They’re also decently waterproof, thanks to Gore-Tex materials, and the footbeds are cushioned with compression EVA foam, which makes for a comfortable ride and a near-zero break-in time.
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They’re the lightest boots we tested (1 pound 11 ounces for a pair of men’s size 9), plus they’re well ventilated (due to a microfiber mesh upper) and stylish. However, the ankle is bulkier and stiffer, as on a typical hiking boot, which gives you added support. The uppers feel lightweight and flexible like a shoe, and the underfoot support is similar to that of a trail shoe, with built-in treads and a thinner profile.
If you love hiking in trail-running shoes and have narrow feet: Consider the Vasque Breeze LT Mid GTX ( men’s and women’s sizes) boots, another trail-shoe-and-boot hybrid that runs narrow.
But for day hikes on moderate terrain, they should do just fine. In addition, these boots aren’t likely to be waterproof for long, considering their suede materials, nor are they a good option for mountaineering or even advanced backpacking trips. But on wet days, we didn’t feel secure on wet rocks, and our feet got hot quickly since leather isn’t very breathable. The underfoot protection (bolstered by cushioned OrthoLite footbeds) kept our feet happy during a 6-mile hike through fairly easy terrain, and they’re unexpectedly lightweight at 2 pounds 5 ounces (for a pair of men’s size 9) they’re lighter than the Salomon Quests and similar to our budget pick, the Merrell Moab 2 pair.
But once they’re broken in, they’re more likely to mold to your feet. The Mountain 600 boots have a longer break-in time than some of the others we tested (about 10 to 20 miles, depending on the terrain) because they’re made with suede leather. Some of our testers found them to be too wide, but others loved the slightly bulkier fit if you do find these boots attractive, we recommend trying them on before you buy, as well as ordering in your street-shoe size rather than sizing up. If you’re looking for a stylish, all-leather boot that molds to your foot after a long-ish break-in period: Consider the Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boots ( men’s and women’s sizes), which are comfortable and stylish. All La Sportiva boots are generally narrow but, like the Merrells, the Raptors come in medium-width and wide options to accommodate more foot shapes, too.
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But the Raptors do run a bit small (even compared with the Sabers), so you’ll want to order a half to a full size up from your street shoe size. We appreciated the Raptor’s solid underfoot support, ideal traction on wet trails, and excellent waterproofing. Because of this, it’s easier to flex your foot (which makes driving and walking a breeze, compared with our other picks), and you’ll also notice that it’s easier to put the boots on and take them off. If you’re a hiker who prefers trail running shoes but needs ankle support (to carry a heavy pack or child, for example), you’ll appreciate that the Ultra Raptor is built on the mid and outsole of a trail running shoe. La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX ( men’s and women’s) replaces our discontinued former top pick, La Sportiva Saber, offering the same lightweight, flexible setup but with added toe protection and a slightly longer break-in time. Despite their clunkiness, they’re surprisingly comfortable on shorter hikes, too. That said, the Quests are fairly bulky, so they’re best suited for folks carrying heavy packs or heavy kids on their back. Though they did have a slightly longer break-in time than the previous model, the new Quests also had the widest toe box of any of the boots we tested, which means the boot is likely to fit most foot shapes right out of the box. The updates are fairly small, however we appreciated the two minor upgrades over the old model: increased ankle and heel support for people carrying heavy loads, as well as a more flexible midfoot plate, which makes flexing your foot a bit easier. Thankfully, the Quest 4 Gore-Tex boots still have many essential features we loved on the previous edition, including ample toe and heel protection, solid traction and support, breathable and waterproof materials, and a gusseted tongue. Salomon recently updated its popular Quest boots from 3D to 4 (which comes in men’s and women’s sizes).
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