Let Your Boots Do the Walkin'

American Fitness, Nov, 1999 by Keith Rockmael

Hiking and outdoor physical activity require the appropriate footwear.

If you're nice to your feet, the rest of your body will feel good--especially during a hike. From a light day hike to a three-pack or four-day pack trip, your footwear makes the difference.

Hiking boots and shoes can be broken down into endless subcategories, but we tried to stick to the basics. Boot testers tried to be thorough, although not too technical.

Boots can be divided into categories such as trail, rough trail, off trail and urban hikers.

Trail (T)--For the light-pack or no-pack day trips, these low-cut or mid-cut boots are the best choice. Boot construction usually consists of a fabric/leather combination. These boots often provide stiff soles to provide more stability, but most people find they lack support.

Rough Trail (RT)--A step up from the trail boots, these boots usually fit the aggressive day hiker or light backpacker. These ankle-high boots often provide varying degrees of waterproofing with breathable liners. The soles usually contain a tapered plastic midsole to provide durability, yet allowing some flexibility.

Off Trail (OT)--When it gets a little more serious and the pack gets a little heavier, it's time to upgrade to the off trail boots. Above-the-ankle support, rigid sole construction and full grain leather are too tempting to pass up. These boots (which are more durable) tend to be heavier, but the newer generations are lighter.

Urban Hikers--While not exactly a hiking boot, the trendy urban hikers maintain a hiking boot look without the typical modifications. These are for urban jungle use only.

Hi-Tec/Women's Transcender (RT)

The same terrain brought different results for the Hi-Tecs. One tester was impressed by the ankle level waterproofing, but the tread did not allow for solid footing on slippery surfaces. The other hiker said the boots were sturdy and traditional, yet there was poor toe support.

Hi-Tec/Summit LF (RT)

A fussy tester found the Summits to be one of the most comfortable for light hiking excursions. He was "momentarily startled by their comfortable fit." However, he found the task of fitting the shoe tongues around his ankles difficult. The weak-ankled tester said, "Although the tongue was initially difficult to adjust, it later proved quite valuable and, in fact, was one of the best features of the shoe."

Cabela/Teton II Hiker (OT)

A weekend warrior type found these boots a bit heavy at first. She also noticed a little discomfort while breaking in the top portion near the ankle. Upon further use, she became wowed by their performance. During further desert hikes, she said, "The boots handled the terrain perfectly. They gripped the steep and rugged trail with no problems or slippage. The upper portion of the boot broke in nicely."

Nike/Mada Pro (T)

Two of the testers sported the MadaPro and Hi-Tecs to climb Corral Canyon in Malibu, California. The initial break-in period made the back of her ankles sore. During the hike, the boots were tested in fording small streams, over slippery rocks, on a steep dirt hillside and cement surfaces. The boots provide "good heel cushion, as well as good traction and grip." She also reported the traction and grip worked well even over a damp, rocky terrain. Another hiker said, "They offered `airy' circulation, a good arch and tread appropriate for rock climbing."

Fila/Scree (T)

It's hard not to notice Scree's unusual design. The zipper over the laces seemed gimmicky, but the laces did not get caught or become untied. One of our testers said it made her feet look big. Besides the look, our tester felt the boots offered solid arch support. The comfort level was high, and the waterproofing worked-even through extremely wet conditions.

Asolo/afx 535 (OT)

One of our testers was so impressed by his Asolos that he gave away his trusty old Vasques. "There is something to be said for a perfect fit," he said. "The boots were snug but not tight." He also appreciated the simple and solid ankle support that wasn't excessive or cumbersome. He claimed the tread gave him excellent footing through diverse terrain, although he noted a slight flaw in the heel's tread. He also noted that they kept his feet remarkably dry in the wet condition of Olympic National Park. All in all, these proved to be strong boots even after a 60-mile hike.

Skeckers/7110 (UH)

With style and comfort, the 7110 works solely as an urban jungle hiker. These sport shoes offer sharp looking, scuff-resistant leather, as well as a thick soles. Under city duress, these utilitarian shoes also maintained their good looks. Although they don't provide the necessary features of a hiking boot, they provide reasonable style and comfort.

L.L. Bean/Cresta Hikers (OT)

(leather fabric style)

The Cresta Hikers didn't fare so well with one of our Northern California testers. She reported her ankles became sore even after a decent break-in period. She said, "The harder the trail, the worse they felt." The boots weren't a total washout since they held there own on patches of snow, as well as slippery rocks.