OutdoorGearLab Released Awards Today For Top Hiking Boots for 2014
PRLog - Aug. 25, 2014 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- OutdoorGearLab a reputable outdoor gear review website know for its side-by-side comparison reviews, recently published the winners of their top hiking boot review. Gear Review Editor, Brandon Lampley and his team of reviewers hiked, scrambled and fastpacked through sand, mud, snow and gravel, on and off trail for thousands of miles testing the contenders for stability, comfort, durability, traction, water resistance and how heavy they were. Testing occured on terrain anywhere from desert to snowy mountaintop in such places as Indian Creek, Utah, Pingree Park, Colorado and Grand Teton National Forest. Included also in this review is an informative buying advice article and an in-depth look at the evaluation criteria scored and different types of hiker designs available.
The award winners were as follows:
Editors’ Choice: Vasque St. Elias GTX
According to Gear Editor Brandon Lampley, “The St. Elias was the best we tested. Vasque has built a supportive, durable, stable and water resistant product that doesn’t compromise these qualities in order to save weight. It is constructed with comfort in mind and is responsive and lightweight enough to be comfortable for day hikes yet supportive and stable enough for extensive backpacking trips. We think of it as a traditional backpacking boot with a potentially perfect upgrade designed to keep weight to a minimum. These are great for adventurers who are looking for footwear able to go anywhere and do just about anything.”
Best Buy: Keen Targhee II Mid
The OutdoorGearLab Best Buy award goes to a great product offered at an exceptional price. Lampley reports, “The Targhee II Mid is exceptionally comfortable and light. While testing, we met a Pacific Crest trail hiker who had over a thousand miles on his pair and stated that he would purchase them again. It was unanimous that the extra toe protection and ankle support they provide make its wearers feel more secure.”
Top Pick: Salomon Quest 4D GTX
The Salomon Quest 4D received Top Pick award for Fastpacking. Fastpacking, also known as ultralight hiking, combines backpacking with trail jogging and requires lightweight yet comfortable and supportive footwear. Gear Editor Lampley explains, “Fastpackers often run when the conditions are desirable and the Quest 4D is responsive and light enough for running and yet still provides stability when the terrain becomes more harsh. This is a high performance product that had amazing traction on a variety of surfaces. The 4D foot support chassis of the Quest provides advanced stability to one’s torso area, the ankle collar provided good support especially when moshing down steep trails and we especially liked the lacing system.”
Top Pick: La Sportiva Hyper Mid GTX
The La Sportiva Hyper Mid GTX also won Top Pick award but this specialty boot won its award for being the best choice for rock scrambling and climbing or better summarized as more supportive and comfortable than a more traditional rock climbing approach shoe with torsional stability to keep the lumbar in check and GORE-TEX to keep the elements out. Review Editor Lampley explains, “The Hyper Mid has more midsole cushioning than traditional approach shoes and can handle extra long hikes and even though it’s constructed with a GORE-TEX liner it still remains breathable, comfortable and supportive. The Hyper Mid’s design is clever and crafty, not too heavy or light and its toe design and lacing system help it stand out amongst the rest for being stable on rock edges and having great traction suitable for rock scampering, smearing, edging and other similar needs while climbing, scouting and adventuring.”
Out of Cheyenne, Wyoming, OutdoorGearLab, LLC is focused on streamlining comparison-shopping by producing the world’s best outdoor gear reviews. A free resource for consumers, the website, www.outdoorgearlab.com, offers detailed reviews of leading products for outdoor athletes and enthusiasts. The review team performs side-by-side tests of gear and publishes the results in comprehensive reviews illustrated with photos. Each product is scored across a range of weighted metrics, competing products are ranked, and winners are selected from the top scoring models. The website has reviews in the categories of hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, running, cycling and skiing. The aim is to assist in solving purchasing decisions by presenting consumers with relevant comparison data and observations.
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OutdoorGearLab Released Awards Today For Top Hiking Boots for 2014
August 25, 2014 at 12:21 PM EDT
