The Most Comfortable Hiking Boots of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Danner Mountain 600 EVO

$250 at REI View on Danner.com

As an avid hiker, my personal favorite pair of hiking boots is the new Danner Mountain 600 EVOs. An upgrade to the older version, these Gore-tex waterproof boots are extremely comfortable and don’t require a break-in period. I hiked in rainy, cold weather while visiting Tasmania’s Southwest National Park, which really put the waterproofing to the test. My feet stayed dry, even while venturing through deep puddles and mud. I felt incredibly stable with the supportive boot design and excellent traction and grip on the outsole, even in slippery conditions.

I also used them for hikes in Switzerland, and love that they can hack it on the trails, but are versatile enough to wear to lunch afterward. Even after putting them through the ringer on numerous hikes, they didn’t show very much wear and tear (just one minor scratch). They look and feel very durable and I know I’ll enjoy hiking in them for years to come.

The Details: Size 5-11 women’s and 7.5-12 men’s | Leather, Vibram SPE, Vibram Megagrip, and Gore-tex | 2 pounds | Waterproof

Best Waterproof

On Waterproof Hiking Boots

$220 at REI $220 at Nordstrom $220 at Backcountry.com

The On Women’s Cloudrock 2 Waterproof Boots performed well throughout our tests, exhibiting impressive durability and a sturdy look and feel. They broke in quickly — in about a day — and didn’t cause any blisters or hot spots. The built-in waterproof membrane keeps wet conditions out and your feet dry while hiking and the new Missiongrip rubber outsoles provide fantastic traction on any type of trail.

We wore them in the rain and our socks remained dry. While they’re waterproof, they also felt breathable and our feet didn’t overheat at all. The interior cushioning is superior: firm and supportive, yet soft and comfortable. We also appreciated the ankle support, which hits above the ankle bone, keeping us more stable as we hiked. 

The Details: Size 6-11 | Missiongrip rubber, EVA foam, Nylon vamp mesh/TPU overlays, and recycled polyester | 1.78 pounds | Waterproof

Best Lightweight

Hoka Kaha 2 GTX Men's Hiking Shoe

$240 at Dick's $132 at Zappos $240 at Hoka.com

We love a lightweight hiking shoe for travel and longer backpacking hikes when wearing or packing something clunky just won’t do. We were surprised at just how lightweight they were when they arrived, as well as their comfort right out of the box — so much so that they felt like wearing tennis shoes. They fit true to size and offered great arch and ankle support throughout our tests. They performed well and provided fantastic traction on a wide array of surface types like hilly dirt trails, rock scrambling, and soggy creek beds.

They lived up to their waterproof rating as well, keeping feet dry in shallow water encounters. We didn’t notice any wear and tear after testing them on various real world hiking trails, making them a durable and lightweight option for all types of hikers.

The Details: Size 5-11 women’s and 7-15 men’s | Nubuck leather, Gore-tex, recycled polyester face fabric, and Vibram Megagrip | 1.05 pounds | Waterproof

Best Ankle Support

Merrell Moab 3 Mid Hiking Boot

$91 at Amazon $130 at REI $150 at Nordstrom

The Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX Boot for women and men provided the best ankle support in all of our testing. They did take a few short hikes to break in properly, but once they were, the ankle area became less rigid, offering comfortable support and molding to our feet. We noticed that these boots were very breathable, allowing our feet to stay cool even in warmer temperatures.

Designed for uneven terrain and rugged trails with debris and rocks, these boots are ideal for all skill levels of hikers, offering the support needed to tackle these obstacles. The reinforced heel and toe caps absorb shock and offer and extra mode of protection on the trails.

The Details: Size 5-12 women’s and 7-16 men’s | Vibram TC5, recycled materials, and mesh upper | 13.57 ounces | Waterproof

Best All-season

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-tex Women's

View on Amazon $175 at REI $175 at Backcountry.com

We love that the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots for men and women required no break-in and handled all kinds of technical terrain and conditions that we encountered on our hikes like a pro. We tested these books on uphill and uneven terrain, loose gravel, dirt, puddles, mud, and snow. They performed exceptionally well in all conditions and we love how lightweight they are as well, with more of a running shoe profile than a boot. That being said, they still offer great ankle support. The entire boot, including the mesh upper is 100 percent waterproof and kept our feet dry even after going into a creek and a large puddle. Although they fit true to size, it’d be wise to size half a size up if you plan to wear heavier socks. 

