Hiking Shoes Buying Guide (2027)

Low-cut shoes free the ankle, dry faster, weigh less and feel like trainers on maintained trails. Boots brace the ankle, protect against rocks and carry heavy packs better on rough ground. The deciding factors are terrain and load: marked trails with a day pack belong to shoes, while off-trail routes, loose scree and heavy packs belong to boots. Hikers who do both should own both, and start with shoes if most of their walking is on paths.

Waterproof membranes keep rain and mud out but trap heat and dry slowly once water enters over the collar. Breathable shoes stay cool and dry fast but soak through in rain. Wet climates, boggy ground and cold seasons justify a membrane shoe like the X Ultra 5 GTX or Targhee 4; dry climates and summer hiking suit breathable shoes like the Speedgoat 6 and Hierro V8. There is no shoe that does both well, so choose by the weather you actually hike in.

Fit hiking shoes with the socks you will hike in, standing up, with a thumb's width ahead of the longest toe and no heel slip on a slope. Feet swell during hikes, so a snug shop fit becomes a tight trail fit by afternoon. Width matters as much as length: KEEN lasts run wide, Salomon lasts run snug, Merrell sits between. If the forefoot pinches in the shop, it will hurt more on descents, so change the shoe, not your expectations.

Outsole rubber and lug pattern decide grip more than brand names do. Contagrip, Vibram Megagrip, Vibram TC5+ and KEEN all-terrain rubber all grip well on dry trails and separate on wet rock and mud, where deeper lugs and softer compounds hold better. For wet, rocky routes, prioritise a shoe with proven wet traction like the X Ultra or XA Pro lines; for dry, maintained trails, almost any lug pattern in this guide grips well enough.

Weight, cushioning and break-in pull against each other. Light shoes with soft foam feel great immediately but wear faster and protect less; heavier leather shoes need break-in but last longer and support more. Trail runners need almost no break-in, while leather shoes need a few short walks first. Budget a break-in week for leather shoes, expect none for mesh runners, and never take a brand-new shoe on a long hike, whatever its type.