You can't head out on the trail without a good pair of hiking shoes, but it can be hard to know where to start when you're shopping for them. Check out this list of our experts' most recommended hiking shoes, and don't forget to talk to a Camping & Hiking expert to find the perfect hiking shoes for you.
- Salewa Women's Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GORE-TEX® Shoes
- Columbia - Newton Ridge Plus WTPF - 9.5 - Elk Mountain Red
- COLUMBIA - NEWTON RIDGE PLUS II WTPF M - 11 - WIDE - Cordovan Squas
- Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GORE-TEX® Shoes
- MERRELL - FORESTBOUND MID WP MENS - 11 - Cloudy
- Salewa Women's Dropline Hiking Shoes in Field Green/Fluorescent Coral, Size 7
- Salewa Women's Mountain Trainer Lite GORE-TEX® Shoes
- KEEN - TERRADORA II MID WP W - 8.5 - Magnet/Ocean Wave
- Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite Shoes
- TECNICA - FORGE S GTX MENS - 9.5 - Asphalt Green
Salewa Women's Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GORE-TEX® Shoes
This shoe is the most recommended women's hiking shoe of 2021, and for good reason. It's at a great price and has a comparable weight to a trail runner, making it great for keeping things light!
Providing ankle support for backpacking and long hikes with comparable weight to a trail runner.
Waterproof and breathable, built for comfort and support during long hikes.
Columbia - Newton Ridge Plus WTPF - 9.5 - Elk Mountain Red
A durable, waterproof mid hiking boot with full-grain leather that offers improved water resistance and abrasion resistance for more rugged terrain. These boots have a good weight at 1.7 lbs and offer a semi-breathable membrane. Great for longer trips or heavier loads.
A comfortable and durable hiking boot with a lightweight and cushy mid sole and grippy outsole for traction on any surface.
Lightweight, grippy, and supportive for hiking and backpacking.
COLUMBIA - NEWTON RIDGE PLUS II WTPF M - 11 - WIDE - Cordovan Squas
A mid hiking boot with full-grain leather that offers improved water resistance and abrasion resistance for protection in rugged terrain. These boots have a weight of 1.9 lbs and offer a semi-breathable membrane. Great for longer trips, rugged terrain, or heavier loads.
A mid-ankle boot with water resistance. Columbia boots tend to be very comfortable. This pair has great traction and is very affordable.
Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GORE-TEX® Shoes
Great for moving fast in the mountains, while being supported. It's constructed of lightweight, but strong materials to transform you into a mountain goat!
Great, fully supportive synthetic design with a GORE-TEX liner - fully waterproof and highly supportive.
MERRELL - FORESTBOUND MID WP MENS - 11 - Cloudy
Designed with comfort at the forefront of this endurance-ready boot, the removable contoured insole gives you a ton of flexibility and support along with the molded nylon arch shank. This boot features a lightweight EVA foam midsole to keep weight down while keeping support and comfort high. Merrell's sticky rubber outsole has adaptable traction with 5mm lugs to ensure that even the most technical terrain can't stand in your way.
Salewa Women's Dropline Hiking Shoes in Field Green/Fluorescent Coral, Size 7
This is a great show for everything from fast approaches to longer day hikes. The extra cushion is forgiving and they will keep your feet dry if you encounter rain or wet conditions.
Salewa Women's Mountain Trainer Lite GORE-TEX® Shoes
Rubber toe cap increase durability, heel stabilizer supports the heel on unstable terrain with high wear-resistant fabric including Gore-Tex technology, offering the ultimate in waterproofing for unpredictable wet weather days or stream crossings.
KEEN - TERRADORA II MID WP W - 8.5 - Magnet/Ocean Wave
Waterproof hiking boots that offer great comfort and traction for long days on the trail! Very highly reviewed by users. Natural odor control keeps the shoes fresh.
Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite Shoes
The stiffer nylon makes this more support while hiking on uneven rocks and roots. Rubber toe to keep them from getting banged up on rocks. Good protection.
TECNICA - FORGE S GTX MENS - 9.5 - Asphalt Green
This is a beefier boot to carry increased weight better with streamlined upper to protect on scree or other sharp trail hazards. Waterproof, durable, and stable with aggressive tread.
Mens Durand II Mid WP
This hiking boot has all the features to make it a top of the line boot - waterproofing, breathable mesh, Vibram sole, EVA footbed with arch support, and more! At 2lbs 12oz, these are the heaviest option I've given you.
TECNICA - PLASMA MID S GTX MENS - 9 - Dk Piedra-Fh Lava
This high performance boots feature Vibram Megagrip soles for incredible traction, bombproof Gore-tex waterproofing, and a breathable synthetic fabric. The mid-cut also provides a moderate level of ankle support.
Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite GORE-TEX® Shoes
Great for hikes of any length, these waterproof, durable hiking shoes are super lightweight at just 15oz! The light weight of these shoes makes them super comfortable for long days, and the EVA midsole provides cushioning and support.
Gore-Tex waterproofing tech, durable material for trail running, and great grip for any surface. These trail runners can handle any conditions, and their light weight makes them perfect for long days.
Salewa Men's Alp Trainer 2 Mid GORE-TEX® Shoes
The Alp Trainer 2 Mid's are equipped with a GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane providing more longevity out of the waterproof and breathable upper. Salewa's Multi Fit Footbed Plus features interchangeable layers to fine tune fit and volume! An improved Vibram Alpine Hiking outsole is exclusive to Salewa, and boasts unparalleled traction in virtually any conditions when out on the trail.
TECNICA - PLASMA S WMNS - 6 - Black Deep Fiori
No break in needed for these hiking shoes. They are lightweight and offer great traction. These hiking shoes features a CAS (custom adaptive shape) uppers and footbed which are heat-moldable for the perfect fit.
No break in needed for these hiking shoes. They are lightweight and offer great traction. These hiking shoes feature CAS (custom adaptive shape) uppers and footbed which are heat-moldable for the perfect fit.
DANNER - TRAIL 2650 3IN M - 10.5 - REGULAR - Black Olive/Flax Yel
These guys are built to move quickly and confidently through the terrain of your choosing, the Trail 2650 can easily fill the role of a lightweight hiker or trainer.
ALTRA - TUSHAR BOOT WMNS - 7 - Black/Purple
These mid ankle hiking boots offer increased flexibility and performance. They are both waterproof and breathable with an outsole that provides great traction on terrain in any environment. Designed for comfort and performance.
Curated Experts don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. All of their opinions are their own and unbiased. Want to learn more about our experts? Check out the video or view some of their profiles to learn more!
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