The Details: Size 5-11 women’s and 7-14 men’s | Gore-tex, textile, rubber, and PU coated leather | 13.05 ounces | Waterproof

Best Traction

Scarpa Rush 2 Mid GTX Hiking Boot

View on Amazon $109 at REI $219 at Backcountry.com

The Scarpa Rush Mid 2 GTX Hiking Boot for men and women might resemble a sneaker or basic athletic shoe, but they perform like a hiking boot with durable construction, built to handle all sorts of terrain. We felt they weren’t as stiff as other hiking boot models we’ve tried and were comfortable right out of the box. They fit well and didn’t create any hotspots or blisters while hiking either.

We noticed that they provided a solid amount of support for our ankles and arches on low-medium intensity hikes. We were really impressed with the traction on these boots; it felt easy to climb around on boulders, feeling stable and secure. They were also easy to maneuver due to their lightweight profile and we really appreciated their waterproof capabilities.

The Details: Size 40-48 | Gore-tex and synthetic materials | 14.6 ounces | Waterproof

Most Versatile

Salewa Women's Mid PTX Boot

$150 at Amazon $200 at Backcountry.com $150 at Zappos

We love the fit and hug-like feel of the Salewa Pedroc Pro Mid PTX Boot for men and women, which, because of all the built-in cushioning and padding, allows for thinner socks without sacrificing on comfort. Speaking of comfort, these boots are ready to roll right out of the box: we didn’t experience any blisters or sore spots. However, while they offer ankle support, they don’t come up too high, which can cause rubbing from the stiff design. We do appreciate that they felt sturdy yet lightweight and kept our feet cooler than expected. The traction is very impressive, without appearing too technical, making it easy to wear them for walking, hiking, and even trips around town to run errands or go out to eat. These boots are extremely versatile for most outdoor activities and beyond.

The Details: Size 6-11 women’s and 7-14 men’s | EVA midsole, ripstop mesh PE, and Protective TPU rand | 1.27 pounds | Waterproof

Best For Wide Feet

La Sportiva Mid GTX Hiking Boots

$190 at Amazon $152 at Backcountry.com $152 at Backcountry.com

Hikers with wide feet will find plenty of room in the unisex La Sportiva TX Hike Mid GTX Hiking Boot, which happens to also be a high-quality boot with excellent grip for all types of terrain. We tested these on trails with dirt, grass, and rock, during spring weather conditions that were cold, wet, and even snowy. The rugged sole helped keep us stable and proved the waterproof capabilities, keeping our feet dry all day long. Our toes didn’t feel cramped in the toe box and they were very comfortable, with no blisters or hot spots, even without breaking them in. We also appreciated the padded tongue, ankle, and arch support, which helped on steep and rocky terrain.

The Details: Size 38-49.5 | Recycled AirMesh, nylon webbing, welded TPU overlay, microfiber, Gore-tex, rubber | 1.07 pounds | Waterproof

Most Supportive

Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP Hiking Boot

View on Amazon View on Topoathletic.com $120 at Topoathletic.com

We love the support that the Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP Hiking Boot for women and men offers, with superior ankle support and a thick, padded sole that feels sturdier than other hiking boots we’ve tested. With each step, there was noticeable shock protection with a little bounce, which really optimized the comfort. We tested these boots on very dry, hilly, and rock terrain, as well as some trails with roots and a creek to evaluate the waterproof capability. They seemed to be sealed extremely well, keeping our feet dry in creek crossings and repelling water on the exterior. They were also breathable, so our feet didn’t sweat. These hikers felt already broken in out of the box and with the extra cushioning, they offered all the support we’d need for a wide array of trails, including those with steeper inclines or declines. Additionally, they came across as very durable, showing no wear and tear after our tests.

The Details: Size 6-12 women’s and 8-15 men’s | Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Vibram Megagrip, and OrthoLite performance insole | 13.1 ounces | Waterproof

Best For Warm Weather

Zamberlan Hiking Shoes

$240 at REI $260 at Zappos View on Zamberlanusa.com

Keep your feet from getting super sweaty while hiking in the Zamberlan 335 Circe Low GTX shoes. These performed well on mixed terrain, from gravel and dirt to sand and grass, as well as in mild to warmer temperatures. We appreciated the high-quality construction with sturdy soles and excellent grip. The rock guards on the toe box were a bonus for protection and the built-in mesh panels provided air-flow to the cushioned interior. They fit true to size and didn’t require any break-in period. The shoes did well hiking after some rain on softer, uneven ground, and handled nicely with mud and dirt. Our feet didn’t overheat or become sweaty even after an hour or two of hiking in higher temperatures, which was greatly appreciated. 

The Details: Size 6-11 | Gore-tex, microfibre, and nylon | 13.4 ounces | Waterproof