortable shoes in the mens section.

I always have trouble with the shoe being “too high” on my ankle. I ended up buying a pair size 9 in mens, whereas, I usually buy size 10 in womens. They are very comfortable and waterproof. Great for hiking and walks.

Totally recommend these.

I had a pair of Hi-Tec low hiking shoes many years ago, probably when this company was in its infancy. They were the best shoes, they fit so well and were very comfortable, I loved them! Once again, I was not disappointed.

These hiking shoes look great and are really comfortable; and the price at Sportsman’s Warehouse was the lowest price I found. Another win for my feet and my wallet!.

I’ve never fit Merrell shoes, the lasts were always a bit too narrow for my regular 10. 5 D width feet even with thin or medium Smartwool. The new Moab 3 men’s hiking shoe is a perfect fit for me! I always swap in black Superfeet, but the Moab 3’s insole has just the right amount of arch support and cushion.

Can’t remember the last time I kept a hiker’s factory supplied insole. Each 10. 5 men’s shoe weighs 465 grams each. No heel slippage, toebox spacious enough for swelling yet are not sloppy no matter the temperature or weather (some shoes constrict or contract when wet or humid, etc).

And this may seem trivial, but the laces do not come untied nor need double-knotted. It’s the little things. The Moab 3 is a true hiker. It’s not an urban exploring/travel/casual/mixed-use shoe. It has a very solid sole and lug pattern that I found needs a trail’s everchanging undulations to bring the shoe to life.

It’s very stable side to side (no IT band pain from unsupportive shoes), does well on loose over hard and when surfaces are uneven such as dried mud. With such good footing on gravel, sand, dirt, I was worried it’d be a slippery accident on water.

Not so! They would not be my choice as a do-it-all for airports, cement jungle, pavement pounding (after about 5 hours the shoes felt a little softer). Thankfully that’s not what Merrell designed the Moab 3 for.

They are a great-fitting lightweight hiker that does so many things so very well.

I am honestly so glad that I went ahead and purchased these hiking shoes! As an active hiker taking at least 10 hikes a month, I knew it was time to purchase new shoes as my previous shoes just couldn’t keep up.

After doing tons of research, all fingers pointed to the Merrell MOAB 3 hiking shoes. The reviews were not wrong! Not only are these shoes well made, they are extremely comfy and leave my feet and legs feeling like brand new.

On top of that, the shoes look attractive vs. some of the other ones in the market so you never have to worry about not looking stylish! We took a 15 mile hike up in Yosemite few days back and was so glad I had these on the whole time.

Even after a few uses of the shoes, the soles look and feel brand new and because of the darker color, they do not tend to get too dirty. I 100% recommend these to anyone looking for investment worthy hiking shoes!.

These hiking shoes are everything you expect from a Merrell shoe. When I put them on, my feet immediately felt well-supported. I normally wear Superfeet in my shoes, but I did not need them in these Merrells.

The arch support is superior. The FLEXIBILITY is amazing front to back. You can bend onto the ball of your foot with no problem. And the vibram soles are grippy enough for me to scramble around on as many rock surfaces as I could without worrying about skidding around.

They’re not waterproof, and on a dusty trail I expected to wind up with a shoe full of trail, but it wasn’t too bad, and the breathability made up for it. The shoes are a bit on the heavy side, but I don’t generally have problems with a heavier shoe.

I bought these shoes for a 3 week hiking trip to South Africa on a whim from Boot Barn and I am SO glad I did. Since then, I also took them on a 2 week trip to Costa Rica and they have been holding up beautifully.

I have done a lot of off-trail hiking, walking, and patrolling in these shoes and they are still in great condition. I love that they are lightweight, feel like a sneaker but have incredible ankle support, have a super comfortable padded sole, great traction, did not make my feet feel like they were overheating, and they’re pretty cute! I had no problem running a mile across the airport from the baggage drop off to my terminal.

They felt like a sneaker not a clunky hiking boot! While others on the trip had blisters and sore feet I could’ve kept walking forever and I did not have to break them in. A lot of people commented that they are hard to put on but I don’t think so and the support they offer once they are on is unbeatable.

I mostly hiked on rocky mountain sides and even though my foot slipped many times I never twisted or sprained my ankle like others did. I do have a couple complaints. These shoes are waterproof, but you have to wear them with long rain pants.

