The Best Men's Hiking Boots
We analyzed 3,315 reviews from 52 websites to find the best men's hiking boots. Sources included:
+49 More
Top Men's Hiking Boots
Why Consider This:
These hiking boots have all of the bells and whistles that boots can possibly have, including an excellent lacing system; securely locking lace hooks; protection that runs along the toe, sides and heel of the boot; a neoprene cap on the back of the boot to prevent dirt and water from running down; double insoles that you can wear together or apart for a more customized fit; a 3F ankle stabilizer; and highly technical Michelin-brand outsoles. This Salewa pair offers good support on rocky and uneven terrain, and you can confidently descend thanks to the excellent grip.
People Like:
- Comfortable
- Flexible
- Great traction
People Dislike:
- Less protection of rough trails, than stiffer boots
- Not as sturdy as bigger boots
- Leather can hug feet
91
Owner Score
101 Reviews from 9 Sites
93
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Why Consider This:
It’s a much-loved standby among day hikers, a boot that backpackers and hikers alike appreciate for its versatility, low price, and good grip. The Moab (a name that, Merrell claims, stands for “Mother of All Boots”) got a redesign this year—and after reading hundreds of reviews of this reworked version, we think nothing is lost in the new design, which is the one we tested.
People Like:
- Lightweight
- comfortable
- sturdy
People Dislike:
- Not quite waterproof
- too flexible for heavy loads or technical trails
- Not a fast-and-light shoe
92
Owner Score
1,701 Reviews from 26 Sites
93
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Why Consider This:
Salomon’s Quest 4D 3 GTX hiking boots are the best boots for most people who want to day hike or go on short backpacking trips on most terrains. This is a versatile, comfortable pair of boots that will fit many different kinds of feet. They’re lighter than most of the other boots we tested, but they still provide essential features such as foot protection, a gusseted tongue, and a nice lacing system. We also like that these Salomon boots are both breathable and waterproof.
People Like:
- fast and nimble
- Comfortable out of the box
- water resistance
People Dislike:
- Hefty price tag
- Mid-section too narrow for some
- Not as good for warm or hot environments
91
Owner Score
1,243 Reviews from 3 Sites
88
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
How Critic.ly Saves You Time
When it comes to reviewing the best men's hiking boot, critic.ly is different than other sites. How?
Unbiased & Unsponsored: Critic.ly aggregates and analyzes reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
Our reviews of the best men's hiking boots were based on 3,315 reviews from 52 websites.
Get the Best Deal: Critic.ly aggregates sales from around the web, so you can get the best deal from a seller you actually trust.
Find the Right Product: Critic.ly lets you search and compare products from thousands of sites in one place.
How to Find the Right Men's Hiking Boot
This guide is for beginner hikers who want to purchase their first pair of hiking boots. While the boots here are mostly meant for people who plan to go on longer day hikes or light backpacking trips, we also think you’ll benefit from this guide if you’re looking for an all-around boot to wear in your everyday life, on a rainy day, or in snowy conditions.
Hiking boots fall into a few categories: trail hiking, hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. The boots in this guide should be able to support a hiker who’s wearing a lightweight backpack of up to 25 pounds, and they will offer enough support that your feet won’t be fatigued after six to eight hours of hiking. For longer treks with heavier pack weight, many of our picks may do the job—but that wasn’t the scenario we had in mind when we selected the best boots for most people. Most of our picks are also lightweight, which means you can take them out for a nice day hike without feeling like they’re weighing you down too much.
Our picks will likely work for you whether you pronate (walk on the insides of your feet) or supinate (walk on the outsides of your feet), and all should accommodate high or fallen arches
Men's Hiking Boots We Eliminated
We research and analyzed 7 men's hiking boots. Here's what we concluded about the ones that didn't make the cut.
Runner Up
Highly rated (91 owner score, 90 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Eliminated - Low Score
Owner score of 82 wasn't high enough for this to be considered.
Runner Up
Highly rated (84 owner score, 83 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Eliminated - Low Score
Owner score of 86 wasn't high enough for this to be considered.
Sources & Methodology
Critic.ly uses a combination of machine learning and human editors to help you find the best products.
We start by aggregating and analyzing reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
We convert every review to a weight average score from 0 to 100.
For this article, we analyzed 3,315 reviews from 52 sites to find the best men's hiking boot.