*KEEN TARGHEE 3 NO LONGER RECOMMENDED.* [ Ссылка ] Like many others in the comments, my lugs have started to unglue. Shame; everything else is fabulous. I just can't recommend a shoe that disassembles itself.

Merrell, Keen, North Face, and Salomon: who makes the best hiking boot for warm climates? I ordered 10 pairs of boots to test on the treadmill, and I'm only keeping one. Well, maybe two.

⚡ COUPON CODE = REGRESS for big discounts on my favorite Bluetooth earbud hearing protectors: [ Ссылка ] ⚡

Brief Notes:
- Darn Tough merino wool socks add an extra layer of cushion between you and your terrain. *Never gotten a blister while wearing them.* And they're made in America! 🔥 [ Ссылка ] 🔥

- Salomon Quest 4 GTX is tall, flashy, light, and comfortable. It absorbs impacts and shields your foot from rocky terrain better than any others in my limited test. It doesn't fit my wide foot, though, so if you have normal feet and don't mind a little swampiness in your toe box, this could be your perfect backpacking boot. (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ])

*- Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Mid Hiking was my wife's choice.* The Ultra wants to walk, run, and climb. Even lighter than the Quest, it fits like a running shoe and just sorta disappears and becomes a part of your foot. It lets through more rocky bumps than the Quest, but overall it feels more capable when the going gets technical. It comes in Wide, both for men and women! (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ])

- Merrell MOAB 2 Mid Hikers in Gore-Tex (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ]) and Vent (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ]) models both feel stable with wide outer lugs and a Vibram sole. Both of them move naturally and breath well. The only weird issue is a palpable hump under the ball of the foot.

- Merrell MOAB 2 Tactical Waterproof 8" boots look great and retain that sneaker fit. The nicely rounded Vibram sole is quiet enough for stalking game. It feels like it's missing a little EVA under the toe box, and its waterproof membrane doesn't breathe as well as Keen.dry or Gore-Tex. If you live farther North than me, though, I think you'll love 'em. [ Ссылка ]

- North Face Hedgehog Futurelight feels like nothing. Easily the lightest of the group, it fits well, has a smooth liner, and breathes better than any of the other waterproof membranes. Buy this one if you're looking for an around-town boot or if your trails don't get very rocky, because you will feel every pebble under the soft sole. Good luck finding it right now. I managed to find a pair at my local BassPro.

- Keen Targhee III Waterproof (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ]) was my favorite in this test, but don't overlook the Targhee Vent (Men: [ Ссылка ] | Women: [ Ссылка ]). They both come in Wide, and to me they have the most natural foot-conforming shape out of this whole lineup. Yeah, they're a little heavy, but the perfect dynamic foot roll and solid protection from the sole and wide toe cap make them worth the couple extra ounces. These boots just plain want to MOVE.

If you want to see more videos like these, become a Patron of the Destructive Arts! For a buck or two a month, Patrons help keep the cameras running and receive sneak peeks and bonus footage. [ Ссылка ]

Kyle Broderick, The Social Regressive

00:00 Test Parameters
02:40 Salomon Quest 4 GTX
07:57 Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX
12:44 North Face Hedgehog Futurelight Mid
16:14 Merrell MOAB 2 Tactical WP 8"
20:18 Merrell MOAB 2 Mid GTX & Vent
24:32 Keen Targhee II Waterproof
27:23 Keen Targhee Vent
28:02 Keen Targhee III Waterproof
32:40 Darn Tough Socks
33:20 Conclusion

свернуть