When I hiked through dense, very dewy brush and regular hiking pants my feet and shoes were soaked within an hour and I hiked in swampy shoes for 2 days. HOWEVER, in Costa Rica I patrolled the beach in these shoes for 4 hours every night in heavy rain and they held up beautifully.

Not a bit of wetness or sand was in my shoes when I took them off. I realized this was due to my long rain pants which covered the top of the shoes and prevented water from getting in that way. Another complaint I have is that the black toe lining on the front is so thin it scraped off within the first few hikes I went on.

But, besides making them look a bit rugged it is not a major flaw with the shoes. As a field biologist, I have gone through many hiking shoes from many different brands and these are the shoes that I have recommended to everyone I know.

My mom and sister occasionally borrow these and are in love with them as well. Once these fail I will definitely be buying another pair.

I just moved to Utah 20 miles up the road from one of the Zion entrances, and that is where I took these shoes on their first spin. I knew when buying them from reading plenty of articles that these have a sock-like fit, without a separate tongue.

While yes, this does make it a little tight when you are sliding your foot in, the seal around the ankle when hiking in sand is fantastic! Half of our hike (or more) was on sand or sandy soil, and I got ZERO sand in my shoes.

This is also down to the mesh of the upper too. And this was without having any gaiters on, even though this shoe does have the built-in attachment points for gaiters. I bought a 7. 5 because with a lot of trail runners I’ve gotten lately I’ve needed the 7.

5 for the room in the toes, but I probably could have gone with a 7 for these. That being said. they still fit fine, without me slipping around. I just have a little more wiggle room for my toes. And the toe protection worked when I accidentally caught my toes on a rock.

The grip was great! Our hike had us crossing a stream bed approximately 50 times (no lie, no exaggeration), and even when the soles were wet, I still had no problems climbing up the rocks on the banks.

Wore them for almost 8 miles of hiking on their first outing and my feet felt just the normal amount of tired. They’re very lightweight and give a good ground feel, which I really like (especially as a trail runner), without making your poor feet hurt from feeling every rock.

Cannot speak to durability yet, unfortunately. Two slightly negative points, but not enough for me to remove a star: (1) The laces are almost comically long. I was really worried about them snagging on things.

Normally, I do a heel lock lacing (narrow feet and a noticeably smaller right foot), and for that, the extra lace length is great. However, there is not an extra eyelet on these for doing a heel lock.

I didn’t end up needing a heel-lock lacing anyways though for these to feel snug, probably because of the nice sock-like upper. I ended up ordering some elastic lock laces (which I’ve done for other shoes, it’s not a dig at these ones, it’s just a personal preference) and so won’t have to worry about long laces snagging.

(2) I like to use superfeet insoles for their extra support, however when I tried them in these shoes, they lifted my heel just enough that I no longer had a good heel lock and was getting a lot of slippage.

So I went back to the insoles that came with the shoes. Hopefully they’ll hold up well!.

I hiked in these in 2021 for 3 weeks while on the Camino Primitivo trail with my husband for his 70th birthday. If the toe area was just a bit wider, as compared to some other popular trail runners, they would have been perfect.

But I did have a recurring blister on the outside toes due to rubbing. What I liked about this shoe is the confidence I had to walk on rocks, wet muddy surfaces, slippery surfaces, inclines, declines – all went well and I never felt like I would fall.

My husband had a shoe with mesh on the upper and he said his feet felt wet during days with light rain, but my Danner’s never let me down. This is not a waterproof shoe, but my feet never felt wet even when walking in wet mud that came up on the sides of the shoes – all was well.

They were also easy to clean. I just ran water over the bottoms and let it run on the lower area of the sides (not on the top), and they cleaned up nicely. Plus, it is a good looking shoe and went well with my Osprey Tempest Pro 18 that I used for day hiking as our luggage was moved from hotel to hotel.

I had many compliments on my look – funny, because I never thought of fashion, but I paired it with black Prana leggings, a Patagonia black vest, either a gray or purple Woolx long sleeved top, and a tan ball cap with a bandana print and a pony tail, plus white Leki hiking poles.

Something about the look must have been attractive since I received many comments on how I didn’t look like I was a 68 year old. How did I get so many compliments? Well, I was slower than average, and as people passed me, they must have thought I needed an encouraging word!.

