Best Hiking Boots For Men

Everyone knows that you cannot take your regular shoes or sneakers when you are up for a superb hiking adventure.

Even when you follow the simplest, beaten-up trails, you need the best support and grip. There is also comfort, which some people take pretty seriously.

You have to do so if you have plans to hike for several hours until you reach your first milestone. These are just reasons why people want to get the best hiking boots for men — regardless of their experience in hiking and living off the convenient world of roads and sidewalks.

But you already know that we cannot recommend a single pair of hiking boots as the perfect choice. A pair that is perfect for you would not be the same for another hiker.

Therefore, you have to consider quite a few factors before purchasing a pair of hiking boots. For instance, you have to analyze the comfort it provides and the durability you can expect.

More importantly, you must know if the construction works well with the terrain and environment you plan to explore. Using the wrong material on a terrain does not end well for the hiker.

Even when you narrow things down to the best hiking boots for men, you have a few choices to make. You can choose between hiking shoes, day hiking boots, and backpacking boots.

While hiking, shoes offer more flexibility and make good companions for daytime hiking. On the other hand, day hiking boots take the game a little higher, offering you support for mid-range hikes.

We also have backpacking shoes, which are great if you want to store many materials in the backpack. Regardless of your choice from the trio, you need to check for fit and comfort.

In this guide, we have chosen the best hiking boots for men in the market. We have chosen products from each category to make the right choice.

Best Overall: Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge plus Hiking Boot

• Material: Leather
• Sole material: Rubber
• Waterproof: Yes

Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot is undoubtedly the best choice you can find in the market right now.

The boots have been made using leather, which offers premium protection and comfort regardless of the terrain you use them on. The manufacturer has also added several features that enhance the overall support you get while hiking. It is also worth noting that you can get the product in many varieties and finishes.

Benefits

• This famous pair of hiking shoes use high-quality leather for the primary construction. So, the boots can last longer and provide you ultimate comfort all along.
• The company has used rubber for the sole, which brings the best of both worlds. The use of a unique, lightweight midsole can improve cushioning and comfort while hiking.
• We also noticed that the high-traction grip outsole does an impressive job of protecting your legs and toes when hiking for an extended period.
• Thanks to the premium construction, this pair of boots can easily survive different scenarios. Even if you want to hike a terrain filled with water, muck, or puddles, this product can catch up.
• Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot has also used a new Omni-Grip technology, which improves the comfort you get from multi-terrain tractions.
• The dual-zone winter tread pattern makes the product suitable for hiking in the snowy season also. Even when the surface is filled with snow or ice, you can count on every step you make.

Drawbacks

• It is not a drawback per se, but you should pay more attention while choosing the size of the Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot. The small sizes can be too narrow at times.
• Depending on the size/finish you select, this product can be too expensive. It may not be the most affordable choice if you have a strict budget.
• Some reviews mention that the Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot does not perform well over time. It happens to be the case among heavy-duty hikers.

Extra Features

Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot comes with a few flexible features that can improve the overall fit of the boots. The lace-up closure system will ensure that your legs stay perfectly fit even when the terrain is rough.

Compatibility would not be a concern while choosing these hiking boots. You can count on the premium and comfort-first design regardless of the size/color you have selected. By the way, the Navy/Peatmoss finish is stunning!

Buying Advice

If you do not mind spending a little too high for premium design, you can choose Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Hiking Boot without a doubt. The leather-based design can protect your feet on different terrains. The product lives up to its promises regarding durability and comfort as well. However, the actual period of comfortable use may vary depending on the type of hiker you are.

Runner-up: Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots

• Material: Synthetic leather
• Sole material: Rubber
• Waterproof: Yes

Many people are moving towards vegan products nowadays. Looking from that perspective, our winner pick is not the best choice.

So, if you too want a pair of premium hiking boots that are entirely vegan, you must check out the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots. This product brings you the best of design, comfort, and durability like our winner pick. However, in the end, you do not have to pay additional charges for leather, either.

Benefits

• Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots is a vegan product. It has been made using synthetic leather, and you can use these hiking boots without any guilt of being a part of animal cruelty.
• Despite the synthetic leather construction, the product retains so much strength. It also comes in a waterproof design, which allows you to use it in diverse environmental conditions, including rain.
• Like the winner pick we chose, this pair of hiking shoes also use a rubber sole. Thanks to the use of high-quality rubber, you do not have to worry about the reliability of the sole. It catches up with you.
• The manufacturer has used the descent Control Technology, which comes in handy when your hike involves too many descents. The boots can absorb the shock and provide you with comfortable support.
• Compared to our winner pick, the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots has a more diverse design. Therefore, you would not have any trouble extending your hike span when you wear these.
• Apart from being waterproof, these hiking boots perform so well when hiking in a place with snow or ice. You can find thousands of reviews that praise the wet-land performance of these boots.

