Journalist Jenni Gritters, who has been working on this guide since 2018, has edited dozens of Wirecutter guides for the outdoor, travel, sleep, and babies-and-kids sections. She has also written for The New York Times, Outside, Slate, Reviewed, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Gear Patrol.

For this guide:

• Since 2018 she has tested dozens of hiking boots herself and coordinated dozens of other testing panels.
• She has hiked in the Pacific Northwest, the high deserts of Utah and Oregon, and beyond, all while carrying a 35-pound toddler or a 20-pound infant on her back.
• An additional 25 testers have provided perspective on how the boots felt on their feet, on terrain including 13 US states as well as Iceland, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico.
• For the first iteration of this guide, published in 2017, writer Ebony Roberts conducted hours of research and interviewed several experts. Her reporting still appears in this guide.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, Jenni reviews and tests products with complete editorial independence. She is never made aware of any business implications of her editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

Whether you’re just starting your hiking journey with local day hikes, or you’re planning a one-month thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, you need a pair of good hiking boots that provide over-the-ankle support.

Sure, you can tromp through the woods in many different types of shoes, including hiking shoes or trail-running shoes, but if you’re carrying weight on your back, you need that extra support to remain stable.

We have options for various foot shapes. Our picks will likely work for you, regardless of whether you pronate (walk on the insides of your feet) or supinate (walk on the outsides of your feet), and all of the picks here should accommodate high or fallen arches.

Everyone’s feet are unique, however. To hike comfortably and safely, it’s essential that you find the right boot fit. We encourage you to read this whole guide—including our list of other boots worth considering—with your foot shape and terrain plans in mind. And if the first few pairs you try on don’t feel secure and supportive on your feet, we urge you to try more.

Most hiking boots look like this:

Even so, there are many things that distinguish a truly great hiking boot from the rest. Since 2017, we’ve considered over 200 pairs of boots, tested 59 pairs, and spoken with many experts about the most important qualities to look for. Those qualities include:

• Comfort: If a boot isn’t comfortable, every other feature will be insignificant. We looked at boot weight, keeping in mind that a lightweight but clunky boot might not be as comfortable to wear as a slightly heavier, more streamlined one.
• Support: Next to comfort, foot and ankle support is crucial. A good hiking boot keeps your foot locked down and secured in the heel area; again, this cradling effect is dependent on fit. It also has a well-thought-out lacing system to support your foot.
• Traction: You shouldn’t slip around in muddy, wet, or icy conditions. Most hikers traverse tree roots, loose rocks, slippery boulders, and other obstacles. During our testing, Vibram and Contagrip rubber both worked well in providing sticky traction.
• Protection: Toe, ankle, and underfoot reinforcements are essential elements because they protect your feet from trail obstacles. If a pair of boots is intended for rocky terrain, the design should have a rock shield in the sole, too.
• Water resistance: When you’re hiking, you’re likely to be crossing creeks, trekking over snow, or getting caught in a rainstorm at some point.

• Breathability: An all-around good boot should remain breathable and allow your feet to stay cool during summer hiking.
• Solid construction: We compared models to determine which boots had been designed to last. We looked at the tongue of each boot, paying close attention to gusseted tongues, which help prevent dirt, water, and sand from getting into the boot.
• Durability: The footwear designers we interviewed said that a good pair of hiking boots should last from 300 to 500 miles (depending on the type of hiking, the weather conditions, the hiker’s gait, and the pack weight) before the cushioning becomes ineffective.

Throughout the years, dozens of testers have helped with this guide, hiking over 1,600 miles and taking more than 2 million steps. We’ve taken boots all over the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), as well as to Iceland, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico, and we’ve tackled loose gravel, groomed trails, and brush. Our testers have schlepped through mud, splashed in water, scampered up steep inclines, and slid on snow.

Top pick

Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (men’s sizes)

The best men’s hiking boot

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any that we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

Buying Options

$230 from REI

$230 from Amazon

$230 from Zappos

Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (women’s sizes)

The best women’s hiking boot

These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any boots we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.

Buying Options

$230 from REI

$230 from Amazon

The Salomon Quest Gore-Tex Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) have been our top pick since we first began testing hiking boots, in 2018.

They offer excellent traction on varied terrain. In testing three versions of the Quest boots, our testers have crossed glaciers, braved steep trails, and climbed rocky terrain, and they’ve waded through streams, navigated late-spring snow, and slopped through knee-deep mud. And because we’ve tried nearly everything, we can confidently make the following promise: Whether you’re scrambling, climbing, or walking down a paved sidewalk, these boots, with their stellar construction, can handle it.

