The Best Hiking Boots of 2024: Tested

Working for the weekend? Consider this your one-stop boot. Everything about the venerable Lowa Renegade GTX Mid was designed with backpacking in mind. It all starts with the out-of-the-box comfort, so you'll feel good wearing these puppies for the long haul. Lowa has hidden a surprisingly cushy polyurethane (PU) midsole inside the Renegade. It feels light and springy like a running shoe, but it's far more durable. Called DuraPU®, the proprietary midsole returns to its original shape when you put pressure on it, offering welcome cushion and "a little bounce to your step," one editor says.

Not only does the bouncy midsole feel supremely comfortable, but it also offers enough support for hefty weekend loads. Our testers carried up to 50 pounds of pack weight without stressing about their feet. A snug heel cup and spacious toe box make most hikers happy, especially on longer backpacking trips when feet can change size due to swelling.

Traction isn't shabby, either. Lowa uses a Vibram® outsole that combines softer (read: stickier) rubber with a multidirectional lug pattern, which makes the Renegade at home on rocky and dusty trails. A waterproof membrane seals out water, but—paired with a burly leather upper—comes with a trade-off: breathability. Leather doesn't vent as well as synthetic materials, so keep these kicks to adventures where pruny feet won't cause too many issues. Buy here.

Versions: Women's, men's

Make like a mountain goat when you throw on La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX, a super nimble yet super supportive leather hiking boot that excels on rougher trails and above treeline. Its high ankle collar and beefy armor protect tootsies—"no issues wedging my toes between boulders when climbing California's Mount Ritter," one tester says—but this is no clunker. The Nucleo High II GTX is trim and snugs the foot more like an approach shoe, allowing for precise steps and edging, which our testers appreciated on alpine hikes that require negotiating the path of least resistance. To that end, the Nucleo High II GTX is available in wide sizes—a welcome addition this year for those of us with broader feet.

Testers also lauded the Nucleo High II GTX for having best-in-test traction. Credit a sticky Vibram® outsole that's peppered with cleatlike lugs and extends off the back of the shoe for easier braking. It kept us upright on descents through gravel, loose scree and dust, and one tester even called the outsole "so grabby" that he was able to jog down the notoriously mucky paths in the Seven Lakes Basin in Washington state's Olympic National Park.

The Nucleo High II GTX has a soft EVA foam midsole much like a running shoe, but it's bolstered with TPU inserts. Those harder plastic components give the midsole a bit more life over the long haul than a typical running shoe and up-level the support; our testers were able to shoulder 50-pound loads without issue. The boot's feature set is rounded out with GORE-TEX SURROUND®, a tried-and-true waterproof tech that lets sweat vapor escape through the sides and bottom of the boot when a spacer in the midsole is compressed. (It leaves you with dryer feet and, hopefully, fewer blisters.) Buy women's. Buy men's.

It’s rare for a hiker to compare trekking boots to “walking on clouds,” but that’s exactly what happened with the Elixir Mid GORE-TEX hiking boots from Salomon, our top pick for all-around comfort. The secret is in the midsole, a proprietary mix called Fuze Surge that blends 30% rubber with a cozy EVA foam. The result is a ride so soft and bouncy that you’ll forget it’s a boot. “They wear like a sneaker but kick butt on the trail,” our Hike editor for Expert Advice, who tested these boots around the lakes, at dog parks and along the Mississippi River Gorge near their Minnesota home.

Beyond the plush-and-lush feel, Salomon added a ski-inspired reverse-camber midsole, meaning it is curved upwards on the ends like a smile. This enhances a natural gait more than a flat midsole, helping hikers roll through their steps, charge efficiently and quickly pivot when necessary. Fit is spot on too, with six different testers all praising the Elixirs as the most comfortable boots they’ve ever worn, with a generous (but not overbig) toe box. 

Comfort goes a long way, but it won’t help you in slippery terrain. Thankfully, the rubber outsole pairs with 5-millimeter lugs for tacky traction on mixed terrain including wet mud, frozen dirt, ice, snow, dead grass, gravel and stone. It may be cliché, but one tester said it: “I stuck like glue to just about every surface.” And though their modern shape and beefy uppers might not get points for appearance from some wearers, they were an ally on serious uphills. “I personally think they’re ugly as sin, but they were absolutely great to wear—probably some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve worn,” says a Washington-based tester who tackled more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain on one muddy forest trek on her tribal lands for several hours. “I spent that time climbing over logs, climbing up in trees and navigating through the evergreens, and they stayed gripped to the ground.” Buy women's. Buy men's.

