Much like winter tires, this waterproof hiker has an odd-looking but highly-effective outsole. Merrell Moab Speed Thermo Mid WP ($170) (Photo: Courtesy Merrell) Best Traction Read the full review for a more in-depth look at strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback. Overall, our testers were impressed with how much effort TNF put into building a boot that’s not just designed for warmth, or deep snow, or wet trails, but for anything you’ll face from October all the way to March. Thoughtful features were icing on the cake, like a knob on the heel that helped keep a rear snowshoe strap in place for long walks. Meanwhile, in mild Santa Fe, I found that the waterproof membrane breathed well enough to keep my feet from getting sweaty (and blistered). (They’re high-cut enough to manage four to six inches of snow add a gaiter and you can tackle full-on snow banks). Tester Zoe Gates wore them in deep, wet snow in Greenland and said her feet were totally dry, even after hours of postholing. Packed with 200 grams of eco-friendly insulation across the entire upper of the boot, and lined with a waterproof, breathable membrane, the boots stood up to old man winter without blinking. This boot came with a rockered sole that tested well on dirt trails here in New Mexico, a high-rebound EVA midsole that added forward momentum on gravel or snow, and a TPU plate under the forefoot that kept the boots stable over any terrain. A rockered, high-rebound EVA midsole that doesn’t stiffen in the cold yields a propulsive, poppy ride that had us feeling fast on the trail and fresh at the end of a long hike. For winter hiking, that’s the Vectiv Fastpack Insulated Futurelight. I’ve always been a big fan of the Steve Jobs approach: find one piece of apparel that you can wear every day, no matter the situation. Reviews: The Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2023 Editor’s Choice: The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Insulated Futurelight ($195) (Photo: Kevin Zansler) He’ll often wear two different boots at the same time and go back and forth over one kind of terrain-say kitty litter rocks-just to see which one grips better. Even on the first wear he can tell whether the toe box will be too narrow or whether the heel cup will be too wide. His feet are so picky that if a boot’s fit isn’t generally calibrated for a wide range of feet he knows almost instantly. Kip Malone-Kip is based down in Albuquerque, New Mexico and we’ve had him test a pile of boots over the past five years for two main reasons. He’s most happy when backpacking, backcountry skiing, or overlanding with his family. A father of four, he’s a platinum-level weekend warrior, knows how to squeeze in a run or ride between Zoom meetings and kid dropoffs, and has his trip calendar planned out a year in advance. Jakob Schiller is a former Gear Editor at Outside and now a columnist for the magazine. Number of miles: 250 Meet Our Testers Jakob Schiller The shoes that got the highest marks are the ones that not only kept our feet warm and dry, but also were plenty supportive, comfortable to wear for long miles, and kept our dogs happy during the worst days. We put each model to the test in the rain, slush, and knee-deep snow, and in temperatures ranging from the mid-fifties all the way down to the teens. Our crew spanned the entire country-from New Mexico to Indiana to Washington, D.C-and included men and women of all ages, from recent college graduates to established retirees. Those with the right size feet (early samples only come in one size) got the chance to thrash and evaluate the next year’s new boots. We heard back from more than a dozen, and selected finalists from a diverse range in geography. Last fall we offered our Outside+ members the chance to test winter hikers. But it’s only fun if you have footwear to keep your feet warm and dry, and with good traction to bite into slippery terrain. Winter is a great time to explore: the local trails are less crowded and are often prettier thanks to all the snow. Many people assume that hiking season is over once winter rolls around. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+
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