I bought these three weeks ago at REI and went on a 20-mile day hike over rocky, muddy, and up and down steep terrain. They kept my feet relatively dry but do appear to trap some moisture around in the footbed as it was necessary for me to change out my wool socks after 15 miles due to the slight dampness of the wool socks and heat spots below and around my toes.

However, the shoe was comfortably dry and cool during the last 5 miles of the hike. The shoe was comfortable out of the box, required no break-in period, and provided decent arch support. I will be trying them again on a hike with prescribed orthidic for pronation.

I don’t think I could have hiked such a distance in my Moab’s 2 vent boots, as they feel much heavier, less comfortable, and wider than the Moab Speeds. While I always finish my hikes in some degree of foot pain/soreness, I could go further and longer before feeling that.

I am not sure about the breathability of the gor-tex, but it did keep water out when walking over rocks on streams with a few inches of water over them, and they had excellent grip and traction. My ankles felt braced and protected as I have frequently rolled my ankles and these shoes prevented excessive movement around the ankle, providing excellent support.

I liked the styling of the shoe, particularly the black shoes, as they weren’t some radical design or attention-seeking color and styling. As far as durability goes, time will tell, but I suspect that the outer sole will wear prematurely compared to my Moab 2 Vents as the Speed is much softer, which contributes to the comfort of the shoe.

This shoe was not available in a wide size, but it fit well on my feet as I am at the edge of the wide measurement, any wider, and they would not fit comfortably. I recommend the shoe if you are looking for a light trail runner hiker or occasional day hiker.

They are also very comfortable on a warehouse concrete floor. I wouldn’t try to hike the PCT and expect them to last, though. Overall I was impressed and satisfied with my purchase.

This is my 9th pair of Merrells – all are still in service though some are 15+ years old. I bought these wanting a back up for my PERFECT Chameleon 7’s, which are wearing and I can’t bear to think of life w/o them.

When these arrived, I didn’t want to like them because they look like a tennis shoe. HOWEVER, I was unable to not love them. Let’s start w/this, my feet have peripheral neuropathy, are narrow, bony and sensitive, I have severe chronic lumbar issues and I need a LOAD of cushion in the soles of my shoes (thus all the Merrell footwear).

While the sole and heel are well cushioned, when I walk, the sole flexes comfortably, though when I try to ‘bend’ the sole w/my hands, it’s actually quite stiff, which surprised me because it feels so soft when I walk.

I added my own insoles for extra cushioning (that most feet won’t need) and these are heavenly. I’m an avid city and park walker, not hiking over rough terrain, and these are SO COMFY! They’re surprisingly light and seem very durable at the same time.

I spilled a latte on them and it wiped right off w/no marks afterwards or dampness inside the shoe. The soles are absolutely the stickiest I’ve had. I inadvertently walked over my yoga mat and it stick to them, and on the wet northwest sidewalks/pavement, they stick like crazy.

When you have physical issues as I do, you have to invest in quality well made shoes. However, I don’t mind paying what a shoe is worth when they hold up for YEARS and make my feet SO HAPPY!! Gone are the days I can walk into a one stop shopping store and expect to pick up a cheap pair of shoes that I can wear.

I’m very grateful Merrell makes quality, durable and best of all comfortable shoes. Thank you Merrell!!!.

I ordered them Jan. 2022 and think they’re groovy looking in person (got the map print insole). But I have found them too short in the toe (I should have sized up) so I have not worn them as much as anticipated.

I could never run in them due to this but they are quite comfortable all day if not for being short. The lugs provide great traction for any off road surface, even ice, given their depth and gum rubber.

They have a nice protective toe – more than just mesh, and padded tongue. So not only eco conscious (78% recycled materials) but also very light weight and competent. I love how the heel feels where most running shoes this can be a tad tight.

In most boots I wear 9. 5 but sneakers are a 10, so I just should have ordered in the larger size. They have also held up well and are easy to spot/wipe clean. And in frigid temperatures they have kept my feet mostly warm and content.

Just wish they had been longer in the toe in the size 9. 5 I ordered. But that’s my bad. Other than toes, they fit great everywhere else.

