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Price Weight Fit Upper Sole Stability Durability Overall (lb, oz)Asolo AFX 530$140 2, 7 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 HI: Remarkable stability for weight. LO: No real complaints from any tester.
Danner Mountain Spirit$140 2, 10 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.0 HI: Fairly rugged, very easy to break in. LO: Soft uppers, hard to pull on or off.
Hi-Tec Katahdin$250 2, 10 3.5 3.5 4.0 3.5 3.5 4.0 HI: Substantial soles, fits wide feet well. LO: A little leaky, many exposed seams.
Merrell Explorer$130 3, 4 2.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 3.5 HI: Tough character, moderate price. LO: Tight fit across toes.
One Sport Tarn$125 2, 9 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.0 HI: Nice leather, low weight, low price. LO: Leaky, uncomfortable tongue.
Raichle Helvetica$125 2, 14 4.0 3.0 4.0 3.5 4.0 3.5 HI: Good fit, rugger soles, attractive price. LO: Upper could be more weatherproof.
Rockport XCS$185 2, 12 3.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 HI: Looks great, fits fine. LO: Out of its element for hard trail duty.
Salomon Authentic 5$129 3, 1 4.0 4.0 5.0 4.5 4.0 4.5 HI: Lots of boot for the money. LO: Spotty availability in some areas.
Tecnica Acadia GTX$145 3, 2 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 HI: Good blend of support and stability. LO: A bit stuffy-feeling in hotter weather.
Timberland Waterproof Euro Hiker$115 2, 8 3.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 HI: Good fit, priced to sell. LO: So-so soles and uppers.
Vasque Newbrier$167 2, 10 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.5 4.5 4.0 HI: Fine fit, great weather resistance. LO: A bit pricey, slippery heel shape.
Fit rates whether boot ran big, small, narrow, wide. Were fit adjustments needed? How painful was break-in? We solicited specific fit comments at heel, ball of foot, toebox, instep, etc. Upper Design includes ease of lacing and entry/exit, comfort at shin/ankle/Achilles, foot protection, ventilation, water resistance, etc.Sole Design considers cushioning and impact protection underfoot, traction heel shape, the tread's ability to shed trail debris, and its impact on trail erosion.
Stability focuses on how well all the boot's parts work together to keep you walking upright over lumpy terrain with ankles in one piece.
Durability reflects problems encountered during test (popped eyelets, stitching damage, glue failures, etc.), plus testers' best guess at the boot's long-term lifespan.Overall Impression represents testers' gut reaction, all things considered. It is NOT an average of all other scores awarded.