Shoe Reviews
We laced up in the top brands from Salomon, Nike, HOKA, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Merrell, Keen and Teva.
The Balega Blister Resister Quarter features ample cushioning in the forefoot, heel, and across the Achilles as pictured here. This makes it one of the most comfortable socks tested.
Credit: Amber King
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 hiking, running, climbing and 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 of 2023
We selected the top hiking shoes and put them to the test. After months of hiking on all types of trails, we wrote the...
Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2023
We're here to help you sort through the options for the best women's hiking shoes. We tested the market's leading...
Best Climbing Shoes of 2023
We pick the best rock climbing shoes for bouldering, sport, trad, gym, kids, and beginners. No matter your budget, we...
Best Climbing Shoes for Women of 2023
We've weeded through dozens of climbing shoes to select to top contenders on the market. We have specifically selected...
Best Approach Shoes
Looking for a new pair of approach shoes? We've got you covered. We scrambled, bouldered, sport climbed, and hiked...
Best Approach Shoes for Women of 2023
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 Trail Running Shoes
Looking for a new pair of trail runners? We have tested close to 100 of the most popular models over the past decade...
Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
Searching for your next trail running shoe? With our expert advice and experience testing various models this season...
Best Running Shoes
After hundreds of miles both fast and slow, on roads and trails, we've found the best running shoes for any running...
Best Running Shoes for Women
Seeking a women's running shoe to help you pick up the pace? Our comprehensive review of the most popular running...
Best Sandals of 2023
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 Men
In our opinion, every season is sandal season be it indoor or outdoor. We curated the industry's best selection of...
Best Sandals for Women of 2023
What are the best women's sandals for travel, hiking, and daily use? We put 19 great options through a bevy of...
Best Mountain Bike Shoes of 2023
Looking for the best clipless mountain bike shoes to suit your riding style and budget? We researched the top models...
Best Mountain Bike Shoes for Women of 2023
Your shoes are one of your main contact points with your bike and need to perform well so you can ride your best. With...
Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedal Shoes of 2023
There are lots of mountain bike flat shoes on the market. We bought 12 of the most intriguing options to put through...
Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedal Shoes For Women of 2023
After researching the top-ranked and newest models of mountain bike flat pedal shoes on the market, we purchased 12...
Best Water Shoes of 2023
After combing through 60 of the best water shoes on the market, we purchased and rigorously tested the top 13 to find...
Best Water Shoes for Women
Our lady testers took these models on rafting trips down the Grand Canyon, Arkansas River, and muddy rivers of...
Best Road Bike Shoes of 2023
For our latest round-up, we made sure to get at 10 or 12 hours on the bike in our shoes. We selected 13 of the best...
Best Flip Flops
Searching for a new slippah? The selection can be daunting, with a multitude of options from the biggest names in the...
Best Flip Flops for Women
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 2023
Ready to make the switch to minimalist or barefoot shoes? Our comprehensive review compares 10 of this season's best...
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 Skate Shoes
To help you find the best skate shoes, we researched dozens of different models on the market and bought and tested 8...
Best Slippers of 2023
You'll wear good slippers nearly every day. We carefully tested (researching 30 models and purchasing 9 for direct...
Best Slippers for Women of 2023
After researching over 50+ different options, we chose 8 of the best slippers for women to test hands-on and...Recent Gear Reviews in Shoe Reviews
Best Buy
La Sportiva Boulder X - Women's Review
A long-time favorite at OutdoorGearLab, the Boulder X's comfy upper, supportive sole, and durability make it a great...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva TX2 Evo - Women's Review
This is an all-around awesome shoe, perfect for boulderers and alpine scramblers alike. With a great climbing ability...
Best Buy
La Sportiva Tarantulace - Women's Review
Just getting into climbing? Finally ready to throw down for your first pair of shoes? Look no further! These shoes are...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva Miura VS - Women's Review
With their incredible edging prowess, this shoe will turn the tiniest edges into a no-hands rest. Their subtle...
Editors' Choice
Giro Latch Review
This new model rivals the best flat pedal shoes we've ever tested and challenges Five Ten's market dominance. An...
Editors' Choice
La Sportiva Katana Lace Review
The Katana Lace is a workhorse, not a show horse. This shoe keeps your foot in a relatively flat position, which is...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 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 the Right Trail Running Shoes
We recommend making a basic self-assessment to help you determine what your specific needs are when it comes to a...
How to Choose Hiking Shoes
Want some help finding the right shoe for your feet and trail objectives? This article dissects the key considerations...
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 Water Shoes
Water sports are tough on feet and footwear. We provide the key information you need to understand water shoes and...Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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