Instead of the commonly used Vibram outsole, the Quest pair’s lugs are made with Contagrip rubber, which we’ve found to be just as good. In 2021, the company added stability and heel support to the base of the boots. Although they still feel just as flexible in the foot, these boots are now more rigid around the ankle, so they’re perfect for backpacking trips with heavy packs, when you need the extra support.

They fit most foot shapes. Multiple testers, with a mix of wide and narrow feet, found these boots to be comfortable for their particular foot shape. That’s likely thanks to the boots’ roomy toe box. We could wiggle our toes, but our feet still felt supported. One tester who had plantar fasciitis even found that he could comfortably wear the Quest boots without his usual insoles. We found these boots to be slightly wider through the foot than other pairs we tested. (If you have very wide feet, however, we recommend our budget pick, the Merrell Moab 3 boots.) The Quest boots fit true to size.

They’re supportive, but they don’t feel too heavy. Of all the boots we tried, this pair had the best underfoot protection, due to a midsole made with EVA foam for cushioning and an under-arch shank for added stability. If you struggle with aching feet or carry a heavy pack (or a child), this added support should allow you to go a few extra miles without experiencing foot pain. But compared with many other traditional hiking boots, these boots didn’t feel overbuilt on the trail, even on a shorter day hike. The uppers hug the tops of the feet without feeling compressive, which we very much appreciated on longer hikes.

They protect your toes. After we completed a long, challenging hike, our feet felt far less sore wearing these boots in comparison with most of the other ones we tested. We could still sense the ground enough to navigate properly, but the many rocks we encountered didn’t cause sore toes. And if you tend to stub your toes, you’ll also be grateful that the Contagrip rubber outsole extends to offer toe and heel protection.

They’re breathable but not leaky. The Quest boots strike that ideal balance of being both breathable and waterproof—a combination that can be tough to find. They didn’t leak, even after we took muddy, puddle-heavy walks along the shores of New Zealand’s alpine lakes. They’re also easy to clean, as dirt and mud wipe right off.

They last for years. Even after multiple seasons of use—including in the snow and the heat, in both Oregon and California—the Quest boots have remained comfortable and well ventilated. The waterproofing appears to be durable, too. If you do discover a problem early on, Salomon offers a 30-day return policy for clean gear and a two-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. But we recommend buying through REI or Zappos due to those retailers’ excellent, less-restrictive return policies for online purchases. (As of 2023, REI’s one-year return policy is limited to REI Co-op members; non-members have 90 days.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The Quest 4 boots are the heaviest of our picks, with the men’s size 9 pair, for example, weighing over 2 pounds 13 ounces, so these boots may be too much for shorter hikes. They also have a rigid build, so it took about 10 miles of walking for us to break them in, whereas most boots we tested felt broken-in after 5 miles.
• The laces are sheathed with a material that’s supposed to make them more secure. But in our experience, the laces were quite rigid, which made the boots difficult to tie; even when we double-knotted the laces, they came untied or loosened as we walked. We ended up replacing them with another pair of laces we had at home.

Budget pick

Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s sizes)

A no-frills men’s hiking boot

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

Buying Options

$120 $84 from Merrell

Use promo code MERCEDES20-6QR-43K-LS7, delayed shipping (deal on olive or beluga, limited sizes)

$130 from REI

$130 from Amazon

$130 from Zappos

Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (women’s sizes)

A no-frills women’s hiking boot

These lower-priced boots are a reliable choice for people who plan to hike short distances and for those with wider feet.

Buying Options

$140 from REI

$140 from Amazon

$150 from Zappos

For seven years and counting, we’ve been recommending the Merrell Moab Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) to hikers.

These are the best boots for wide feet. The Moab boots come in two widths, which isn’t the case for most of the boots we tested (including our top pick). Even the regular-width model is significantly wider than our other picks’ regular-width options.

They’re inexpensive but still well made. Although these boots are the least expensive of our picks, they are still sturdy, waterproof, and fairly breathable. They offer high-quality underfoot protection, and they’re capable of handling day hikes and backpacking trips. In fact, the Moab 3 boots offered the best breathability we could find in a pair costing $150 or less, and that’s probably due to their smartly placed mesh panels. (Even so, they weren’t as well ventilated as the Salomon Quest pair or the Vasque Breeze boots.) Merrell allows free returns on unused items for up to 30 days; again, we recommend buying from REI or Zappos.

