If you are busy drawing out plans for your hiking trip then make sure to include in them the best hiking shoes. That’s coz, getting a poor quality pair will in all likelihood play spoilsport resulting in you suffering from blisters and cramps during the hike. Hiking shoes for men and women throng the market and the best ones keep your feet dry, free from painful blisters, offer good grip and traction and won’t lead to cramps in your legs. Most of all they will last long for the entire trip.
However, in the end, footwear is a personal accessory so one should buy what is best suited to them. We list below the ten best hiking shoes for men and women 2023. Choose your pick that perfectly matches your needs.
- Durable leather
- Extended tongue
- Anti-collision system
View The Best Hiking Shoes Below
1. Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II
One of the best backpacking boots for men that enjoys tremendous popularity among buyers, the Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II comes in a durable material made of full-grain leather and is designed to be lightweight for good user comfort. The high-quality mesh tongue is durable and provides good breathability by keeping moisture away so the user feels comfortable in his shoes all through the trek.
Behind the lightweight construction lies the lightweight midsole which lends good cushioning and in turn maximum comfort to the user. For negotiating dangerous terrains, the hiking shoe features an Omni grip rubber sole that offers great traction and safeguards against slipping. One can obtain the perfect snug fit by adjusting the lace and tying with the required firmness. A waterproof hiking shoes for men, it will last you long to wear it on some eventful adventures.
See more information on Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Full grain leather build and waterproof design.
- Lightweight midsole that provides good cushioning and user comfort.
- Omni grip rubber sole providing great traction and safety against slipping.
- Mesh tongue provides good breathability and keeps moisture away.
- Lace feature to obtain perfect snug fit as per one’s needs.
Our Verdict
Columbia is one of the best hiking boots brand and The Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II is on top of our list of the best hiking shoes and the best overall. A waterproof high quality build together with comfortable sole and high traction makes this hiking shoe one of the best in the market and one that you can certainly go for.
2. Salomon Men’s Xa Pro 3D
One of the highest rated hiking shoes designed for any thrilling adventure to make your outing as comfortable for you as possible. The Salomon Men’s Xa Pro 3D hiking shoe comes with great durability and gives your feet good protection and control to navigate through devious terrains. Made of textile and synthetic material together with a rubber sole, it boasts of a premium quality durable build.
The 3d advanced chassis feature steadies the foot in its place but doesn’t compromise on forefoot mobility giving you great control during the adventure. The special Sensifit feature provides a secure fit to the feet by optimally enclosing the feet from the midsole to the lace eyelets. The Quicklace feature boasts of a lace made of a high quality polyester material that runs through the eyelets which are designed to offer minimum friction for quick and even tightening. As you pull, the lace is locked in the stopper stashed away in the lace pocket. Another special feature of this shoe is the Contagrip as the base of the shoe features a lug design that offers superior grip on all surfaces. These characteristics make it one of the most comfortable mens hiking shoes.
See more information on Salomon Men’s Xa Pro 3D.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Textile and synthetic material with rubber sole for a durable build.
- 3d advanced chassis feature stabilizes the foot providing great control.
- Sensifit provides a secure fit optimally enclosing the feet from the midsole to the eye lace.
- Contagrip feature offers great traction with a lug design on the base of the shoe.
- Quick lace feature boasts of a polyester lace with friction free lace eyelets.
Our Verdict
The Salmon Xa Pro 3D with being a popular product from Salomon comes with some special features such to offer comfort and safety for the wearer. A premium product, it definitely counts itself among the top rate hiking boots and is the best premium on our list. If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, then definitely go for these mens low cut hiking boots.
3. CAMEL CROWN Women/Men Hiking Boots
One of the best affordable hiking shoes The Camel Crown hiking boots boats a design made of nubuck leather material that lends excellent breathability, perspiration and temperature control. While the polyester fabric mesh lining provides air permeability which in turn prevents bad odour. In addition to breathability and durability, safety is also a primary concern with this hiking shoe.
It comes with an extended rubber at the toe end to provide extensive protection that will keep your feet protected against collision with rocks and sharp objects so you can always hike fearlessly on difficult terrains. To keep your ankles protected the shoe sports an ankle protection design that prevents your ankle from injuries. Moreover, the tongue of the shoe keeps your feet firmly in place and the quick adjustable laces provide a snug and tight fit to your feet. These features make this shoe one of the most comfortable hiking shoes. The mid sole provides great cushioning and comes with anti-slip build, while the outsole offers great traction with a secure grip making your hiking adventure a totally safe one. This shoe made is designed as a unisex shoe ideal to worn by men and women.
