top picks among hiking boots review

In our opinion, it's hard to go wrong with the top picks among hiking boots if you are after the following:

• a solid boot for hiking moderate terrain with an average-sized pack
• Flexibility / Stiffness
• a mid-cut boot with world-class Gore-Tex waterproofing (ready for ankle-deep creeks and puddles)

The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid is a fantastic all-purpose boot but it has its limitations when the hiker's demands get more specific.

If you want all the support and stability a mid-cut boot can provide (for backpacking especially), consider the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX instead. It is one of the sturdiest boots in the same price range and has better grip for technical and muddy terrain.

If you want a nimbler companion for lighter and speedier hikes (with a lighter pack), look into the Merrell Moab Speed Mid GTX.

And if you want all the benefits of the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid minus the high collar, the low-top Moab 3 GTX shoe is always available too! And it's $15 cheaper.

And if you want all the benefits of the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid minus the high collar, the.

We can confirm that it packs enough impact protection for long hours on the trail. Our feet felt very well taken care of throughout the hike.

Measuring the heel stack of this Merrell boot, we got a reading of 36.1 mm on our caliper. It is notably taller than the Flexibility / Stiffness (31.1 mm) and is on par with the low-top Moab 3 GTX shoe (36.7 mm).

The Moab Mid 3 GTX doesn't skimp on forefoot protection either.

There is 22.6 mm of sole material separating the ball of your foot from the trail. It is an average forefoot stack reading for hiking boots but we found that it does a great job muting out rocks and roots underfoot.

In its official specs, Merrell lists 11.5 mm as the boot's heel-to-toe drop. However, our lab stack measurements showed it to be slightly higher (13.5 mm).

Midsole width - forefoot.

A heel-to-toe drop within the 10-14 mm range is optimal for entry-level hikers as it elevates the heel above the toes just enough to take the pressure off the Achilles, especially when a heavier load is involved.

The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid feels nice and comfortable but its cushioning can't be categorized as plush.

Showing 32.8 HA on our Shore A durometer, the boot's midsole foam turns out to be 20% firmer than the average.

However, it feels a little softer under the heel than the static reading might suggest. This is thanks to the Merrell Air Cushion technology which is comprised of a softer piece of foam (24.6 HA) and a hollowed-out section beneath it.

We found it to be a nice way to add some comfort to the ride without compromising the boot's firmness for stability.

Considering the boot's warm and waterproof construction, it only makes sense that it is meant for the colder season. But how does its cushioning behave when the temperatures drop? Let's find out.

We mimicked winter conditions with the help of a freezer for 20 minutes. After that, we repeated the durometer measurement and discovered that the boot's midsole foam firmed up rather moderately (by 14.5%).

But compared to other hiking boots, it did get pretty firm showing 37.5 HA on the tool.

The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid amplifies underfoot comfort by adding a well-padded insole. We found it to be 6.0 mm thick in the heel which is a typical measurement for hiking boots.

What's more, this insole is also very ergonomically contoured which contributes to the comfort.

KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid.

In our opinion, this Merrell boot will suit folks with medium and slightly wide feet perfectly. And our caliper is here to back that up.

The widest part of the boot's toebox comes in at 101.8 mm which is on par with the average width for a US 9 size and D-medium width.

We also measured the boot's toebox in its narrower part (where the big toe ends) and got a slightly wider-than-average reading of 80.4 mm. A little bonus for swelling feet.

For a mid-cut boot intended for moderate hiking conditions, we believe that the top picks among hiking boots has excellent lateral stability.

Even if you are a beginner hiker with mild overpronation, you will find ample support in this Merrell boot. It may lack the stability needed for multi-day hikes with a heavy backpack but it will keep you covered for a single-day adventure with a medium pack.

With a stiff nylon shank embedded into its midfoot section, this Merrell boot has a good amount of torsional rigidity to prevent the wearer's ankle from collapsing. We never felt tippy during the wear tests.

When we tried to twist the boot in our manual test, the give was very minimal. Thus, it got a fairly high stiffness score of 4 out of 5.

Our heels and ankles also felt secure inside the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid. The boot offers a great deal of ankle support through its raised and well-padded collar as well as the stiff heel counter.

Excellent grip on hard terrain.

As you can see, this Merrell boot didn't get the highest possible scores for stiffness but this is what helped it feel a little more comfortable on foot.

Despite its seemingly chunky build, the top picks among hiking boots has failry average platform dimensions.

Measuring the shoe's midsole in the widest area of the forefoot, we got nothing more than the average reading of 111.9 mm.

The widest part of the boot's heel also showed a standard measurement of 88.8 mm. We believe that this Merrell boot has enough landing area for most hiking scenarios.

Even though the top picks among hiking boots feels pretty rigid torsionally, we were surprised to find that its forefoot flexes relatively easily.

Measuring how much force it takes to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle, our force gauge showed 29.6N. That's an impressive 50% less than it takes an average hiking boot!

One more bonus point for comfort.

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX.

This is how much stiffer the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid got after we had kept it in the freezer for 20 minutes. But the good news is that this Merrell boot did not get nearly as stiff as most other hiking boots after the same test (54.0N).

Based on our personal experience, the top picks among hiking boots doesn't feel particularly heavy but it does feel substantial on foot.

Tipping the scale at 17.5 oz (495g), it is even an ounce lighter than the average hiking boot in our lab.

