A good pair of hiking shoes will keep your feet secure while you trek through the outdoors. But don’t expect your footwear to do all the grip-work for you—proper foot placement is key. Let’s take a look at some of the best options out there right now.
1. Keen Targhee III Low
If you are looking for a durable hiking shoe that performs well in nearly any terrain, this is the one. Its wide base, sturdy lacing system and burly toe section provide the support needed for day hikes carrying a heavy pack. They are also waterproof and have ample traction on most standard trail surfaces and scrambling situations. However, the Targhee III’s lack of stability and comfort on more technical terrain may be a deal-breaker for some users.
These boots are a bit heavier than other shoes in our best hiking shoe reviews but they are built to last with durability and comfort in mind. They require a minimal breaking in period and will be ready for use within a couple of short ‘warm-up’ walks. However, as with all footwear that rubs, it’s always a good idea to wear them with padded or thick hiking socks, especially those made from materials like Merino wool.
The Targhee III is made from a tough, nubuck leather with Keen’s own water-resistant membrane called Keen Dry (similar to GORE-TEX but less breathable). The outsole is designed with torture-tested multidirectional lugs that grip surfaces for powerful traction. It’s backed by a supportive metatomical footbed and has Cleansport NXT treatment to discourage the growth of odors.
This shoe is available in a wide range of sizes and is true to size. Users have reported that the wide version fits slightly smaller than the standard version, and they tend to run a bit narrow in the toe box. The wide option is best for those who have a wider foot or are used to wearing hiking boots that are tight around the ankle.
2. Brooks Cascadia
The Brooks Cascadia is one of the most trusted shoes for thru-hiking due to its ruggedness and stability. The shoe has a specialized design that is more like a trail runner than the typical hiking shoe, and it’s no surprise that it’s made by a running company. The Cascadia is a sturdy shoe with a moderately firm ride that offers excellent traction for all kinds of terrain.
The shoe has a wide toe box and neutral arch support that make it great for anyone with feet in need of some extra structure. It also has a solid heel counter that keeps your foot in place when you’re moving at a faster pace, which is a necessity for hikers that like to go the distance.
One of the things that sets the Brooks Cascadia apart from other hiking shoes is its hex lug pattern. The lugs are deep and sturdy, making them great for grabbing onto rocks and other obstacles in the trail. Plus, the lugs are angled to help you push through wet and muddy surfaces.
Another thing that’s worth mentioning about the Cascadia is its midsole and outsole materials. The midsole is built with a dense material called BioMoGo DNA, which is soft and responsive to your movements, but it’s also durable enough to stand up to the elements. The outsole is built with a material called Ballistic Rock Shield that helps protect your foot from sharp rocks and other hazards on the trail.
The only downside to the Cascadia is its moderately firm feel. While this is a good thing for many people, it can be a little bit too hard for some hikers that prefer a more flexible shoe.
3. Salomon X Ultra
The X Ultra combines the best of trail running shoes with the stability and protection of boots. It weighs less than a premium hiking boot, offers excellent grip and stability over technical terrain, and comes with a burly toe cap that will defend your feet against any rocks or tree stumps you encounter on the trail. This shoe is ideal for backpacking trips that require the flexing of your foot to navigate steep and rugged trails, but it can’t replace a more robust boot like The North Face Quest 4 GTX. That said, the X Ultra will save you a significant amount of money and still offer a sturdy platform that’s comfortable when wearing a backpack.
Its padded ankle collar and speed lacing system lock your foot in place without the lengthy break-in period that’s typical of most hiking boots. The upper is comprised of tough nylon and suede, and the X Ultra moves easily when you’re traversing the trail. It’s also relatively durable; I’ve hit my toe on a few rocks and tripped over several logs, but the shoe remained unfazed by these obstacles.
The X Ultra’s sole is Salomon’s own proprietary Contagrip traction design, and it performs well on most types of terrain. The chevron-shaped lugs are confidence-inspiring in a wide range of conditions, and they bite into surfaces without wearing down prematurely. In muddy and wet conditions, they even held firm against slippery roots and logs (although you might want to consider combining this shoe with a pair of gaiters in these situations). One minor quibble: The heel is angled aggressively outward, which can flip dirt, pebbles, or debris into the cuff of the shoe, where it doesn’t always seal tightly.
4. La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II
The La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II delivers an impressive mix of stability and protection in a lightweight, trail running shoe-like design. They require no break-in time and are ready to hit the trail straight out of the box, offering comfortable support and cushioning around the ankles with a sturdy feel. On a 17-mile overnight hike in the mountains, our testers experienced no hot spots or rubbing from the synthetic construction. The boots are also breathable and waterproof, keeping feet cool, dry and protected from splashes of rain.
The grippy soles are excellent, giving the Ultra Raptor II solid “trail bite” across challenging terrain. Compared to the more specialized La Sportiva Bushido II, which is designed for rock climbing and trail running and uses softer foam, the Ultra Raptor II feels like a heavier hiking shoe with more structure and a stronger, more durable FriXion XF 2.0 rubber sole. The heaviness may put off trail runners who are accustomed to lighter shoes, but the extra weight provides solid torsional rigidity and superior grip when walking uphill or carrying a pack.
In addition to the grippy sole, the Ultra Raptor II’s nylon-molded MEMIex midsole and Flex Transfer Shank provide excellent torsional rigidity. Combined with the TPU harness on the uppers that wraps around the foot, it creates an impressive amount of rigidity for a light shoe, giving it better lateral stability than most lightweight boots.
Although the stiffness provides great support for heavier hikers, it makes these shoes a bit less flexible than some others and can feel less responsive on steep descents. The heel is also not flared out to distribute force like some other hiking shoes, which can cause some discomfort on rocky trails with many tree roots or when traversing steep slopes.
5. Vectiv Exploris
The North Face’s Vectiv Exploris is an ultra-light hiking shoe that packs the stability, comfort and protection of a traditional boot into a sleek, modern trainer package. The breathable-waterproof FUTURELIGHT membrane is built for rough and tumble terrain, the Protective Heel overlay helps shield feet from rocks, sticks and other hazards and the Surface Control outsole delivers grip in a wide variety of conditions. The shoes are super-light, which translates to quick strides and a great feel on the trail. They’re also well-cushioned and provide plenty of support, even on longer hikes.
The rockered sole design is one of the shoe’s key assets, combating foot fatigue by allowing feet to plant firmly on ground and rock, especially on difficult descents. It can take a bit of getting used to but it makes walking much easier, which is great if you’re doing a lot of miles in mountainous terrain.
They aren’t the cheapest hiking boots but they’re well worth the price tag for those who want to push the pace on technical trail runs and hikes. The 3D Vectiv plate underfoot delivers superior stability, while the rocker geometry midsole maximizes forward propulsion and the grippy Surface Control rubber outsole is designed for multi-directional grip in a wide range of conditions.
They have a soft sole and are more vulnerable to wear than some of the other boots on this list, but they’re well-built and very durable. The abrasion-resistant mesh uppers and tough PU reinforcements have held up very well through several months of hiking, but the combination of light material and a thin-film construction may be more susceptible to nicks and scratches than a shoe with thicker materials.