See more information on CAMEL CROWN Women/Men Hiking Boots.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Nubuck leather material with excellent breathability, temperature control and odor control.
- Extended anti-collision protection with an extended rubber toe end.
- Shoe tongue and adjustable laces provide a snug fit and keep your feet firmly in place providing good stability.
- Anti-slip mid sole and a outer sole with good traction and secure grip for maximum safety and comfort.
- Ankle protection design.
Our Verdict
The Camel Crown Women/Men Hiking boots is third on our list of the top ten hiking shoes and the best value. One of the best hiking shoes for the money, its comfort and safety features make it a good choice to go for.
4. Hi-Tec Men’s Bandera Mid Hiking Boot
One of the best mid hiking shoes, the Hi-Tec Men’s Bandera is a sturdy sneaker that makes for a good companion on your hiking adventures. Made of leather and textile material, it sports a rugged look and comes with features that ensure maximum user satisfaction. These mid top hiking shoes are designed for being water proof and are equipped with a waterproof membrane that’s breathable which means it keeps your feet dry from outside water while simultaneously wicking out moisture from your feet to provide you with super comfort and ease.
For greater stability, the shoe comes with a steel shank which gives you more control while traversing through rough and tricky terrain and together with the lace up features, you can adjust the snug fit as per your convenience. The lacing feature consists of a high quality nylon strings and rustproof lacing hardware which can withstand some rough use and extreme weather and tongue ensures your feet stays in its place. The outsole provides good traction with a top class rubber sole. The shaft of this mid hiking boot measures 5”.
See more information on Hi-Tec Men’s Bandera Mid Hiking Boot.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Leather and textile material and sports a rugged look.
- Waterproof design and breathable waterproof membrane to keep feet dry.
- Steel shank for extra stability and control in uneven terrain.
- Lace up feature with nylon strings and rustproof lacing hardware for long lasting use.
- Good traction and grip with a high quality rubber sole.
Our Verdict
The Hi-Tec Men’s Bandera mid hiking boot with its rugged waterproof design and good traction and comfort makes for best backpacking boots for men. An affordable option while buying hiking shoes, you can surely go for these.
5. Troadlop Men’s Hiking Shoes
A mens low cut hiking boots, the Troadlop hiking shoes are ideal shoes for undertaking those long trail hikes in the outdoors. A low cut shoe, it provides enough room and flexibility to move your legs and has a wide toe box to comfortably fit your foot. An upper breathable material design together with a low cut gives good breathability and keeps your feet cool, dry and comfortable. To put your foot in, just slightly pull at the back of the heel and the foot slides in easily also making for a tighter grip
Complementing this flexibility is their extremely lightweight build which provides extreme comfort and gives a feeling of walking barefoot. The removable insole comes with a soft padded sock liner offering good protection to your foot. For a secure and tight grip are the nylon laces which allow tightly lacing your shoes and a non slip, durable rubber sole that offers great traction and also absorbs shock to keep your feet injury free. They are also a good water hiking shoes offering protection when you venture out into the water for some fun. They make for one of the best low cut hiking shoes but are also ideal for a host of activities such as yoga, jogging, beach volleyball, boating, kayaking cycling and so on.
See more information on Troadlop Men’s Hiking Shoes.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Wide toe box wide enough to comfortably accommodate the foot and good breathability.
- Lightweight design offering great convenience and feeling of walking barefoot.
- Nylon laces help in providing comfort and snugly fit.
- Removable insole featuring a soft padded sock liner for good feet protection.
- Rubber sole offers great shock absorption and good traction.
- Good water shoes and ideal for any sports or fun activity in the water.
- Ideal for a host of activities such as jogging, cycling, boating, kayaking etc.
Our Verdict
The Troadlop men’s hiking shoes are one of the best hiking shoes for the money and one of the best casual hiking shoes. If you are someone who likes to spend a lot of time outdoors for leisure activities, you can buy this product.
6. Clorts Women’s Mid Hiking Boot
The Clorts women’s hiking boot is one of the best backpacking boots for women and boasts of a quality build and features to deliver great user satisfaction. These hike shoes are come in waterproof suede material and a breathable lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. The mid top design, with a padded tongue and padded collar wrap around your ankle comfortably and provide good ankle protection. The unique Clorts Hike technology keeps your feet extra stable while navigating through tricky terrains and comes with a shank made of TPU material for good control and stability.
