Best Hiking Shoes for Men and Women: Top 10

Are you overwhelmed by all the hiking shoes on the market? I can help you narrow your choices down to the best hiking shoes for men and women.

I've personally worn most of the best-selling hiking shoes—thanks to hiking 15,000+ miles the past two decades, managing footwear at Appalachian Outdoors, and working as a Gearhead® Expert at Backcountry. Plus, I've tested and reviewed more than 25 hiking shoes for this site. With all that first-hand experience wearing, selling, and testing hiking footwear, I know how most hiking shoes fit, how they compare to each other, and how to select a pair that suits your body, budget, and hiking style. This top ten list highlights the best hiking shoes for men and women with notes on each shoe's best fit and best match. 

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10 Best Hiking Shoes

SALOMON X ULTRA 5 GTX 

Best Hiking Shoe for Stability & Agility

Updated for 2025, the Salomon X Ultra 5 Low has upgraded the look and feel of the X Ultra 4. This is the rare hiking shoe that's both light and supportive, making it appropriate for both average hikers and serious hikers. The latest version of Salomon's best-selling hiking shoe has a moderately stiff feel with moderate cushioning and moderate flex at the foot's natural flex-point—a great balance between stability and agility. It's also stacked with a waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX membrane (optional) and mixed tread for multisurface trails. I've personally hiked more than 1000 miles in X Ultras and tested the new X Ultra 5 many times in 2025. It's a great buy and the most versatile hiking shoe on this list.  

For comparison, see my full X Ultra 5 Mid review

SCARPA RUSH 2 GTX

All-around Hiking Shoe for Rocky Trails

The Scarpa Rush 2 GTX runs neck and neck with the X Ultra for the unofficial title of best overall hiking shoe. It's moderately stiff and supportive—what you want for tougher trails—while weighing several ounces less than the average hiking shoe. As you might expect from a brand known for its climbing shoes, the Rush 2's outsoles have great grip on rock while adding a GORE-TEX membrane for durable and breathable waterproofing. I reviewed the Rush 2 in 2023, wore it as my primary hiking shoe in 2024, and continue to wear it, especially on rocky trails. With great stability and agility, this premium hiking shoe can handle serious alpine hikes as well as more moderate trails, too. 

For more, see my full Scarpa Rush 2 review 

adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 Low

Best Hiking Shoe for Casual Hikes

Here's the low-down on the adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 Low: it's a super-cozy hiking shoe that's more technical than it looks. I've personally tested and reviewed a couple Free Hikers, and I crave the cush of adidas' BOOST foam. Plus, it's tricked out with waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX waterproofing and a light stability frame that makes the Free Hiker more supportive than most hiking shoes made for light hiking. This hiking shoe is expensive—and not as light as it looks. But it's one of my top comfort recommendations and a solid pick for travel, trail-to-town adventures, and long days working on your feet. 

HOKA ANACAPA 2 LOW

Best Max Cushion Hiking Shoe

Most lightweight hiking shoes cut cushioning to cut weight—not the HOKA Anacapa. Hoka’s first hiking shoe is lightweight with maximum cushion for more comfort on the trail. The Anacapa also features a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX membrane and premium Vibram outsoles. Their tread is soft enough for good grip on solid rock but also feature some aggressive, V-shaped climbing and braking lugs that can dig into soft or loose surfaces. This shoe's a winner, especially if you're looking for something light with more float than feel underfoot. Choose the Anacapa GTX for GORE-TEX waterproofing or the Anacapa Breeze for a lighter, more ventilated hiking shoe. 

For comparison, see my full Anacapa Mid review

OBOZ KATABATIC WIND

Best Lightweight Hiking Shoe

Most lightweight hiking shoes are glorified sneakers—not the Oboz Katabatic. Oboz's most technically advanced hiking shoe steals some "supershoe" technology from trail running shoes to help hikers move fast over tough terrain, including a carbon plate and nitrogen-infused foam underfoot for good energy return, comfort, and support on the trail. I wear mine for my mid-week fitness hikes to pick up my pace as I hurry up and down the mountain to burn extra calories. If you're a fastpacker or day hiker who wants a lightweight hiking shoe that's more durable than a trail runner, try the Oboz Katabatic Wind. 

