My review of The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX hiking boot is based on more than 40 miles of test hikes. I broke in my pair on some day hikes in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains before wearing them on a 20-mile backpacking trip in the Pecos Wilderness. I don't associate North Face with burly hiking boots. But my test hikes show these really can hike offtrail and handle extra pack weight. My North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid review evaluates this boot's support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and overall value.
The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX Review
Testing The North Face Offtrail Hike LT offtrail
Support
It's getting tougher to find supportive hiking boots, but The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid certainly qualifies as a legit hiking boot. As its name suggests, this boot is built for "offtrail" conditions. In other words, it's much more supportive than other models from The North Face.
While backpacking around Santa Fe Mt Baldy, I was sold on these boots' support. My feet and ankles felt locked in as I carried extra pack weight over rocks, snow, and steep switchbacks. I never turned an ankle over and felt this boot's torsional rigidity kick in a couple of times when my ankles teeter-tottered on rocks and sidehills that put extra pressure on my downhill ankle.
That said, this boot's ankle collars aren't the tallest or sturdiest. Most of the support lies underfoot. Ths Offtrail Hike LT is moderately stiff from heel to toe, which takes some heat off hikers' feet and ankles.
The Offtrail Hike LT is a midweight hiking boot
Weight
The average pair of men's hiking boots weighs between 2.5 and 3 pounds. My pair of The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mids weighs 2 lbs 11 oz (Men's 12.5). This is average for my size, if not a couple ounces ligher than expected.
This isn't a lightweight hiking boot or a heavy backpacking boot. It's a classic midweight — a versatile build that's light enough for day hiking and sturdy enough for backpacking.
The Offtrail Hike LT has a wide fit for The North Face
Fit
The North Face Offtrail Hike LT has a roomy fit — wider than most boots and shoes from The North Face (which generally run narrow). I sized up a half-size and had plenty of room for my moderately wide feet. If you have narrow feet — or own other shoes from The North Face — you might find these too big or wide.
Testing The North Face Offtrail Hike LT in Embudito Canyon
Comfort
Specifically designed for "offtrail" hikes and tougher trails, The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid has a relatively stiff undercarriage with a burly, protective build. Whether you'll like it — or not — depends on fit and your hiking style.
As mentioned above, this boot has a roomy fit. If you have wider feet or want more room in the toe box, you'll probably appreciate that. If you're expecting this boot to feel and fit like other North Face models, you might find these boots too big and too stiff for your liking.
I found the Offtrail Hike LT comfortable while carrying a heavy pack over mountain terrain. That's when I appreciated its support and protection. However, I found these boots comparatively clunky when day hiking more moderate trails, such as La Luz and Embudito. I didn't feel fleet of foot and sometimes stumbled through mixed terrain because my foot placement wasn't as precise in this relatively roomy and stiff hiking boot.
Casual hikers and speed hikers may not appreciate the feel of the Off Trail Hike boots. However, they may be comfortable if you mostly hike moderately difficult trails and prefer a roomier fit.
Most of my test hikes were in dry desert mountains
Weather Protection
The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX hiking boots obviously feature GORE-TEX waterproofing. I've found GORE-TEX to be more reliable and breathable than other brands of waterproofing. My backpacking trip included a few easy stream crossings, mud, snowmelt, and deeper snowdrifts at higher elevation. As expected, no moisture penetrated my boots' waterproof membrane.
If you're looking for dependable waterproofing, you can trust the Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE TEX.
The aggressive tread of the Offtrail Hike LT hiking boot
Traction
My favorite feature of The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid hiking boot is its traction. Over three weeks of hiking mixed mountain terrain, I didn't have any slips or traction troubles.
This boot's lugs are deeper than average — which helps them dig into dirt, mud, snow, and gravel. They also feature angled climbing lugs (in front) and braking lugs (in back) to handle steeper terrain. The aggressive tread is similar to Salomon's X Ultra series. However, the rubber is different, and Salomons feature a deeper heel brake to make descents safer.
I didn't slip on slickrock sections of Embudito Canyon while testing this boot, but its tread is a better match for steep trails with loose sediments—not solid rock.
The Women's Offtrail LT Mid is available in multiple colorways
Value
The prices of hiking boots have skyrocketed the past year (mostly due to U.S. tariffs). The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX has a MSRP of $220. That would have been shockingly high two years ago, but — scary enough — that's now average for a quality, midweight hiking boot. And this IS a quality, midweight hiking boot.
You may be able find discounts using the links below, including 15% off at Backcountry.
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Men's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX
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Pros & Cons of The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid
Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons of The North Face's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX hiking boot:
Should you buy The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid?
This is the first hiking boot from The North Face that I have personally tested and reviewed. I picked it because it's sturdier than the brand's other hiking boots and also has a wide fit. Thanks to these two features—and its aggressive traction—I'm happy to recommend The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid to men and women who prefer more difficult trails or offtrail hiking.
With most brands (including The North Face) now favoring more casual hiking footwear, the Offtrail Hike LT is more of a classic, midweight hiking boot that's made for those who prefer a more supportive and protective hiking boot. If you're a casual hiker or prefer to fly down the trail, you may find the Offtrail Hike LT too sturdy for your tastes.
If you do like this hiking boot, please consider purchasing it through the links below. The retailer may share a few dollars of the sale with Hiking Feet—without costing you anything. Those small commissions keep this site alive. If this review hooked you up, I'd love it if you hooked me up, too. Cheers!
Men's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX
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Women's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX
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