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The wildlands beyond your gaming PC are equal parts treacherous and enthralling, and an excellent pair of hiking shoes will help you conquer it all. Lighter, cozier, more mobile, and more versatile than even the best hiking boots, hiking shoes will let you explore the great outdoors, crushing any terrain while still being fit for an outing to the grocery store. There’s a lot to choose from, but luckily we have your back.
Take a dive into our buying guide for the best hiking shoes money can buy, from trail runners to essentially armored walking shoes. Scroll on through for a pair of hiking shoes because it’s time to ditch the barracks and explore those sketchy backwoods your sergeant warned you about.
- Best Overall: Danner Trail 2650 GTX Hiking Shoes
- Best Value: Nortiv 8 Waterproof Hiking Shoe
- Honorable Mention: Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex
- Best for Women: Salomon OUTpulse Gore-Tex
- Best for Men: Merrell Moab 3
- Best for Kids: Merrell Youth Moab 2
- Best Waterproof: Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex
- Best Lightweight: La Sportiva Jackal Trail-Running Shoes
Best Overall
Danner Trail 2650 GTX Hiking Shoes
Best Value
Nortiv 8 Waterproof Hiking Shoe
Honorable Mention
Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex
Best for Women
Salomon OUTpulse Gore-Tex
Best for Men
Merrell Moab 3
Best for Kids
Merrell Youth Moab 2
Best Waterproof
Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex
Best Lightweight
La Sportiva Jackal Trail-Running Shoes
Things to consider before buying hiking shoes
Fitment and sizing
The fitment of your shoes is always important, but it’s never been more important than with outdoor shoes. Like ill-fitting combat boots, a few hours in even the highest-quality hiking shoes can result in aching foot pain and blistering if they don’t fit just right. You’d typically want something that holds your foot snug with no slippage as you climb and descend inclines, and a wide-enough toe box to give you just that bit of breathability and wiggle room.
Note that sex-specific shoes are designed with the common shapes of each biological sex’s feet in mind. Women’s hiking shoes will often be a tad narrower, but with a proportionally wider toe box, and will be available in far smaller sizes than men’s hiking shoes. They may also be constructed to be more flexible and have firmer padding for the heel box to better cushion a narrower foot. Many shoes, however, are available in unisex designs, and some shoe listings will include sizing charts for both sexes should their demands have them cross-shopping.
Ruggedness and durability
How tough is it? Superb hiking shoes are essentially built like low-cut hiking boots: tough, weatherproof, and impervious to damage while sacrificing little to none in terms of comfort. Many follow the same formula with leather or synthetic textiles as the outer protective layers with a stiff rubber toe and sole to bash against rocks and sharp debris. Trail runners may shed some of this material for weight savings and flexibility but will retain the rigid rubber toe and underside for protection on mildly rough terrain. A few may even have wide-reaching, deep-digging tread that will enable them to traverse snow akin to a winter hiking boot.
Mesh may be used to improve breathability but are far more susceptible to tearing than other exterior materials and could potentially compromise waterproofing. Gore-Tex is a toughened fabric material popularized by many high-end hiking shoes for its strength and ability to wick away water, making them an excellent waterproofing material.
Beware of occasional build quality hiccups that can afflict even the best brands in the business. The rough lives of hiking shoes can uncover gremlins, especially poor adhesives that can cause insoles and rubber toe material to peel away.
FAQs about hiking shoes
Q. How much do hiking shoes cost?
A: Hiking shoes cost no different than most casual footwear. Many quality items retail between $80 and $150, including the Merrell Moab 3, Salomon X Ultra 4, and Adidas Terrex. Our Best Overall-winning Danner ranges from $190 to $210, in line with high-end collector sneakers. Our Best Value Nortiv 8 stickers at an un-intimidating $55.
Q. Can I use running shoes for hiking?
A: In theory, you could, as the immense cushioning will provide comfort over not-so-harsh trails, but this is ill-advised. Running shoes will often lack the proper sole and toe protection in the event you become acquainted with a dastardly rock or spiky plant. It’s best to stick to proper outdoor footwear.
Q. Should hiking shoes be worn tightly or loosely?
A: Akin to running or walking shoes, hiking shoes are best worn in the happy middle ground. Leave room to stretch without cutting off circulation or squishing toes. At the same time, never leave room for slippage around the ankle or sole, as it’s an easy way to blister.
Final thoughts
Danner’s Trail 2650 GTX is a remarkably well-made, great-performing, and sharp-looking hiking shoe all in one, a trusty Best Overall winner. Close on its heels are the Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Gore-Tex hiking shoes, which extends the renowned company’s reputation into the outdoors with great comfort and waterproofing at a lower price point. The Nortiv 8 Waterproof Hiking Shoes stand as an undeniable value proposition, with adequate performance and slotting $100 to $150 less than competitors.
Methodology
This buyer’s guide was primarily research-driven, with manufacturer specs and, more importantly, consumer feedback influencing what outdoor shoes made the cut. Amazon continued to serve as a major hub of information and real-world customer input but was greatly bolstered by other reputable retailers. Sportsman’s Warehouse and especially REI proved to be invaluable resources of objective data and subjective experiences, and many featured shoes can be purchased in stores, should you choose.