User Review: New Balance 1201 Hiking Boot

New Balance 1201 Hiking Boot
Above: The current 1201 Hiking Boot, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed June 25, 2009 by jimryan

Rating:
Materials: gore-tex leather
Use: dayhikes
Break-in Period: none
Price Paid: $120

This is all about fit. After a period of gross weight gain, and then loss, the width of my feet changed. Had to give away two pair of high top boots and one low cut. Tried unsuccessfully to find others boots for over a year until finding New Balance 1201s.

It's the toe box. There is a lot of room and that's what I needed. And, the benefit of different widths. The problem was not having a really wide foot, it's where the width was in relation to standard boot lasts. These fit.

They are much lighter than I'm used to. They are some sort of mesh but supposedly waterproofed by using Goretex. I kind of doubt they will repel serious water, but probably good enough for drizzle, sloshing through the occasional puddle and events like that.

I have my doubts about the construction and how long the boots will hold up. Will write more as I get more mileage on these. My normal day to day hiking is on trails in the local hills, usually covered with miscellaneous rocks, pebbles, tree bits, pine cones and branches. I walk or hike in the hills about 4 days a week. These boots simply feel wonderful.

Just for drill I decided to wear them all day for several days, during which I did vegetable garden digging, climbing up and down ladders while painting, driving my manual shift pickup, and walking sidewalks for walks of 4 or 5 miles. All I can say is comfort, comfort, comfort. I figure that I've put at least 100 miles on them by now, and I actually enjoy wearing them.

Another problem to deal with is a condition I have called "peripheral neuropathy", which, among other things, causes an odd numbness in the feet. That means I'm often unaware of what I'm walking on or what's happening to my feet unless I look directly at them. This boot has been more than adequate at protecting my feet from harm.

One good thing about New Balance is they tell you which last was used to construct any particular piece of footwear. Once you know the last number code, you can search on their website for other shoes and boots that also use that last, opening the door to other comfortable footwear.

In conclusion, I recommend these, especially for problem feet, as a light weight hiker. I don't think I'd want to carry a lot of weight with them, or use them to hike the AT or anything like that.

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Where to Buy

Buy Online We found the 1201 Hiking Boot at 2 online stores:

Store

Product Description

Price

Campmor 5 purchase options:	Men's (4E) MO1201GT Gore-Tex Hiking Boot	$139.98	Buy Now
	Men's (D) MO1201GT Gore-Tex Hiking Boot	$139.98	Buy Now
	Men's (EE) MO1201GT Gore-Tex Hiking Boot	$139.98	Buy Now
	► more 1201 Hiking Boot choices from Campmor
	▼ fewer 1201 Hiking Boot choices from Campmor
	Women's (B) WO1201GT Gore-Tex Hiking Boot	$139.98	Buy Now
	Women's (D) WO1201GT Gore-Tex Hiking Boot	$139.98	Buy Now