Columbia Coremic Ridge 2

Summary

Standard Columbia boots — good quality and value

I'm a longtime user of Columbia hiking boots, and the Coremic Ridge 2 boots are exactly what I've come to expect from Columbia — good price (usually available at a great price if you look around, I found these for $30 on clearance at a local shoe store), comfortable after you break them in, and perhaps most importantly built to last.

If you're hiking long distance multi-days I expect you'd want something waterproof — these are not. That said here is my take on these...

First off, these are pretty sturdy boots particularly around the ankle collars. They are a bit more stiff than other Columbia boots I've owned. They aren't uncomfortable but I wouldn't hit the trail for any length of time without breaking them in first. That said, they offer really good ankle support — a plus if past injuries have left you prone to ankle sprains or twists (like me). They're cut lower around the back of the achilles to allow unrestricted forward & backward movement, but are cut higher around the sides of the ankle to restrict lateral movement.

The tongue of the boots is affixed to the shoe on each side which prevents the tongue from getting offset but it also keeps the opening tight, so getting them on can be a tight squeeze. I'd say these are a medium weight boot, and they have a fairly generic (not in a bad way) aesthetic style.

The best thing about them is the durability: they are well made and the soles are built to last. I've found that with all my Columbia boots the sole is the only thing that ever gives up the ghost — the shoes themselves seems indestructible, but eventually friction will wear the soles down. Columbia's OmniGrip soles hold up really well, and the treads on these offer great grip.

The sizing on these is spot-on for me — I wouldn't suggest sizing up or down unless you plan to use them in cold weather with thick or multiple pairs of socks, in which case you might need to go up 1/2 size.

Overall these are a good deal. You could spend more and get higher end waterproof boots that are lighter, but find them at a decent price and they're a solid value.