OutdoorGearLab Publishes Awards For Best Hiking Shoes

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Oct. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- OutdoorGearLab, the word's leading outdoor gear review website, has recently released a top hiking shoe review. Nine pair of hiking shoes were tested while hiking to the summit of South Massive and the Kelso Ridge of Torreys Peak, on day hikes to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park and while ascending to the ridges of a few Colorado's 14'ers. Testers weathered dry dusty trails, mud and rain while rating each product in the areas of durability, comfort, weight, water resistance, traction, support and versatility. In the end, winners were chosen for Editors' Choice, Best Buy and Top Pick for moving fast.

The winners are:

Editors' Choice - Patagonia Drifter A/C Gore-Tex

The Drifter A/C won the Editors' Choice award for being the highest rated all-around contender tested. Gear review Editor Brandon Lampley explains, "The Drifter A/C quickly became an everyday favorite among testers. It was supportive and comfortable and kept our feet dry. The Vibram sole provides good traction in all types of weather. We recommend it for hiking and light backpacking but those backpacking with medium or heavy loads might want a bit more support."

Best Buy - Keen Targhee 2

The Targhee 2 wins Best Buy award for being a great product at a great price. According to Lampley, "The Targhee 2 offers great traction and waterproofing and impressive foot support. Keen's trademark toe box provides extra toe protection and the lacing system is well designed and provides extra adjustability in the heel cup and collar areas. The Targhee 2 is incredibly light and comfortable. We recommend it for backpacking with medium to light loads."

Top Pick - North Face Ultra 109 GTX

Awarded Top Pick for moving fast, the NF Ultra 109 GTX's slim profile, impressive traction and good torsional stability make it a great product to use for running. "The NF Ultra 109 was the best model of all the products we tested for those that like to both trail run and hike. We recommend this product for people used to wearing running shoes who want something for hiking treacherous trails. We also recommend them for use on shorter backpacking trips," reports Lampley.

Headquartered in Cheyenne Wyoming, OutdoorGearLab LLC compares products side-by-side in order to create world’s best outdoor gear reviews. A free resource for outdoor enthusiasts, the company’s website includes reviews of products for activities such as hiking, climbing, backpacking, and camping. OutdoorGearLab employs a team of dedicated Gear Reviewers who live, work and play across the country. After testing the outdoor equipment they score the products across a range of weighted categories and publish the results in comparative reviews. Once the competitors are ranked, awards are given to top-performing products. See more at outdoorgearlab.com.