Berne Broudy is a Vermont-based writer, photographer, and adventurer. She can typically be found shredding, schussing, or splashing in some remote corner of the globe while documenting it.

Hiking boot brands have been perfecting the alchemy of truly great footwear for decades. Some of it is about staying on top of the technical side: the right Vibram rubber with just-so lugs, a midsole ...