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Trail running shoes are the most popular footwear on-trail these days, which may lead you to think traditional hiking boots are on the way out. Our big test this year suggests something different: Most of the 41 models we tested proved emphatically that proper hiking boots and shoes make backpacking easier and more comfortable, protect our feet and ankles, and stick to roots, rocks, and dirt.
But the push to go fast does permeate the entire market these days, which is great. It means lighter weights, a nimbler feel, and smoother striding, no matter the style of boot. The very best hiking shoes and boots for men—the ones that made this list—will help you walk with less effort, leaving you more energy to go further and faster while savoring the journey along the way.
At a Glance
- Editors’ Choice: Saucony Ultra Ridge GTX ($190)
- For Backpacking: Lowa Trek EVO GTX ($340)
- For Carrying Heavy Loads: Meindl EuroLight Hunter ($295)
- For Scrambling: Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX ($330)
- Best Mtn-to-City Hiker: Salewa Puez Knit PTX ($240)
- For Speed Hiking: Oboz Katabatic Wind ($185)
- For Weekend Hikes: Asolo Falcon Evo Jacquard ($240)
- Beefiest Low: Scarpa Moraine Low WP ($169)
- Howto Choose the Right Hiking Boots
- How We Test
All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.
Editors’ Choice
Saucony Ultra Ridge GTX
$190 at Amazon $190 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 12.6 oz (men’s) / 11 oz (women’s)
Sizes: 7-15 (men’s) / 5-12 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Springy trail runner fit and feel
⊗ Lacks backpacking support
Trail runner-based boots tend to skew in one direction or the other—either they’re too light to support heavy loads, but feel great at speed, or they’re too overbuilt to move fast. One of the lightest high-top boots we’ve ever tried, the Ultra Ridge GTX might just be the first fusion to hit the bullseye. “It’s as comfortable as the most comfortable running shoe, but with the ankle support of a light boot,” gushed tester Patrick Lowkes after a 17-mile hike and run through New York’s Tongue Mountain Range. A Pebax-based foam insert in the midsole—the same kind used in bouncy, marathon-racing super shoes—is remarkably comfortable and lively-feeling underfoot.
It never felt squishy or unstable thanks to a firmer EVA frame below and around the insert and a lightly padded high-top that provides lateral support. It excels over a variety of surfaces: an unobtrusive rock plate prevents bruising while a grippy, durable, chevron-studded outsole digs into mucky and slippery surfaces. Testing them through a soggy New England summer, Lowkes says the Gore-Tex liner didn’t overheat in humid, 75-degree weather, deflected all-day rain, and emerged from a four-inch-deep mud puddle unsodden.
And there’s year-round utility, too. Outside’s senior running editor, Jonathan Beverly, found there was enough ankle height to keep snow and slush from spilling over the top. Backpackers who kept their weight under 30 pounds loved the Ultra Ridge GTX, but the soft upper cuff doesn’t offer enough support for heavier loads. For trail runners headed into crap weather, the boot-averse, and anyone else who ranks weight and spring above all else, the Ultra Ridge GTX is the most comfortable and speedy hiker we’ve tried.
Best for Backpacking
Lowa Trek Evo GTX Mid ($340)
$340 at Lowa
Weight: 1.4 lbs (men’s) / 1 lb (women’s)
Sizes: 7.5-14 (men’s) / 5-10.5 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent grip
⊕ Supportive
⊗ Expensive
Lowa calls the Trek Evo a fastpacking boot, but our testers swear its sweet spot is backpacking. It’s certainly energetic enough for moving quickly down the trail: For a six-inch-tall hiker, it’s relatively lightweight, thanks to an all-synthetic upper with just a thin TPU film for toe and heel protection. (Despite the lightweight construction, however, our sample still looks new after nearly 100-miles of testing.) Cutouts in the tongue and heel enhance the forward flex.
