Best Hiking Boots for 2026: How to Choose

The best hiking boot for YOU is the one that best fits your feet and best matches your hiking style. That's why outdoor industry pros—like me—don't recommend whatever they wear (like the amateurs on Reddit/Facebook) or rank order the best hiking boots (like the amateur gear review sites). Those amateur recommendations ignore the two most important things about buying hiking boots: choosing boots with the right fit and recommended uses for your feet and your hikes. 

As the former footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors, I can help you find YOUR best hiking boots. I've personally fit thousands of hikers and tested dozens of different hiking boots while hiking 17,000 miles the past two decades. So I understand the fits and recommended uses of the best hiking boots on the market.

My recommendations group hiking boots by their weight and recommended uses, so you can compare the top 2-3 choices per category. They also call out the "best fit" and "best match" for each hiking boot to help you narrow down your choices. In doing so, this post can help you buy hiking boots that fit YOUR feet and YOUR hikes (rather that boots that fit MY feet and MY hiking style). 

Best Lightweight Hiking Boots

The best lightweight hiking boots—now starting around two pounds per pair (men) or less (women)—weigh less than traditional hiking boots while providing better support and durability than trail running shoes and most hiking shoes. The trade off is that lightweight hiking boots generally have less ankle support, weather protection, and durability than traditional (midweight) hiking boots and backpacking boots. If you're more concerned about weight than cost or support, the best lightweight hiking boots are the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid, Scarpa Rush 2 Mid, and Topo Athletic Trailventure 2. 

SALOMON X ULTRA 5 MID GTX (updated in 2025)

Best Lightweight Hiking Boot

I've personally hiked more than 1,000 miles in Salomon X Ultras because they almost match the stability of a mid-weight hiking boot while weighing a half-pound less. Updated for 2025, the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid is not as tall as many mid-cuts, but its sturdy chassis offers plenty of foot protection and lateral stability. It also features GORE-TEX's new PFC-free waterproofing and updated outdoles for better multi-terrain traction on mud, snow, rock, gravel, and scree. On my test hikes, it's tread came up short on smooth boulders while crushing steep trails with soft or loose sediments. This boot weighs about a half pound less than the average hiking boot but can handle harder hikes than most lightweights. It's a versatile choice for most men and women who hike, which is why it's high on my list of the best hiking boots for 2025.

Click on the links below to see size and color options for men and women—or see my full X Ultra 5 Mid review.

This post includes affilate links, including the links above. If you buy something after clicking on a link, the retailer may share a small percentage of the sale with Hiking Feet. That's free for you—and supports this site's free and independent content.

SCARPA RUSH 2 MID GTX

Best Lightweight Hiking Boot for Rocky Trails

The Scarpa Rush 2 Mid is a lightweight hiking boot that rivals the Salomon X Ultra 5 for best in class. Much lighter than other Scarpas, the Rush series is made for fast hikers, but it still can handle more serious terrain than most lightweights. As you might expect from a premium brand for climbing shoes, the Scarpa Rush has good traction on rock, making it a capable scrambler. Having worn and tested both the Salomon X Ultra 5 and Scarpa Rush 2, I give the Rush the edge on rocky terrain (and lean toward the X Ultra on steep trails with mud, scree, or snow). In my personal experience, this boot runs small, so you should probably size up a full size (or more) to get the best fit for hiking. If you're looking for a lightweight hiking boot to tackle mountain trails, it's hard to beat the Scarpa Rush 2 Mid. For more, see my full Scarpa Rush review. 

TOPO ATHLETIC TRAILVENTURE 2

Best Lightweight Hiking Boot for Wide Feet

Best Hiking Boots on a Budget 

Not everyone can afford the best hiking boots, which often cost $200 or more. (For those of you in the U.S., Trump's tariffs have made that much worse in 2025.) However, many hikers will be fine with budget-oriented hiking boots, particularly if they aren't hiking difficult trails, hiking tons of miles, or carrying extra weight. The trade offs are that budget hiking boots generally are less durable, less supportive, and less capable on more difficult trails. 

What are the best hiking boots for hikers on a budget? If you're more concerned about price than weight or support, I recommend the Oboz Sawtooth Ascent and Salomon X Ultra 360 hiking boots. 

OBOZ SAWTOOTH ASCENT (NEW FOR 2025)

Best Budget Hiking Boot

New for 2025, the Sawtooth Ascent is the entry-level version of the Sawtooth—an Oboz best seller. The Ascent has decent foot and ankle support for a budget-oriented hiking boot, but it's better for day hikers than backpackers. This boot does boast two nice features for this price point: Vibram rubber outsoles and Oboz's O-Fit insoles. While most brands skimp on their insoles, Oboz builds its boots around its proprietary $35 insoles for added cushioning and foot support. In my experience, the Oboz's BDry waterproofing is more reliable than Merrell's proprietary waterproofing. With Merrell and KEEN raising their prices, the Oboz Sawtooth Ascent now stands out as the most affordable mid-duty hiking boot on the market. 

