Best Backpacking Boots 2025

Men and women backpack in all sorts of footwear these days. But at the end of the day, backpacking boots are the safest choice for most people. Carrying extra weight places extra pressure on your feet and ankles, and a sturdy pair of backpacking boots gives them stability and support to carry more weight and hike longer trails. I've personally tested and reviewed most of the best-selling backpacking boots on the market. I also work in the outdoor gear industry, so I know how most backpacking boots fit and how they stack up to each other. For 2025, the best backpacking boots are the 

• La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX
• Merrell Rogue Hiker
• HOKA Kaha 3
• LOWA Renegade GTX
• Asolo Fugitive
• Salomon Quest 

Best Backpacking Boots for Men & Women

LA SPORTIVA NUCLEO HIGH II GTX

Best Lightweight Backpacking Boot

La Sportiva’s Nucleo High GTX is a lightweight backpacking boot for men and women. I've personally tested it on several of Pennsylvania's signature backpacking trails, including the tough Black Forest Trail and scenic World's End state park. The Nucleo has a higher ankle cuff than other lightweight hiking boots, which makes it an interesting option for hikers with ankle issues who want lighter footwear. The Nucleo is also packed with premium components, including GORE-TEX Surround the most breathable GTX membrane), soft Nubuck leather uppers, and grippy Vibram outsoles. Sportivas run narrow, but this Nucleo has been available in wide, too, since 2021. With its flexible yet supportive soles, the Nucleo GTX isn't super-supportive, but it may be a good choice for backpackers who want to go lighter without losing too much ankle support. 

For more, see my full Nucleo High review

MERRELL ROGUE HIKER

Athletic Backpacking Boot

Another lightweight backpacking boot, the Merrell Rogue Hiker has earned my trust after several long backpacking loops, including the 60-mile Loyalsock Trail in Pennsylvania and the 106-mile Tour du Mont Blanc in the European Alps. The Rogue hiker is lighter than the average hiking boot with a relatively athletic build for a backpacking boot. It's built for speed more than load-hauling. But the Rogue has just enough ankle support and lateral stability to make it backpacker-worthy. And its Vibram outsole provides reliable traction on a range of surfaces. I'm normally not a Merrell guy. But the Merrell Rogue Hiker is a comfortable option for fast-packers and backpackers who need a roomier fit than most backpacking boots on this list. 

For more, see my full Rogue Hiker review

LOWA RENEGADE GTX

Best Midweight Backpacking Boot

It’s a classic that's in Backpacker Magazine's Gear Hall of Fame—and a backpacking boot that I've owned twice. The LOWA Renegade has old-school appeal for men and women who want a tough leather hiking boot for their backpacking trips. It’s long been a top choice for off-trail hikers, trail crews, overweight hikers, and backpackers. That’s where the Renegade’s stability, support, and traction crushes budget hiking boots, like the Merrell Moab and KEEN Targhee (as it should, given the price.) Weight-wise, this is a better boot for backpackers than day hikers. However, the Renegade tops off around three pounds and checks many boxes with its premium features and time-tested performance.

For more, see my full LOWA Renegade review

HOKA KAHA 3

Most Comfortable Backpacking Boot

If cushioning is at the top of your wish list for a backpacking boot, make sure to try on the HOKA Kaha 3. The Kaha features a thick stack of EVA foam to soften each step. Even though this is a lightweight boot by backpacker standards, that cushioning also provides foot support and torsional rigidity to protect your ankles. When I backpacked in the Kaha 2, it felt more like a basketball high-top than a backpacking boot. But it's also stacked with premium GORE-TEX waterproofing and Vibram rubber tread for great traction on the trail. It's been updated for 2025 with the Kaha 3. This is my recommendation for backpackers who value comfort over everything else when they're carring extra weight on their back. 

For more, see my full HOKA Kaha review

Asolo Fugitive (men) / Stynger (women)

Best Backpacking Boot for Narrow Feet

The Asolo Fugitive (men's) and Stynger (women's) is a stiff and muscular backpacking boot that's built for heavier packs and tougher terrain. This boot runs too narrow for my wide feet, but I sold several Fugitives to backpackers, construction workers, and trail crews when I managed hiking footwear at Appalachian Outdoors. This is a stiff hiking boot with plenty of foot protection, a protective toe bumper, and sturdy ankle collars for support. It's also a good fit for narrow feet. Like most Italian brands, Asolos run narrow—it's "wide" size is more of a standard width for North American backpackers. 

Salomon Quest 4 GTX

Best Overall Backpacking Boot

The Salomon Quest is an iconic backpacking boot that’s dominated award lists in backpacking magazines and outdoor gear sites for years. It's also my go-to backpacking boot—one that's carried me through the Grand Canyon several times, Tasmania's Overland Track, and Wilson's Prom on the southernmost tip of Australia. The Quest combines an athletic build with the foot and ankle support of a much heavier boot. On top of this outstanding blend of agility and stability, the Quest features reliable and breathable GORE-TEX waterproofing and a locking shoelace system that lets you vary the pressure of the laces in the foot and ankle. The Quest doesn't run as narrow as most Salomons and may fit hikers with wider feet if they size up extra. The Salomon Quest gets my vote as the overall best backpacking boot on the market.

For more, see my full Salomon Quest review

Buy the Best Backpacking Boots

I skimp on plenty of outdoor gear, but not my hiking boots —especially not my backpacking boots. Backpacking is hard on the body, so it makes sense to buy the best backpacking boots that you can afford. A good pair of backpacking boots will help your body carry extra pack weight, reduce foot fatigue, and may prevent falls, sprains, blisters, or overuse injuries that are more likely in lighter, less supportive footwear. 

This short list should make your boot-buying mission much easier. These are the best backpacking boots on the market. One of them is bound to have the fit, feel, and features that you want. (If not, please browse my brand recommendations  or my lists of the best hiking boots for men and women.)

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