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The Only Boots You Need

The perfect combination of protection, support, weight, and comfort.

The perfect combination of protection, support, weight, and comfort. That’s what we were looking for in our boot test—because when we find it, the miles go by like magic. Our crew of Grand Canyon rangers is the most demanding group of footwear testers we’ve found, routinely hiking 15- to 20-mile days with loads up to 40 pounds. They navigate loose, rocky, cactus-choked slopes, steep sandstone slabs, slushy snow, and icy streams. Over more than half a year, they hammered this crop of waterproof, midcut boots to find the best for all-purpose backpacking. By Annette McGivne

Keen Marshall hiking boot
Keen Marshall Mid WP – photo by Ben Fullerton
Ahnu Coburn Hiking Boot (Photo by Ben Fullerton)
Ahnu Coburn Hiking Boot – photo by Ben Fullerton
LOWA Innox Mid GTX hiking boot - photo by Ben Fullerton
LOWA Innox Mid GTX hiking boot – photo by Ben Fullerton
Salomon X Ultra Mid GTX Hiking Boot - image by Ben Fullerton
Salomon X Ultra Mid GTX Hiking Boot – image by Ben Fullerton
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus image by Ben Fullerton
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus – image by Ben Fullerton
Ecco BIOM Terrain Plus hiking boot - image by Ben Fullerton
Ecco BIOM Terrain Plus Hiking Boot – image by Ben Fullerton
Hanwag Tatra GTX Custom Fit hiking boot from Germany
Hanwag Tatra GTX Custom Hiking Boot – image courtesy

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