SALOMON X ULTRA 360 MID GTX

Best Value Hiking Boot

The Salomon X Ultra 360 is a less expensive variant of the Salomon X Ultra 5 (at the top of this list). Priced $25 lower than the original, the X Ultra 360 is made for more "all around" use—from casual hikes to occasional day hikes to trail-to-town wear. In my testing, I didn't detect much of a dropoff in performance. This boot provides decent support at a lower weight than most hiking boots—especially at this price point—while offering GORE-TEX waterproofing and aggressive traction for mud, gravel, scree, and steep terrain. (For more, see my full X Ultra 360 review.) If you want a less expensive hiking boot with enough performance for moderately difficult day hikes, I highly recommend the Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid GTX.   

Best Midweight Hiking Boots

Are you looking for a hiking boot with good foot and ankle support? If so, mid-weight hiking and backpacking boots are most hikers' bread and butter. 

Midweight hiking boots provide better foot and ankle support, weather protection, and durability than lightweight hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail runners. They're also versatile. The best mid-weight hiking boots are sturdy enough for backpacking yet flexible enough for day hiking. The trade off is that they're heavier than trail runners, hiking shoes, and lightweight hiking boots—and not as protective as true backpacking boots.

Mid-duty hiking boots are often good choices for beginners (who normally need more support until their lower bodies are built up for hiking), hikers with foot or ankle issues, serious hikers who prefer more taxing trails and harder hikes, and hikers who want one pair of boots for both day hiking and backpacking.

OBOZ BRIDGER

Best Midweight Hiking Boot

The Bridger is the best hiking boot in the Oboz lineup. It's a brute on the trail yet gentle on your feet, thanks to arguably the best footbed in the industry. There's an upmarket insole (worth $35) that sits on a foam cushion that rides on top of a protective chassis and burly outsole. The Bridger has more aggressive traction than the Oboz Sawtooth (above) with deep lugs and heel brakes that excel on soft surfaces, loose terrain, and steep descents. It's not the lightest boot. But its mix of moderate flex and support hits that sweet spot where it's comfortable enough for day hiking yet strong enough backpacking. I've personally hiked more than 2000 miles in the Oboz Bridger over the years. 

LA SPORTIVA NUCLEO HIGH GTX

Most Athletic Midweight Hiking Boot

The Nucleo II High GTX is the lightest hiking boot I know with high-cut ankle support. Lighter and more flexible than traditional hiking boots, it's a little more athletic than most midweights, making it a good choice for fast hikers. The Nucleo features soft, Nubuck leather and stands out for its GORE-TEX Surround waterproofing—the most breathable GTX membrane—and for Vibram Megagrip outsoles that excel on wet and dry surfaces.  La Sportivas run small and narrow (by US standards), but the Nucleo is available in wide. This boot is a premium pick for hikers who want high performance in a moderately lightweight package with supportive ankle collars. I personally hiked several of Pennsylvania's best backpacking loops in this boot, including the Black Forest Trail—here's my full  Nucleo HIgh II review.

Best Backpacking Boots

Men and women now backpack in a wide range of footwear. Still, a dedicated backpacking boot is the safest choice if you're carrying a heavier pack or traversing tough terrain. The best backpacking boots provide plenty of foot and ankle protection to support that extra weight and handle the extra stress it places on your lower body. The following boots are heavier than most people want for day hikes. At the same time, they're significantly lighter than the 4-pound behemoths that backpackers wore back in the day.

LOWA RENEGADE EVO GTX (Updated in 2025)

Best Leather Backpacking Boot

The LOWA Renegade was the first hiking boot named to Backpacker Magazine's Hall of Fame. For the first time in forever, LOWA updated it in 2025 with the new Renegade EVO. (See my full review of the updates.) The Renegade EVO rocks protective leather uppers, stiff soles, sturdy PU midsoles, and lateral support to provide backpackers with the stability and protection they need to carry a heavier pack safely. The treadeoff is it's burlier than most day hikers want (unless they have serious ankle issues and hike serious terrain). However, the Renegade EVO is one of the best hiking boots for backpackers and off-trail hikers.

HOKA KAHA 3 (updated in 2025)

Most Cushioned Backpacking Boot

Backpacking boots don't need to be stiff, burly, and brown. The HOKA Kaha 3 is a lightweight backpacking boot with plush cushioning to take the load off our hiking feet. I have personally tested and reviewed this boot, which wears more like a basketball high-top than a backpacking boot with less weight and more cushion than the competition. However, it's still a serious hiking boot with full-grain leather uppers, premium Vibram outsoles, and an eVent membrane for air permeable waterproofing that may not wear as warm as other waterproof hiking boots. If you like max cushion, the HOKA Kaha is the most comfortable backpacking boot I've worn. 

SALOMON QUEST 4

Best Overall Backpacking Boot

There's a reason the Salomon Quest has dominated many awards lists for hiking and backpacking boots. Make that several reasons. There's the great traction, the great lacing system, the industry-leading GORE-TEX waterproofing. It's comfortable and durable. And the Quest also matches the foot and ankle support of classic heavy-weights while weighing less and feeling pretty agile—almost like a high-cut trail running shoe. No wonder it wins so many awards. This is yet another Salomon that may be in a class all by itself—and obviously one of the best backpacking boots out there. I have owned two pairs of Salomon Quests and look forward to owning my third when my current backpacking boots wear out. 

