The gear that gets you there.
Men’s and unisex picks first. Women’s picks on the same page.
Mids for hikers who want ankle support. Most of a PCT class still walks in trail runners.
Three picks. Updated weekly. That is the whole list. If it is not here, it did not earn a place.
· Top three updated weekly. Listed prices and shop ratings stay live.
Surveys 40% · independent tests 30% · merchant ratings 15% · relative street price 15%. Sources & method
Listed prices and shop ratings stay live once a shop page loads. GEAR UP has the current figure.
Built from published thru-hiker surveys and independent testing — not commissions. Sources & method · Disclosure
Shop the men’s or unisex product.
Swipe — three picks side by side
Mid · 14 oz / shoe · leather
Listed price
8.3 / 10 Thru Picks
The PCT-named Danner in a mid cut. Enough leather for a section. Heavier than a Lone Peak — that is the point.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Halfway Anywhere · Thru Picks method
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Mid GTX · 15 oz / shoe
Listed price
8.2 / 10 Thru Picks
A waterproof mid you can size at a co-op. The boot people actually find in town.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
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Mid · 16 oz / shoe · B-Fit
Listed price
8.1 / 10 Thru Picks
A footbed people buy again. Heavier, more support, a boot for hikers who want a boot.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
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Shop the women’s product. Unisex cottage pieces are labeled on the card.
Swipe — three picks side by side
Women’s mid · 12 oz / shoe
Listed price
8.3 / 10 Thru Picks
The same 2650 mid in a women’s last. Size for the foot you have, not the men’s chart.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
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Women’s mid GTX · 13 oz / shoe
Listed price
8.2 / 10 Thru Picks
Women’s X Ultra 5 Mid. Waterproof, a co-op size run, the boot you can replace in town.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
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Women’s mid · 14 oz / shoe
Listed price
8.1 / 10 Thru Picks
Women’s Sawtooth X Mid. The same footbed, a women’s last, more boot than a Speedgoat.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at REI →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
This slot is not required in a Pack Shakedown kit. The ten loadouts still start from the same independent lists.
Most thru-hikers do not finish in boots. Trail runners dry faster and weigh less. This list is for hikers who still want a mid: ankle support, a stiffer sole, a leather or waterproof upper.
Danner Trail 2650 Mid is first: the PCT-named shoe in a mid cut, enough leather to last a section. Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is Best Value — a co-op boot, waterproof, easy to size. Oboz Sawtooth X Mid is the Premium Pick: a footbed people buy again. Women’s mids are the second row. If you want the shoe most of the class starts in, that list is Trail Runners.
Rankings and kits are based on published surveys and independent analysis. They are opinions for informational purposes only. Users are responsible for choosing and using gear appropriate to their conditions and experience. Thru Picks is not liable for outcomes related to product use. Terms