Looking for a shoe that can go the distance without a lot of bulk? Look no further. The Danner Trail 2650 was designed for folks who might want to tackle a long walk like the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail it's named for. Unlike clunkier boots, the 2650 has a lightweight yet oversized EVA midsole (no hard plastic TPU here!) for a softer step that's reminiscent of a trail-running shoe. Yet, the TPU shank adds stiffness and support for backpack loads of up to 25 pounds, as one Colorado-based tester learned on a three-day trip in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. "These hit my sweet spot: nimble and agile to scamper around the rock fields, but supportive enough to carry a moderate backpack for a few nights," she reports.

Of course, everything comes with a trade-off. While our crop of testers loved the ground feel of the slim-and-trim 2650s, they did notice a few jagged rocks underfoot when scrambling in high alpine. Still, the Vibram® Megagrip outsole stole our hearts as one of the stickiest rubbers in our tests. "I carted our daughter over drenched boardwalks covered in moss and I never slipped," says one Washington state-based tester of her voyage into the Hoh Rain Forest (complete with daughter pulling her ponytail).

The light and relatively breathable upper (even on the waterproof version) preserves the trail-shoe-like feel, but it's the weight savings we couldn't get over for such a durable pair of kicks. If you're a hiker waffling between the agility of trail runners versus the support of backpacking boots, the Trail 2650 may have your number. Buy here.

Versions: Women's regular & waterproof; men's regular and waterproof

These boots are made for walking—but they look good doing it, too. The Speed Solo Mid hiking boots from Merrell toe the line between function and fashion, making them equally at home on singletrack and urban corridors. Thanks to a light-as-a-cloud FloatPro Foam™ midsole and 10% recycled EVA foam, they weigh relatively little for a midcut boot—and it’s noticeable. “[These are] a night-and-day difference compared to other hiking boots I own,” says one Minnesota-based tester who often performs field work with the Department of Natural Resources. The softer foam also helped with comfort: our entire testing team wore them straight from the box with zero discomfort. Don’t confuse feel-good with flimsy: A rock plate adds decent underfoot protection.

Traction received rave reviews from our testing team, as long as they stuck to dirt and pavement. Merrell uses a Vibram® ECOSTEP outsole, a type of rubber made with at least 30% recycled Vibram®. A lightweight design and rubber outsole built for paved surfaces make the Merrell Speed Solo Mid Waterproof hiking boots our top choice for hikers going the distance in urban environments. It’s specifically designed for dry dirt and urban areas, but testers felt the 4-millimeter lugs also held tight to spring mud. Tradeoff: Folks traversing on ice and slicker, wintry terrain struggled a bit more. The recycled rubber in the outsole isn’t the only sustainability feature. All of the laces, webbing, mesh lining and insoles are made from 100% recycled materials. And 10% of the FloatPro midsole is made from BLOOM™, an algae-based foam.

The Speed Solo boots are waterproof with a Merrell DRY waterproof membrane—one tester watched water “wick right off the top” while tromping through a shallow stream—but it comes with a loss of breathability. “My socks were wet from sweat,” reports another after a 10-mile hike. These shoes might be better suited to cooler-weather outings. Fit note: Plenty of arch support makes these a great pick for those with high arches, but testers found them to be low volume in the toe box. Buy women's. Buy men's.

The fast-and-light hiking boot is a growing trend in the backpacking world; the Oboz Katabatic Mids check both boxes, and more—all without leather uppers and animal-derived adhesives. Not only are these boots lighter than the Salomon X Ultra 4 and Lowa Renegade GTX, but they still have enough support that you won't struggle under heavy loads. "I carried all my backpacking gear and fly fishing equipment and never once experienced sore feet," says one tester after a four-day trip in California's Eastern Sierras. Credit goes to the single-density EVA midsole, which provides extra comfort without the bulk.

Even with plentiful support, comfort isn't lacking. The Katabatics are constructed with a Strobel last, which means the upper is stitched to a fabric "floor," creating a type of sock. Strobel stitching is commonly found in athletic shoes; here, it makes the boot lighter while adding flexibility akin to a trail-running shoe's. Despite that resemblance, the Katabatics are plenty durable on the trail thanks to the abrasion-resistant mesh and TPU overlays that held up well during one tester's 40-mile backpacking trip.

Oboz uses its proprietary rubber compound on the outsole, and it held up exceedingly well, especially during wet riverbed crossings near Colorado's Independence Pass. Oversize lugs extend over the toe box, which helps with traction on steep climbs. Fit note: The forefoot feels a bit tight, so folks with extra-wide feet may want to try the Flash Hiking Boots from REI Co-op, which are also on this list. Buy here.

Versions: Women's regular & waterproof; men's regular & waterproof

The Mountain 600 Leaf GORE-TEX Hiking Boots from Danner are a hiker's soulmate—and beyond being sturdy, stable and stylish, they can also be resoled. In fact, they are eligible for full Recrafting services, a testament to the shoe brand's pledge to the environment. Instead of chucking your hiking boots when the soles are too worn to wear, ship them back to the factory in Portland, Oregon. There, the Danner Recrafting team will assess your pair and can slap on a fresh sole before shipping it back to you for plenty more trail time. (Other Recraft services include leather care and reworking, restitching, parts replacement and more.)

