Footwear Reviews
All footwear gear reviews.
Darn Tough Hiker Boot Full Cushion Review
Darn Tough's midweight, full-terry Merino boot sock (1405) trades a little weight and warmth for cushioning and a lifetime guarantee. Here's who it suits.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Review
The Darn Tough 1466 Hiker Micro Crew is a 73 g Vermont-made merino sock with medium cushion and a lifetime guarantee. It's the long-distance default for good reason.
Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid Review
Lowa's Renegade Evo GTX Mid is a stable, durable leather boot with Gore-Tex and Vibram traction, but it weighs 1,179 g a pair and costs $280.
Teva Original Universal Review
Teva's 1984-original strappy sandal is cheap, adjustable and durable, but with no arch support it suits camp, water crossings and easy trails, not loaded miles.
Exped Camp Slipper Review
Exped's insulated Camp Slipper weighs 136–156 g and swaps a boot-sweaty evening for warm, grippy feet, but its thin sole and loose fit limit it to camp duty.
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Review
The Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is a stiff, durable Gore-Tex leather boot built for heavy loads and wet trails, with a weight penalty ultralighters will feel.
Salomon Speedcross 6 Review
The Salomon Speedcross 6 is a mud-biting, snug-fitting trail runner with a 5 mm lug and Quicklace closure. It's a specialist, not an all-day thru-hiking default.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX Review
Salomon's X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is a soft, grippy, waterproof mid-cut at 854 g a pair, best for trail-bound hikers who want a boot that feels like a shoe.
Altra Lone Peak 7 Review
The Altra Lone Peak 7 is a roomy, zero-drop trail runner that suits thru-hikers on dry-to-moderate trails, but owners report its upper and midsole wear out early.
DeFeet Wooleator Review
DeFeet's thin, unpadded 3-inch Merino quarter sock weighs 43.6 g and has a decade-long following among thru-hikers and runners, but it wears out faster than burlier wool.
Altra Lone Peak 6 Review
The Altra Lone Peak 6 is a 300 g zero-drop trail runner with a roomy toe box and soft EGO foam, best for wide feet and moderate loads, less so for heavy packs.
Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV Review
The Xero Z-Trail EV is a 11 mm zero-drop hiking sandal that weighs about 11 oz a pair. It's great camp footwear but too minimal for heavy loads.
La Sportiva Aequilibrium Speed GTX Review
A featherweight, low-cut mountaineering shoe built for fast alpine missions—here's how it performs on rock, snow, and long approaches.
:quality(80))
Meindl Antelao GTX Review
A wide-fitting, B-rated leather/mesh hiking boot from Meindl's Comfort Fit line — roomy, supportive, and built for multi-day mountain trails.
Timberland White Ledge Waterproof Mid Hiker Boot Review
A budget-friendly full-leather mid hiker that's comfortable out of the box, but is it durable enough for real trail use? Here's what I found.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Cushion Review
A deep dive into Darn Tough's best-selling 1466 hiking sock, covering fit, durability, and whether the lifetime warranty is worth the premium price.
Hanwag Gritstone II Narrow Lady GTX Review
A narrow-fit, low-cut hiking shoe from Hanwag with a GORE-TEX liner and Vibram Ultragrip II sole — built for maintained trails and day hikes, not off-trail bushwhacking.
Vibram Furoshiki Review
A packable, wrap-on minimalist shoe that makes sense as an ultralight camp shoe or travel shoe — but not as trail footwear.
Altra Trail Gaiter Review
A featherweight, strapless gaiter built for Altra's GaiterTrap system — great at keeping dust and grit out, but only if you're already running Altras.
Meindl Air Revolution 4.6 Review
A GORE-TEX-lined, Vibram-soled mountaineering boot from Meindl's Air Revolution line, reviewed for fit, durability, and on-trail performance.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II GTX Review
A deep dive into La Sportiva's technical hiking shoe: how the FriXion XF 2.0 outsole, GTX liner, and narrow last perform on real trails.
SCARPA 4-Quattro Pro Review
A 130+ flex hybrid boot that skis like an alpine boot and tours like a lightweight AT boot, with the narrow last to prove it.
Arc'teryx Sylan Pro Shoe Review
A closer look at Arc'teryx's discontinued top-tier trail runner: a rocker-heavy, snug-fitting shoe built for fast mountain days, with real trade-offs on stability.
Arc'teryx Synthetic Mid Sock Review
A closer look at Arc'teryx's all-mountain synthetic hiking sock — where it shines, where merino still wins, and who should actually buy it.
La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX Review
A hybrid mountaineering-hiking boot that bridges approach shoes and full-on mountaineering boots for technical alpine days.
Salomon Speedcross 5 Review
A deep dive into Salomon's iconic mud-eating trail runner — where the aggressive lugs shine, and where the heavy, low-cushion build starts to show its age.
Salomon X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX Review
A hands-on look at Salomon's do-it-all hiking shoe, weighing its trail-runner-like agility against a firmer, less cushioned ride than rivals.
Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 Review
A stable, grippy trail runner that hikers use as a lightweight boot alternative — but the narrower V8 upper isn't for everyone.
Altra Lone Peak 9 Review
The zero-drop trail runner thru-hikers love for its wide toe box — we dig into whether the 9th generation finally fixed its durability problems.
Injinji Trail Midweight Crew Review
A five-toe crew sock built for trail running and hiking — I break down the blister-prevention benefits, durability trade-offs, and who should actually buy toe socks.
SCARPA Kailash GTX Review
A look back at SCARPA's discontinued Kailash GTX, a rugged Italian-made leather backpacking boot now succeeded by the Kailash Trek and Kailash Plus GTX.
Darn Tough Men's Hiker Quarter Cushioned Wool Hiking Socks Review
A midweight merino hiking sock with Darn Tough's legendary lifetime warranty — durable and comfortable, though not the lightest option for ultralight hikers.
Injinji Liner Mini-Crew Review
Injinji's 31-gram CoolMax toesock liner stops toe-on-toe blisters cheaply and dries fast, but its thin fabric wears out faster than a real trail sock.
Darn Tough Mountaineering Micro Crew Full Cushion Review
A heavyweight, full-cushion merino wool sock built for cold-weather mountaineering and winter hiking — durable, warm, and odor-resistant, with a lifetime guarantee.
FALKE TK5 Wander Review
An honest review of the FALKE TK5 Wander hiking sock: a lightweight, anatomically-fitted merino wool crew sock built for casual day hikes and city walks.
Injinji Hiking Toesocks Review
Injinji's hiking toesocks eliminate toe-on-toe friction to prevent blisters — a genuine game-changer for blister-prone hikers, with a few real-world trade-offs worth knowing.
Altra Lone Peak 4.5 Review
An honest look at the Altra Lone Peak 4.5 — a zero-drop trail shoe beloved by thru-hikers, with updated midsole foam and a snugger fit that divides long-time fans.
Crocs Classic Clog Review
The Crocs Classic Clog: a cult-status camp shoe beloved by backpackers for its cushioned Croslite foam, quick-dry performance, and sub-$55 price — but its loose, binary fit has real limits.