11 Best Hiking Boots for Every Type of Adventurer

Key features: Budget-friendly, leather upper, solid grip
These hiking boots are for all the indoor kids—those of us who don’t love the great outdoors but are willing to take a day hike (or two) for the sake of a vacation. You need a pair of hiking boots, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money, and since you have no plans of tackling any intense terrain, you don’t need anything too high-tech. The Columbia Newton Ridge is your best bet—easy to break in, comfortable to wear, decently lightweight, and one of the most affordable options out there from a reputable brand.

Key features: Trail Rocker design, springy underfoot, breathable AirMesh uppers
La Sportiva’s mountain running shoes always make my head turn, because I know they’re going to be constructed with a sturdy base and excellent traction, all while maintaining the featherlight profile most serious trail runners expect. The Akasha model was redesigned in 2022, and its now offers even more durability and mesh ventilation, to keep your feet from overheating. Add in the fact that this shoe is made with the brand’s signature Trail Rocker design, to promote a smoother rolling foot motion, and you’ll see why they’re one of the top sneakers on the market.

Key features: Super sturdy footbed, grippy Vibram soles, excellent ankle support
“My favorite hiking boots hands down are Hokas,” says Emmy-nominated makeup artist and travel writer Karim Orange. Known for its ultralight and super-cushy midsole foam, the Kaha 3 GTX is a fantastic hiking boot for those of us who love a plush shoe that won’t leave our feet aching at the end of a long day. It sports the brand’s proprietary SwallowTail heel design, which will keep your weight stable on rocky, uneven terrain, and extra-grippy Vibram soles for the muckiest treks.

Key features: Excellent traction, sturdy sole, good for flatter feet
Most hikers looking for a lightweight shoe with good traction jump straight to the trail runners section at their local shoe store, which might not always be their best bet, explains Jennifer Phar Davis, author and founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Company in Asheville, North Carolina. The former Appalachian Trail record holder says her go-to for all-season, all-terrain hiking is the TR1 Loop by Astral. “Astrals are built for a hiking gait and support a flat foot or heel strike motion,” she says. “Plus, the company is a leader in sustainability.” Men who want a similarly sturdy design should check out the brand’s TRL mesh shoes.

Key features: Leather uppers, Gore-Tex waterproofing, Vibram Fuga outsoles
A lighter and more wallet-friendly addition to Danner’s high-end hiking boot quiver, the Mountain 600 Leaf GTX is a feature-heavy shoe that can go with you on any adventure. Trekking through the Ugandan jungles to photograph gorillas? The boots’ Gore-Tex membrane will keep your feet dry and well-ventilated. Going for an in-town stroll around Jackson Hole? The shoes’ full-grain leather uppers are far more stylish than most high-tech hikers. Plus, at only 2 pounds for a pair, these are a lightweight, well-cushioned option for avid international travelers, too. They’re also designed to be repaired and recrafted, for many years of use.
Read a full review of this boot here.

Key features: Vibram soles, waterproof, minimal break in time
According to former Traveler editor and resident outdoor adventurer Meg Reinhardt, the Merrell Moab waterproof hiking boots saved her feet in the wet Alaskan forest. Merrell’s proprietary M Select Dry material seals out water and lets moisture escape, while a protective rubber toe cap adds extra defense and a high-traction sole gives you more control on wet hiking paths. Other perks of the Moab: They offer great arch support—a huge benefit for people with flat feet—and are relatively affordable. Best of all, the Moab 3 has been updated to include more recycled materials than ever before.

Key features: PFA-free waterproofing, toe-protecting bumper, made with recycled materials
A staple of the beloved hiking brand Keen (these babies have been on the market for over 15 years), the Targhee IV offers grippy soles ready to tackle anything from brisk stream crossings to hikes along slick Yosemite granite, plus an oiled nubuck leather upper that stays supple while also providing much-needed ankle support. The Targhee IV is an update of Keen’s bestseller, now with a glue-free fused construction that’s designed to last longer. Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro and author of the book Nature Swagger, says this is the shoe she always grabs when she’s “dealing with slippery or muddy terrain, moist conditions, or shallow rivers.”

Key features: Great stability, decent arch support, waterproof and breathable
Planning a multi-day backpacking trip this season? The Bridger mid-waterproof boots are the ones you’ll want on your feet. A flagship shoe of Bozeman brand, Oboz, the Bridger Mid provides crucial ankle support and a sturdy heel cup to properly protect your feet when you’re schlepping a heavy pack up and down mountain passes. I wore these babies for all 211 miles of California’s high-altitude John Muir Trail, and they kept me supported and dry for its entirety. They’re going to give you the traction you need on rugged day hiking terrain, with a more aggressive outsole for tougher overnight treks.

Key features: Great for wide feet, ultra-cushy midsole foam, grippy Vibram lugs
If you’re looking to go fast and light in the mountains, look no further than Altra’s Olympus 6 mid hiking boot. Built like a trail runner (think breathable membranes and ultralight midsole foam), with added ankle support, these shoes are made to go the distance, whether that be a peak bagging expedition in the Rocky Mountains or a riverside stroll in Zion National Park. This model’s Vibram outsoles ensure fantastic traction on wet and dry trails, and the brand’s famous zero- to low-drop profile makes it easy to maintain a sturdy, controlled stride over many miles.

Key features: Contragrip rubber outsoles, solid ankle support, great on wet trails
Salomon is a go-to for sturdy wilderness staples, and these waterproof X Ultra 4 boots—made to withstand long, harsh adventures and muddy, technical trails—fit the bill. Their soles are built with extra support around the heel to help reduce slippage and muscle fatigue, especially when carrying a heavy backpack over many miles, and, at just 1.10 lb. per pair, they certainly qualify as lightweight. We’d recommend packing these for your biggest multi-day backpacking trips, where space and weight are at a premium, or vacations centered around a big summit climb.

Key features: Amazing waterproofing, resoleable tread, from a Climate Neutral Certified brand
La Sportiva boots don’t require much break-in time, even though they’re made of sturdy, premium materials like Nubuck leather and dense, grippy Vibram soles. These waterproof Gore-Tex boots provide awesome ankle support and coverage, so you won’t be splashing mud into your socks on damp trails and the odd stream crossing. Consider them if you’re planning to hike up and down a particularly steep, gravelly trail, as the shoe’s impact brake design helps improve grip on uneven terrain.