We’re all about barefoot and minimalist shoes here at Terradrift. We love them for all seasons: summer, winter, in snow, sun and rain. And while we tend to prefer more breathable barefoot hiking boots when it’s warm, sometimes waterproof barefoot hiking boots are required. Fortunately, we’ve tested plenty over the years and these are some of our favorite minimalist, zero-drop waterproof boots designed for hiking and outdoor adventure.
If you’re ready to ditch traditional laces and step into the world of minimalist shoes, the Merrell Vapor Glove 6 Boa is a solid choice. With a lightweight build, excellent traction, and a micro-adjustable Boa Fit System, it blends barefoot freedom with everyday comfort—perfect for trail runners, barefoot-curious walkers, and anyone who hates tying shoes.
Come summer, we’re all about barefoot sandals. We explore in them, travel in them, wander in them, and definitely hike in them. Yes, we hike in sandals (but only purpose-built sandals designed for the task). So just like last year, we got our hands on a bunch of different brands and styles, tested them all on dirty, rocky, uneven trails in Utah, plus on gravel and asphalt, and sized them up to determine which ones are best for what activities, which are most comfortable, durable, have the best groundfeel, you name it. So if you’re ready for a new pair of barefoot hiking sandals, here are some of the best money can buy.
Are you team water bottle or hydration reservoir? Sound off! Well we tested a hydration system that’s truly the best of both worlds: It has the functionality of a bladder with the ease-of-use of a water bottle. It’s the One Bottle Hydration system, essentially a hydration tube for a water bottle, and it may be our new favorite way to stay hydrated on long hikes and backpacking trips. Read on for our full review.
Barefoot hiking boots! We can’t get enough of them here at Terradrift. In fact, we’re at the point where we don’t hike in anything else. But not all barefoot boots are created equal. So we tested two pairs from some of our favorite brands to see how they compared in this Vivobarefoot vs Xero Shoes showdown: The Xero Scrambler Trail Mid WP and the Vivobarefoot Tracker Textile AT. And because we want you to find your perfect shoe the first time, we’re gonna break down how they’re different, where they excelled–or didn’t–and what type of hiker we think is gonna like each one best.
Hiking requires clothing. Often, pants. Like when it’s cold or trails are covered in brush that threatens to tear up your legs or when ticks abound. We don’t have to tell you why pants are often necessary when hitting the trail. But the perfect pair of hiking pants can be hard to find. So we put several pairs to the test (which are all PFAS-free) to see which sustainable hiking pants for women are the perfect combination of technical performance, trail style, and functionality.
Hiking requires clothing. Often, pants. Like when it’s cold or trails are covered in brush that threatens to tear up your legs or when ticks abound. We don’t have to tell you why pants are often necessary when hitting the trail. But the perfect pair of hiking pants can be hard to find. So we put several pairs to the test to see which sustainable hiking pants for men are the perfect combination of technical performance, trail style, and functionality.
The Burton x Gnara Ski Bibs offer a functional solution thanks to Gnara’s patented GoFly pee zipper technology. We put them to the test!
Grid fleece: it’s all the rage these days. And for good reason. It’s cozy, lightweight, comfortable, wicks sweat, and is perfect for active outdoor pursuits. And yes, it can even be part of a good winter layering strategy. And if you love outdoor apparel, especially grid fleece, chances are you’ve heard of Melanzana, the small Colorado brand that’s based in Leadville. Do they make fun and functional grid fleece? Absolutely. But are they easy to get? Absolutely not. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives and, guess what? You can buy them online! We rounded up some of our faves to help you decide which grid fleece is right for you.
We love Gnara’s Go There Hiking Pants with the brilliant extra pee zipper designed for people who squat to pee. But do the new leggings also impress? We put them to the test to see if they fly or fail.