Even more impressive? As testers added pounds to their pack, the boots never wavered. The TPU midsole wrapped around the sides of the foot and worked with stiffer synthetic panels on the upper to cradle and support the ankle, while three open eyelets allowed micro adjustments. And the Vibram Rock Trac outsole provided reliable grip on a variety of surfaces, including rock edging and smearing. Climbing Vancouver Island’s Victoria Peak with a 30-pound pack, the boots provided a stable platform for mountain guide Bill Phipps. “They made me feel more confident, especially carrying a heavy load,” he says.
Best for Carrying Heavy Loads
Meindl Eurolight Hunter Uninsulated
Weight: 1.5 lbs (unisex)
Sizes: 7-14 in D width, 8-14 in EE
Pros and Cons
⊕ Weatherproof
⊕ Off-trail performance
⊗ Tall and heavy
As the name suggests, Meindl designed these 9-inch-tall boots for hunting— which means they’re stellar for heavy loads and bushwacking. After plodding along logging roads, rolling down trails, and scrambling up steep hillsides, our testers say the Eurolight Hunters stand out in how nimble they feel for such a burly boot. The waxed, full-grain Nubuck leather upper with eight lace eyelets reaches well above the ankle, and a polyurethane midsole creates a stable base to carry more than 50 pounds.
Despite all that stability, the Eurolight Hunter isn’t particularly stiff—cutouts in the leather along the tongue and in the achilles area and gusseting allow for more flex and fluid movement. They required only a couple of day hikes to break in and were easy to pull on and take off, says JF Marleau, a sea kayak guide who tested them in the B.C. Coast Range while hiking and hunting. Bashing around off trail, the outsole’s deep round lugs and sharp edges provided excellent grip and stability in a variety of on- and off-trail surfaces.
Even more impressive was the Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable liner. While the all-leather upper got sweaty in temperatures above 65 degrees or when going hard, this boot was impermeable. “It was raining, and I had to cross many creeks,” says Marleau. “At the end of the day, my feet were dry and happy.”
Best for Scrambling
Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX
Weight: 1.1 lbs (unisex)
Sizes: 7.5-13 (unisex)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Grippy
⊕ Waterproof
⊕ Durable
⊗ Expensive
Zamberlan’s Salathe Trek GTX is the new, mid-cut big brother of the popular Salathe approach shoe. The brand kept the foot-conforming suede upper (backed by a Gore-Tex liner), the to-the-toe lacing for a snug fit, a chunky Vibram outsole with smearing and edging sections, and a 360-degree rubber rand to protect against scree and rock gashes.
To handle pack weight and the uncertainties of route-finding, Zamberlan raised the ankle to six inches high with just a bit of foam for support. The extra height and waterproof membrane were appreciated in soggy conditions: The hydrophobic suede deflected melting snow while the Gore-Tex liner stood up to an all-day soaker. The liner also upped breathability, which was above average for an all-leather boot. (Testers noticed some clamminess above 65 degrees.)
To maintain walking flexibility, Zamberlan added a cutout at the ankle crease, which allows for natural motion in combination with a springy, lightweight, dual-density EVA midsole. “They felt light on my feet and springy on the ground,” says tester Jakob Schiller, who wore them scrambling in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. There’s enough boot here for gear-intensive trips and backpacking, unless you load up with more than 35 pounds on the back, when an ankle roll starts to feel inevitable.
Otherwise, Schiller says, what stands out is the quality: thick suede leather, durable rubber rands, high stitch counts, and a resoleable design: “They’re built to last.”
Best Mountain-to-City Hiking Shoe
Salewa Puez Knit PTX
Weight: 1 lb (men’s) / 13 oz (women’s)
Sizes: 7-14 (men’s) / 6-11 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Out-of-box comfort
⊕ Versatility
⊗ Not stable enough for backpacking
The Puez Knit PTX Low is the rare hiker that can pull double-duty on a variety of trails and blend in seamlessly around town. For folks who care more about utility than looks, the upper is a knitted nylon and ripstop polyester that stretches to create a conforming fit. A waterproof-breathable membrane and full wrap rubber rand add water and scuff protection. A dual-density EVA midsole (partially made with hemp) adds stiffness and cushioning.
