With summer season upon us many are planning hiking trips as we look forward to great weather following a brutal winter.

I tried out the new Altitude Pro RGS WP from Hi-Tec and discovered a great, waterproof hiking boot. It’s very comfortable and has a rugged yet modern style that most guys will like in a hiking boot. It features an abrasion resistant heel and toecap that protects against rough terrains, and it also has a Vibram rubber outsole that delivers great traction.

I tested the boots out on a short hike and came away impressed with the comfort and traction. With Father’s Day around the corner the boots can also be a great gift for the active person, or for someone looking for an excuse to become more active! That might be you as well, so check them out.

We were lucky enough to test a pair of Rockport x Barbour limited edition collaboration boots in the Break Trail Cap Toe design. The line will launch December 2011 as this is Rockport’s second collaboration with Barbour for footwear (they did their first collaboration last Fall 2010 season) and they expanded their collaboration to include three styles in multiple colorways.

– Break Trail Cap Toe in polar/sage colorway (Jake Gyllenhaal was recently pictured wearing the Rockport x Barbour Breaktrail Cap Toe)
– Day to Night Buckle Hi Boot in raize/sage and camel/muted tartan colorways

These are great gifts for the style conscious guy this holiday season as they can be worn to parties or outdoors. They are really that versatile! Along with the upscale design, Rockport added adiPRENE by adidas to create a stylish yet completely walkable boot. For this special collection, they also used suede leather from CF Stead which is one of the most respected tanners of suede leather in the world. Get them on your shopping list now as these Rockport x Barbour designs can be found at Bloomingdale’s, Paragon Sports (NY), The Tannery (Boston), Zappos.com and many other specialty retailers around the US.

Lugz sent us a pair of their new Broadway SR boots just in time for the winter season. Lugz has just released this new line called “The Elite Collection” that is “built for the streets.”

The rugged and stylish boots are very comfortable with a cushioned insole and padded leather tongue. The boots feature leather uppers and slip-resistant rubber soles for superior grip,and we liked the all-black look. They’re great for everyday use and you can wear them out as well with jeans. At $69.99 the boots are also a great value.

Check out the Lugz page on Facebook as Lugz is giving some away.

Fall is here, and it’s a good time to beef up your wardrobe now that the weather has changed and winter is around the corner. Clarks sent us a pair of their new Maguire ankle boots, and I was very impressed with the product. The boots came in brown soft distressed suede with a “plain toe,” meaning that the front toe area of the boot was much darker with a smoother finish. You can see in the photo above that it give the boot a very distinctive and trendier look while retaining a classic feel. The boots look great with jeans, casual slacks and corduroys, so they’re very versatile. Pair them up with a brown leather jacket and you have a great look for the fall.

The comfort of the boots was also impressive. The boots feature a removable OrthoLite® cushioned footbed and soft premium suede surround the foot. I wore these out several times and you can break them in quickly.

The boots retail for $124.99 and also come in brown and black leather. You can find them at ClarksUSA.com and Clarks retail stores nationwide. Overall, the styling of these boots together with the comfort with make the Maguires appealing to most guys.