Wide Comfort in a Casual Hiker: Teva Grandview Max GTX Straddles Trail and Asphalt

Teva, a brand named with the Hebrew word for “nature” has long been synonymous with sandals for raft trips, paddleboarding, and jam-band concerts. But its new hiking boot, the Grandview Max GTX, is its most ambitious closed-toe offering to date.

It pairs a mid-height boot build with a GORE-TEX waterproof liner and a few touches from the brand’s sport sandals for a casual hiking boot. But can it compete with popular boots such as Merrell’s Moab 3?

Teva has been manufacturing hiking boots since 1994, but 30 years later, it is still known primarily for iconic sport sandals. The Teva Grandview Max GTX is, according to Teva, the brand’s “most technical” hiker to date. The boot is also part of a larger Grandview line that includes a hiking/running sandal and a more breathable, non-GORE-TEX hiking boot, the Grandview Max Vent.

A few GearJunkie editors received samples to test in a variety of locales to see if the big claims translated to a better boot.

In short: The Grandview Max GTX boot looks much like other sneaker-like hiking boots. It has a rugged Vibram outsole and thick midsole. But while it looks aggressive, the very wide fit and soft sole that make it imprecise on even slightly technical terrain. This boot may be worth considering for those with very wide feet. Otherwise, it lacks a lot of the support and proprioception available in competing boots at the $185 price range. It’s a decent choice for gentle trails and pavement when thick, soft cushioning and a very wide platform are desired.

Teva Grandview Max GTX Hiking Boot Review

How We Tested

I first tested the Grandview Max GTX at a launch event for outdoor journalists in Tennessee where we did a 5-mile out-and-back hike on a popular, well-worn trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We then spent several hours in the nearby Dollywood theme park which, while unexpected, rounded out a varied all-day comfort scenario for testing the boot. I also wore the boot extensively at home in the high Rockies in spring mud and snow, both for light hiking and running around town.

Meanwhile, two other GearJunkie editors — Will Brendza and Sean McCoy — also tested versions of the Grandview, including the GTX and the Max Vent. We compared our testing notes to give a comprehensive review, as this is a major launch for Teva.

Boot Characteristics

Wide Toe Box

The first thing to point out about the Grandview GTX is it has a super-wide fit. If you have wide feet and struggle to find boots that fit your foot shape, you will be stoked to learn about these. They are some of the widest production hiking boots I’ve tested, not just in the forefoot, but even in the heel.

This could be good for folks with wide feet. For those with less wide feet, it could be a problem.

The brand notes that the boot adopts the wide toe box that made Altra trail running shoes de rigueur for thru-hikers and popular as around-town shoes. I’m not exactly a thru-hiker, as I’ve only done shorter sections of the Continental Divide Trail, but I’ve logged as many as 50 miles on a trip and 20+ miles in a day.

Like about 80% of the other thru-hikers I saw, I did so in Altra trail running shoes. Specifically, I’ve traditionally worn the Experience Wild trail runner for longer days, piling up miles on a well-worn trail.

There are lots of wide-toe box shoes on the market now, and the draw is that your forefoot and toes are allowed to spread more naturally as if you were walking barefoot. The Grandview Max family gives you that room to plant your forefoot but provides a stiffer, heavily cushioned midsole than the more “natural” or “zero-drop” options.

The downside of the build of Altras and many other trail runners in this vein is that they lack the support required for off-trail and especially off-angle exploration. The lack of structure in the upper of the shoe means your foot slides to the sides and off the midsole, leading to a lack of stability in situations such as traversing across a steep hill.

I was concerned the Grandview Max would have the same problems. It certainly is roomy and did allow for some sliding around inside. But with proper lacing, it kept my midsole in the heel reasonably.

For folks that exclusively stick to well-marked trails, the wide platform should be largely a good thing. If you fish, hunt, or just enjoy bushwhacking off-trail, the lack of precision is going to be a problem unless you have really wide feet. For a trail runner-style hiker in this vein with a narrower, more athletic, and secure fit, check out the SCARPA Rush 2 Mid GTX or the Salomon X Ultra 4.

