Bantamweight Boots for Nimble Hikes: The North Face Offtrail LT Mid Review

I felt light on my feet as I ascended the Rainbow Trail toward Methodist Mountain. On my left, spectacular views of Mount Ouray and Pahlone Peak caught my eye whenever I stopped. But as I hiked, I only focused on what was beneath my feet: rocks, branches, loose granite gravel, and lodgepole roots. I found myself jogging the flats and downhills just because I felt so nimble and spry.

When it comes to hiking footwear, I’m a dedicated boot guy. There are some great hiking shoes out there, but they aren’t my thing. So normally on the trail, I wear my Meindl MFS-Vacuum Boots or my Zamberlan Viox Lux Boots. I like the ankle stability, support, and burly, durable feeling — and, honestly, I prefer the look, too.

But those other boots are pretty heavy. In fact, most of my go-to hikers don’t exactly qualify as “lightweight,” which is probably why the Offtrail Hike LT Mid Boots ($200) from The North Face felt so airy on my feet.

These boots still offered the supportive feel I like in my hiking boots, but without the weight. I honestly hadn’t expected to feel as unencumbered as I usually am in boots. I was moving faster and expending less energy than normal.

In short: The North Face Offtrail Hiking Boots are lightweight and very capable. They’re comfortable (after a short break-in period), snugly hold your forefoot and heel in place, and offer enough grip to handle steep and loose trails. Hikers looking for a boot that’s comfortable, lightweight, and ready to hammer day hikes or multiday adventures will appreciate this mid-height boot.

Shopping for hiking boots? Check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Hiking Boots and the Best Hiking Boots for Women.

The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid Boot Review

I first saw the Offtrail Boots in California, where The North Face (TNF) hosted a handful of journalists and influencers to showcase its latest outdoor footwear. The Offtrail line is one of the brand’s flagship hiking families, and this new boot (which is also available as a shoe) is the newest addition.

In California, we walked along some dirt roads and climbed a small rolling hill. But it wasn’t enough to get a true impression of these boots. I wanted to get them back to Colorado and hit some Rocky Mountain trails to see how they’d perform in more technical and challenging terrain.

Construction

The TNF OffTrail Hike LT Mid Boots have a Cordura forefoot protected by a ballistic rubber toe cap. For being so lightweight, they certainly look durable, and so far they have been. With the exception of a few minor scrapes on the rubber toe and the tread, they’re holding up well. I’ve put less than 50 miles on these, though, so the jury’s still out on long-term durability.

They have a PFAS-free, waterproof GORE-TEX 3L membrane and are seam-sealed for protection against puddles, creeks, and rainy weather. An integrated rock guard also protects against sharp or jagged rocks or debris you might encounter on the trail. Nubuck leather, and TPU overlays are meant to add additional support and durability.

Unlike a lot of new boots, TNF did not use recycled, recyclable, or recovered materials in the Offtrail Hike Boots. However, the Surface Control outsole uses 20% rubber from “smallholder farmers committed to agroforestry principles and regenerative agricultural practices.”

Weight

When I first tried on the Offtrail Hike LT Mid Boots, the weight surprised me — in a good way. At just a pound (1 pound, 1.64 ounces) per shoe, this is on par with the sixth heaviest boot (out of 15) on our guide to the Best Hiking Boots. So it’s pretty middle-of-the-pack when it comes to weight. From that guide, it’s most comparable with the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX.

That said, it’s a lot lighter than some of the boots I’m more accustomed to wearing (like that Zamberlan Vioz Lux I mentioned). That made it feel very light when I took to the trail.

In the Field

I wore the TNF Offtrail Boots on hikes in Utah’s Swell and Colorado’s San Isabel National Forest, on BLM land near my home, through an endless day of airports, and on that “hike” I mentioned in California. The hikes ranged in length from 4 to 12 miles, and the terrain varied from sandy desert washes to alpine scree, dirt roads, and loose rocks.

Durability-wise, I’ve had no issues so far. They’re holding up well.

There was a short break-in period with these boots. They weren’t at all constrictive, but after about 3 miles on the first few hikes, I could feel a hot spot on the outside of my right foot. It never manifested into a blister, though, and I felt it less with lighter (thinner) socks. Eventually, this subsided as the boots loosened up and molded to my paddle-shaped feet.

TNF added a heel cup to better cradle the wearer’s calcaneus (heel bone), and I didn’t experience any notable wiggling or sliding inside the boots. The comfort-padded collar and tongue are also a nice touch, hugging the ankle and adding some extra security. Ghillie-lace loops held the laces snugly in place once they were tied.

Grip-wise, TNF’s Surface Control outsole felt pretty standard. They felt confident scrambling on sandstone boulders and walking atop wet granite river rocks. But on steep, loose trails, I slipped a little bit both on the uphill and downhill.

Despite the short break-in period, I found these to be comfortable hiking boots. They didn’t weigh me down, and after long days on the trail (or chasing gate changes around an airport for 8 hours), I wasn’t dying to take them off. When I backpacked into Utah’s Poor Canyon for a 2-night, 3-day trip, my feet weren’t screaming for help.

My favorite aspect of these boots, though, was how nimble I felt wearing them. They were light enough that I could move my feet quickly, had decent rebound, and really good ground feel. I could feel rocks and roots under me, but none of them hurt thanks to the rock guard.

Room for Improvement

The shape of the Offtrail Boots’ tongue is a little wonky. It doesn’t look funny when it’s laced correctly. But if I wasn’t paying attention, and quickly laced the boots up, the tongue sometimes bunched up or folded, which then wouldn’t offer as much security/stability.

I also wish the bottom eyelet were a third hook instead of a fixed loop. A hook would allow me to cinch the boot laces more evenly and lock them in place. Pulling them through that eyelet created uneven pressure across the top of my foot.

The North Face Offtrail Hike LT Mid Boot: Who Is It For?

If you’re shopping for an everyday hiker that can also be used for multiday trips, TNF has designed a very capable boot in its Offtrail Hike LT Mid. It’s light, durable, and grippy. It’s waterproofed with GORE-TEX, feels nimble on the trail, and securely holds your foot and heel in place. These boots are functional and capable of hanging with some of the best mid-height boots in its class.

For years, I’ve kept a beat-up old pair of Salomon Quest boots in the bed of my truck as my go-anywhere, do-anything hikers. These are just as stable as those boots, lighter, and feel slightly more secure. Those Salomons are headed for (a well-earned) retirement. I’m excited to replace them with these TNF Offtrail Boots.