I’m been trying to find a good replacement for the Altra lone peak, since they changed their design and made them so that they don’t fit people with skinny ankles. These aren’t it. They have a very thick sole, which I don’t like and makes me more prone to hurting my ankles.

They are very stiff. The toe box is wide and fits well but the heel of the shoe does not fit me. There’s no way to get these shoes tight enough so that my heel doesn’t slip around, the sole is too wide in the back, so I get blisters.

I wore them on a 4 mile walk to test them out and I already have blisters on my heels. The laces also get loose when you go downhill or down stairs, which if they didn’t have any other problems I’d just change the laces but it’s something to mention.

I’ll be returning these.

These look and feel amazing, but unfortunately they are for narrow and normal width feet only. I’ve tried on the widest version I could find: men’s boot just 1/2 size smaller than my usual size in women’s (so, a full size larger than recommended when switching from Topo women’s to men’s sizing) and it still was prohibitively narrow in the midfoot and a bit in the toes.

After just 5 minutes of wearing them at home my feet felt uncomfortably compressed. Wide Topo sizes can not come soon enough.

Having tried a fair few different shoes and boots for backpacking, I have to say the new Trailventure 2 really got a lot of things right. It’s sturdier and more like a boot compared to trail runners, but has more flexibility and comfort compared traditional boots.

Love the wide toe box and lacing system. Dries fast. My favorite pair of boots, so good I got both the waterproof and non-waterproof version!.

To start off, I’d like to make a note that I’m a biologist in south Florida, so these boots are being worn in the field 40-50 hours a week. They mostly get worn in pine flatwoods and we it gets very wet in the wet season.

These boots are exceptionally comfortable, light weight and I can only hope they will be durable enough to last me awhile. I really enjoy the loop inserts because it’s easy to tighten up the laces and just as easy to loosen them with one tug on the tongue of the boot.

The plastic lace hooks are a game changer as well because they aren’t going to rust and brake on me, awesome job Danner. Now for my complaints. These boots are not waterproof. If you step in a puddle for a quick second, yeah, your feet will stay dry.

But, if you’re walking through water, be prepared for wet toes. Your boot won’t flood, but it definitely get wet. I’ve only used them in water that barely covers the toes and you can feel the wetness after a minute or so.

On the plus side, they will dry out quickly if left in the sun. Be careful on hard, smooth surfaces when it’s raining because you will slip. The other gripe for me is the lining inside the boot is loose and bunches up at the toes sometimes.

I’ve only had them for a month and a half, so I really can’t give my opinion on the durability yet. I typically have issues with the soles of my shoes separating or the stitching falling apart, so I hope these Danner Vital Trail boots hold up.

I will say, if you want an awesome hiking boot and you’ll be somewhere dry, get these. They are comfortable, light and have an all around great design. If you plan to be walking through a little bit of water with these and you expect them to keep your feet dry, maybe try something different.

Purchased my boots from Rogers Sporting Good, Danner had none my size in stock. I’m thinking the supply for Danner was on a container ship off the coast of California because these boots are made in Vietnam.

I was disappointed about that and the substandard insoles. However the styling and lace system are excellant. Fit and finish are excellant and the boots are very comfortable with a $50. 00 set of good insoles.

I would be willing to pay more for these boots if they were made in USA. I wish Danner manufactured all there boots in the USA, American skilled craftsmen are second to none!.

I really wanted to luke these boots,but I never been more disappointed with a product in my life. First they were terribly uncomfortable I had to buy $60 inserts to make these wearable. Then the water proof/resistance is a joke.

I even treated these with Danners waterproofing products. The water proofing held up to one day of hiking with a few small stream crossing ( the boots were never actually submerged). yesterday day I wore them again to check trail cameras and from 30 mins of walking in wet grass they were soaked through.

The other problem I’ve found with these is that when the tread gets wet and you have to walk on rock or gravel you might as well get some ice skates because that’s what you’ll be doing is skating all over the place.

I wish I would have returned these but I wanted them to work and I’ve given them numerous tries with customs soles and extra water proofing over a course of 3 to 4 months. these are duds don’t waste your money.

I bought my boots back in March. They seemed to be well constructed, a bit heavier than expected. Now in May, I had my first opportunity to walk through wet grass and test the waterproof feature. That resulted in both feet quickly getting wet! The boots are not even close to being waterproof.