Of course, the shoe has to work well if you want to wear it for years. The Mountain 600 Leaf GTX is one of our favorites for burly traction and protection on rugged terrain. Thanks to Vibram® rubber outsoles with Megagrip (the stickiest out there), the boots held fast on gritty sandstone and slick mud. "My wife slid downhill for one of the super slippery sections, but I had enough traction that I could pull her up with me," reports one tester after a weekend hike in Colorado's Holy Cross Wilderness.

Full-grain leather isn't naturally waterproof, but thanks to a two-layer GORE-TEX, it would take a monsoon to bust through the Mountain 600 Leaf GTX. "I flopped into an ankle-deep mud hole and my feet still stayed dry," reports our crew in Iowa. And, the Vibram® EVA midsole is soft enough for immediate comfort but still provides enough support that you won't struggle under heavy backpacks. All this durability comes with a weight penalty though; these definitely feel heavier than others on the list. Buy women's. Buy men's.

Alternative name: Can't Go Wrong. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX scored toward the top of the field in every metric we tested for, including comfort, durability, traction, support, weight and price. True, it's not the best of the best at any of those things, but its well-rounded nature makes it a great option for folks looking for one boot to do it all. And, in its latest update, Salomon took the comfort to the next echelon by adding leather support straps that attach to the lacing, securing a midfoot fit whenever you snug up the standard laces

The X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is designed like a much burlier boot—high ankle collar, waterproof membrane, mostly leather upper, bomber toe bumper—but it still slides in under the 2-pound mark. "I wore these boots from the Pacific Crest Trail to the top of a Sierra peak and back again, and I almost felt like I was wearing runners," declared one tester after six days in the Eastern Sierra of California. The X Ultra 4 Mid GTX has a cushy EVA midsole that gives it that running-shoe feel and makes it comfy out of the box. (Added cushioning around the ankle helps too.) It's augmented with a TPU plate, but though our test samples show no signs of breaking down, we'd be wary of the midsole's long-term durability after 500 or so miles.

As for the X Ultra 4 Mid's other features, it has a GORE-TEX® membrane for awesome weatherproofing and a flexible proprietary rubber outsole with aggressive, chevron-shaped lugs. Our testers reported that it held fast on granite and mud but faltered a bit in loose gravel. Fit note: Salomon footwear tends to run narrow, but the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX bucks the trend, even pleasing one tester with self-described "Frodo feet." Buy here.

Versions: Women's, men's

If your favorite maximalist trail-running shoe had ankle support, it'd probably look a lot like the HOKA Anacapa 2 Mid GTX. And that formula should be just about perfect for hikers looking to go far and fast. As one of the lightest midcut boots in our roundup, the fleet-footed Anacapas use the marshmallow stack height that HOKA is known for, with a gloriously thick EVA cushion under the heel and a 6 millimeter heel-to-toe drop. Taking a cue from the brand's running shoes, HOKA put in a meta-rocker (a sole slightly curved upward like a smile) to help propel forward motion. "They just encourage you to go," says our California crew. End result: a smooth and speedy gait with lots of cushioning for joint support.

The Vibram® Megagrip outsole is wider than the upper, creating a sturdy base that allowed one tester to easily sidehill during a three-day hunting trip in Utah's Uinta Mountains. Plus, all that extra width tacks on extra traction. Trade-off: HOKA keeps the weight down by placing the Vibram® rubber in strategic areas of the sole, but the exposed midsole sections take a beating during off-trail journeys.

The leather and recycled synthetic upper breathes as well as you could expect for a waterproof boot, and the added ankle height was a boon during bog crossings. But our team struggled to understand the pronounced dip on the back of the ankle cuff: "It makes it easier to slide the boot on and off, but errant foxtails kept sticking to my socks," gripes one tester. Buy women's. Buy men's.

Kids tend to want two things: independence and playtime. The Moab Speed 2 Low A/C waterproof hiking shoes from Merrell offer both for big kids who want to go hard outside without fussing over shoelaces. That must be why one 5-year-old tester proclaimed them her "new favorites." The bungee lacing system (A/C stands for "alternative closure") is easy for little fingers to manage while providing a secure-enough fit that you don't have to worry about your little one running out of her sneakers.

Our kids are always jumping in puddles, so we like that the Moab Speed 2 Low A/Cs are waterproof, and they also keep dirt and grit out. "Our kid loves stopping in the middle of the trail to dump rocks from her shoes, but she doesn't have any to worry about now," says one Utah-based tester after a weekend trip to Capitol Reef National Park.

The rubber outsole is plenty grippy for little legs running up sandstone and down muddy inclines. A synthetic toe cap adds bonus durability, but we're still noticing a little fraying after two months of use. For kids' shoes, though? We call that a win. Buy here.