Loaded with safety features, these hiking shoes will keep your feet safe and dry. A protective toe cap shields against collision. A removable memory foam insole offers padded protection to your feet and prevents them from aching while the EVA midsole offers good underfoot support and shock absorption to prevent any injury. The outsole provides good traction and solid grip and is designed for durable use. Coming in a lightweight design, it feels light on the legs and with an easy pull at the heel, one can effortlessly get into the shoes.
See more information on Clorts Women’s Mid Hiking Boot.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Waterproof suede material with a breathable lining to keep feet dry.
- Mid cut design, Padded tongue and padded collar to provide good protection to the ankle.
- Shank of TPU material for good stability and protective toe cap.
- Memory foam insole and EVA midsole for padded protection and support to the feet.
- Outsole provides good traction, solid grip and designed for durable use.
- Lightweight build for user comfort.
Our Verdict
The Clorts Women’s mid top hiking shoes are one of the best hiking sneakers for women. A plethora of safety and comfort features make these shoes a very appealing buy.
7. Jabasic Women Hiking Shoes
A low top hiking boots for women, the Jabasic Women hiking shoes come with some delightful features keep your feet comfortable. Coming in ultra lightweight design, these shoes boast of a breathable soft knit mesh design on the upper part that gives optimum ventilation and comfort and keeps your feet cool and dry. One of the best looking hiking shoes, it combines looks with comfort features such as a thick midsole layer of EVA foam material for cushioning and greater heel stability.
To safeguard your feet against accidentally injuring your feet by bumping into rocks, this hiking shoe comes with a protective toe cap made of TPU rubber that can handle quite a bit of pressure and reduce external damage. A rubber sole at the bottom with a lugged and ridged design gives good traction and firm grip on treacherous surfaces and offer anti-slip protection to your feet, while the lace up feature helps you adjust the fit and provides you with a snug and secure fit. These shoes are ideal for wearing on different occasions such as walking, travelling, shopping and so on.
See more information on Jabasic Women Hiking Shoes.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Breathable knit mesh design that provides good ventilation and relief.
- Lightweight and comfortable on the feet.
- EVA foam material for cushioning and padded protection and heel stability.
- Anti-collision TPU rubber protective toe cap.
- Rubber sole with good traction in a lugged and ridged design.
- Lace up feature provides secure and snug fit.
- Ideal for wearing during walking, shopping, travelling etc.
Our Verdict
The Jabasic women hiking shoes are one of the best casual hiking shoes you could find and also one of the most comfortable hiking shoes for women. The attractive looks, multipurpose use and the comfort and safety features make these shoes a good option to go for.
8. Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boot
Designed for the rugged life outdoors, the Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus hiking boot is the cousin of the Ridge Plus II we saw earlier in our review and is specifically designed for the female hiker. Made in a unique design and style that will appeal to its intended user base, it is packed with amazing features as one would expect from one of the best hiking shoes brands.
These top rate hiking boots comes in water proof design with a mesh and leather exterior for durability and a comfortable adventure outdoors. While the mesh tongue offers good breathability to keep your foot dry and cool. A superior cushioning and a durable midsole provide padded protection and comfort to the feet and a rubber outsole gives a slip free and stable movement. Coming with the signature Omni Grip feature, it offers some amazing traction on different surfaces be it mud, snow etc and together with the lace up feature you can securely wrap the shoes around your legs for a tight and snug fit.
See more information on Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boot.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Feminine styled to suit the female hiker.
- Water proof design with mesh and leather exterior with a mesh tongue for good breathability.
- Cushioning and midsole provide good padded protection and the rubber sole gives anti-slip protection.
- Omni grip feature offers good traction on different surfaces.
- Lace up feature for a tight and secure fit.
Our Verdict
The Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boot, the female cousin of the Ridge Plus II counts itself among the best rated women’s hiking shoes. Armed with some of the best features in terms of user comfort and safety, it is one of the best hike shoes you can go for.
9. XPETI Women’s Thermador Hiking Boot
The XPETI Thermador hiking boot for women comes in a mesh design with hydro shield that repels water keeps your feet dry. As is often the case with mid top hiking shoes, this hiking boot is able to deliver good ankle protection with a TPU material that supports the heel and a mesh lining that wicks the moisture away. It also comes with a rubber cap protection at the front to shield against accidental collisions.
An EVA midsole provides good cushioning and support and protects the feet against shocks, keeping it injury free. While the rubber sole at the bottom gives good traction and a good grip of the terrain to keep you in full control no matter whether it is rocky or muddy surface.
