Shoe Reviews
We laced up in the top brands from Salomon, Nike, HOKA, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Merrell, Keen and Teva.
Trail shoes range from essentially no cushion (requiring you to strengthen your feet and lower leg muscles), to all the cushion (with the goal of going easy on your joints).
Credit: Ally Arcuri
To store all the shoes we've bought and tested over the years, we'd need a warehouse. Thankfully, we have one. Our dedicated team of testers has reviewed thousands of pairs of the best hiking shoes, best running shoes, and the top trail running shoes throughout the years, in all manners of environments and conditions. We buy all the products, just like you do, so we can publish 100% unbiased reviews. That we guarantee.
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Best Picks in Shoe Reviews
Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2024
We're here to help you sort through the options for the best women's hiking shoes. We tested the market's leading...
Best Skate Shoes of 2024
To help you find the best skate shoes, we researched dozens of different models on the market and bought and tested 6...
Best Flip Flops for Women of 2024
No matter what kind of warm weather adventure you're gearing up for, we've got the perfect flip flop to bring along...
Best Barefoot Shoes of 2024
Ready to make the switch to minimalist or barefoot shoes? Our comprehensive review compares 9 of this season's best...
10 Best Sandals of 2024
Trying to figure out what type of sandal the one you need is? We've spent years testing hundreds of pairs of flip...
Best Sandals for Women of 2024
What are the best women's sandals for travel, hiking, and daily use? We put 14 great options through a bevy of...
10 Best Running Shoes of 2024
If you want to find the best running shoes today, we covered hundreds of miles and thoughtfully selected our favorite...
10 Best Walking Shoes of 2024
These award-winning walking shoes will keep you moving. Whether you plan on walking around town, running errands, or...
Best Running Shoes for Women of 2024
Seeking a women's running shoe to help you pick up the pace? Our comprehensive review of the most popular running...
Best Sandals for Men of 2024
There is no such thing as a wrong time to wear sandals. We've sifted through the market's top offerings, comparing...
10 Best Flip Flops of 2024
Over the past 10 years, we've bought and tested nearly 100 pairs of flip flops to find the greatest on the market...
Best Water Shoes for Men of 2024
After combing through 60 of the best water shoes on the market, we purchased and rigorously tested the top 12 to find...
Best Flip Flops for Men of 2024
Searching for a new slippah? The selection can be daunting, with a multitude of options from the biggest names in the...
10 Best Water Shoes of 2024
Sick of wrinkled toes or stubs on sharp rocks while playing in the water? We've tested the best water shoes that will...
Best Water Shoes for Women of 2024
Our testers took these models rafting down the Grand Canyon, boating on the San Juan River in Colorado, canoeing...
Best Running Shoes for Men of 2024
We've tested hundreds of shoes over thousands of miles on the roads to find the best running shoes for any runner and...
Best Slippers for Women of 2024
After researching the top options on the market, we chose 12 of the best slippers for women for hands-on testing...
Best Climbing Shoes of 2024
We pick the best rock climbing shoes for bouldering, sport, trad, gym, and beginners. No matter your experience or...
Best Approach Shoes of 2024
Looking for a new pair of approach shoes? We've got you covered. We scrambled, bouldered, sport climbed, and hiked in...
Best Mountain Bike Shoes for Women
A great pair of mountain bike shoes can help you perform at your very best. We've put 11 of the top models on the...
Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedal Shoes For Women
Deciding on a new pair of women's mountain bike flat pedal shoes can be difficult, with so many choices available. Our...
Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedal Shoes
There are lots of mountain bike flat shoes on the market. We bought 12 of the most intriguing options to put through...
Best Road Bike Cycling Shoes
For our latest round-up, we made sure to get 10 or 12 hours on the bike in our shoes. We selected 13 of the best bike...
Best Slippers
You'll wear good slippers nearly every day. We carefully tested (researching 30 models and purchasing 9 for direct...
Best Mountain Bike Shoes
In search of the best clipless mountain bike shoes? Our team of testers carefully evaluated nearly every shoe on the...
Best Barefoot Shoes for Women
Barefoot shoes got a bad rap shortly after their introduction to the mainstream. In this review, we talk about ways to...
Best Approach Shoes for Women
If you're on the hunt for a great pair of women's approach shoes, we've got the information you need. Whether you're...
Best Climbing Shoes for Women
We've weeded through dozens of climbing shoes to select to top contenders on the market. We have specifically selected...Shoe Reviews Learning Center
Men's Rock Climbing Shoe Buying Guide
Finding the best shoe for various types of adventures can be an overwhelming task. We're here to help. From sport...
How to Choose Minimal and Barefoot Shoes
What could be complicated about a minimalist running shoe? If you want to learn about the design of barefoot running...
How to Choose Approach Shoes for Climbing
If your hikes involve steep scrambling and exposed slabs, you should be wearing a pair of sticky rubber approach...
How to Choose Hiking Shoes for Women
What do you do when the options for hiking shoes are overwhelming? This article will help you understand the different...
How to Choose Men's Water Shoes
Water sports are tough on feet and footwear. We provide the key information you need to understand water shoes and...
How to Choose Men's Running Shoes
So you're in the market for running shoes. Where should you start? We'll walk you through your options and help you...Recent Gear Reviews in Shoe Reviews
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Columbia Crestwood - Women's Review
The Columbia Crestwood features a suede leather and mesh combination upper that offers a sneaker-like feel and out of...
Best Buy
Merrell Moab 3 - Women's Review
The Merrell Moab 3 is a comfortable hiking shoe with a ton of support for high arches. The bellow tongue and ankle...
