hiking boot review - Pitstops for Kids

Travel Gear We Use: best hiking boots for the family

July 7, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

We’re continuing our Travel Gear We Use series with a category I’m asked about a lot: hiking boots. Need guidance on buying the best hiking boots for the family? The following picks for kids hiking boots (as well as adults) come from brands we use and trust to be sturdy, highly-functional, and affordable. All have been worn by us on our own backpacking and hiking trips.

Best hiking boots for kids:

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Merrell Chameleon 4 Mid Ventilator Hiking Boot :

The Merrell Chameleon comes in a range of styles, from low-top hikers to high top boots with full ankle support. You can also opt for mesh ventilation or more water resistant models. Find the style that your child likes best. What we love about the Chameleon is how comfortable this shoe is on, and how easy it is to get on and off. I know it sounds simple, but these features can make or break a hiking shoe for our kids. The Merrells are well-constructed but still lightweight and flexible, and the low-top version can certainly pull double-duty as a school shoe. The mid-height Ventilator linked here is only $55, which means that if you kid wears them out in a season, you won’t cry.

KEEN Gypsum Hiking Shoe:

Like the Merrells, the Keen Gypsum retails for under $60, but it offers a lace capture system for even easier on-and-off (and a better fit while on the trail). They’re not too heavy (we really don’t recommend stiff, heavy boots for kids), and will flex with the soles of kids’ feet. They’re breathable, and they have the toe-protection that Keen does so well: no stubbed toes here! pick up a pair for $60

Vasque Breeze WP 2.0 Hiking Boot:

If you need something a little more technical for multi-night backpacking trips, we like the Breeze from Vasque. Kids get full ankle protection and a very rugged sole with strong grip, but also a nice ventilation system so they don’t feel like their feet are in an oven. They weigh in at 2 pounds, and feature a very ‘grown up’ lacing system and toe guards. They’ll set you back more than the other shoes, but might even survive to be handed down! Buy the Breeze for $79.

Hi-Tec Altitude Lite Jr:

We love Hi-Tec hiking boots for adults, so it stands to reason that the kids’ versions would be a great ‘fit’ too. Always affordable without sacrificing quality, Hi-Tec boots are our first pick for down-to-earth outdoorsy families who don’t care about having the absolute trendiest brands on their feet. Give Hi-Tec a try! The Altitude Lite Jr. is rugged, with full ankle support. Opt for the waterproof version to save your kid from wet feet after creek crossings and muddy trails. Pick them up for under $70 on the Hi-Tec site or Amazon.

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Oboz Sundog:

For teens who say they don’t like hiking boots (and think they can hike in flip-flops) the Sundog is the next best thing, that will still make mom and dad happy. Extremely lightweight and in a fun citrusy color, the Sundog wears like a tennis shoe. It has a rugged outsole and laces tightly, so there’s some control amid the feeling of ‘I just have my sneakers on’. Win-win.

Best hiking boots for parents:

I’m going to say something radical here: 90% of the time, you don’t need a full-fledged hiking boot, even for multi-day backpacking trips. I LOVE to wear my LOWA Innox Evo shoes, both when I’m traveling and when I’m hiking, camping, and backpacking. For me, and I know it varies by person, this is the most comfortable trekking shoe out there. Check out a full review here. Buy the LOWAs, be happy, don’t worry about hiking shoes ever again.

BUT, if you need fuller protection for a seriously epic trip, read on:

GoLite Women’s XT89:

I love GoLite shoes, and their XT89 for women are lightweight while still offering full support and great traction. Plus, they’re comfortable enough to want to wear around camp, too. I found I needed to order a half-size up (as they run small), so definitely try these on before ordering online. For men, GoLite’s GoLite Men’s Quest Lite Hiking Boot is a great pick.