Drawbacks

• Even though the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots is quite durable compared to a typical pair of hiking boots, you cannot compare it to a leather-based boot’s durability.
• Some reviews indicate that the boots can work on their comfort. Even though the Descent Control tech inside works wonders, the shoes may take a toll on your feet when running continuously.
• Unlike our winner pick, the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots is not available in a variety of sizes and colors. You have to pick from a limited set of options regarding finish/size.
• There are multiple complaints about the customer service from Salomon. In a nutshell, the company must offer extended support channels.

Extra Features

We believe the multipurpose nature of the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots requires special recognition. You would not have any trouble using the same boots for backpacking or trail running. On the flip side, though, it means the hiking performance of these boots is not the best in the market.

Buying Advice

We can easily recommend the Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots if you are looking for a lower-cost alternative to our winner pick.

You also shift from animal-made leather to vegan-friendly synthetic leather by deciding to pay less. Even though you may face problematic durability over a decade or so, you can count on these boots for your typical hiking and mountaineering adventures.

Alternative: Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe

• Material: Leather and Textile
• Sole material: Vibram
• Waterproof: Yes

Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe is a great choice if you want a more premium boot pair for hiking needs. If you are willing to spend extra, you can choose between an impressive collection of colors and sizes.

We recommend these boots if you want to customize the looks according to the other camping or hiking gear you have. In the end, thanks to the premium design, you do not have to compromise comfort as well.

Benefits

• Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe uses a combination of leather and textile material for construction. It improves the overall durability of the product and offers premium comfort.
• Instead of rubber, these boots have used a sole made of Vibram. The soles are pretty easy to use, and the knot system works perfectly.
• As we mentioned earlier, you can choose between 10 different colors. So, you have an option to pick a color that goes along with your hiking hardware.
• The Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe uses a Merrell Kinetic Fit BASE for the bottom so that you can have countered footbed and flexible support.

Drawbacks

• As we mentioned earlier, the Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe does not come in cheap by any chance. You will have to pay a substantial amount to get the color/size you need.
• Once again, the manufacturer has focused on how the product looks and feels. We could not find any feature that improves the hiking experience.

Extra Features

We could not find any useful extra features in Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoes.

Buying Advice

If you are looking for stunning colors and finishes, the Merrell Men’s Ontario Mid Waterproof Hiking Shoe is a great option. However, you must be ready to pay more for the design. In the end, the product offers only limited optimization for hiking.

Alternative: Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot

• Material: Leather
• Sole material: Rubber
• Waterproof: Yes

If you are looking for extended protection during your hikes, you should check out the Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot as an alternative. Compared to other products on this list, these boots are not available in many colors or finishes.

A proper pair of hiking boots, by all means, the product comes with many excellent features. Having said this, you must be ready to pay a little extra for this extra protection and all the features.

Benefits

• The Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot has been made using full-grain leather of high quality. It means you can take these boots almost everywhere, and they would work fine.
• Despite the rugged design on the outside, these premium hiking boots offer superior comfort. You can count on the material’s comfort-friendly structure when you want to engage in heavy-duty hikes.
• You do not have to worry about the weather outside when wearing these boots. The manufacturer has done an impressive job optimizing the design for all-weather environments.
• Last but not least, the Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot looks stunning from every angle. It does an excellent job of keeping dirt away as well.

Drawbacks

• We do not think you can afford Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot if you have a strict budget. Even the base model costs way more than you expect.
• We also think the manufacturer can make this model available in more sizes. As of now, you do not have many options in terms of size.

Extra Features

We could not find any worth-mentioning features with Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot.

Buying Advice

Even though the Vasque Men’s St. Elias Fg GTX Hiking Boot costs a lot, it does deliver in some respects. For instance, you can expect fully-fledged protection and comfort, regardless of where you hike. However, you may have a tough time finding a suitable finish or size.

Alternative: KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M

• Material: Leather
• Sole material: Rubber
• Waterproof: Yes

We recommend KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M as an alternative if you look for premium hiking boots optimized for adventures. Even though you have to pay a substantial amount for the package, it would provide you an impressive amount of comfort and protection during hikes.

We also loved the well-designed structure of the product on the inside and the outside. Therefore, when you pay for a 100% leather pair of boots, you get way more than what you expect.

Benefits

• Thanks to the optimized design, you can take KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M to various hiking, trekking, and adventure tasks. The shoes can keep up with your needs on any day.
• In addition to offering enhanced torsion stability and aggressive traction, the product has been built for extra breathability. The vents on the boots improve air circulation so well.
• Even though KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M uses leather for construction, the manufacturer has taken a few steps to protect the planet. For instance, it is eco anti-odor and PFC-free.
• As you can expect for the price you are paying, this pair of shoes is waterproof. Whether it is snowy or raining on the outsides, your hike would not have to stop.