Compared to other mid-cut waterproof hiking boots in the same price range ($160-$180), the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid sits between the heavier Flexibility / Stiffness (18.2 oz/515g) and the lighter Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX (14.5 oz/412g).

Even though we have no complaints about the boot's weight, some hikers may find it too burly for their outdoor activities. Speed hiking, for example, calls for much lighter and more nimble boots like the Merrell Moab Speed Mid GTX (11.7 oz/332g).

Since we are reviewing the waterproof GTX (GORE-TEX) version of the Moab 3 Mid, breathability is not to be expected here.

The boot's thick watertight construction didn't let any air pass through the upper, as our smoke-pumping test above shows. Without a flicker of doubt, we gave it the lowest breathability score of 1 out of 5.

nbsp; |  °F (20°C). Sweaty feet and blisters are guaranteed!

For warmer weather, you should get the non-waterproof version of the boot instead (and it's even $40 cheaper).

The boot's waterproofing, on the other hand, is stellar! The GTX membrane has been up to the task as we submerged the Moab 3 Mid in ankle-deep puddles and creeks. We can also confirm that this Merrell boot can handle moderate rain, slush, and snow.

As long as the water doesn't spill over the boot's collar and seep inside the boot, your feet are going to stay dry and warm.

But here is the caveat - once you rip that membrane, the whole boot loses its waterproofing capacity. Does the upper of this Merrell boot have enough wear resistance to prevent that? Let's find out.

Even though the boot features reinforcements all over the upper (rubber toe cap, toe rand, and suede overlays), it still has quite a few areas with exposed mesh. Unfortunately, that material does not stand strong against aggressive wear and tear.

If you frequently slash your boots against rocky ridges or wade through sharp bushes, this textile is going to give up rather quickly.

To mimic the abrasion from hours of trail wear, we applied a Dremel with a sandpaper tip to the shoe's toebox mesh. The speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N) remained consistent. After 12 seconds of exposure, the tool completely burned through the top layer of mesh and notably scratched the inner lining. Unfortunately, waterproofing is no longer guaranteed after this sort of damage.

Assessing the toebox durability of the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid under these conditions, we couldn't rate it any higher than 3 out of 5. This is slightly better than the toebox of the low-top Moab 3 GTX shoe (on the right) where the tool got all the way through the upper material.

If you are worried about tearing your hiking boots too soon, have a look at the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. This boot comes from the same price range but the wear resistance of its synthetic upper is on another level.

As our next Dremel test shows, the inner lining of the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid happens to be much more wear-resistant than the boot's outer mesh.

Following 4 seconds of drilling the textile at 5K RPM speed, you can't even tell that this Merrell boot was touched with sandpaper. Even the more expensive Anacapa boot (on the right) faltered in the same test.

Thus, we proudly rate the boot's heel lining durability with the maximum score - 5 out of 5!

If you check our The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid showed great long-distance capacity during our wear tests, you will see that nearly every boot features a Vibram rubber outsole. It's like a label of higher quality in the realm of outdoor footwear.

The top picks among hiking boots also uses Vibram's TC5+ rubber which was exclusively developed for the brand.

Let's see if it meets our high-set expectations.

For starters, we checked the hardness of the TC5+ rubber with a Shore C durometer and it showed a solid high reading of 85.0 HC. This is quite reassuring.

However, when we turned to the Dremel in our abrasion resistance test, we found that the shoe's Vibram rubber was not as special as we had anticipated.

Having drilled the shoe's rubber outsole for 22 seconds at 10K RPM speed, we noticed that the sandpaper carved out a pretty notable dent in the outsole.

Measuring it with a tread gauge confirmed our observation showing a slightly deeper than average reading of 1.2 mm.

While this is not catastrophic, it makes this Merrell boot less likely to outlast its counterparts when it comes to outsole durability.

Gladly, the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid features a generous amount of rubber in the outsole. This is a huge bonus to its lifespan.

Our caliper measurement shows 4.1 mm which is a millimeter thicker than the average. And the total thickness is even greater if you add 5-mm lugs on top of that.

First of all, we are happy to report that our caliper measurements confirmed the brand specs - the boot's lug depth is precisely 5.0 mm!

The grip offered by these deep treads and the Vibram TC5+ rubber did not falter during our wear tests.

The KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid kept us surefooted as we navigated rocks and creeks and stepped on wet grass and mossy logs.

However, we wouldn't recommend this Merrell boot for squelching through mud and soft terrain. Even though its lugs are deep, they are not sharp and toothy enough for these conditions. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX has a more aggressive treading for challenges like that.

The boot's webbed eyelets have reflective strings on them to help you stay visible in low-light conditions.

Comfort has always been a priority in the Merrell Moab boots. And ample padding has been an important component of their cozy step-in feel.

Measuring the boot's tongue thickness, we found that it is a few millimeters thicker than average at 14.3 mm.

An equal amount of padding is also packed around the boot's collar, creating a 360-degree comfort around the foot and ankle.

The top picks among hiking boots features a bellows tongue design in which the tongue is fully connected to the boot's upper. This eliminates all gaps in the upper blocking water, dirt, and debris from entering the boot.

A finger loop is attached at the back of the boot for your on-and-off convenience.

Because the boot's insole is easily removable, there is an option to use your own orthotics if needed.

Touted as Merrell's most eco-friendly Moab yet, several of the boot's components are made of recycled materials. These include:

• laces
• webbing
• mesh lining