Waterproof Hiking Boots For Muddy Trails

Mud is the ultimate boot test. It soaks, it grips, and it pulls, and a boot that fails in mud fails everywhere else it matters.

For muddy trails you need deep lugs that shed clay and a waterproof upper that shrugs off the muck. Shallow tread packs with mud and turns slick.

• Pick deep, widely spaced lugs that release mud as you step.
• Choose a waterproof upper that wipes clean easily.
• Look for a firm heel cup to steady you on slick slopes.
• Consider a gaiter hook to keep mud out of the top.

I judge a muddy boot by how much of the trail it carries home on its sole. A boot that sheds mud stays grippy, and a grippy boot keeps you upright.