Merrell Men's Erie Mid Wp Hiking Boot

Product Information

While the stable design and plush comfort offer a solid and supportive hiking boot, we found it takes some time to get used to having two inches of foam underfoot. Salomon Cross Hike 2 Mid Gore-Tex ( men’s and women’s): Fitting like a rigid trail runner that lands slightly below the ankle bone, these boots don’t provide the needed ankle stability for hikers carrying heavy packs. It is also good to think about the types of surfaces you travel over when looking at different boots' tread patterns. Take your actual body measurements as they are more accurate than measuring over your clothes or shoes. Whether you’re going on a day hike with friends or tackling an ambitious backpacking route, you need a good pair of hiking boots to protect your feet and stabilize your ankles.

width":"M","widthDisplayValue":"M"},"194713899867":{"isAvailable":true,"isComingsoon":false,"color":"J500121","size":"11. Very comfortable straight out of the box with a larger than average toe box for wider feet like mine. Though this plays more into the support metric, it is worth noting that lugs and tread patterns have a large impact on the overall performance of a boot.Increase comfort on the trail by learning simple boot lacing techniques that help you deal with heel slipping, pressure points and toe pain. Although they still feel as flexible in the foot, these boots are now more rigid around the ankle, so they’re perfect for backpacking trips with heavy packs, when you need the extra support. We could still sense the ground enough to navigate properly, but the many rocks we encountered didn’t cause sore toes. 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.

We then took that data and real-world experience and crafted this detailed assessment of today's best options to help you find the right pair for your needs. 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.

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-tex has plenty of room in the forefoot for wide-footed hikers, as well.