For more, see my full Oboz Katabatic Wind review

SALOMON X ULTRA 360 

Best Value Hiking Shoe

The Salomon X Ultra 360 is a much better hiking shoe—and much better value—than budget hiking shoes like the Merrell Moab. It's the less expensive and slightly more comfortable "all-around" version of the X Ultra 5 (at the top of this list). Like its more expensive sibling, the X Ultra 360 balances stability and agility while offering men and women aggressive tread and optional GORE-TEX waterproofing. Plus, it costs $25 less than the X Ultra 5 without much of a dropoff in performance. In other words, this shoe works from the summit to the sidewalk while saving you some coin, too.  

For more modern colorways and a slightly lighter-duty build, try the similar Salomon X Ultra Edge hiking shoe:

KEEN TARGHEE IV LOW

Best Hiking Shoe for Wide Feet

The popular KEEN Targhee is one of the best hiking shoes for hikers with wide feet, thanks to its wide toe box. That adds wiggle room for your toes with a protective toe bumper designed to protect toes and toe nails from rocks and roots. Targhees also boast plenty of cushioning, protective leather uppers, and moderate support for good, all-day comfort. Tough terrain and heavy packs may expose this shoe's limitations. However, the KEEN Targhee is one of the best hiking shoes for the average day hiker and fans of roomy toe boxes. It's one of my go-to recs for men and women with wide feet. 

ALTRA OLYMPUS 6 HIKE GTX

Zero Drop Hiking Shoe with Wide Toe Box

Altra had never made a true hiking shoe before releasing the Olympus 5 "Hike" late in 2022. Updated for 2025, the Olympus 6 Hike GTX is a max cushion hiking shoe that adds some hiking features on top of that thick cushioning. The Hike-version of the Olympus includes sturdier uppers that mix synthetic mesh with leather for added durability, a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX membrane for weather protection, and grippy Vibram Megagrip outsoles with hiking (not running) traction. It's a pricey hiking shoe, for sure, but it's packed with performance. I liked the Olympus Hike more than I expected when I tested and reviewed the original. This Altra is much more protective, cushioned, and durable than the Altra Lone Peak trail runner. 

LA SPORTIVA SPIRE GTX 

Best Hiking Shoe for Mountain Trails

La Sportiva's Spire GTX has more backbone than most of the hiking shoes on this list while maintaining an athletic feel. That mix of stability and agility stands out, along with its outstanding traction on rocks. In addition to those Vibram outsoles, the Spire also features GORE-TEX Surround —the most breathable GORE-TEX system in hiking shoes. I especially like this relatively stiff hiking shoe for hard hikes on rocky terrain. It's probably too much shoe for the occasional day hiker. But if the Spire fits you, it's one of the best hiking shoes for men and women who mostly tackle mountain trails.

For more, see my full Spire GTX review

SALEWA MOUNTAIN TRAINER LITE GTX

Best Alpine Hiking Shoe

Made for the hiking the Alps in mild weather, the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite is a sturdy hiking shoe for serious hikes. It’s a hybrid that mixes the support of a hiking shoe and climb-oriented features of an approach shoe, so it excels on technical trails with some rock scrambling. I've hiked some tough mountains in the U.S. and Europe in the Mountain Trainer Lite. In spite of its name, the Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is not a lightweight hiking shoe; it’s a burly shoe with stiff and sturdy soles for excellent stability and support on uneven ground. The stiffest, most supportive hiking shoe on this list, the Mountain Trainer Lite has plenty of chops for hard mountain hikes.

For more, see my full MTN Trainer Lite review

Choosing the Best Hiking Shoes for YOU

Life's too short to settle for crappy hiking shoes. So this post has highlighted the best hiking shoes for men and women— based on my extensive hiking experience and outdoor industry training. My hope is that this post has helped you find one or two pairs that will fit your feet, your budget, and your hikes.

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