I was nervous as hell, but at least I wasn’t worried about my footwear. It was my wedding day, and my soon-to-be wife and I were standing in the White Pine parking area waiting for guests to arrive. It was only a few minutes before we walked everyone down the trail (which was covered in about 10” of fresh snow) and into a clearing I had stomped out earlier that day. While people were slipping and sliding in traditional dress shoes, I was not only stable, but pretty damn fashionable. The Heritage boots from Ridgemont are good enough to get married in, but what about everything else?
Made for the Mountains
First of all, this IS a real hiking boot, for anyone who might be confused. They look great (more on that later), but they are also quite capable in the mountains. The uppers are made from a premium waxed leather, and the waxed cotton collar is lined with Hydroguard. I found this trifecta to be absolutely waterproof, no matter if I was hiking in snow or through creeks. EVA footbeds rest on top of pure rubber lugged soles. The footbeds provide plenty of comfort, even on uneven and rocky trails. Because this is a full leather boot, they do require some break in time. After about 10-15 miles of hiking, my pair was broken in nicely.
The lugged soles excel in most situations. Packed dirt, mud, fresh snow or slippery rocks are no match for the tread. However, problems arose when hiking in slushy or icey conditions. I found myself battling for traction whenever the trails were frozen over. You’ll definitely want to add a pair of micro-spikes if you plan on using the Heritage boots for winter hiking.
Heritage Versatility
I’m not the type that would wear flip-flops to the opera (come on, don’t be THAT guy!), and I certainly didn’t want to look like a schlub at my own wedding. Fortunately, the Heritage boots have outstanding styling. From the trail to the tavern, these boots fit in everywhere. Hours before I got married in them, I used them to strap into my snowshoes and stomp out our wedding area. Versatile, indeed!
I’ve done numerous miles of hiking in them, from the dry desert to the snowy Wasatch, and found them to be comfortable no matter what the trail had in store. When it comes to keeping them clean, I haven’t needed to do more than buff them with a cloth and scrub the soles with a bit of water.
The Verdict
The only negative thing I can say about these boots is in regard to the lack of traction in wintery mix conditions. Other than that, the Heritage boots have been reliable, comfortable, and able to carry me through numerous adventures. Warm enough to hike in cold weather, and light enough to scramble over slickrock is a pretty good combination. Oh, and good looking enough to get married in, if the situation should call for it.
Purchase the Ridgemont Heritage Boot here.