These Hiking Boots (and Shoes) Are Our Trail Tested Favorites
The most important thing to bring on a hike (besides a first-aid kit—safety first people!) is the right footwear. There are tons of excellent hiking boots out there – and to be honest, the genre is pretty subjective. There isn’t one best boot—they all have their pros and cons. Whether you’re looking for an extremely rugged piece of footwear, a more stylish boot, or something lightweight and easy to slip on and off, there is a piece of hiking footwear out there for you. To help out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites that we’ve tested out on the trails.
Best Overall: Vasque LT GTX
Runner-Up: Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Most Stylish: Adidas Terrex Free Hiker
Best for Long Distances: Salomon XT-6
Best for Any Environment: Vasque Talus XT GTX
Most Durable: Asolo TPS 520 GV
Shortest Break-in Time: Eddie Bauer K-6
Most Traction: Keen Ridge Flex Mid WP
Easiest to Lace: Salomon XT-6
Best Overall: Vasque LT GTX
These are my go-to hiking boots. “They’re waterproofed all the way up to your ankles” so no matter the adventure, you’ll stay dry. They are extremely lightweight, so they don’t give you that clunky feeling other hiking boots do. Plus, the colorways are stylish enough to wear to the grocery store, if need be.
Best Feature: Most hiking boots are clunky and heavy. These are lightweight and ready for anything, too.
Buy Best Overall: Vasque LT GTX at Amazon, $null
Runner-Up: Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
If you’re looking to expand your range to hiking shoes, and I highly recommend you do, these are some of the best out there. They are meant for trail running but are even better for trail walking. They are breathable, lightweight, and perfect for warm weather. The only thing they don’t offer is incredible ankle support like bigger boots do, but if you’re not going on a super intense hike, these are your best bet.
Best Feature: Instead of going with clunky hiking boots, these offer support, cushioning, and traction. Plus they won't weigh you down, either.
Buy Runner-Up: Hoka One One Speedgoat 4 at Zappos, $null
Most Stylish: Adidas Terrex Free Hiker
You read that right, Adidas has entered the hiking boot game, and these boots are top notch. Not only do they not look like hiking boots, but they are also extremely comfortable to wear. Hiking in them makes me feel like “I’m walking over marshmallows instead of rocks,” yet they are supportive and comfortable to boot.
Best Feature: You won't find another pair of hiking boots that look like this, that's for sure.
Buy Most Stylish: Adidas Terrex Free Hiker at adidas, $null
Buy Most Stylish: Adidas Terrex Free Hiker at Zappos, $null
Best for Long Distances: Salomon XT-6
The XT-6's were originally made for an ultramarathoner, but are perfect for doing absolutely anything in. The cushioning is some of the best I’ve ever experienced: unlike running on a cloud, you can feel the ground beneath you in a responsive, yet cushioned way. The shoes are incredibly stable, boasting a downhill chassis that cradles my foot with each step. Not only is the traction great, but they are also made with an abrasion resistant film and durable mesh that both resist wear and tear and environmental factors like rain and dust and debris.
Best Feature: Tying hiking boots is always slightly annoying. These have something called Quicklace, which is basically a drawstring, to ensure your foot either has room to breathe, or is locked in and ready to go.
Buy Best for Long Distances: Salomon XT-6 at Huckberry, $null
Best for Any Environment: Vasque Talus XT GTX
Scouted Contributor Wendy Rose Gould says these boots have served her in about every environment imaginable, whether it’s “desert, snow, water, and forest.” Not only do they look great, but they are warm when they need to be, breathable when they need to be, and she hasn’t had a blister yet.
Best Feature: If you need to be prepared for anything and everything, these are an excellent option.
Buy Best for Any Environment: Vasque Talus XT GTX at Zappos, $null
Most Durable: Asolo TPS 520 GV
Scouted Contributer Steven John interviewed Survivorman Les Stroud, and it turned out they both swear by the same hiking boot. Steven writes, "They have a full-grain waterproof leather upper and a rugged, Vibram rubber outsole with a Gore-Tex lining. They are soft and warm yet draw off excess heat and moisture, keeping your feet dry and comfortable. A gusseted tongue design and snug ankle collars keep snow and debris out of the boot while an “Achilles notch” stops the back of the boot from digging into your foot on descents. The supportive sole also protects against impact damage even as you stomp on rock after rock. In short, a mountain of planning went into the design of these boots, and it shows."
Best Feature: These are the most durable boots you're going to find.
Buy Most Durable: Asolo TPS 520 GV at Zappos, $null
Shortest Break-In Time: K-6 Hiking Boot
Scouted Editor Jillian Lucas tested out Eddie Bauer's K-6 boots and loved them. Not only are they really stylish, but they have an ergonomic footbed, a supportive heel cup, and a sturdy lug sole perfect for firmly planting her feet on uneven ground.
Best Feature: They had no break-in time which means no blisters!
Buy Shortest Break-In Time: K-6 Hiking Boot at Eddie Bauer, $null
Most Traction: Keen Ridge Flex Mid WP
Scouted Contributor Cassandra Brooklyn swears by these hiking boots. She writes, "When the foot is in motion, there’s a critical moment when the foot compresses and you roll onto your toes. This area of the forefoot is where most hiking boots fail after years of heavy use. The accordion-like flex feature of these boots makes them last longer and reduce the amount of energy you expend while hiking."
Best Feature: Not only are these rugged shoes top of the line when it comes to traction, but this rocking technology helps make each step easier than the last.
Buy Most Traction: Keen Ridge Flex Mid WP at Zappos, $null
Easiest to Lace: Salomon XT-6
The XT-6s are the perfect shoe for doing absolutely anything in, and now with updated colors, for even just walking around town. The cushioning is some of the best I’ve ever experienced: unlike running on a cloud, you can feel the ground beneath you in a responsive, yet cushioned way. The shoes are incredibly stable, boasting a downhill chassis that cradles my foot with each step. Not only is the traction great, but they are also made with an abrasion resistant film and durable mesh that both resist wear and tear and environmental factors like rain and dust and debris.
Best Feature: They have this nifty thing called Quicklace, which reminds me of going snowboarding. To tie them you just pull the cord, like you might on a backpack and voila, they are all laced up and ready to go.
Buy Easiest to Lace: Salomon XT-6 at Huckberry, $null
Scouted selects products independently and prices reflect what was available at the time of publish. Sign up for our newsletter for more recommendations and check out our coupon site for more deals. If you buy something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.
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