Best Hiking Boots (2026): Walking Shoes, Trails, Backpacking

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Over the past 12 months I’ve tested more than 50 pairs of outdoor shoes, from traditional leather hiking boots and their modern equivalents to ultralight trail runners and everything in between. I’ve popped out for dog walks around my local park, hiked for days along rugged coastal paths, thru-hiked with heavy packs, and even stepped out on the occasional glacier.

Hikers have hundreds of options to choose from these days, from old-school leather clodhoppers to ultralight trail-running sneakers, stiff approach shoes, and pillowy long-distance hikers made for big-mile days. Selecting the right pair depends on where you walk, how fast you move, how much you carry, and how much punishment your feet are prepared to tolerate. Below, I’ve pulled together my top picks for all sorts of different hikers.

I’ve also compiled a separate guide to whether you Should Hike in Boots or Trail Runners, plus looked into The Best Lightweight Hiking Boots and Shoes. And don’t forget to check out more of WIRED's outdoor guides, like the Best Hiking Daypacks, Best Puffer Jackets, and Best Backpacking Stoves.

Updated July 2026: I’ve added the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX, Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GORE-TEX, Keen Targhee Apex Hiking Shoe, Mammut Duncan III Low GTX, Altra Lone Peak 9+ , and Danner Mountain 600. I’ve also updated links and prices.

Other Boots to Consider

FAQs

How to Fit Your Hiking Boots

Buying the most feature-packed, premium-priced walking boots does not guarantee you a comfortable fit. A good pair of hiking boots should be snug but never tight, and remain comfortable no matter how far you roam. Here’s how to dial in the perfect fit.

Know your size: Specialist retailers will have a universal measuring tool (known as a Brannock Device) to check your foot’s length, width, and arch. Some can also measure volume. Armed with this information, they can suggest brands that cater to your specific foot shape. If you’re buying online, most brands and retailers will have sizing charts for you to refer to, but you can also download a printable Brannock sizing chart from Meindl.

Wear hiking socks: It sounds obvious, but when trying on your walking boots and shoes, wear the socks you like to walk in. Take them with you into the store, or ask for a sample pair.

Go late in the day: Ideally, you want to try your new boots on toward the end of the day, or after you’ve been on your feet for a good few hours. Feet swell a little over time, so it’s advisable to try on boots when they’re at their largest to help weed out any possible pressure points.

Check for dodgy seams: It takes only a small knot or lumpy stitch on the inside of your boot to cause irritation and potential blisters. Manufacturing errors can happen, so the brand and retailer will be happy to replace your boots.

Walk in them: Difficult in the store, but at home make sure you wear your walking boots inside the house for a good few hours before making a decision. It’s important to work out if a boot is comfortably snug or simply too tight, and discover any possible irritation.

Still Having Foot Trouble? Here Are a Few Lacing Hacks

Try toe box lacing. If your toes are in a world of pain after 20 miles on the trail, there’s an argument to be made that you need new boots. But for instant relief for tired and swollen feet, try toe-box relief lacing. Unlace the boot and simply relace, but skip the bottom one or two sets of eyelets. This helps the toe box expand, relieving pressure on your feet without causing the midfoot or ankle to slip.

Relieve pressure with window lacing. Feet eventually get tired regardless of how comfortable your boots are, and pain on the top of the foot is extremely common. Window lacing can alleviate the torture and requires unlacing across the top of the foot and relacing with some gaps to create a “window.” To do this, simply skip an eyelet or two and lace straight up on both sides, before finishing as usual. The no-lace hole created on the top of the foot should relieve the pressure.

Reduce heel slipping with heel lock lacing. Hikers with narrow feet and ankles often suffer with heel slip, which can cause painful blisters. One method to hold the foot in position is to use a surgeon’s knot, which anchors the heel without overtightening on the rest of the foot. First, unlace the boot down to the lace hooks closest to the top of your foot. Now tie a granny knot, but add in one or two extra wraps, before finishing the lacing as usual. This prevents the lace from slipping—it will cinch down on your loose ankles. It’s also a neat trick for keeping any kid’s shoes tied for longer.

Three Signs You Need New Walking Boots

Have the treads started to become thin? When the tread pattern starts to flatten and the lugs lose their definition, wet rocks and loose gravel will start to feel unstable. If you’re slipping where you used to feel planted, the outsole’s rubber has hardened or worn smooth, and it’s time to repair (if you can), or more likely, replace.

Is the midsole flat? A healthy midsole should spring back slightly when you press the arch or heel. If your boots feel flat or thin, and you can feel every pebble on the path, the cushioning has compressed and stopped absorbing shock. Once that happens, no amount of new insoles will bring the comfort back.

They’re leaking. Waterproof membranes break down over time and are almost impossible to repair properly once breached. Crease points on modern sneaker-style boots and shoes are particularly vulnerable. You can treat leather and reapply DWR coatings with products like Nikwax Fabric & Leatherproof to prevent water soaking in, but once the membrane is torn, keep away from water.

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