Saucony Releases Its First-Ever Hiking Boot Today—and It’s One of the Lightest On the Market
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After a century of producing some of the best running shoes, Saucony is finally venturing into all-terrain footwear with its first-ever hiking boot, the Ultra Ridge GTX. Rugged and colorful, the boots come equipped with a GORE-TEX membrane, a cushy midsole, and toothy underfoot treading. They're aggressive and stylish, and despite a bulky stature, they're solid lightweight hiking boots to take you through all sorts of terrain.
Men's Ultra Ridge GTX
$200.00
saucony.com
The Ultra Ridge GTX is built for tackling trails. There's a thick footbed for maximum cushioning, exaggerated outsoles for extra shock absorption, and a rock guard to protect against jagged edges. The brand's proprietary Pwrrun+ sockliner is bouncier, more durable, and lighter than EVA foam you'd find in typical running shoes. Elsewhere, the boots’ thick soles feature the brand’s "superfoam" Pwrrun PB technology, which our colleagues at Runner’s World deem the highest energy return of all Saucony’s shoes. Paneled mesh helps with breathability, and a supremely plush tongue adds snug and stable support.
All that maximal flavor and extra padding remind us of a similar hiker boot: the Hoka One One Kaha 2. I'm a massive fan of the Kaha 2 and Hoka's Meta-Rocker technology—a curved heel that prevents your feet from landing flat—but after testing the new boots over the weekend, I found Saucony's pair equally supportive.
I took the Ultra Ridge GTX straight from the shoebox and laced them to my feet for a 10-mile hike on Mount Tammany. Surprisingly, after roughly 22,000 steps, I didn't feel rubbing, chafing, or next-day foot soreness. My feet felt supported while climbing over rocky inclines, protected while descending the uneven trail, and mostly sweat-free thanks to ample mesh panels. Most impressively, I didn't need to break these in before taking them on an excursion.
These boots are also supremely lightweight, with my US Men's size 12 clocking at roughly 15 ounces per shoe. (I'm typically an 11.5, but these fit better half a size up.) And yes: I also stepped in water to test that GORE-TEX membrane and could stand in lake water for 10 minutes without anything penetrating my socks.
The Ultra Ridge GTX are some of the comfiest, most lightweight hiking boots on the market. If you're in need of a pair that won't add bulk to your next trek, you can grab some today in Men's sizes 7 to 13 and Women's sizes 7 to 12 in Java/Black and Dune. There's also the Coast/Basalt and Sprig/Moss, which are men's and women's exclusive colors, respectively.
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