I’ve hiked in dozens of men’s hiking boots. Find the best hiking boots for men with my reviews of the top 3 guy hiking boots, including Asolo’s hiking boots.
Let me tell you from personal experience: if you don’t have the right hiking boots when you hit the trail, it can lead to absolute disaster. I’ve seen twisted ankles, sprained ankles, and on one terrible occasion an actual broken ankle.
I’ve seen blisters the size of coffee table coasters. I’ve seen feet so white and prune-like from invading moisture that they didn’t even look human anymore.
I have seen the effects–the absolutely horrifying effects–of not having the proper footwear when you climb the mountain, trek the hills, or backpack in the woods.
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I have seen them, but I have never felt them. Why not?
I have avoided these stomach-churning disasters because I was once told that the most important part of your hiking preparations is to find the right pair of boots.
How to Pick the Best Hiking Boots
And now I’m imparting that life-saving–or at least feet-saving–bit of wisdom to you.
Make sure that your hiking boots are comfortable, reliable, tough, and protective. If they aren’t all of those things, then you may be in for a rough surprise.
But how do you go about picking out a really decent pair from the vast hordes of below-average boots?
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Well, luckily, no matter if you’re shopping for men or women’s hiking boots, the things to look for in the most comfortable, best hiking boots are the same:
- Gore-Tex — This isn’t an absolute necessity, but I happen to think Gore-Tex is much more reliable than any other waterproof material. And making sure your boots are waterproof is a major priority. Unless, that is, you’d like to have pale and prune-like alien feet.
- Ankle Support— One of the reasons that hiking shoes are impractical for long treks is that they don’t provide any ankle support. Your hiking boots, though, definitely should. The uppers need to be made out of a tough material and the boots should lace up good and tight. I’ve seen more than enough twists, sprains, and breaks for the both us, so take care of yourself.
- Feel — Your boots may be fully waterproof, they may be as tough and supportive as they come, but if they don’t feel right to you, then they aren’t worth your money. Try on as many models as you can until you find the most comfortable hiking boots–preferably ones that don’t give you blisters the size of teacup saucers.
Of course, there are plenty of other things to look for when searching for the right men’s hiking boots–not least of which are prices, easy lacing systems, and reinforced toes and heels for durability–but start with these ones.
If you want some more of my advice before you go hunting for boots, take a look at the three models below.
These are my picks for the absolute best men’s hiking boots out there. If you’ve read the Women’s Hiking Boots or Purchasing the Best Hiking Boots pages, then you can probably already guess as to what brand name they all come from.
Yep, you got it: Asolo Hiking Boots!
Best Mens Hiking Boots: My Reviews & Ratings
OK! Here we go! These are the top three men’s hiking boots, in my opinion:
Best Overall Men’s Hiking Boots: Asolo FSN 95 GTX
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In my opinion–and in the opinion of many of my hiking buddies–there’s nothing that compares to Asolo hiking boots.
These are some of the burliest, gruffest, most comfort and protective boots out there.
The Asolo FSN 95 GTX boots are among the most versatile of the Asolo catalogue, being light and comfy enough for shorter day hikes and supportive enough for longer backpacking trips.
Psst – These are the Asolo boots I have used for YEARS!
`Among the best features of these Asolo men’s hiking boots are:
Now, really good hiking boots are going to cost you almost an arm and/or a leg, but it’s super important that this purchase is one of your biggest investments when it comes to backpacking and hiking. More so than your hiking clothes, water purifier, backpacking tent, or stove, you need boots that are going to get the job done–and done well.
Asolo does have some pretty pricey goods, but they are nowhere near as expensive as some of the highest-end products on the shelves.
And these FSN 95 GTX men’s hiking boots are actually fairly inexpensive for such an impressive boot: they can be yours for a hair under $200.
Learn more about the Asolo FSN 95 GTX at REI
Best Heavy Duty Men’s Hiking Boots: Asolo TPS 520 GV
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If you’ve read the page about the best Women’s Hiking Boots, then these may look a bit familiar–I recommended the women’s version of this model over there.
The TPS 520 GVs are some of the toughest hiking boots for sale today. They were made specifically to handle long haul hikes. The super shock-absorbing ability of these boots means that you can carry a fully-loaded backpack on your trip and not take a beating on the soles of your feet.
Sometimes when you get such a heavy duty pair of hiking boots, you run the risk of them being a bit awkward to walk in. But these tanks aren’t clumsy. The Asolo TPS series isn’t only made for shock-absorption; they are also super stable and supportive, allowing you to take the reins from the first step.
A few of these boots’ best features include:
- Full-grain leather material for uppers
- Gore-Tex lining
- Asoflex thermoplastic insoles
Learn more about the Asolo TPS 520 GV at Backcountry.com
Best Pimped Out Men’s Hiking Boots: Asolo Power Matic 200 GV Gore-Tex
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I was going to say that these are the Cadillacs of the Asolo lineup, but then I realized that that can’t be true, because they’re ALL Cadillacs. So, I’ll say that these are the hiking boots that Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne, or John McClane would wear if they were to go on a hiking/camping trip.
These are so loaded with special features that they should have their own utility belts. Every Asolo boot is a premium model. But these are like the top secret prototypes that only the richest millionaire playboys could afford.
That being said, these aren’t that terribly expensive. At less than $300, you don’t have to be millionaire playboy to own them. And that’s a good thing, because after taking a closer look at them, you may already be reaching for your wallet.
When it comes to protection, the Power Matics offer waterproof Gore-Tex, tough full-grain leather, gusseted and padded boot tongues, and the Asoflex thermoplastic insoles.
When it come to comfort, these bad boys offer scree tongues, padded ankle cuffs, Power Matic midsoles, and the patented MicroPulley lacing system.
When it comes to performance, these Asolo boots offer wicking nylon linings for foot moisture absorption, removable foot beds, Vibram outsoles, and high-traction fore-feet.
When it comes to everything that makes a pair of hiking boots great, these Asolo Power Matic models have them.
Learn more about the Asolo Power Matic 200 GV Gore-Tex at REI
Where to Buy Them
Here are my favorite places to buy mens hiking boots:
- REI – Membership Dividend. Need I say more?
- Backcountry – Love their service and their prices
- MooseJaw – I haven’t bought much from them, but every experience I’ve had has been fantastic
- Amazon.com
– No sales tax is always nice… Wait, I didn’t say that…
- CampSaver – I’ve never bought anything from them, but I’ve heard good things and their website is nice and clean
Head back from Mens Hiking Boots to Glacier National Park Travel Guide’s homepage.
More Info on Choosing Hiking Boots – Read an updated version on choosing the best boots for hiking.
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