best leather hiking boots 2024

Leather hiking boots may be the traditional choice, but they're still a great choice (and always will be) for hikers and backpackers. Leather is durable, protective, naturally water resistant and breathable, and conforms to your feet over time. Those qualities make leather hiking boots the best option for many hikers and backpackers. I've been wearing leather hiking boots for two decades—and still wear them—as an avid hiker who works in the outdoor industry. So ignore the boot shamers on Facebook who believe everyone should hike in trail runners—and dig my short list of the best leather hiking boots. 

Best Leather Hiking Boots

For the typical hiker or backpacker, the best leather hiking boots are the KEEN Targhee IV, Oboz Bridger, Danner Mountain 600, La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX, LOWA Renegade, Vasque St. Elias, and Asolo TPS 520. These are the best leather hiking boots that I've worn and sold as someone who hikes more than 1000 miles every year and has years of experience as a Gearhead® Expert and copywriter at Backcountry, the leading outdoor specialty retailer. I have first-hand experience with each of these boots, so I know how they fit and how they work (and don't work) for specific hiking styles. Scroll down to learn more about the best fits and best matches for each of these recommended hiking boots. 

KEEN Targhee

Leather Day-Hiking Boot

I sold a ton of Targhees when I managed footwear at Appalachian Outdoors. KEEN's most popular hiking boot features lots of leather and all-day comfort, thanks to its cushioned midsoles and thick outsoles. The wide toe boxes with protective toe bumpers not only can save your toes from stubs, jams, and broken nails. They also accommodate wide feet and swollen feet as the miles pile up. Targhees aren't the best choice for people who hike hard trails and high miles, but they work well for the average day hiker. When people recommend KEEN hiking boots, they probably mean the best-selling Targhee.

Oboz Bridger Mid

Leather Hiking & Backpacking Boot

The Oboz Bridger is a comfortable leather hiking boot that's sturdy enough for backpacking yet flexible enough for moderate to difficult day hiking. I should know—I've hiked more than 2,000 miles in Oboz's flagship hiking boot. Thanks to Oboz's expensive, O-Fit insoles, cushy midsoles, and sturdy outsoles, it has one of most comfortable footbeds in the industry. It's not the tallest boot and features Oboz's proprietary BDry waterproofing instead of GORE-TEX. Overall, though, it's the most durable hiking boot that I've owned— my first pair lasted more than 1200 miles! It's hard to beat the Bridger for comfort, durability, and value. 

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Danner Mountain 600

Casual Leather Hiking Boot

The Danner Mountain 600 is the quintessential brown leather hiking boot with red laces. Cross-listed as both a hiking boot and outdoor lifestyle boot, it combines the look of a traditional, heavy-duty hiking boot with more of a light-duty build for everyday comfort on the trail or the street. It features Danner's proprietary waterproofing, Vibram rubber outsoles, and suede leather for a look that's at home at the cabin, in the woods, or at the brew pub. If you want a leather hiking boot that looks like a traditional hiking boot but doesn't feel like one, give the Danner Mountain 600 a good luck. 

La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX

Lightweight Leather Backpacking Boot

The La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX has the highest cut of any lightweight hiking boot, making it a great pick for hikers who want a lighter boot without losing the ankle support of a mid-duty hiking boot. The nubuck uppers wrap hikers' feet in soft and protective leather, and the Nucleo features premium GORE-TEX Surround (Gore's most breathable waterproofing) and Vibram Megagrip outsoles (known for its industry-leading traction on dry and wet surfaces). I've personally done plenty of day hiking and backpacking in the Nucleo—a good-looking leather hiking boot. Fitting tip: Sportivas run small and narrow, so size up. Wide sizes accommodate wide feet or hikers with standard feet who want a roomier fit. 

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Lowa Renegade Mid GTX

Best Leather Backpacking Boot

Most hikers picture the LOWA Renegade when they imagine leather hiking boots. It was the first hiking boot named to Backpacker Magazine's Gear Hall of Fame! The Renegade is a classic backpacking boot that features premium leather uppers, waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX, and Vibram outsoles. While most hiking boots feature EVA foam cushion, the Renegade's midsoles feature sturdier PU foam, which is more durable and environmentally friendly (but not as cushy). It's the complete package — and available in several widths to help you nail the right fit. I've owned two pairs of the LOWA Renegade and agree with Backpacker that it's a classic leather hiking boot for backpackers. 

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Vasque St. Elias

Full-Grain Leather Hiking Boot

Like the Renegade (above), the Vasque St Elias is the kind of sturdy, reliable leather boot that hikers and backpackers have been wearing for a long time. I trounced through several Arizona canyons in my pair, back in the day. It's paired premium, full-grain leather with a GORE-TEX membrane and Vibram outsoles for a good, all-around backpacking boot with classic aesthetics. Vasque's regular sizing runs slightly narrow (but also available in wide) and its weight runs a little high (making them better for backpackers than day hikers). But there's plenty to like about the St Elias. Jump on these while you can, though—sadly, Vasque is going out of business.

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Asolo TPS 520

Full-Grain Leather Trekking Boot

Most hikers don't need a heavy-duty, full-grain leather backpacking boot. The Asolo TPS 520 is for the few who do. This heavy weight is rigid from heel to toe, giving hikers considerable foot and ankle protection and extra support for heavy packs on harsh terrain. The full grain leather stands out, too, offering premium durability, foot protection, and badass looks. This classic leather backpacking boot is overkill for the average hiker and easier trails. However, it's rock solid for those hardcore backpackers, trail crews, and off trail hikers who need a bomb-proof boot for gnarly trails and large loads.

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finding the best leather hiking boots for YOU

My list of recommended hiking boots is designed to help you find the best leather hiking boots... for you.

Towards that end, Hiking Feet more or less mirrors what I did as the footwear manager at an outdoor gear shop. My “short lists” help you narrow your choices down to the few best options in a specific niche of hiking footwear–in this case, the best leather hiking boots. I can’t fit you online (obviously), but my mini-reviews suggest "best matches" and "best fits" to help you pinpoint pairs most likely to match where you hike and how you hike and to fit your unique feet. 

Have you found your next hiking boot? If so, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links above. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). These commissions fund this site (and compensate me for the hundreds of unpaid hours I spent creating free content to help you buy the right hiking boots or shoes). If this site hooked you up with good intel and good recommendations, please consider hooking me up, too. Thanks, I appreciate it!