In checking with the Rockport return policy, it is now too late to initiate a return! Very disappointing.

The boots are solid with pretty good leather and Vibram soles which are long lasting. I like the lacing design that makes them easy to take off without loosening several of the laces. When I got the boots, I conditioned them with Neats foot oil which preserves them and gave them a darker richer mohagony color.

That’s just my preference. They fit to my 101/2 size feet also.

Been waiting and looking for these for a long time on here. They weren’t the all black soles but i had to snatch them up. I wear a 9 in nike airmax. From past experience with rockport, that means 8. 5 wide in rockports.

I wish i bought all the colors, and hope these will stay in stock forever. Great classic stylish boot forever !.

I got them on sale. They felt rigid from the beginning, but I kinda like that feel. I took them on a two hour moderate to hard level hike. I have a bunnion on my left foot and half through the middle of the hike my feet started to hurt a bit here and there.

They are definitely rigid, maybe a tad bit too rigid. It rubbed a bit against my feet, but it did not leave marks like other hiking boots. Pro: I really like that it protected my ankles and my big toe on steep trailways.

I love Altra’s hiking boots for their wide toe box and amazing softness, but unlike Topo’s Trailventure boot, Altra kills my big toe on the hike. Topo’s Traiventure boot provides so much protection and look so cute on the feet I did not want to take them off.

Unfortunately, it left me hurting and with many blisters on my toes. I will wait to heal and give them another go, but shoes should not give you blisters like that. It hurt when I took a shower and for a couple days.

I’ll update my review after my second wear.

I have transitioned to Topos for trailrunning and they are incredibly comfortable while still providing the support and traction needed for wet, muddy and icy trails. My backpacking boots were becoming more uncomfortable over time compared to my Topos so I took a risk and bought my first pair of Topo boots, the Trailventures.

I trained in these and ultimately completed a 54 mile backpacking trip in the Adirondacks. THEY WERE FANTASTIC! I work in the wildlife profession and I now wear these everyday for work. As soon as Topo has my size in stock again I will but another pair.

After years of hiking and backpacking in the US ARMY infantry and wildlife profession these are hands down the most comfortable boot I have EVER worn. However they also completely supported me with a 50 pound pack on in challenging terrain and moving through sharp rocks and roots.

Nice looking shoe. The tongue has no cushion and was just a thin layer of fabric. My son needs a shoe with more support/structure. Other reviews felt these shoes were too thin or flimsy and I though I would try them anyway knowing they wouldn’t have structure like other Salomon’s or a hiker.

In the end I would agree with these other reviews. It wasn’t comfortable and it felt like it the tongue would shift or bunch. Not for us based on our needs and preferences.

I am happy with my purchase of these shoes. I initially ordered a size 11 due to the sizing chart but found them too long. The 10. 5 fit well. I do find these shoes narrow but with the right socks it is a solid, comfortable fit.

I wore them walking the Bruce Trail to the Devil’s Moniment and they performed well on the mix of limestone and dirt. These shoes provid a confident footing. I do find the laces too thin and iight compared to other shoes on this category and they cushion like a hiking boot so don’t expect a running shoe.

Overall I am happy with my purchase.

Bought for my husband. Shoes fit and look great. He decided not to keep them because the tongue insert takes a bit of smoothing down before tying the shoe. He thought they would take too much effort to put on quickly! Not a reason to return in my opinion.

Great light durable boots that have the flex of trainers. I like mids when I used to wear trainers (Nike Jordan 1) and I have seemed to stick with wearing boots since breaking my leg for better support.

After trying Keen’s, Marmot, and a few others. I always end up back to Merrell’s. Merrell All Out Blaze mid Gore tex were great, then I had some Merrell Forestbound Mid Waterproof boots which have been very reliable and so comfortable.

I would say the Zion Mid sits perfectly between my previous Merrell Boots, where the Forestbound can sometimes be a bit warm for Spring/Summer, the Zion mid is perfect. I actually wear them for work often but also up on the moors in wet or dry conditions and they perform really well.

I have given up with buying trainers as they just do not last and are not exactly reliable for Cornish weather. Lightweight trainer style boots seem the best option. I would buy these again.