KEEN Terradora:

For women, it’s hard to beat the KEEN Terradora if you need the protection of a full-fledged hiking boot. (It does, however, come in a lightweight hiking shoe, to). The Terradora is made of knitted fabric that’s completely waterproof but still soft and flexible, and has a padded ankle support section to help with the discomfort of the usual stiff ankle coverage. Pick it up for $130 on Amazon.

Oboz Mystic Low BDry:

I love a lightweight, low-cut hiking shoe. (If you don’t, try the Oboz Bridger instead.) The Mystic is fully waterproof, yet light enough to be considered a sneaker, should you slide them on for a mid-week soccer practice, as I have. They’re substantial without being stiff, and responsive yet firm on the outsole. They’re my go-to backpacking shoe when I won’t need full-scale ankle support, and they’re competitively priced, too.

Need more shoe ideas? Check out more gear at gearweare.

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More Travel Gear We Use:
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Oboz Sundog review: hiking shoes that please the teen

May 15, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

I have a 13-year-old who loves hiking, but hates hiking boots. We’ve tried just about everything, from rugged backpacking boots that I hoped would look ‘cool’ to very simple Columbia low-cut hiking shoes that practically slid onto his feet. It didn’t matter: he always preferred to hike in his Keen sandals.

I’m a huge fan of Keens for outdoor adventure and travel: we believe about 80% of all outdoor activities can be done in Keens. But for the other 20%, we needed to find this kid some hiking shoes that he’d wear without argument.

As an Oboz ambassador, I learned about the full line of men’s Oboz shoes, which now include a Trailsport category in addition to low and high hiking shoes and backpacking boots. Trailsport shoes include Oboz’ lightest, most agile, and most versatile shoes, so I ordered my teen the Oboz Sundog and crossed my fingers. Maybe he wouldn’t notice they’re trail shoes…

He did. The rugged tread gives that away. But, after weighing the Sundog in his hand like a melon in a grocery store, and realizing they weighed the same as his beloved Keens (and his Nike school shoes, for that matter), he gave them a chance.

Right out of the box, the Sundog feels like a sneaker, though with more stability. It’s made of single-piece mesh, with only the seams and support that’s absolutely necessary. In fact, it’s described as ‘only-what-you-need protection’. You get leather heel, toe, and mid-foot overlays, but even these are minimalistic. The Sundog is incredibly breathable, and while the shoes are not waterproof, this wasn’t a deal-breaker for us. This is the kid who prefers to wear sandals, remember?

He gave the Sundog a test drive on a local trail near our home in Southern Oregon. We encountered some mud, per usual in spring, but otherwise contended with dry trails. He got the support he needed (he’d recently had an ankle injury), without being weighed down by clunky boots. He loved the color of the Sundog (you can get them in a bright ‘Woodbine’ green) and when they got wet, they dried out reasonably fast. At the end of the hike, the teen gave his reluctant approval. Yes, the Sundogs could accompany him on our seven-day PCT hike this summer. When we go on our five-day rafting trip, however, he’s brining his Keens.

What to look for in hiking shoes for kids who hate hiking shoes:

Turn your ankle a few times, and you’ll understand why the support of hiking shoes–not just on the ankle but also on the arch and sole–is crucial. Slip on rocks or logs, and you’ll know why you need the traction afforded by hiking shoes. The challenge is imparting this message to kids and teens who don’t want to listen, of course. Here are a few characteristics we look for in a hiking shoe:

Lightweight: The lighter the weight, the less like a hiking shoe the shoe will feel. Kids who can jump and run in their shoes will be willing to wear them.
Low-cut: Forget about full ankle support for kids who don’t like the restrictive feeling of high-tops. High-quality low-cut hiking shoes will still provide enough stability, mostly because they cradle the arch well.
Lots of mesh: Breathable hiking shoes are more popular around here than any other. Enough said.
Well-fitting arch: Know if your kid or teen has a high or low arch, and make sure his or her shoes fit accordingly. Look for a quality insole if needed.

