New Balance Men's MO790 Light Hiking Shoe

These fit the same as a new balance sneaker but with a higher top and stiffer/firmer sole and cushioning. They have the same sole pattern as the 2012 era trail running shoes which is not particularly deep lugged but is perfectly adequate in my opinion. They are not heavy duty back packing boots and I expect that they will wear out after a few seasons of use as does a running shoe. I have bad knees and can no longer tolerate my heavy leather boots and these are both dramatically lighter and provide ample cushioning. My hiking philosophy has changed along with the condition of my knees to a more minimalist approach and these light hikers are working out great. They provide sufficient support with very minimal weight and have significantly reduced the impact on my knees. Hiking is fun again with these and I will certainly buy another pair when these are worn out.If you want something with more support and a stiffer sole than a trail sneaker but don't need or want a full blown hiking boot these are a great option to consider.

I just got back from the Buffalo River Trail and now have about 50 miles on my boots total. I am happy to report that these hiking boots have performed well.Sizing. I have wide feet. I also am "natural" walker and runner and only wear mimimal shoes so my feet are actually bigger due to my toes being spread and my feet are muscled. As a result I have high arches. I wear 124E New Balance Minimus shoes that are first versions(V1) and I have a pair of New Balance 610 trail running shoes. These light hikers are exactly like the 610's but have the mid ankle height and heavier duty stitching. I spend a lot of effort making sure the shoes are laced properly with a slight loose feel to the them and had zero blistering on some challenging terrain. The toe box is wide. When I step I spread my toes and grip the ground through the sole. This helps spread the load and saves my joints as well as gives stability.Durability. These are light weight shoes and I expect that they aren't going to be as wear resistant as more traditional boots. That's why I own heavier duty boots for tougher conditions. So far the stitching is still ok. This past weekend there were a lot of rocks so I am going to be proactive and put some shoe goo on a couple of stitches near the soles that may become issues later on to prevent a chance of a blow out. Also the boots are not designed to carry heavy loads. My combined weight with loaded pack is 230lbs which is I guess actually heavy, and they should hold for at least for another 150 miles or more. My experience is that is acceptable on the price/performance comparison.Performance. My walking style is on the balls and toes and I grip the trail and stones with my feet and the shoes deform enough to allow this. They are very athletic when compare to traditional boots. Perfect for fast hiking. The grip of the soles is excellent on wet rocks when climbing, descending, and crossing/jumping streams.They are mesh so I recommend that you get some DWR or Silicone and treat the shoes. The extra protection do keep my feet dry and they are able to shed mud, dirt, and water as a result. However, I did have to hike in pouring rain for a couple of hours and the trails became streams and they soaked through but they did dry out quicker than a traditional boot would have. I do carry a pair of water proof socks just in case my boots become soaked to prevent having soggy feet while my boots dry out.Overall an excellent buy for me. I consider my expectations are very reasonable based on my past experience in the outdoors. I do have heavier duty boots for different conditions and loads. These are not for 100% of your trails and conditions but are perfect for 75% of the conditions you will face.

In Jan. 2012, I bought a pair of New Balance MT 573 trail running shoes which utilizes the same sole bottoms as the MO790 Light Hiking Boot. They were a little small and cramped as if I taped the shoes for turf sports and had sort of stiff sole. Kept them anyway. Were very good for chopping firewood and motor-vating around the hillside home. Last month, March 2014, I broke the side of my foot and I needed a slightly stiff shoe to replace a cast. So I researched my old 573s and match them to the MO790s. This time I moved up from a 9 to a 10E4 and ordered them. PERFECT. The larger boot had room for swelling and stiff enough to keep the break comfortable. I never use pain killers or aspirin after the first week because they mask the pain (can't feel my foot and end up re-injuring myself trying to do normal activities). They're great. Couldn't ask an any better shoe. They're going to be my new work shoes. See the MT 573s on kohls.com.

I'm reluctant to give only 4 stars for these hikers. They are extremely lightweight, water resistant, and provide a bit more ankle support than standard lightweight hikers/trail runners. I bought these to fill a gap in trail running along wet, marshy trails that are frequently root-covered, as many in North Carolina are! The description does say Light Hiking Boot, so I should have realized they would be slightly larger than normal size. I solved this problem by wearing thicker socks that were meant for hiking, but in the NC heat that really makes my feet sweat. If you're going to wear thinner athletic type socks, order a ½ size smaller! Other than that, these boots are very lightweight and comfortable!

The design of the shoe is what first caught my eye. They're used mostly for casual walking and wanted something less gaudy than so many shoes and sneakers appear to be today. The nicest thing though is how light they are. Much lighter than the old pair I replaced and they're very comfortable. I did put some gel inserts in to the shoes because I've been having some heel issues (either plantar fasciitis or a stress fracture. I found the original insoles a bit hard, maybe only because of my bad heel. Anyway, the inserts fit in just fine and I really like the good ankle support and light weight. Definitely well worth the price and, given New Balance's reputation, I'm expecting to last quite a while. Overall, very happy!

If you are looking for a very light Hiking Boot then this may be the right boot for you. I was able to do an 8 mile hike the first time without any discomfort. There is good cushion in the heel section, but there is not much arch support or cushion in the front section of the boot. The widths are typical of New Balance products and allow comfort for a wide foot and offer the best selection for wide boots. Construction and tread pattern are of good quality. I would have rated them higher if they had better arch support and cushion in the sole area.