It is crucial to find the appropriate boots for your feet. While trekking poles or daypacks can improve your experience on the trail, a suitable shoe establishes the base, and an ill-fitting one can rapidly spoil your plans or desired adventure.
Our expert testers have traveled across various terrains, such as the Rocky Mountains and the hills of Virginia, covering numerous miles. These terrains include rocky, hilly, and steep areas, in a range of conditions from dry to muddy. We have worn these boots on different occasions, including multiday backpacking trips, local outings, and for everyday errands or travel. Although there is no hiking boot that is perfect for everyone, we have categorized this list to assist you in finding the most suitable option for your needs.
Although there are numerous other boots we could have chosen, these designs stood out among the rest. These are the boots we frequently wear and would confidently suggest to our loved ones and friends for enjoyable hiking experiences.
La Sportiva TX Hike Mid GTX
La Sportiva was included in this review at the last minute, and we are pleased that they were brought to our attention. As we conducted further testing, several reliable sources suggested that La Sportiva offers some of the most comfortable boots available, which motivated us to give them a chance. The TX Hike Mid GTX lived up to our expectations.
These boots were comfortable and performed well right away from their first hike. They offer a perfect combination of comfort and support. They are made with the environment in mind, featuring a 15% recycled EVA Midsole, a Vibram Ecostep Evo Outsole with 30% recycled content, and the mesh, laces, and webbing are made from or recycled materials. The Mid GTX has bluesign approved GORE-TEX lining that is waterproof yet breathable. The seamless uppers have TPU overlays for added durability.
Although the Mid GTX has a wide fit, our tester, who has narrow feet, found them to perform well. These waterproof boots offer ample cushioning and their outsoles provide excellent traction, allowing for easy navigation of slippery and wet surfaces. The break-in period was short, and they offered all-day comfort while hiking, making us believe they are suitable for long-distance hikes in the future.
AKU Trekker Pro GTX
One of the more rugged boots on our list is the AKU Trekker Pro GTX, which is designed for navigating technical terrain in the mountains. The Trekker Pro features a unique technology called AKU Elica Natural Stride System that enhances bio-dynamic performance by evenly distributing weight across the foot. This ensures long-lasting comfort, making the boots an excellent choice for backpacking trips.
The Vibram Curuma outsole of the Trekker Pro is another impressive feature, offering excellent traction on different terrains like mud, water, snow, and ice. The boots have a higher rise and incorporate a GORE-TEX membrane, ensuring waterproofness while maintaining breathability. Although they require some time to break in for optimal comfort, these boots are sturdy and long-lasting.
Lems Primal Pursuit Mid Waterproof
We had never heard of the brand Lems before this review, but we are grateful that they came to our attention. Upon initial inspection, the Primal Pursuit had a distinct appearance and gave the impression of being light and cozy. Once we tried them on and took them for a test hike, we were amazed by their comfort.
The Primal Pursuit Mid is completely waterproof and has a upper made of suede and mesh. It also has a Trail Traction outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, a 4.5 mm moisture-wicking PU footbed, and a 100% moisture-wicking polyester lining. These boots have a zero-drop heel and wide toe box, which allows for free and splayed toes while moving. The only drawback is that they may feel a bit large for those with narrower feet, so if you have narrow feet, you may want to consider sizing down. In general, these lightweight, comfortable, breathable, and waterproof boots are excellent and do not require any break-in time.
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
Priced at $150, the Moab 3 Mid Waterproof boot is a budget-friendly and dependable upgrade from Merrell’s highly sought-after Moab 2’s. These boots stand out from their previous models due to their partially recycled materials, improved insoles for better support, more cushioned midsoles, and enhanced outsoles for improved grip. Additionally, they are lighter, weighing only 1 pound 13 ounces per pair, in contrast to the older version’s 2-pound weight.
We led this pair through gullies, meadows, and numerous streams until we reached the treeline. The underfoot lugs, which measure 5mm in depth, are highly noticeable and offer excellent grip while crossing rocky streams, talus fields, and slabs.
These hiking boots have a 11.5mm drop, making them suitable for moderate heel-striking during hiking. Although it is possible to midfoot strike, you will still feel the heel significantly. If you prefer to hike mostly on the mid to forefoot, these boots may not be suitable for you, and you may want to consider boots with a smaller drop.
The Moab 3 has a removable contoured footbed that provides reinforced heel cushioning, which our testers found comfortable immediately. Additionally, the breathable mesh upper is strengthened by a suede leather overlay. If you desire a shoe that is even more waterproof, there is also a GORE-TEX model available.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX
The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX ($175) is a hiking boot that is remarkably lightweight, indicating its origins as a product from a running shoe manufacturer. Despite not being the lightest option available, these boots still give us a sense of lightness and agility when worn.
A more woman’s specific fit is achieved through design elements such as softer materials around the collar and heels, as well as a lower-density midsole. Compared to the other boots we tested, this one is unquestionably comfortable and noticeably more soft.
The X Ultras have a GORE-TEX membrane and an All Terrain Contragrip outsole, which provided excellent traction. These boots performed well on rocky terrain and gritty slabs in our high desert backyard. When we tested them on wet rock, the Contragrip outsole successfully maintained balance.
The boots are undeniably comfortable due to their softness, but this softness also causes a feeling of instability, particularly in the collar. Although a higher collar usually provides better ankle support, which is beneficial when carrying heavier loads, the softness of the collar in these boots does not instill confidence.
After thorough testing, our tester observed that these boots were significantly larger compared to other boots of the same size. Therefore, it is advised to choose a size half a size smaller for a more precise fit, particularly for technical purposes.
