Your hiking boots are likely to accompany you for hundreds of miles. Having a reliable and high quality pair you can trust to keep you dry and comfortable is essential for a positive hiking experience. In the search for the best hiking boot, we were fortunate to review Garmont’s Pordoi GTX® hiking boot.
About Garmont | About The Boots | Our Review | Summary
You can purchase the Garmont Pordoi boots on their website or on Amazon:
About Garmont
Garmont is an Italy-based company founded in 1964 that is passionate about producing high-quality footwear for the trails, cliff sides and the streets. Their company philosophy is based within their motto “Stay Wild”, which we share passion for about here at Hiking and Fishing. Further, Garmont offers a 1 year warranty on all products sold, which underscores the brand’s commitment to high-quality products and customer service.
You can read more about Garmont here.
About The Boots
Technical Specs
| Outside & Leather | 2 mm oiled nubuck leather. Fast lacing hooks and open hooks hardware . Gore-Tex® Performance Comfort Eva footbed |
| Fit | Performance – This is a Classic Fit with roomier instep and forefoot volume. This fit makes sense for backpacking, and makes these boots work well with more insulated socks. |
| Insole | FrameFlex Lite insole provides stability for hauling loads on rough terrain. |
| Outsole | Vibram® Winkler outsole with Megagrip compound for excellent grip on wet or dry terrain and long wear. Concave heel face enhances braking effect during descents |
| Midsole | Dual density microporous rubber midsole for comfort and stability. |
| Asymmetrical Cuff | The ankle cuff is lower on the outside and taller on the inside for better edging and greater overall stability and comfort when traversing and scrambling. |
| Ankle Pads | Securely locks the heel in place for a precise fit around the ankle bones for better stability and support. |
Free Standard Shipping
Garmont offers free ground shipping as well as faster shipping options.
Returns & Warranty
A 1 year limited warranty which can be read in more detail here.
Garmont will accept returns if your boots don’t fit or meet expectations. The boots need to be returned in sellable condition.
Our Review
Fit & Comfort
I have had my fair share of hiking boots that by mile 4 of the ascent, my feet were shred and covered in blisters, and therefore I take boot fit and comfort extremely seriously. I based the size ordered off of my other hiking boots and these boots were true to size and fit great. This boot is designed using Anatomically Directed Design, which takes into account the anatomical structure of the foot and ankle when designing the ankle cuff, shoe tongue, ankle pads, sole flex and toe box. I have wide feet and even so, these boots were adjustable enough to feel extremely comfortable throughout each hike. The boot toe box was just wide enough to fit my upper foot comfortably without any pressure. As for the foot padding, these shoes provide just enough arch support for my high arches to walk for miles comfortably!
The Women’s Pordoi GTX® is labeled as a performance fit due to their lightweight but versatile nature. The boots provide a strong feeling of support. This boot is going to be slightly stiffer than a summer cloth-based boot, but this does not translate to blisters or discomfort. In addition, being made out of slightly-stiffer leather allows these boots to excel in support and their ability to repel water. Lastly, the boots are very sleek and look great even of the trails. The colors are subtle but are flattering tones that would match any hiking outfit!
Waterproofing & Warmth:
Garmont partners with GORE-TEX® to provide some of the highest quality waterproof material available for their footwear. These boots are equipped with GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort to protect your feet from wet and moderate weather conditions on the trial. In my experiences with the boots, which includes river crossings and deep snowy conditions, I have yet to feel any water leaking into the boot. So far, these are the most waterproof boots I have owned, which make them perfect for when water (or snow) levels are high.
With this technology, these boots make for a warm option for winter hikes and fishing trips. I will update the review with my thoughts on summer hiking with these boots once the season comes along. As of now, I do not feel that these boots will be too hot for cooler summer days; however, I am not sure whether they will be too warm for hot summer days.
Shoe Grip & Traction
Garmont also utilizes Vibram® Megagrip technologies to provide the best grip on a variety of different surfaces. This outsole is formulated especially to grip wet and dry surfaces and does so magnificently. Further, the rubber appears to be extremely high quality and appears that it will last for many miles. The tread has a pattern that holds up to both gravel, smooth rock and/or wood and snow/ice, which makes these boots great for all seasons.
Laces
The laces have a two open lacing hook system that works great at keeping the laces tied. These boots can be tied relatively quickly and will stay tight throughout your hike. They take an extra second to tie due to the two layers of hooks- but it’s well worth it when you don’t have to worry about your shoes untying mid-hike.
Recommendation and Overall Thoughts:
Overall, I think these are great boots, especially for cold and wet hikes. They are high quality and feel secure and comfortable even with wide, high arched feet. The traction is fantastic for icy and wet conditions, and the waterproofing is highly effective to avoid some wet socks and feet.
We would consider these awesome winter boots, and the harder soles make for great use with snowshoes and microspikes.
Additional Photos
Victoria Bandera has a Master’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University and is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist. Currently, Vicky is at the University of Utah working on her PhD in Population Health Sciences and working in the Huntsman Cancer Institute. She is passionate about the use of physical activity and nutrition as a source of longevity and overall health. Find her on some adventures with small health-related posts at @viqeeinthewoods on Instagram!