They’re stable and comfortable to wear on all terrain. A newly contoured footbed (as of 2022) and reinforced heel cushion provide an extremely comfortable step—the Moab 3 boots feel broken-in right out of the box. The company also added extra shock absorption to the midfoot plates; along with the Vibram outsole, this feature protects toes against rocks and roots. The boots weigh a middle-of-the-road 2 pounds 4 ounces per pair (depending on sizing).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• They may not remain waterproof. You can choose from waterproof or non-waterproof models. We tested the waterproof version, and though our feet stayed fairly dry through multiple creek crossings, the suede sections on the boots themselves got soaked. In rainy and wet climates, these boots may not keep the water out for long; if you’re looking for boots to wear in such places, check out our top pick.
• Their lower ankle isn’t as supportive, though they are easy to lace. The ankle portion of these boots doesn’t extend as high as it does on the Salomon boots, so these boots may not work as well for longer hikes or for hikes with heavier packs. Testers also complained about debris getting into the top of the boots’ wide, shallower ankle. But the Moab pair is easy to lace, with rigid eye hooks that catch the sturdy laces well and keep the boots tight around the upper foot.

Best for

Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boot (men’s sizes)

Best for a flexible fit

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and take longer to break in than our top pick.

Buying Options

$120 from Amazon

$105 from Backcountry

Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boot (women’s sizes)

Best for a flexible fit

These flexible, lightweight hiking boots work well on many different types of terrain, and they last over time. They do run narrow, though, and they take longer to break in than our top pick.

Buying Options

$120 from Amazon

$120 from Dick's Sporting Goods

$105 from Backcountry

The Vasque Breeze Waterproof Hiking Boot (in men’s and women’s sizes) combines a flexible, comfortable midfoot with the ankle support necessary for hiking with a heavy pack.

They’re light, and they’re the most flexible boots we tested. Weighing about 2 pounds 2 ounces a pair (depending on the size), the Breeze boots rank among the lightest boots we tested, second only to the Hoka Trail Code boots. The benefit: You can move quickly over varied terrain. Jenni especially noticed the flexibility while driving and getting her kids ready for a hike.

They’re supportive, comfortable, and stable. With many of the competitors we tested, more flexibility and lighter weight meant less stability and comfort, but not so with the Breeze boots. The EVA foam under the midsole and footbed felt supportive, and the proprietary outsoles were grippy on wet, muddy, and dusty terrain. The Hoka Trail Code boots are similarly light, but they are more pillowy underfoot; choose the Breeze boots if you prefer being able to feel the ground more thoroughly. As with our top pick, fully breaking in the Breeze boots takes about 10 miles. But if you can tough it out, we think you’ll find—as we have—that these boots get better the longer you wear them. For several of our testers, the combination of a light, comfortable fit with a supportive ankle and sole made the Breeze boots, once broken in, their go-to option, regardless of the temperature or terrain. This was true even when we presented our testers with many other boots.

They’re waterproof, breathable, and durable. We tested the Breeze boots in desert and snowy climates, as well as on rainy mountain hikes, and our feet stayed warm and dry but never got too sweaty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• After a desert hike, we ended up with a bit of trail debris in our boots. We also found that the laces loosened over time, so be sure to use proper lacing techniques to ensure the boots stay locked in.
• Although our pairs have lasted across multiple seasons, the leather can get scratched and dirty.
• For our testers with narrower feet and higher arches, the Vasque Breeze boots appeared to be a winner almost every time. But for those with lower arches, the more-rigid ankle support sometimes hit higher on their legs, causing hot spots on testers’ ankle bones. These hot spots diminished over time, but they were a chief complaint during the first 10 or so miles. We do recommend sizing up at least a half-size, if not a full size, to get more room in the ankle and reduce the likelihood of hot spots.

Best for

Hoka Trail Code GTX Lightweight Hiker (men’s sizes)

Best for the lightest fit

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

Buying Options

$185 from REI

$185 from Dick's Sporting Goods

Hoka Trail Code GTX Lightweight Hiker (women’s sizes)

Best for the lightest fit

These ultra-comfy hiking boots are the lightest of our picks. They have a customizable fit, due to a well-thought-out lacing system. However, the pillowy foam can reduce ground feel too much for some people.

Buying Options

$155 $100 from Nordstrom Rack

You save $55 (35%)

$185 from Dick's Sporting Goods

$139 from Zappos

The Hoka Trail Code GTX Lightweight Hiker (in men’s and women’s sizes) is a well-rounded, lightweight boot for hikers who love an especially cushioned fit.

They’re lightweight. At less than 2 pounds a pair, the Trail Code boots are the lightest of our picks.

