(April 22, 2019 / Author: Tim Bondy) I have been hiking in a pair of New Balance Men’s MW1400 Trail Walking Boots since April 2017. This is my unvarnished and newly updated review of these boot.
Featured Image Info: My hiking boots as seen on May 4, 2018.
I have had some really fun, really strenuous, really rocky and really lame hikes on top of this hiking boot in the past year. I have wide feet and the U.S Size 11 4E accommodates them rather nicely. They have stretched out some side to side but tightening the shoe strings accordingly has kept my feet from sliding around in them … so far. They are comfortable boots and that’s most of the battle with hiking, right? Comfort and fit.
Waterproof?
The New Balance claim of waterproof uppers, at first, was the truth. However, after one year I’ve found they are just “sort of waterproof” or what I’ll call water resistant. I do my fair share of crossing creeks and water does seep through after a few crossings. My technique is to find a place skinny enough where I can just make one or two quick steps in the shallows and I’m on the other side. So, I don’t loiter in the water. Is this lack of waterproofness annoying? Yes, but not unexpected.
Thick Tongue
The “gusseted tongue” is too thick. This makes the “gusseted” feature less likely to prevent gravel, dirt, and chaff from entering the upper part of the boot. In other words, if the tongue was skinnier, it would be more form fitting to the front portion of my ankle and less stuff would sit between my sock and the tongue. Hikers understand it’s annoying having stickers, gravel, dirt or straw poking and itching that part of our feet.
Overall Quality
The overall quality of the uppers seems sufficient. I just recently gouged a small hole in them on a rocky outcropping. I hike in lava rock country and it’s rough, sharp and designed to ruin hiking boot. The New Balance uppers are tough. Good stuff.
Cheatgrass Resistant
The inner fabric, especially on the gusseted tongue and upper ankle area is outstanding in its ability to stop cheatgrass seeds/stickers from penetrating the weave and attaching themselves like with my last pair of hiking boots. Anyone who has had a cheatgrass seed poking you ankle throughout a hike will understand the importance of the outstanding fabric design. It should be called “magic.”
Failure
The biggest drawback of the New Balance Men’s MW1400 model is the tread of the boot. In short, it’s a slick bottom compared to other boots I’ve owned. This slickness makes it quite likely you will skid out on loose gravel or grassy sections on steep downhills. Been there, done that, on a number of occasions.
Link To New Balance website: http://www.newbalance.com/pd/1400/MW1400.html#color=Grey
This review was originally published elsewhere on May 4, 2018. The review has been “lightly” modified and updated on this website on April 22, 2019.
Thanks,
Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist
I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka “enemy of the American People!”