The Best Hiking Boot Brands: What Makes Them Tick The Birth of the Hiking Boot To better understand how the best hiking boot brands tick, I chatted with some of the experts behind Asolo, Merrell, Vasque, and Zamberlan. Their Breeze was our pick for the best waterproof hiking boot. Vasque, an offshoot of Red Wing Shoe Company, was one of the first American shoe manufacturers to create hiking boots, back in 1964. Their Bangtail was my best value pick for best winter hiking boots. Oboz has become a serious player in the world of hiking and backpacking boots. ObozĪ relative newcomer to the market, Oboz (their first boot came out in 2008), is based out of Bozeman. Their Moab, an industry leader, was our budget pick for best hiking boots. Merrell has a hard-won reputation as one of the most affordable quality hiking boots on the market. The 1996 Vioz was the most comfortable pick in our test of the best waterproof hiking boots. Zamberlan, another Italian bootmaker in the Dolomites, is known for their extremely comfortable leather boots. Their Targhee model was our pick as the best hiking shoe for wide feet. KEEN’s wide-fitting hiking boots have long had a dedicated following among hikers and backpackers who struggle with fit. Their Arctic 600s are our best winter hiking boot. Since 1932, Danner has been making tough yet comfortable boots for everyone from loggers to backpackers to frontcountry use. Their Eldos boots are our pick for the best waterproof hiking boots for sufferfests. AsoloĪsolo, an Italian bootmaking company, based out of the Dolomites, is known for their technical footwear that’s ready for the most challenging mountain conditions. Their Renegade won the best overall award in our best hiking boots survey. Lowa has been making boots since 1923 and they’re known for making supportive boots that require minimal break in time. In that time, a few hiking boot brands have stood out to us for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Outdoor Life has tested dozens of hiking boots, from winter-ready models to lightweight minimalist versions to leather boots built to last a lifetime. But the art of bootmaking - shaping a shoe to both support and protect a foot - is often more art than science, with companies spending decades on R&D and testing to create the perfect fit. Some of it is about staying on top of the technical side: the right Vibram rubber with just-so lugs, a midsole that both cushions the foot and protects against the ground, a durable yet breathable upper. Hiking boot brands have been perfecting the alchemy of truly great footwear for decades. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
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