Nike

Since its humble start on the tracks of Eugene, Oregon in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nike has grown to be the largest athletic shoe company on the planet. No other footwear company’s logo is as widely recognized and respected by everyone from non-athletes to the top pros.

It started with running. Nike’s “running geek” founders experimented with new soles for track shoes, even pouring rubber into a standard waffle iron to invent the first “waffle” tread pattern – a design that revolutionized running shoes. The company soon branched into tennis, basketball, soccer and most other major sports.

In 1989, Nike began moving into the outdoor market, launching a division called Nike ACG (short for “All Conditions Gear”). Focusing first on adventure racing and trail running, the outdoor line has grown over the years to include light hiking boots, approach shoes and streamside footwear, like water shoes and performance sandals.

Besides shoes, Nike also manufactures outdoor accessories such as waist-mounted hydration packs, larger day packs with hydration bladders, and sweat-wicking running apparel.

But the main focus has always been the footwear. Nike has taken 30 years of experience in running shoes and applied it to the off-pavement environment – offering a wide selection of rugged, stable trail wear that can keep up with anything else on the market.

All of Nike’s boots and shoes are developed in conjunction with a team of adventure racing athletes and mountain guides, who help design the shoes from the trail up – testing them in training and expeditions and reporting back to Nike’s lab. While developed by core adventures, the shoes are meant to appeal to as everyday athletes who depend on their footwear to handle the rigors of trail and stream.

Here’s a quick guide on what to look for:

For waterproofing, look for models with Gore-Tex construction. Those looking for the best traction on rock should look for a “All-Trac” sticky outsole, which is featured on some lightweight boots, adventure racing shoes and approach shoes. The advantage is the soft rubber is among the best traction you can get short of a climbing shoe, but it is a marking sole and is best worn outdoors.

Another feature to watch for is the “independent” or “dual toggle” lacing system, which allows you to loosen the laces near your toes without untying the shoe. This helps on long hikes when your feet begin to swell, or to cinch up the forefoot when you are about to start walking downhill. The Air Zoom Orizaba Plus utilizes this system.