Wearing them right out of the box, tester John Waters climbed a steep, muddy trail, crossed hard-packed summer snow, and scrambled up rock slabs to snag a Vancouver Island peak without even the suggestion of a blister or hot spot. The outsole has big, chunky lugs covering most of the shoe, with a smearing area at the toe. It’s a versatile combo that shed mud and stuck to slick rocks. “They have amazing grip and awesome stability for a shoe,” Waters says, although their low cut and softness meant they were not up to overnight loads.
For around town, one tester found that the PTX Low’s were the perfect traveling shoe, cushioning miles of pavement wandering. Their earth-tone hues and multi-textured fabric helped them blend into the background for wearing into restaurants and shops post-adventure.
Best for Speed Hiking
Oboz Katabatic Wind Low
Weight: 12.3 oz (men’s) / 10 oz (women’s)
Sizes: 8-14 (men’s) / 6-11 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Cushy ride
⊕ Good value
⊗ No weather protection
⊗ Built for light-loads
As comfortable as a pair of runners, the Katabatic Wind Lows are made for going fast. Oboz borrowed tech from running shoes, including a forked carbon-fiber plate, nitrogen-infused foam (which is springier and more cushioned than typical EVA foam), and a rockered outsole. “So cushioned I never got sore feet and found myself wearing them all the time,” says Alabama-based tester Seth Kromis. On heel strike, the combo seemed to absorb energy, roll to the toe, and accelerate the foot into the next stride, says Kromis.
The mesh upper—highly breathable but not weatherproof at all—has TPU inserts along the forefoot for durability and in the heel for a touch of rigidity. “It’s the perfect balance of support and bounce that made me feel like breaking into a run,” says Bozeman-based Allison Bodznick, who used the shoes as trail runners and city walkers. The chevron-shaped tread pattern, enhanced by the proprietary sticky rubber compound, provided solid traction on a variety of surfaces. “I could feel the treads sticking to the ground like frog feet,” says Bodznick. These shoes are built for speed and will last a lot longer than trail runners, but watch that pack weight: even on a day hike, the Katabatic Wind Lows started to feel unsupportive when loads exceeded 20 pounds.
Best for Weekend Backpacking
Asolo Falcon Evo Jacquard GV
Weight: 1.1 lbs (men’s and women’s)
Sizes: 7.5-13 (men’s) / 6-10.5 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Waterproof
⊗ Poor grip in gravel
Don’t let the mid-height of these boots fool you—the Falcon Evo Jacquard GV’s are speed demons. For one, they’re lightweight, weighing eight ounces less than similarly-constructed hikers, thanks to a feathery woven polyester blend rather than suede or leather, and a coating of polyurethane along the base of the upper in lieu of a rubber rand. Webbing daisy chain eyelets and just a thin bit of foam cushioning around the heel and tongue cut even more weight.
The exception to the gram-counting? The midsole: A dual-density EVA that provides solid cushioning and stability. “They’re extremely comfortable,” says Lindsay Elms, who tested the boots over 30 miles of running, hiking, and mountain climbing around his home on Vancouver Island. “The boot responded well to quick changes in rough terrain and was malleable without being too soft.” There’s just enough structure for light backpacking and off-trail day hikes carrying up to 30 pounds.
Elms found the Vibram Megagrip outsole worked well in mud, dirt, and rock, but was less predictable in loose gravel and sand. The Gore-Tex liner, which rises nearly to the top of the boot, keeps feet dry when low cut shoes would be underwater. Durability is solid, but we don’t expect the lightweight material mix will hold up over the long term compared to the other mids in test—an acceptable tradeoff for such a lightweight boot.
Beefiest Low-Top
Scarpa Moraine Low WP
Weight: 1.4 lbs (men’s) / 1.1 lbs (women’s)
Sizes: 7-13 (men’s) / 6-10 (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Stability
⊕ Built-in RECCO locator
⊗ Heavy
Opting for an airy low-top doesn’t necessarily mean less stability and protection than a tall boot. The Moraine Mid WP is prime example: In addition to dual-density EVA cushioning, Scarpa added a nylon medial shank and a stiff TPU counter to the shoe, which wraps high around the heel. The Moraines don’t have the bouncy feel of a speedier hiker—they feel quite stiff, in fact—but compensate by smoothing out uneven ground and providing a surprising amount of ankle support for a low-cut hiker.