Top Pick
NRS Paddle Wetshoe Review
The NRS Paddle Wetshoe is the water shoe we reach for repeatedly when going out on the river. A Terraprene upper with...
Top Pick
Astral Loyak Review
The Astral Loyak are purpose-built for whitewater boating but have the stylish looks of a designer casual shoe. Their...
Top Pick
Bedrock Cairn 3D PRO II Adventure - Women's Review
The Bedrock Cairn 3D Pro II Adventure sandals fall into a unique middle ground of minimalist design yet supportive...
Editors' Choice
Bedrock Cairn Adventure Review
Yet again, the Bedrock Cairn Adventure secures the highest score among the best sandals. Simply put, no other model is...
Editors' Choice
Xtratuf Riptide - Women's Review
If you're looking for a shoe that performs just as well navigating slick surfaces as they do on land, look to the...
Top Pick
Salomon Techamphibian 5 - Women's Review
With excellent adjustability, a wider toe box, a cinched heel, and excellent footbed padding and protection, the...
Best Buy
Puma Velocity Nitro 3 Review
The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is a comfortable shoe that has the ideal level of versatility to make a great all-around...
Editors' Choice
Asics Novablast 4 - Women's Review
Step into near-unparalleled comfort and performance with the latest and greatest from Asics – the Novablast 4. This...
Editors' Choice
Asics Novablast 4 Review
The Novablast 4 is easily our favorite daily trainer. Combining versatile max-cushioning with a snappy geometry, this...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva Katana Lace Review
There are many reasons why the La Sportiva Katana Lace is a stalwart at crags across America. The subtly downturned...
Top Pick
La Sportiva Solution Comp Review
The La Sportiva Solution Comp is an aggressive shoe that really shines when precision is paramount. It edges just as...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva TX Guide Review
The La Sportiva TX Guide is an all-around climbing and hiking machine, earning our approval as the top approach shoe...
Top Pick
La Sportiva TX4 Review
The La Sportiva TX4 is our top choice for carrying heavy loads up big walls. This fully leather tank of a shoe had our...
Editors' Choice
Xero Shoes Speed Force - Women's Review
The Xero Speed Force is a performance racing flat that is fun on various terrain, winning our Editors' Choice Award...
Top Pick
Ride Concepts Wildcat - Women's Review
The Wildcat is built for gravity riding. It features a mid-top design and provides tons of protection but at the...
Top Pick
Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Review
Merrell has made some improvements with the Vapor Glove 6. Most notably, the updated tread design has 2mm of depth to...
Best Buy
Whitin Cross Trainer Review
The Whitin Cross Trainer checks all the boxes for a high-value product. The aggressive tread on the trail runner...
Top Pick
Earth Runners Alpha Review
The Earth Runners Alpha distinguishes itself as one of the lightest and most traction-efficient choices in our lineup...
Top Pick
Nike Vaporfly 3 - Women's Review
The Nike Vaporfly 3 is a shoe unlike all others in our lineup. With a full-length carbon plate for serious propulsion...
Best Buy
Merrell Vapor Glove 5 - Women's Review
The Vapor Glove series from Merrell has been a long-standing favorite here at GearLab. This fifth version is no...
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Specialized 2FO Roost Flat - Unisex Review
The Specialized 2FO Roost Flat is a flat pedal shoe that makes a big statement by balancing grip, comfort...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva Miura VS - Women's Review
The La Sportiva Miura VS is a stiff, aggressively shaped edging powerhouse. These shoes allowed us to stand on...
Top Pick
Fox Union BOA Review
The Fox Union BOA earned a Top Pick for Best Downhill Shoe. Although this award is labeled as Best Downhill Shoe...
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Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Review
The Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit shoes are versatile, all-around mountain bike shoes that work well in a number of...
Editors' Choice
Chaco Z/Cloud 2 - Women's Review
The Chaco Z/Cloud 2 is a seriously burly adventure sandal built to take you comfortably and securely through almost...
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La Sportiva TX Guide - Women's Review
A stiff midsole and narrow profile make the TX Guide a climbing machine. These shoes are precise and durable, making...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Boulder X - Women's Review
The La Sportiva Boulder X is a longtime favorite of climbers, and we get it. Despite a whole host of new shoes on the...
Top Pick
La Sportiva Katana Lace - Women's Review
The Katana Lace is a high-end climbing shoe that wins our award for performing the best on multi-pitch outings and...
Editors' Choice
Giro Latch Review
The Giro Latch is an excellent new flat pedal shoe that challenges the standard set for the contact point of your feet...
Editors' Choice
Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 Review
The new Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 has clinched our Editors' Choice Award yet again. This new version is lighter...
Top Pick
Ride Concepts Hellion Clip Women's Review
The Hellion Clip Women's is Ride Concepts clip-in version of the popular Hellion flat shoe and is purpose-built for...
Top Pick
Shimano SH-RC9 S-Phyre Review
The updated Shimano SH-RC9 S-Phyre remains a serious favorite at the high-end of the market. It remains near the top...
Editors' Choice
Birkenstock Gizeh Review
The Birkenstock Gizeh surprised us at every turn, regularly outperforming the other flip flops in our lineup while...
Best Buy
Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA Review
The Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA is a lightweight foam version of the classic leather-and-cork version. If you've...
Best Buy
Specialized 2FO Roost Clip - Unisex Review
The casual-looking Specialized 2FO Roost Clip performs incredibly well both on and off the bike. The Stiff Lollipop...
Best Buy