They’re pillowy but still stable. Hoka boots are known for their stacked underfoot support, which people often compare to a marshmallow. This fit can be polarizing, which is why we suggest trying these boots on before you order. Though the Trail Code design is less pillowy than that of the Hoka Anacapa 2, it’s still well cushioned, with thick EVA foam laid across the midsole. The result is comfort without the loss of stability.

They’re the most breathable of our picks, yet they’re still waterproof. On a hot day, these are the boots we’d wear, due to the mesh upper, which extends along the top of the shoe as well as along the sides. Somehow, the Trail Code boots maintain solid waterproofing as well, with a Gore-Tex bootie (instead of just a liner) that keeps water out while letting air in. Nearly all of the fabric on these boots is made from recycled polyester.

The lacing system is easy to adjust. For anyone who is used to standing closer to the ground, having a lot of underfoot support can be disconcerting. But Hoka’s well-designed lacing system lets you tightly lock your ankle and upper foot into the boot, so you don’t roll from side to side (a major worry that comes with added height).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The plush feel of the Trail Code design is polarizing. Perhaps you’ll find these boots pleasantly cushy and supportive, or perhaps you’ll find them unnecessarily chunky, like trying to hike with two chunks of a mattress appended to your foot. The only way to know is to try them, so we recommend either trying them on in a store first or purchasing from a retailer with a good return policy.
• These boots run a bit large; you’ll probably want to move down about a half-size from your street-shoe size, and you should try them on in person if possible.

If you’re looking for an all-leather boot to wear around town: Consider the stylish Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots (in men’s and women’s sizes). Since they’re made of suede, these boots take longer to break in (about 10 to 20 miles) than some of the others we’ve tested. But once they are broken in, they mold to your feet. We also tried the Mountain 600 EVO boots (men’s and women’s), an upgraded version, and found them to be similarly stylish, although with a long break-in time; the 600 EVO pair has a few superior additions as well, including better waterproofing and grippier Vibram soles. If you find the Mountain 600 boots attractive, we recommend that you try them on before you buy, and we suggest ordering in your street-shoe size, rather than sizing up. Overall, we thought these boots were less appealing for actual hiking—and definitely not a fit for backpacking or mountaineering adventures—because they were rigid, prone to causing hot spots, and less breathable than our picks.

If the Vasque Breeze and Hoka Trail Code boots are sold out: La Sportiva’s Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes) offer the same flexible setup as a running shoe but have added toe protection and a slightly longer break-in time. As of fall 2024, the Ultra Raptor boots are undergoing a quick remodel to improve the upper and membrane; you may need to search for them at several retailers, but we expect them to return soon. (We’ll also test the newest update.) The previous version of this boot, the Raptor, was a pick, but the latest model failed to maintain its support as well as the Vasque Breeze boots did over a year of testing; the Breeze boots were also more breathable. The Ultra Raptor pair runs small in length, so you should order a half-size to a full size up from your street-shoe size. All La Sportiva boots are generally narrow, but like the Merrell Moab boots, the Ultra Raptor boots come in medium-wide and wide options.

If you hike in colder temperatures: Consider the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots (in men’s and women’s sizes), which have less ventilation than our picks. In our tests, they provided excellent traction, even over loose rocks, and they offered good ankle support for carrying a heavy pack. The lacing system locked our heels in place too, and the tongue came up high enough to prevent dirt from entering. In the end, these Lowa boots fell short of our picks because their all-leather upper and insulated insoles made our feet too warm in hot weather. Multiple testers also reported that the Lowa boots were stiff out of the box and required a lot of breaking in.

If you want a mold-to-your-foot fit: Zamberlan’s Salathe Trek GTX RR (men’s) and comparable Circe GTX (women’s) boots offered one of the most comfortable boot experiences Jenni has had in years. (And she’s been testing boots for this guide since 2018!) Both models feel especially lightweight and have a soft, breathable upper with an elastic tongue that feels supple and immediately molds to your foot. Matched with that lightweight upper is a Vibram outsole that doesn’t slip, no matter the terrain. The outcome is a stable, comfortable hiking boot that you’ll forget you have on your feet. The only downside is that the ankle on the Circe is a bit low, making it less than ideal if you’re carrying a heavy pack. These boots are not as pillowy as the Hoka boots or as flexible as our pick from Vasque; these feel like traditional hiking boots, but with a comfortable and unique foam we’ve never experienced in the dozens of other boots we’ve tried. Overall, these Italian hiking boots are worth taking a look at, if you can swing the price, though we should note that the men’s sizes are more expensive than the women’s sizes, even though the materials and performance are very comparable. We’re impressed with the early performance of this boot. This brand is, however, a newer addition to our testing, so we’ll continue to give the mold-to-your foot foam an extended test over the year to assess how it performs over a longer term, and we’ll report back.

Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): We found these boots to be too narrow in the toe box and unlikely to accommodate most foot shapes. After we took a 6-mile hike on rooted ground, our feet were aching, which suggested that the boots offered limited underfoot support. Keen recently updated these boots to the IV version, which we have yet to try.

Keen Circadia Waterproof Boot (men’s and women’s): For anyone who plans to carry a heavy pack or a child often, these lower-cost boots may be worth considering for their strong ankle support, well-protected toe box, and simple lacing system, which helps keep the boots tight. But they’re lined with fleece and not very breathable, and they run big.

Keen Zionic Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Keen’s newest hiking boots feel—and look—like running shoes with ankle support, but their light weight comes at the cost of underfoot support. We felt unstable hiking across rocks and roots because the laces tended to loosen; after a few miles, our feet ached.

La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX (men’s and women’s): This company’s boots can have a narrow fit, and the Aequilibrium boots were the narrowest we tried. They’re tough to get your foot into, with an especially rigid and high ankle, and the rigidity carries into a too-hard underfoot plate. Despite a long break-in time of 10-plus miles, the boots’ traction is superior to that of many other boots we’ve tested, and their rigidity keeps your feet particularly well protected from water, roots, and anything else you might come across. But they are lacking in breathability and feel heavier than expected. These boots are also experiencing some stock issues; we’ve frequently seen them run out.

Salomon Cross Hike 2 Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): Fitting like a rigid trail runner that lands slightly below the ankle bone, these boots don’t provide the necessary ankle stability for hikers carrying heavy packs. We don’t think most people need this level of traction without ankle support. The Cross Hike pair’s lacing system, which cinches down with a pulley, can be tough to secure tightly.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Overbuilt for most day hikers, these boots ran quite big around the ankles in our tests. Despite tight lacing, the boots loosened up during a 5-mile hike, and we ended our hike with debris in our shoes and blisters. Also, the mesh upper creased across the top of the foot, which caused bruising for one tester. We’ll try the X Ultra 5, which launches in early 2025, when that’s available.

Salomon Elixir Activ Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): These trail-runner-style boots run large (be sure to size down a full size from your street shoe) and lack underfoot and over-foot protection. They’re lighter than our pick and have little to no break-in time, and their wide toe box provides a fit that may work for more foot types, as with our top pick. However, during a wet hike, we ended up with wet toes, with water soaking through the breathable but porous upper material.

Salomon Elixir Mid Gore-Tex (men’s and women’s): These Hoka-esque boots from Salomon are bulkier than their Activ counterparts—they look like moon boots. After just 3 miles, Jenni’s feet started to ache badly. Because of the lack of any trail feel, she kept tripping, and their breathability left much to be desired. The next morning, her feet were killing her.

Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof (men’s and women’s): All of our testers reported feeling stable in these boots, even in the slipperiest conditions. However, they also noted that these boots were too hot for midsummer hiking.

Oboz Sypes Mid Leather Waterproof (men’s and women’s): These boots had a longer break-in time than most of the others we tried. They also lacked the ankle support we needed, and their breathability was subpar.

Oboz Katabatic Mid (men’s and women’s): These boots ran narrow—even more so than the Vasque Breeze boots—and multiple testers complained that the upper pinched the tops of their toes when they walked. At the same time, the ankles were boxy and let in trail debris.

Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s): Made with leather, these boots are hard to clean and less breathable than the other boots we tested, especially on hot days. If you want a leather boot, we suggest going with the Danner Mountain 600.

Topo Athletic Trailventure 2 WP (men’s and women’s): These boots are nearly as expensive as many of our picks, but their mesh upper wrinkled as our testers bent their feet, a sign of cheaper materials and blisters to come. They’re also not as breathable as our picks, though they’re built on a running-shoe last.

Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX Boots (men’s and women’s): These polarizing boots have an unusual build that makes them feel more like a moon boot than a traditional hiking boot; our testers compared hiking in them to walking on a Tempur-Pedic mattress. The EVA foam underfoot doesn’t allow for much ground feel, which can be disconcerting, though we didn’t actually slip or trip at any point. If you want that cushy step but with better ground feel, we suggest the Hoka Trail Code boots.

We previously tested and dismissed the Decathlon Quechua MH500 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots (men’s and women’s), which are currently almost out of stock. In search of a hiking boot under $100, we ordered these boots, but we were disappointed by the cheap, thin materials. They caused blisters for both testers and weren’t breathable. The waterproofing wasn’t foolproof, either, and the underfoot panels had very little foam. Also, their price has since risen to just over $100.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.