The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure

The degree to which you find these new hybrid walking shoes “ugly” or “awesome” will depend on how entrenched you are in the Gorpcore scene. Personally I like the look, but in truth these hiking shoes are so comfortable I'd be happy to wear them if they looked even more like clown shoes.

The design is actually a combination of two classic Keen shoes. The traditional climbing orientated Jasper, with a reinforced toe cap and generous lacing span, and the more technical Zionic, which has high-traction, 4-mm rubber and a lightweight shank. Many brands talk up “out-the-box comfort” and fail, but the enveloping shape here fits me perfectly, with plenty of room in the toe box. There's a good but not extreme level of arch support and well spaced toe-to-tongue lacing. I'm not in a rush to kick them off at the end of a walk.

The upper is made from soft but durable ethically sourced suede and have proven more than capable on a multitude of terrain from forest hikes over slippery tree roots to classic gravel trails and long urban walks. The suede is naturally waterproof, but this isn't a shoe for puddle stomping. Given how comfortable I find it, I've been wearing them as an alternative to my sneakers and greatly appreciating the added grip and versatility they offer.

First launched in 2019, the Terrex Free Hiker was seen as something of a disruptor in the outdoor community. The combination of glove-like fit, great grip, and cool design was a revelation. Although, anecdotally, most people (myself included) have been walking mainly to the bar or office in them, rather than traversing trails.

With the latest FreeHiker 2.0 Gore-Tex however, Adidas has produced a tougher boot that feels built for hiking while retaining its hipster-styling and comfy fit. At 1 pound, 15 ounces they’re light for a mid-height Gore-Tex boot, and the Boost foam midsoles are wonderfully cushioned, while the Continental rubber sole means they offer predictability, even on uneven ground.

Having a waterproof membrane ensures dry feet, but they do run extremely warm. The non-waterproof Free Hiker 2.0 has a trainer-style knitted sock design, but they don’t feel as robust on the trails as this pair. Neither would be ideal for long trips with heavy packs, but for days out in supreme comfort I highly recommend the Gore-Tex version.

These boots from a handcrafted Italian heritage brand are the best hiking boots I’ve ever tested. I wear these as my normal, everyday walking shoes. The fit is spectacular. Zamberlan’s X-Active Fit on a woman-specific last (the form around which the shoe is molded) fits my narrow feet and ankles even better than heat-molded boots. Even the tongue is elasticized and padded; I can tie the laces quickly and tightly without adjusting the pressure on specific parts of my foot. There’s plenty of room in the toe box for long days. A wide heel and big sticky Vibram soles keep me stable while skipping around rocks and logs. And each shoe is still almost as light as some of my trail running sneakers. It boasts Gore-Tex Extended Comfort waterproofing, which claims to keep the boot waterproof for the boot’s lifetime. I haven’t tested that yet (I wear hiking boots for years) but it is a comfort to know that they will be resoleable in the United States when their time comes.—Adrienne So

I take my walking footwear seriously, and was skeptical of such a low cost boot, but in truth, if you’ve only got $55 you’ll do well to find better. They’re comfortable from first wear, the lacing eyelets are robust, there’s plenty of ankle support and the toe box is roomy. They also don’t look cheap.

Hiking in the wet but glorious Lake District in the northwest of England, the boots didn’t cause me any serious issues. This doesn’t sound like high praise, but trust me, it is. My feet remained dry even after several hours splashing through puddles, my toes were well protected, and there wasn’t a hint of a blister. I have wide feet, and my size 11 fitted generously, so sizing down might be worthwhile for some. The lugs are also quite shallow compared to many boots, and while this isn’t an issue on well maintained trails, things can get slippery during muddy ascents.

Will I be giving up my Salomons? No. But the Nortiv8 Armadillo 2 (please avoid the weaker Armadillo 1) is a cheap, versatile boot that will serve many casual hikers well.

Part of Arc'teryx's first wholly in-house-designed footwear collection, the Kopec replaces the popular Aerios. Despite the high price, it's a hugely versatile, waterproof boot. Made from 100 percent nylon Cordura, the upper is very durable and gives the boot quite a stiff, secure feel, despite weighing just 11.9 ounces (340 grams) for a size eight.

Designed for day hikes over varied terrain, they’ve impressed me with their the stability and cushioning. If you've been disappointed by the soft sneaker feel of many new-generation options from brands like Hoka, these hit the sweet spot. They have out-the-box comfort but feel far more secure when scrambling or just walking for hours on end. The security in the heel and ankle and from the 3D-molded collars and tongues is matched by a Vibram Megagrip rubber sole with 4-mm lugs. I'm a big fan of this rubber compound, and here the lugs have been arranged to give the most grip for the least weight.

After three months of regular wear—on and off the trails—they still look remarkably box-fresh, and I appreciate being able to simply hose them down to wash away the mud. Yes they're expensive for day hikers, but the materials used do offer a genuine crossover between old and new designs, without compromising on style or performance.

If you think of “hiking boots,” the iconic boots that you picture are probably these. They’re not the lightest boots, nor the most nimble, and the fit is perhaps not as dialed in as some of our other picks. However, they’re the boots that you want to be wearing while backpacking or if you have to flee a natural disaster on foot.

They’re still made by hand in Portland, Oregon, and my pair is 17 years old and still going strong. They have the fewest panels of any boot listed here, with a single piece of smooth full-grain leather making up each part of the upper—no worries about loose stitching or leaking here. Just clean the boots off with a damp cloth and re-dress them every few months with a single tin of Danner dressing (that will also last you several years) and they’ll be good to go. I also have a pair of the Jags ($200) that have a flat sole and which I can use while biking and skateboarding, too.—Adrienne So

Founded in the British Lake District, Inov-8 has been making award-winning trail running footwear for years, and the latest Roclite Pro walking boot distills this expertise into an impressively light (400 grams or 14.1 ounces), rugged option for all seasons. They offer a secure fit without the bulk of a more traditional boot and have a generous toe box that makes them especially comfortable if you have larger feet. The ripstop upper, while supple, feels hard-wearing, while all-over Gore-Tex takes care of any puddle problems.

But our favorite aspect of these boots is the deeply impressive G-Grip rubber sole enhanced with graphene, a wonder material that distributes impact force better than any known material. The result is a ridiculously grippy boot that clings effortlessly to wet rocks, tree roots, and even tree branches and is designed to last longer than traditional rubber. The deep rubber cleats also merrily tear up trails without clogging. Combined with a flexible rock plate in the sole that prevents sharp items from hurting your feet, and you’ve got a superb boot right out of the box.

“I am not wearing those!” is an all-too-familiar phrase from my 10- year old when it comes to buying anything that isn't a slipper-like sneaker. But she's been super impressed by these Sorel boots and loves the fact they fit properly, unlike Wellington boots.

The classic Sorel vulcanized rubber toe and foot is great for wet days, the grip is consistent, and there's a generous amount of ankle support. The suede upper is waterproof, but it is also a magnet for filth, as is the super soft and seriously warm shearling cuff. Do not expect these to stay pristine for long, but they are built well and will survive long past the time your kids have grown out of them.

Despite the high suggested retail price, they also feel like excellent value, and if you're lucky enough to find their size on sale, they can be found for almost half that. Our only real issue with these boots is that the laces are quite short, and even with the toggle pulled out they can be an effort to get into. That just means a little more work for Mum and Dad.