Hiking Boot Awards Announced by OutdoorGearLab.com

CHEYENNE, WY – OutdoorGearLab.com announced today the results of its 2012 Editors’ Choice awards for hiking boots. Ten of the best boots were compared in a rigorous testing regime that evaluated the following categories: comfort, traction, stability, weight, and water resistance. The testing involved a year of High Sierra backpacking, canoeing in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, and scrambling in the desert southwest. Review editors identified the best light boots, best heavy boots and best values in hiking boots. Each boot underwent extensive side-by-side comparisons. View the complete Hiking Boot Review

The winners:
Keen Targhee 2 – winner of the Editors’ Choice award for 2012 for light hiking boots. According to Gear Editor Atherton Phleger, “The Keen Targhee is a ridiculously comfortable light hiker with heavyweight hiker intentions. It’s snug, light, and durable, and offers a surprising amount of support. Its well constructed, has a perfectly sized toe box, and an excellent tread pattern. If you are considering a mid to light hiking boot, this is the one to get.”

Asolo Power Matic 200 – winner of the Editors’ Choice award for 2012 for best heavy hiking boot. According to Gear Editor Phleger, “The Asolo Power Matic is an extremely well built all-leather boot. We loved it for its snug fit, well-padded insole, and great support. If you are looking for a hiker to keep your ankles safe on any terrain, this is the one. It’s also incredibly durable. After over three months of constant, brutal use, it carries only minor aesthetic damage. It’s a lifetime investment.”

La Sportiva Eco 4.0 – winner of the Best Buy award for 2012 for heavier boots. This award is given to a product that balances a high score in our tests and a reasonable price. According to Phleger, ” The La Sportiva Eco 4.0 is a great value for its all-around performance and relatively long lifespan. It is a well-built boot that is worth the price. We liked it on moderately maintained trails during good weather with medium-weight loads.”

Merrell Moab Ventilator – winner of the Best Buy award for 2012 for lighter boots. According to Phleger, “The Merrell Moab Ventilator Mid perfectly fills a niche role. No other boot can handle hot weather and soggy conditions as well. It’s perfect for activities like canoe tripping or canyoneering. If you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that your feet are going to get wet, the Moab Ventilator is the shoe you want.”

OutdoorGearLab LLC, headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is dedicated to creating the world’s best outdoor gear reviews. The company’s website is a free resource for people who love the outdoors and participate in activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. The company performs side-by-side testing of outdoor gear and publishes the results in comparative reviews. Each product is scored across a range of weighted categories, competing products are ranked, and awards are given to top performing products.