See more information on XPETI Women’s Thermador Hiking Boot.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Mesh design with a water repelling hydro shield to keep your feet dry.
- Good ankle protection, TPU material that provides heel support and a mesh lining that gives good breathability.
- Anti collision rubber cap protection in the front.
- EVA midsole for padded protection and comfort.
- Rubber sole giving good grip and traction in different surfaces.
Our Verdict
The Xpeti women’s Thermador hiking boot combines he characteristics of best grip hiking boots and best waterproof trekking shoes to deliver you one of the most comfortable hiking shoes which are good for some exciting adventure outside.
10. Northside Women’s Monroe Low Hiking Shoe
The Northside Women’s Monroe Low Hiking Shoe is the last on our list. Made of suede leather and nylon upper, this hike shoe boasts of waterproof design and has a PVC mudguard and heel stabilizer. The nylon material provides good breathability and keeps your feet comfortable while the moisture wicking lining keeps the feet dry and the tongue keeps the debris out and provides more stability to the foot.
The soft EVA insole together with the padded collar and the tongue provides the required cushioning and comfort for your feet and keeps them protected from shock as well. For a secure grip, the multi directional ridged rubber outsole offers good traction and shock absorption for a tight grip across different surfaces. The adjustable lace up feature helps you get the required snug fit while the heel pull strap allows to effortlessly get into the shoes.
See more information on Northside Women’s Monroe Low Hiking Shoe.
Compelling Reasons to Buy
- Suede leather material and nylon upper with good breathability and comfort.
- Waterproof, PVC mudguard with heel stabilizer.
- Moisture wicking lining keeps feet dry.
- Shoe tongue provides a tight fit and also keeps away the debris.
- EVA insole for cushioning and protection.
- Multidirectional ridged outsole for grip and protection.
- Adjustable lace feature.
Our Verdict
The Northside Women’s Monroe one of the best affordable hiking shoes. With its attractive price and attractive features, it can be counted among one of the best hiking sneakers for women.
Things to look for in a Hiking Shoe – BUYERS’ GUIDE
Before finally buying the hiking shoes, it is necessary to understand certain things about hiking shoes.
While terms like hiking shoes, hiking boots, backpacking boots can be used interchangeably, these shoes can be classified primarily into three:
Hiking Shoes
These are low cut shoes which are excellent for day hikes and walking or running on rugged trails outdoors for light backpackers
Day Hiking Boots
Mid to high cut variants that are suitable for backpackers with a slight load. They flex easily and don’t require too much break in time. They offer more protection than low hiking shoes as they rise slightly above the ankles and offer more durability although not as much as high backpacking boots.
Backpacking Boots
The backpacking boots allow carrying heavy loads and are sturdy and durable to last multi day hiking adventures. They wrap above the ankles and provide great support
Components of Hiking Shoes
The material used in the shoe can be made of the following materials or have following characteristics;
- Full grain leather: They offer excellent durability and good water resistance. Commonly found in heavy duty backpacking boots, they may not provide as much breathability as a split grain/nylon upper shoe.
- Split-grain leather: Split grain leather splits the inner part of the cowhide and makes for a soft exterior that gives good breathability. It is usually paired with nylon mesh and is lightweight but may not be as durable as full grain leather.
- Nubuck leather: Full grain leather buffed. It offers good durability and flexibility along with water resistance but may require long break in time
- Synthetics: Polyester, nylon material, often called synthetics are commonly used in most of the hiking shoes. They are lightweight, offer more breathability and less break in time but may wear out soon.
- Waterproofing: Many of the top end hiking boots come with waterproof membranes that repel water to keep the feet dry. However, the waterproof membrane can lead to reduced breathability and cause sweating.
- Vegan material: Such shoes are free from animal products in their make.
Midsoles
Hiking boot midsoles are either made of EVA foam material which is soft and offers more padded protection but may not be durable. Or it can be made of Polyurethane material which is firm and more durable. Midsoles provide an extra buffer layer to absorb shocks and determine the level of stiffness in the boot.
Internal Support
- Shanks: Shanks are 3-5 mm inserts between the midsole and outsole to add load bearing stiffness to the boot
- Plates: Just like shanks, they are thin inserts which provide extra stiffness and are placed below the shanks for extra stability and support
Outsoles
Outsoles are usually made of rubber and reinforced with some extra material like carbon to increase the durability to hike on rough and uneven terrain. Usually, you will find a ridged or lugged design which provides a good traction and firm grip. A heel brake feature is also sometimes added that provides protection from slipping while descending from steep slopes.