Drawbacks

• We would have loved to see the KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M available in different sizes and finishes. At this point, the options are pretty limited.
• Some reviews also indicate that KEEN should improve the durability aspect of these hiking boots. The product does not seem to age well, especially for those who spend a lot of trekking.

Extra Features

We failed to find any useful extra features in the KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M package.

Buying Advice

If you are looking for a 100% leather pair of hiking boots for men, you cannot go wrong with KEEN Men’s Voyageur-M. This pair can offer you impressive comfort, even if you decide to spend hours in the wild. But, you must have a relatively high budget, to begin with. We must also mention that the boots may not be as durable as our other picks.

Hiking Boots for Men FAQ

Should I buy a size bigger for hiking boots?

Many people doubt this while choosing the most suitable size for their hiking boots. There is no specific rule suggesting hiking boots one size bigger than the regular shoe/boots size.

However, many experts recommend that an oversized hiking boot will be helpful when you have a long hike or if you want to wear the boots throughout the year. The slight changes to the boot material will not affect your comfort in these cases. 

You should also choose a bigger-sized pair of hiking boots if you find the current one has a narrow toe-box. Here is the thing: when you spend the whole day or two hiking and mountaineering, discomfort to your toe can be catastrophic. Depending on the weather in the region, perfect-fit shoes and boots may become problematic. 

Considering all these points, it always makes sense to get a size bigger for hiking boots. Even though you may find it a little inconvenient at first, a bigger-sized shoe can adjust to the different environmental changes.

How do I choose a hiking boot?

As we mentioned in the introduction, you have to consider a few factors while choosing the most suitable pair of hiking boots for you.

But, before you start comparing options from the market, you should consider the type of hike/trek that you want to get involved in. For instance, if we are dealing with a long-duration trek, you need a pair of boots that can take some toll and offer sustainable comfort.

On the other hand, if you want to engage in short-term hikes, the typical hiking boots would be more than enough. Once you have found the best type of hiking boots for your environment, you can start talking about comfort and fit.

Of course, you can improve the overall fit of hiking boots via different methods. For example, you can wear appropriate socks, try alternative knot strategies, and use other insoles.

A general rule of thumb is that you should not try to save money by choosing a less comfortable pair of hiking shoes. Doing so can ruin your hiking experience from the start to the end.

Can you wear hiking shoes every day?

As you have seen, most pairs of hiking boots are different from a regular pair of shoes. So, you cannot choose any pair of hiking boots as everyday wear.

However, if you have bought compact hiking shoes for low to medium-intensity hikes, you would not have trouble using the shoes for everyday use. On the other hand, if you have a super-huge pair of hiking boots made for heavy-duty hiking, it is not great for everyday use.

If you badly want to wear hiking shoes every day, you should pay attention while choosing hiking boots in the first place. On the flip side, though, you may have to compromise the types of hikes you can engage in with the pair.

For example, the pair would not be ideal for days-long or weeks-long hiking/survival adventures if you have chosen the primary hiking shoes.

Therefore, you should not wear hiking shoes every day and vice versa.

What is the difference between hiking shoes and running shoes?

Like you can understand from their names, hiking shoes and running shoes are made for different needs in the first place.

Hiking shoes have been designed to provide maximum protection and comfort for those who spend hours or days hiking in the wilderness.

On the other hand, running shoes are more suitable for those who run on different types of terrains. Because they cater to different groups, some differences also exist.

Hiking shoes tend to use a material that offers maximum comfort while walking for extended periods. More importantly, the material would stay flexible depending on the terrain used.

During the process of mountaineering, the material would adapt to different changes. On the other hand, running shoes are not optimized for different terrains. Instead, it offers reliable protection/comfort while running for a long time.

The aspect of comfort extends to the design as well. Because they need to be used in different scenarios, a pair of hiking shoes will stick to minimal designs. We are talking about thinner soles and fewer accessories in the design. However, we cannot say the same about running shoes, extending the ankle support, or adding other features.

Conclusion

We believe our curation of the best hiking boots for men helped filter your options in the market.

We have tried to include products from every category possible. Therefore, you can find the best boots to suit your hiking style and other preferences.

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Jonah Wright

Jonah Wright is the founder of WorldAndI.com and wishes to be your online sherpa for all your travel, hiking, and outdoor adventures. After connecting to nature in his young years, he had an aim to hike all the most challenging treks in the world, which he is achieving one day at a time. When he isn't writing about outdoor content, he schedules his time to meet and be a part of various outdoor communities as much as he can. Jonah lives for the runner's high and feels that nothing can be as pure and lively as that experience.