I’m in the military, currently deployed to a very hot desert climate, and I have one of those jobs where I get to wear civilian tactical equivalent clothing. I had a different pair of Merrell hiking shoes, and while they were definitely rugged, they weren’t that comfortable to be in all day long.

I came across these and got a really good discount from Merrell by using the I. D. Me Authenticator, so I figured why not. Once I got them, the first thing I noticed was that it wasn’t the color scheme I ordered, or they just didn’t look like the picture.

However, that didn’t bother me because they looked way better than I had anticipated. Right out of the box these are hands down the most comfortable work shoes I’ve ever owned. They’re light and responsive, so it doesn’t feel like you’re dragging a heavy boot around all day.

They’re solid and and after inspection, it doesn’t look like I have to worry about the sole coming unglued. To be honest, I didn’t realize they were waterproof until I got them. Had I been paying attention, I probably wouldn’t have ordered them.

I figured they wouldn’t be breathable and my feet would sweat too much. But it’s been over 100 degrees already and I still love them. I highly recommend these shoes. They’ve been worth every penny, and I will be buying these again.

I am a park ranger and cover 5-10 miles and 500 to 1500 vertical feet over the course of a typical workday and more on days off. I’ve struggled for several years with pain in the balls of my feet, and these have been a dream from a comfort standpoint.

I have a only been wearing daily for 6 weeks so can’t speak to durability. The vibram sole is extremely grippy on varied terrain including snow. As for waterproofing, they leave a lot to be desired (otherwise 5 stars).

With some mink oil on the leather portions, I can stay dry a little longer. However, if you’re walking in rain or wet snow, you will ultimately get some soak through. That said, my feet generally stay fairly warm, due in part to the “waterproof, breathable” liner.

I would not recommend for summer use. I typically wear size 11. 5 and the 11. 5 is perfect with a lightweight wool sock. You may want to size up if you wear thick socks.

I am a regular user of the X Ultra mid boots, having worn out two pairs each of the X Ultra 2 and X Ultra 3. Note that this review applies to the biggest available size (UK 13. 5, EUR 49 1/3, USA 14), so it may not be fully applicable to smaller sizes.

I have also worn these boots for several months, and they are probably approaching the mid point of their useful life by looking at their soles, so I believe I can provide a good assessment. In my opinion the 4th iteration of the X Ultra is a major step backwards from the excellent previous versions.

The changes seem to be related to the significant weight reduction (488 gr per boot versus 590 for the X Ultra 3), which is noticeable. However, the cost of this weight reduction is huge: 1. There is significantly less cushioning around the ankle, and the boot is also approximately one finger lower.

I continue to notice a slight friction around the ankles on every hike, although less as time goes on. In the first few hikes I stopped several times because of this, and once I even had to put some tissue to increase the cushioning.

To me this makes no sense, as it a significant inconvenience just to lose a few grams. 2. I have to stop and tighten my laces at least twice in every hike, as otherwise the fitting becomes loose. This is new to me and had never happened before.

I ignore the reason but maybe the material has some elasticity in it. Huge inconvenience. 3. The boot seems to have much less torsion resistance than previous versions. I hike in a very stony area, and at least once every day this causes slight ankle twists when placing the boot heel on a stone.

Avoiding this is the reason why I wear mid boots instead of regular shoes, and again seems to be the result of saving a few grams. Overall very disappointed with these boots to the point where I have looked and successfully acquired two more pairs of version 3.

I can not recommend version 4 to any one and I will certainly be very cautious when a (hopefully improved) version 5 comes out. Version 3 was an excellent product, this one is not.

Please keep in mind that I have never used the X Ultra 3’s, so my review is not biased. I am an avid backpacker and have worn many boots in my life. Also keep in mind that I had two REI employees ensure that I was purchasing the right size.

These, by far, are not only the most expensive but also the worst pair of boots that I have ever dawned upon my feet. My Adidas Terrex Swift R2’s that I loved finally died out on me and I decided to splurge on a new set of boots from a “quality” brand.

Salomon’s Ultra 3’s have great reviews, so I figured the new 4’s would be even better. This was not the case. It seems Salomon missed the mark on the skew between trail runner and hiking boot with these, making them not only useless, but actively harmful to users.