How to choose hiking boots

The best hiking boot for you is the one that fits your feet and matches what kind of hiking you do. 

That's why it's useless to crowdsource hiking boot recommendations on Reddit or Facebook. It won't take long for a hundred strangers to recommend whatever THEY wear without knowing a single thing about you or your hikes. That's a great way to waste $200 on hiking boots that don't fit YOUR feet or match the kinds of hiking YOU do. 

At the same time, it's usually a good strategy to buy the lightest hiking footwear you can that provides the amount of support you need. [That's why my recommended backpacking boots don't include hardcore, heavy-duty backpacking boot that approach 4 pounds per pair; that's overkill for most hikers (with the exception of wildland firefighters, trail crews, and backpackers carrying heavy weight over gnarly terrain).] Just remember the trade offs: you'll generally lose foot and ankle support—and durability— the lighter you go.

how much support do you need?

If you want to choose the right boots for you, you've got to know yourself as a hiker. The amount of support you need mostly depends on the terrain you hike, the health of your feet and ankles, your hiking experience, and the weight that your lower body has to carry.  

In general, your need for support goes UP if you're

You may get by with less support if you're

choosing the right foot and ankle support

Hiking boots can help prevent ankle injuries— at least if they're laced up tightly. Most of a boot's foot and ankle support comes from (1) the ankle cuff and (2) stiffness of its midsole and outsole.

The height of the ankle cuff is one key indicator of ankle support. For a quick estimate on ankle protection, count the number of eyelets above the ankle on each boot. Hiking boots with one eyelet above the ankle may provide more ankle protection than a low-cut hiker— but less than boots with two (or more) eyelets above the ankle. 

However, the quality of materials on the boots' ankle cuffs also makes a difference. For stronger ankle support, look for stiffer leather or synthetic uppers around the boot's heel and ankle areas. Hiking boots with better ankle support will require some break-in time for the leather or stiffer synthetic materials to conform to your ankles. 

Softer, more flexible uppers— common on budget boots and light-weight boots— may feel good out of the box; however, they may not provide much ankle support, even if they're a mid-cut or high-cut. 

At the same time, a stiff sole may provide more foot and ankle stability than the boot's ankle cuff. Stiff soles—usually reinforced with a thin stability shank or chassis—can carry more weight and are less likely to fold over rocks and rocks, turning over your ankle. That's why (real) hiking boots are stiffer and thicker in the soles than sneakers, cross-trainers, running shoes, and budget-oriented hiking boots. 

how to test hiking boots' support

Here are two easy tests to evaluate the stability and support of a boot in a store or at home: the "flex test" and "twist test."

The Flex Text

Evaluate the boot's support by the grabbing it at the heel and toe and forcing the bottom of the boot to bend. Watch to see where the boot flexes and how hard/easy it is to bend the boot from heel to toe.

A boot that flexes easily at the mid-foot (see above) has limited support. Flexible hiking boots may be comfortable for easier day hikes, flat terrain, and well-maintained trails. However, that's less support than many people need for uneven terrain, steep trails, harder day hikes, and backpacking.

A boot that's stiff in the mid-foot with flex-point near the ball of the foot (3/4-length stability plate or chassis) may be sturdy enough for moderate backpacking yet flexible enough for moderate day hiking. This is the sweet spot for many hikers and backpackers.

A boot with little to no flex underfoot (full-length stability shank) provides the most foot and ankle support for uneven terrain and heavy packs; however, the lack of flex may be uncomfortable for day hikers, casual hikers, and easy-to-moderate trails.

The Twist Test

Evaluate a boot's torsional rigidity— its resistance to side to side twisting— with the "twist test." Grab the toe box in one hand and the heel in other and try to twist the boot (like wringing out wet laundry).

The easier it is to twist the boot, the less its torsional rigidity. Hiking boots with limited torsional rigidity won't provide much lateral support for your feet or ankles on uneven ground. They're more likely to collapse or bend over rocks and roots. This may increase your risk for rolled ankles, sprains, and other lower body injuries.

The harder it is to twist the boot, the greater its torsional rigidit. A boot that resists twisting (like the Salomon X Ultra above) provides better foot support and lateral ankle protection, especially on uneven ground.

Each of my recommendations for the best hiking boots provide at least moderate support, including the lightweight hiking boots. The mid-duty hiking boots provide better support, and the backpacking boots provide the best foot and ankle protection for backpackers carrying heavy packs or hikers who mostly hike off trail in mountainous terrain. 

fantastic boots and where to find them

Thanks for checking out my recommendations for the best hiking boots at different weights and price points—and some pro tips on how to choose the right boots for you. I hope this post has helped you narrow down your choices. And helped you feel smarter and more confident about picking out hiking boots that fit your feet and match your hikes.

If you're not feeling these boots, please feel free to browse Hiking Feet's hiking boot and hiking shoe reviews, my brand reviews, or my curated lists of the best hiking shoes and best trail runners for hiking. You'll also find more curated lists of recommended hiking boots if you scroll down the home page, 

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