Want to try the Sundog? They’re $100 on the Oboz site. Need Keens for the other 80% of outdoor activities? Get a deal on the men’s Newport on Amazon.

Pit Stops for Kids selected as Oboz Footwear Ambassador

February 20, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Readers of Pit Stops for Kids know how much we love to cover outdoor travel, and how we advocate equipping kids (and Mom and Dad) in proper outdoor gear in our Travel Gear We Use series. This year, we’ll be taking this passion a step further as official ambassadors for Oboz Footwear.

If you look on the right-hand side bar of the site, you’ll see at glance the brands and publications with whom the Pit Stops for Kids team works most closely. These are not advertisers. They are not chosen at random. I either write additional content for their sites, or, in the case of Oboz and Aventura Clothing, which I introduced readers to last year, we have a working partnership.

My East Coast editor and I test a lot of gear and travel products each year, and we don’t take this lightly. As a parent, I understand how difficult it can be to find solid gear reviews, and how big an investment quality gear can be. We are not paid by Oboz (or any other brand to review their items). Paid posts are always clearly marked on Pit Stops for Kids, or are displayed as ads.

Oboz makes hiking boots and shoes for men and women, not kids, but I decided to accept Oboz’ invitation to become an ambassador for two reasons. Firstly, Oboz supports our mission of whole families getting outdoors and into nature. Plus, those teen boys grow into adult shoes in a hurry, don’t they? Secondly, I am already familiar with Oboz products, and know I can stand behind them. I told Oboz as much when they interviewed me for this position, but I never told them–until now–the exact experience I have with their hiking boots.

Here’s what happened. Last summer, our family embarked upon our annual three-day backpacking trip. I had reviewed the Oboz Bridger Mid BDry earlier in the year for Practical Travel Gear, and loved them, so I grabbed them for the trip. We began hiking well after dinner, and wanted to make good time. We covered six miles fairly quickly. So quickly, in fact, that I didn’t notice the hot spots developing on the back of my heels until about mile five, at which time it was really too late to prevent them from becoming full blown blisters. I nursed my wounds during our camp day that followed, but when it came time to pack out, my feet were still angry and raw. I was forced to cover the distance back to the trailhead in my water shoes, paired with wool socks to keep out pebbles and dirt. I was so angry at my Oboz I wanted to fling them from a summit (and this was before Cheryl Strayed made this trendy).

Calvin, wishing his mom would hobble along faster.

When I got home, I looked up Oboz Footwear’s customer service information. It’s important to note that when we review products, we often work directly with brand representatives. Therefore, if there’s a problem, it’s fixed fast. Is it fixed that fast for other customers? Sometimes I don’t know. So I made a point to go through the usual channels at Oboz instead of calling my PR rep. I got a response to my email lightning fast. The service rep asked me many questions about my boots, about my feet, and the terrain of my trip. Yes, I told him, I’d definitely broken them in beforehand. Yes, I’m an experienced hiker. We both scratched our heads. Finally, their team asked me to send photos of the shoes. When I went to do so, I noticed something…I’d taken the insoles out of my Bridgers a few weeks before to wash them, and never put them back in.

The obvious result: way too much room in my boots, leading to friction and blisters. I was so embarrassed as I apologized to the folks at Oboz. They were kind enough to pretend this happened all the time. I found my insoles and all was well again with my boots. Moral of the story: Oboz has great customer service and will help make sure your boots work for you, even if you’re an idiot. (Now we’ll just have to wait and see if they still want an idiot for an ambassador.)

If they keep me, I’ll be writing regularly for Oboz during 2015, offering hiking and backpacking tips, shoe reviews, and backpacking trip reports both here and on their blog. I’ll cover expert stuff like, ‘hey, don’t forget to assemble your shoe before wearing it’ and other high-level ideas. I hope you’ll follow along, and get inspired for your own family outdoor adventures! If I can do it, you can!