I took these on a 30 mile backpacking trip on Isle Royal and now have medical bills to pay directly because of these boots because they caused intense blistering, bruising of my feet, my toe nails are turning purple and will likely fall off, and of course I slipped multiple times on easy terrain due to lack of grip.

Here is a quick summary: Comfort: This is subjective to my feet, but these were a terrible fit. I do not have wide feet, but these run so narrow that they crushed my feet and damaged my nail beds on my long hike.

Also manufacturing quality is low as the right show had a completely different shape, ridges, and size than the left shoe causing uneven wear. The bottoms are paper thin, expect to feel every pebble under your foot.

Support: There is none. The point of a mid cut is to offer stability. These boots have a convenient cutout specifically around where your ankles end up when you are hiking downhill and need stability the most.

The bottom of the shoe is very flexible and unstable. Also the upper of the shoe is very flexible. This results in your foot warping the upper when planted on any incline, and sliding off the sole of the shoe regardless of how tight you tie them.

Grip: I have slipped total of four times in my hiking career. Three of those times were during the 30 miles I hiked with these boots on. The will slip on dry rock, wet rock, roots, dirt, and even mud.

The last eight miles of my hike I completed in my crocs because I could no longer handle the damage the boots were causing to my feet and the crocs had measurably better grip and stability. Durability: Waterproofing failed after about ten miles.

At the end of the 30 miles, noticeable snags int the stitching appeared. The lugs also seemed slightly worn which is surprising since they didn’t grip anything to begin with. Conclusion: I have no idea how it is possible to create a shoe that is tight enough in the forefoot to crush your toes but loose enough in the heel to shred your heels.

This shoe offers the lack of support and protection of a boot while also lacking the flexibility, comfort, and freedom of a trail runner. Truly the worst of both worlds. Again, I cannot imagine a foot type or activity scenario that these would be ideal for.

I’m deeply disappointed that Salomon has opted for perceived style rather than function and that their manufacturing quality has dropped so intensely. I use their products for my cross country skiing antics but will likely be swapping to a quality brand after this experience.

Overall, the shoes perform well for their intended use as light hiking boots. They’re well supported for their light weight, but not something I would use for extended backpacking. I end up doing some walking on concrete (in wet conditions) to get to many of the hikes I take these on, and they do not have sufficient padding to be comfortable on pavement.

Given that pavement is not what they’re built for, I’m not dinging them for that. Other shoes do offer better padding though. The tread on the bottom has fantastic grip, and has served me well in wet, dry, and dusty scrambling conditions.

That said, it does seem to be wearing through a bit more quickly than I’d like for a $150+ shoe. This may seem superficial, but I am really disappointed with the colors. I have wide feet. Not extremely wide, but wide enough that for Salomons, I usually need to pick up the wide-specific model.

I love the look of many Salomon shoe, but for some reason, these guys always pick the blandest ones for the wide fit! I feel like we’re being punished for having wide feet, and there ain’t a darn thing I can do about it! I think the Green Gables color on the X 4 Ultra Mid is one of the best looking hiking shoes in the game, and I actually purchased one originally.

Of course, it didn’t fit because it was far too narrow, so I was consigned to the boring black shoe bin. I’ve been wearing these shoes for three months and, overall, they perform well for light hikers.

They have fantastic grip and effective waterproofing, but durability remains an open question, and styles lost some major points (especially knowing how much Salomon is capable of). Would I buy again? Frankly, I hope not to.

I loved my X Ultra 3 Mid Wide GTX, and I’d like to see a version 5 or 4. 1 that brings better colors, more durability throughout, and specifically longer-lasting lugs/treads underfoot. The new lacing system is good, and I’d like to see it stick around.

If all that materialized (and I mean please, please bring us that Green Gables in wide!), then yes, count me in for another round after the next update. If you’re stuck with the version 4 as is, I’d skip it and come back next year.

1. These boots has a very bad lacing system but maybe they have replace that by now. Unless you tie them super tight at the top, the laces come loose and then ride up over the tongue onto the ankle. I like to have a little give at the top and these didn’t work that way.

I had to kind of snake the lace under the lower one to make them work at all. One of the hooks actually broke off quickly. 2. I found them to be slippery on ice, not enough gripping surfaces 3. Mud and debris and even pine cones got stuck in the center channel and had to be dug out.

