The best walking boots reviewed (2023)

Hiking boots provide you with a solid foundation for enjoying trails, hill walks and treks. We've rounded up our favourite to help you find the right pair for you.

Hiker wearing walking boots Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX

by Chris Williams |

Walking boots are a key piece of outdoor gear for enjoying your time hiking and hillwalking. Your ankles will thank you for the extra protection, your endurance upped, and your grip enhanced, which means that you can spend more time embracing the great outdoors.

There are many different makes, models, and types of walking boots, from classic leather boots to modern hiking shoes. This can make picking the right pair appear daunting. But it isn't. It's simply a case of knowing what kind of hiker you like (fastpacking, alpinism, long-distance trekking etc.) and choosing from the appropriate range of options. And that usually comes down to fit.

If you like fastpacking and alpinism, for example, it would be prudent to have a pair of lightweight boots or hiking shoes and mountain boots. These endeavours are very different from one another, and so too are the requirements for the suitable types of footwear.

Our shortlist

La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT GTXBest winter walking boot

Scarpa Rush Trk Pro GTXBest 3-season walking boot

Inov-8 Roclite G345 GTX V2 GTX- Best lightweight walking boot

Adidas Terrex AX4 MidBest budget walking boot

AKU Trekker Lite III GTXBest women's walking boot

La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTXBest leather walking boot

Danner Trail 2650Best hiking shoe

Lowa Trek EVO GTX MidBest vegan hiking boot

In this guide, we explain the different types of walking boots and what to look for when buying hiking boots. This will help you quickly home in on exactly the right walking boots for you. We've also gone one further and recommended our best-tested walking boots from each category.

The best walking boots in detail:

1. La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT GTX

Best winter walking boot

La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT GTX
Live For The Outdoors

Description

The Aequilibrium LT GTX is the ideal mountain boot because it perfectly balances walking comfort,

Pros

  • Ideal traits for winter hillwalking
  • Soft collar for maximum wearing comfort
  • Lighter than many winter/mountain boots

Cons

  • Less precise fit with crampons than others
La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT GTX

2. Scarpa Rush Trk Pro GTX

Best 3-season walking boot

Scarpa Rush Trk Pro GTX
Live For The Outdoors

Description

Ellie loved the new women's Rush Trk Pro straight out of the box, so much so that we've given them

Pros

  • Impressive performance for a relatively lightweight boot
  • Can be re-soled
  • Good cushioning
  • Excellent grip

Cons

  • Boot last won't suit everyone
Scarpa Rush Trk Pro GTX

3. Inov-8 Roclite G345 GTX V2

Best lightweight hiking boot

Inov8 Roclite G345 GTX V2 with award overlay
Live For The Outdoors

Description

This is a very deceptive hiking boot because it fits more like a trail running shoe. But it's

Pros

  • Deceptively tough
  • Very lightweight
  • Vegan

Cons

  • No stiffened toe cap
Inov8 Roclite G345 GTX V2 with award overlay

4. Adidas Terrex AX4 Mid

Best budget walking boot

Description

The budget boot category is a bigger minefield than the others, and you have to scrutinise its

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Versatile
  • Broad range of sizes

Cons

  • Limited support and protection
Adidas Terrex AX4 Mid

5. AKU Trekker Lite III GTX

Best women's walking boot

Description

For an all-rounder brilliant women's boot, it's hard to beat the women's Trekker Lite III GTX.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Supportive
  • Versatile
  • Excellent traction

Cons

  • Take a little breaking in
AKU Trekker Lite III GTX

6. La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX

Best leather walking boot

La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX
Live For The Outdoors

Description

We will kick off by admitting this is a slightly more technical leather boot than many people

Pros

  • Fantastic grip and support
  • Very comfortable
  • Durable

Cons

  • Overkill for some
  • Quite stiff
La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX

7. Danner Trail 2650

Best hiking shoe

Danner Trail 2650
Live For The Outdoors

Description

For [Trail Magazine's 2022 Gear of The Year

Pros

  • Zero break-in time
  • Lightweight
  • Good cushioning-support balance

Cons

  • No ankle support
Danner Trail 2650

8. Lowa Trek EVO GTX Mid

Best vegan hiking boot

Lowa Trek EVO GTX Mid
Live For The Outdoors

Description

We found Lowa's Trek EVO GTX Mid to be a very talented 2-3 season boot for hillwalking and

Pros

  • Great for long walking days
  • Excellent waterproofing
  • Comfortable
  • Can be re-soled

Cons

  • Sole struggles in mud
Lowa Trek EVO GTX Mid

Hiking boot categories

If you go into a footwear store or an outdoor retailer, walking boots and shoes only tend to be split into shoes and boots. But within hiking boots, there are grades that indicate what a walking boot is intended for, called B-ratings. This grading system goes from B0 to B3.

