It’s hiking boots like the Elixir that help distinguish between comfort and support. These hiking boots provide excellent support, but they are not the most comfortable of the pairs I tested.

Early season hiking can be difficult in Central Oregon, as many trails are still covered in snow, ice and mud. But the trails near Crooked River Ranch offer some ideal options for April hiking.

This easy, 3-mile round-trip hike along the South Fork Alsea River provides all the best the Oregon Coast Range has to offer: serene old-growth forests, crystal-clear streams, multiple waterfalls ...