Trail Shoes

Recent Trail Shoe Reviews

Lowa Innox Pro Lo

The Lowa Innox Pro Lo is a high quality hiking shoe that has a padded upper that feels like a sneaker, yet still provides under-foot feel when hiking on unstable terrain. This highly breathable and lightweight low-top (GTX/waterproof version also available) is stylish enough for everyday use, and therefore is ideal for both trail as well as town use. This trail shoe suits the fast packer/speed hiker/trail runner, as well as a backpacker carrying a substantial load. Photo Credit: D. Jankovic Lowa’s… Full review

Merrell Altalight Waterproof

With the Altalight Waterproof, Merrell has produced a truly waterproof shoe that performs well on wet, muddy trails and rocky terrain. A narrow toe box and stiff sole stand out as cons to an otherwise well-made shoe. I have been mostly wearing Merrell hikers since my first backpacking trip in 2007. Overall, I have found the brand to be reliable. The MQM Flex has been my favorite hiking shoe of any brand I have used to date. So I was excited for the opportunity to test the Altalight Waterproof on… Full review

Merrell MQM Flex

The Merrell MQM Flex is a pleasant surprise and a good value. Not quite a trail runner, the MQM Flex is a moderately priced, non-waterproof light hiking shoe that has proven itself over the miles. I have backpacked in these shoes for about 150 miles in the Ozark Mountains before posting this review. This includes two 50-mile trips and a few shorter excursions. I feel a hiker should be able to count on a solid 500 miles in a pair of lightweight shoes, and the 150-mark is a good test of performance… Full review

Keen Koven

Recommended to me by a distance hiker who does sections of the PCT. Like house slippers for comfort; the waterproof version are a tad hot for warmer weather, but I have been wearing these for outdoor stuff for two years and I am most pleased. If you allow water to pour over the sides of the shoes, they are no longer called waterproof. I wore these in a small boat all day on Monday and feet were still dry in spite of squalls of very heavy rainfall. Wonderful hiking shoes! No additional details needed. Full review

Salomon Evasion 2 Aero

Rugged like a tractor...inside too! Low cut, lightweight, highly breathable trail shoe for the most rugged, rocky, and wet trails out there with a grippy sole like Velcro—so stable you can even carry your own heavy pack till you drop. Day 0—Looks can be deceptive, this cumbersome looking clogs when put in action felt feather-light and nimble becoming one piece with the foot I could easily walk, jog, run, jump, and climb with a grip like tiger claws sticking like Velcro to any surface, urban,… Full review

Lowa Renegade GTX Lo

The shoes walk perfect, but in only four months the sole is completely worn out. Never again shoes so expensive and no guarantee from Lowa. I walk daily 8-10 miles on the road, nothing special. The shop did send the shoes back to Lowa, but they didn't do anything for me. The shoes cost me 179,95! So for me never again Lowa shoes! Full review

Oboz Sawtooth Low

Really comfortable, but dangerous on wet tracks, tiles, granite, or cobblestones as they slip just like wearing ice skates on ice! Really comfortable but lethal on wet tracks, tiles, granite, or cobblestones as they slip just like wearing ice skates on ice! Have witnessed another person slip and fall and noticed she was wearing the same Oboz hikers. Very disappointed as was on a nine-week overseas walking holiday in Italy, Croatia, France, and Great Britain where surfaces and weather conditions… Full review

Merrell Outpulse Leather

Low cost trail shoe. I wanted a comfortable around town shoe and found these on sale, just two pairs left, I was told, they have just flown from the shelves. The 10 was not quite right, but the 10.5 was perfect. I might have had my winter slippers on!  Now I have had them for nearly a month and can say that they are now my go-to shoes for all my outdoor activities: going to town, daily walk, and the weekend trips on the local hill tracks. One of these tracks is gravel at an average 30-degree slope… Full review

Lowa Renegade II LL Lo

Long lasting shoes build Lowa quality! I typically use my shoes for approach and hikes. So I need a great support when carrying climbing gear. The Lowa Renegade have a polyurethane mid sole, which is heavier but will not collapse over time or under heavy load. They are made of nubuck (is top-grain cattle leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like), so they are warm. I even walk with them during winter… Full review