Under Armour Fat Tire GTX Hiking Boot

Cushioning

The most obvious feature of the Fat Tire is also our favorite: The thick midsole, which sits on top of soft foam just above the outsole, provides a cushy feel on a variety of terrain. It absorbs the shock of tromping down trails with a heavy pack—one tester reported no problems carrying an 80-pound load on a 60-mile trip in Idaho. Ding: The tall sole (23.5mm in the heel) made ankle rolls a real threat on off-camber trails.

Lacing

The BOA system was a huge hit with our testers—the laces never came untied, and we were able to loosen and tighten the boots with a quick twist of the dial.

Protection

“I felt invincible in these,” one tester says. “I never felt any trail features punching through to my feet during a full day on trails that beat me up in other boots.” Ding: Sideways glances are all but guaranteed.