“They have boot-sized stability without the clunk,” says category manager Ryan Stuart. “After hard hikes, the added protection left my legs feeling fresher.” He found the Moraines were most at home on day trips, but he didn’t wish for taller boots (the Moraine comes in a mid height as well) while hauling a 25 pound load into Cream Lake on Vancouver Island or route-finding in Coast Range scree. And on a rainy fall hike, the oiled nubuck leather and recycled mesh upper, backed by a waterproof-breathable membrane, kept his feet dry. After more than 50-miles of use, the Moraine Low WP’s showed no signs of wear.
How to Choose the Right Hiking Boots
Fit
The most important consideration for hiking boots is fit. They should feel snug (but not tight) everywhere except around the toes, where you want a little extra room to accommodate foot swelling and to keep piggies from hitting the end of the shoe on downhills. All footwear brands come with their own idiosyncrasies—finding the exact right fit will take trial-and-error. So it’s best to try boots on before purchasing. Ideally, go to a brick-and-mortar retailer later in the day when your feet have swelled a little. Bring your favorite socks and a footbed if you prefer an after-market one. Once you’ve found a pair that seems to fit, resist the urge to hit the trail right away. Instead, wear them around the house for a few hours. This will give you an early sense of any issues while retaining the option of returning them.
Hiking Style
Before you start trying pairs on, think about the type of hiking you’ll be doing. For light and fast hiking, a lower cut and softer, more flexible midsole is preferable. For heavy pack loads or mountainous terrain, an above-the-ankle boot and stiffer midsole may work better. These burlier boots often have shanks and heel counters, which add even more rigidity and support. Many boots and trail runners also come with a rock plate for protection from bruising on sharp trail protrusions.
Environment
Finally, focus on trail conditions and environment. For rainy or wet trails, a waterproof membrane will keep your feet dry. For a dedicated summer hiker or for hot and dry conditions, a mesh boot will breathe considerably better and dry out quickly. Turn the boot over and look at the outsole pattern. Most lug patterns offer versatile grip, but in general, wet trails benefit from a deeper and wider lug pattern, which digs into and sheds mud better. A sharp inside edge and lug-less smearing zone around the toe help with scrambling on rock and slabs.
How We Test
- Number of testers: 17
- Number of products: 41
- Number of miles hiked: Pushing 700
- Number of peaks climbed: 23
Mostly we just let our testers do what they do best: walk. We called in 41 different hiking boots and shoes and handed them out to 17 testers with instructions to put on some serious miles. They took short hikes and 30-mile backpacking trips, on-trail and off. They scrambled up peaks and down canyons, logging more than 700 miles in total. As they trekked along, we asked them to consider everything from fit to grip, cushioning to stability. Because pack weight can influence all these variables, we had them hike with both light loads and heavy packs. And to understand how boots and shoes performed in different weather conditions and environments, we spread testers and samples across the continent, from coastal British Columbia to New England’s windy summits.
Meet Our Lead Testers
Ryan Stuart has been lacing up for more than 30 years. Growing up in Alberta, Canada, he started hiking as a teenager on the world class trails of Banff National Park, before moving on to the coastal hikes and lonely mountain trails of Vancouver Island, where he now lives. His hiking resume spans the world, from Australia to Ireland, northern Canada to the U.S. southwest.
Lindsay Elms was running ultra races and knocking off Fastest Known Times long before they were trendy. Originally from New Zealand, he’s lived on Vancouver Island for more than 30 years. He reckons he logged more than 50 hours of trail time testing hiking boots this year.
Podcaster and photographer Adam Sauerwein (@mradamx) lives out of his van, which makes it easy for him to do a lot of hiking. Like a lot. The host of The Pursuit podcast, he estimates he trekked more than 250 miles in two months of testing, mostly in upstate New York, but also in Pennsylvania and Arizona.
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