Best Hiking Boots 2012 – As Rated and Tested by Hikers
Finding the best hiking boots can be tricky simply because of the sheer range available. Plus you never really know if the manufacturer’s claims will really do the job when you’re out in the wild.
So we are going to simplify things and give you the best biking boot in each of the three main categories for hiking boots, and base our picks on customer feedback rather than manufacturer claims.
Plus we’ll link to the best deal for each boot that we have found.
Ok to start off with we’ll just give you a quick reminder of the four categories of hiking boot.
Class A. Lightweight such as sandals or trail running shoes.
Class B. Light-medium. Hiking shoes, cross hikers and light or mid weight boots are examples.
Class C. Medium-Heavy. Off trail or heavy boots
Class D. Mountaineering boots.
We won’t be including Class D in this guide as mountaineering is a completely different sport to hiking.
OK, lets get started on our guide to the best hiking boots. Just to be perverse, we’re going to start with Class B, then Class C, then finish with Class A.
Don’t forget you can click on the picture of each boot for more detail and the latest best price.
Best Class B (Medium) Hiking Boots:
Men:
Hi-Tec Men’s Altitude IV Hiking Boot
Quantity doesn’t always equal quality, often something that sells the best does so on price rather than performance. But when it comes to a looong list of satisfied hikers this boot has more than we have found anywhere. There are simply too many gushing reviews about this boot to need to even start quoting them. Don’t believe us? Check it out.
Women:
Hi-Tec Women’s Montclair Mid Hiking Boot
These boots are designed to not only be rugged enough for some serious hiking, but to be light enough and good looking enough for everyday use. Judging by owner feedback Hi-Tec have achieved this triple aim – “I read a lot of reviews on women hiking boots and i decided to go with these boots. They are amazing!”, “No need to break them in; they were great from the beginning. Comfy for the duration of all hikes I’ve done”, “shoe is perfect for winter casual wear, and hiking in woods. lightweight for everyday use”
Best Class C (Heavy) Hiking Boots:
Men:
Vasque Men’s Clarion GTX Hiking Boot
Rated 5/5 over 20 reviews. Feedback such as “comfortable, rugged and I would defiantly recommend them”, ” My feet don’t slip, there were no pinch points, no blisters or any discomfort.”, and “I am a walker/hiker, these get heavy wear. They hold up beautifully. I wear them for all 4 seasons. “ says it all.
Danner Men’s Radical 452 GTX Outdoor Boot
These boots have a 5/5 rating from owners. Why? “The Terra Force torsional support has not diminished after 250+ miles of hiking. Besides day hikes and 2-3 day backpacks I’ve used the Radicals with good results on off-trail scrambles to summits in the High Sierra and North Cascades, occasionally crossing snow steep enough to require an ice axe.”, “They have taken the punishment of the trails, the snow, ice, mud, etc. and still look good enough to wear to the office. They are extremely comfortable, light, completely waterproof, and have required no maintenance–not even new laces.”, ” I would highly recommend these boots!!”. That’s why.
Women:
Scarpa Women’s Kailash GTX Lady Hiking Boot
Yet another 5/5 rated boot in this list. “Don’t even notice I’m wearing them”, “After doing a lot of research on boots, I am very happy I got these. These are well worth the money and highly recommended. ” and “I absolutely love these new hiking boots” are some of the uniformly glowing comments.
Scarpa are one of the top, top manufacturers and without question produce some of the best hiking boots. Well worth a closer look – click on the pic of the boot to do so.
Best Class A (Lightweight) Hiking Boots:
Men :
Saucony Men’s Progrid Razor Trail
These lightweight, waterproof and tough trail running shoes are rated 5/5 by owners. Given feedback like “Backpacking through South America and Asia, coming up. I was looking for an alternative to hiking boots…this was an amazing and long sought alternative to hiking shoes”, “fit and finish on this shoe highlight Saucony’s reputation for outstanding quality,”, “now that I have a few miles on them I am genuinely impressed” they deserve to be given serious consideration.
Women:
Vibram FiveFingers TrekSport
Vibram FiveFingers have an army of dedicated fans and this is the one they built for hiking. Ultra minimalist design to feel as close as possible to barefoot while still providing the necessary protection for your trek.
Click to check out this and more of the best hiking boots in more detail