Teva Grandview: Quirky ‘Heel Lock’

One of the most visually obvious elements of these boots is the Secure Heel Lock System, which ports over from the brand’s sport sandals, albeit in a much different form. A hook-and-loop strap system lets you crank down the heel cavity just above the heel bone (calcaneus) where your Achilles tendon attaches.

Straight up, this is the only boot that I (or any of GearJunkie’s team of editors) have tested with this kind of “adjustment” system. And unfortunately, it feels mostly like a gimmick. The stiffness of the boot, combined with the lack of mechanical advantage, makes changing the interior volume of the boot with that little Velcro strap unrealistic.

And the design introduces a likely failure point. While the nod to Teva’s iconic sandal history is clever, this feature should have gone back to the drawing board.

Casual Lacing

The Grandview Max GTX’s lacing system has a simplicity that may appeal to more casual hikers and for everyday use, but it comes up short if you like a really secure fit. While it didn’t cause me many problems during testing, the lacing system, as designed, doesn’t allow you to cinch the soft tongue flat against the front of your ankle joint.

Combined with the fact that this is a fairly low-height hiker to begin with, I worry that in certain conditions, this will make it easier for dirt and debris to enter the shoe. Usually folks look to move from a low-top to a true boot like the Grandview to avoid this issue.

Additionally, this kind of open-top mouth on the boot appeared to open wider with time on trail and I found myself occasionally cranking down on the laces which had the side effect of creating a mild pinch point at the top of the shoe. It wasn’t painful on shorter hikes, but I’d have concerns about this aspect if you went over about 8 miles of trail in a single go.

For future models, adding another optional eyelet or hook to pull the tongue back against the ankle and to more evenly cinch up the top of the boot would go a long way to remedy this issue. On the plus side, the simplicity of the lacing system has me reaching for them more often for everyday errands.

With one speed hook on top, they’re super-easy to slip on and go. You can even leave them loose enough to pull on and off without dealing with laces at all. Whether that’s a good thing or not will depend on how you wear them.

Cushioned Midsole

While the wide toe box will feel familiar to Altra loyalists, the thick EVA foam midsole is much more substantial than most Altra models and other low-drop trail runners. There is no shank (a protective piece of metal or plastic placed in the midsole layering to protect the foot). This will be a good thing for lovers of HOKA-style cushioning, as it protects your feet and keeps them from getting beat up on longer hikes if they’re not accustomed to abuse.

If you’re used to zero-drop or similar trail runners with minimalist, flexible midsoles, the Grandview Max line may feel clumsy at first, as it’s harder to feel the terrain through the soles, though I personally adjusted quickly and felt plenty nimble after the first few miles.

In keeping with the overall profile of the shoe, I think this heavily cushioned midsole is at its best on well-defined, smooth trails. The rugged Vibram outsole provided plenty of grip on wet rocks during spring hiking and, in combination with all that foam and a simple trail surface, lets you hike without having to think about each step.

One downside of the exposed foam midsole is that it won’t hold up as well to bushwhacking as boots with a fully wraparound outsole. The Grandview Max’s Vibram MegaGrip sole extends out and up enough to provide some protection, but, again, it might not be the best choice if you’re prone to a lot of off-trail exploring.

It’s also great for working around the house and running errands from fall through spring when the weather isn’t pleasant, and you need something waterproof, supportive, and easy to get on and off. These aspects of the Grandview Max boots are what make me think they’ll fill a similar niche to the Merrell Moab line, which is plenty capable on-trail, but has found devotees who use them for daily wear.

If you plan on wearing them indoors or during mid-summer in a hotter region primarily, I’d consider the more breathable Grandview Max Vent.

Final Thoughts: Who’s It For?

Despite adopting the wide toe box preferred by long-distance hikers, I think the Teva Grandview Max GTX is best-suited for occasional hikers looking for a lightweight, stylish hiker that they can wear casually for daily, non-hiking use.

The fast and easy lace-up system may leave hardcore hikers wanting, but it makes the boot perfect for quickly slipping on, whether you’re going for a quick walk or hike, or just walking as part of daily life. I see similarities to the extremely popular Merrell Moab hiking boot, but the Teva Grandview Max has a more stylish, modern sneaker-like aesthetic that transitions better to asphalt.