Boot B-rating visual

B0: These are your most typical walking boots. Lightweight synthetic hiking boots and general hillwalking boots fall into this category. They are relatively flexible and often have little break-in time. B0 boots aren't compatible with crampons and are intended for unchallenging terrain.

B1: These are noticeably stiffer than B0 boots and are compatible with basic strap-on-type C1 crampons. They are great for scrambling a bit higher up mountains and winter use. B1 boots offer more protection than B0 boots.

B2: These are a step into alpine footwear. B2 boots are stiff, with some flex for hillwalking. But these are intended for mountains. They're compatible with C2 crampons.

B3: These are for alpine use only. B3 boots are very stiff because they offer lots of lateral support for climbing. Mountaineers can use C3 crampons with B3 boots, but C2 crampons are also often used.

What to look for in walking boots

Climbing a rock in hiking boots
©Live For The Outdoors

B-rating

Use the B-rating system to quickly identify the best type of walking boot for you. For most, this will be B0 or B1. B0 boots are often referred to as 3-season boots, and B1 boots 4-season or winter boots.

Features

Leading on from B-ratings, within each grade, boots still vary from one another. For example, you might think a B0 boot is best for you but know they'll see some serious action. In this case, look for B0 boots with extra durability features such as a toe bumper and rand, deeper lugs, and perhaps a Gore-Tex waterproof liner.

It's all about your personal requirements. Don't worry about being too fussy because there will be several suitable options for you, whatever your requirements.

Fit

You want hiking boots to have about a thumb's width of room beyond your big toe and be quite snug at the heel. If you can get a finger down each side of your Achilles with your foot shoved as far forward as possible, you're about right. Walking boots need to hold your foot securely without being uncomfortably tight.

Everyone's feet are different; likewise, boots have different fits. Some brands like Keen are known for a wider fit, while others like Salomon are narrower. And while there is universal sizing, it still varies from brand to brand. Your best bet is to try things on. And don't forget about socks either - their thickness affects fit too.

Upper

The upper is the external material of a walking boot. Leather is very popular and used to be the only option. Leather is hard-wearing but can take some breaking in. Today, more hiking boots are being made from synthetic material, even alpine boots. They're often lighter than leather alternatives, which makes synthetic a great option for fast summer hiking. But predictably, they aren't usually as durable.

Sustainability

There are two parts to think about here: how the boot is made and how well it is made. Low-impact and sustainable production is key, but so too is longevity.

In terms of production, third-party certifications such as Leather Working Group or Bluesign are useful indications of footwear being produced in a responsible way. The use of recycled materials is important, too, especially with synthetic hiking boots.

High-quality boots not only last longer but are nicer to wear, perform better, and are cheaper over the longer term. Top-quality boots can last decades if you care for them properly. They can often be re-soled too.

Hiking boots care and cleaning

Crucial to the longevity and performance of hiking footwear is caring for and cleaning them properly (it's very easy).

Head to our dedicated guide on how to clean walking boots to learn the best way to keep your hiking footwear performing at its best for as long as possible.

Hiking boot glossary

Hiker wearing La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX
©Live For The Outdoors

Ankle cuff

The ankle cuff is the section of the boot that sits around your ankle. Higher cuffs offer additional ankle support, which helps you traverse uneven ground while also reducing the risk of sprains. The height of the ankle cuff can also help fend off water, mud and debris from entering the boot - which is always a nuisance. Some boots have a lower cuff. While this makes the boot lighter, it reduces the above benefits.

Often, the height of an ankle cuff is referenced in the title of a boot. For example: low, mid and high.

Upper

The upper of a hiking boot is the exterior material of a hiking boot above the sole. This will either be leather or a synthetic material.

Midsole flex

Midsole flex is a way of looking at the flexibility of a boot and the rigidity of its sole. This is important to note, as a flexible sole is preferred for even ground, while a rigid sole offers superior performance on inclines, scrambles and rough ground. You can test the longitudinal midsole flex by bending the boot from toe to ankle and twist the sole to check lateral flex.

Toe box

A toe box protects your toes from the peril of stary rocks and heavy items. The harder the toe box, the more protection offered.

Rand

Rand is a rubber layer that can wrap around the toe, sole or whole boot. It can sit between the sole and upper, and it offers additional protection and improved durability.

Outsole

Well-spaced deep lugs can bite into the soft ground without clogging. A deep heel breast – the step between the heel and midfoot area of the sole unit – is vital for providing braking power in descents.

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