4. On cloud went to a lot of trouble with the fancy sole but after a few weeks, I found it really hard and caused me a lot of foot pain. 5. On Cloud does not seem to stand behind their product and I dont think they will accept returns for cash, only replacement when the boot has been worn and comes from an outside retailer although REI certainly replaces for the first year.

They are however very waterproof and kind of cool looking but I would never buy them again.

I bought these because I really enjoy my On Cloud X running shoes, and liked the idea of a waterproof boot for winter with the plush cushioning of my running shoes. These look and feel comfortable, and definitely have the cushioning that I expected.

However, the first issue I have with them is that they are not waterproof. I?ve been wearing these for the past several months throughout the winter season, and was recently disappointed to feel my feet get damp after walking through some fresh powder from a relatively light snow storm.

The second issue I have is that the sole has worn considerably over the short period of time that I?ve owned them. I?ve only worn them to go to the office and running errands. At the end of the day, these are some good looking and very comfortable boots that fail to live up to their promise of being waterproof, and aren?t really as durable and you?d hope a $200+ pair of boots would be.

I am preparing for multi-day treks in Iceland and Ireland and needed comfortable, waterproof hiking boots that did not have a big heel to toe drop. These boots seemed perfect and they are, with one important, in fact, deal-breaking catch.

They do repel water. They are extremely comfortable for long hikes. They are attractive and well-made. However, on a sunny morning, with the trail still damp from the previous day’s rain, I slid on a wet tree root and went down, hard, on my knee.

I did not trip. I stepped on it and then slid. The treads on these boots are not grippy enough for wet conditions. If you look at the bottoms, you will see the design creates multiple flat planes that have only the slightest bit of texture on them.

Unless your weight is perfectly centered over the boot, you will basically hydroplane on a wet surface. I have exceptional balance and strength, but when you are stepping on uneven surfaces like rocks or roots, you are not able to perfectly center your weight.

I am ordering different boots for my treks because I can’t take the chance of sliding like that. On needs to rethink their tread design. I am not the first reviewer who has written a story about falling.

They have a great boot but need to put it on better treads.

I noticed a strong, musty smell at once when I received them, coming off the shoes, box and paper inside the box and shoes. The smell was so strong we couldn’t keep the shoes or packaging in the house.

But I did try on the shoes and LOVED the fit and comfort. Two months later: I received a replacement pair. SAME strong odor (like heavy, musty mold and/or chemical treatment), both on the shoes and packaging.

So I returned the replacements, and have kept the originals outside ever since they arrived roughly two months ago. I like the fit so much I’ve decided to try and mitigate the smell, first with a small container of baking soda in each shoe, then a light spray of Clorox Clean-Up outside and in, then Gain Scent Beads inside, then Ozium sanitizer in a covered bucket, none of which did any good.

Finally, I ran them through a wash load – THREE TIMES plus a final rinse. Incredibly, the odor persists, the shoes still are outside with Bounce laundry sheets stuffed in them. I purchased a competitor’s similar shoe about the same time as these shoes and they have no odor whatsoever, in spite of being waterproofed.

Other people have agreed the LLBean shoes have a strong odor. Sadly, I’ll probably never wear them at least in the car much less the house. I’ve seen other reviews commenting on the odor of these shoes and wish LLBean would remedy the problem.

This is the second pair of these shoes that I’ve ordered and worn. They replace the previous pair which had finally worn out. They are size 9. 5 medium, the same as the previous pair. They are very comfortable and have great traction in slippery places.

The width is good but the length is a bit short. I should have ordered a half size larger because they are a bit tight, but not too tight. I double tie the shoe strings but that is more difficult with this pair because the strings are too short to easily double tie.

I would recommend this product to a friend. I live in Ft. Bragg, CA.

I’ve had these shoes for about 3 1/2 months at the time of this review. I primarily use them for walking the dog through grassy fields in all weather conditions. They are definitely waterproof. Yes, they are a bit on the heavy side but these are hiking shoes, not walking/running shoes.

That extra heft gives much better support and traction on uneven surfaces. My only critique is that they took a long time to break in. The top of the foot along the tongue and laces was particularly uncomfortable and the shoes could not be worn without thick socks.

Eventually, they got there and I’m glad I stuck it out but they were not comfortable for me out of the box.