The best men’s hiking boots for every style and foot type
Whether you're an experienced hiker or a beginner, want to pound the trails or simply look stylish, we round up the absolute best hiking boots you can buy
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THANKS IN PART to gropcore, hiking boots have never been trendier. The past couple of years have seen the outdoor shoes get their high fashion revamp – be they brand collaborations with hiking brands or designer versions with the four-figure price tag – where they’ve trickled into an urbanite’s everyday rotation. Their appeal? Not as quotidian as a sneaker, or dressy like a loafer. They signal that you may perhaps lead an active, outdoorsy lifestyle (even though they haven’t seen a speck of dirt), and their technical and durable design are a bonus for foot health – you’re ready for any terrain.
But beyond traversing cityscapes, what should you look for in a pair of hiking boots? Key things to know are that maximising toe box space and wearing boots with ankle support are essential. This is important for those long-distance trails where your foot endurance and comfort will be tested; you want to pick a shoe where your toes can wiggle around and space out. And for those who are just getting into it, blister-prevention wool socks are a faster way to break in shoes fresh out of the box.
With these practicalities in mind, we compiled the best for all foot types and feature preferences. And like everything we do, we of course considered style: from your gorpiest to the classic look. Scroll on for Esquire’s picks for your next hiking boots.
Esquire‘s guide to the best men’s hiking boots:
The best hiking boots overall: Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX
The wide feet pick: Altra Lone Peak All-Weather Mid 2
The narrow feet pick: Salomon Quest Element GTX
The waterproof pick: On Cloudrock 2 Waterproof
The flat feet pick: Merrell Moab 3 Mid
The lightweight pick: Acrux TR BTX boot
The best for plantar fasciitis: Keen Targhee IV Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots
Best men’s hiking boots overall: Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX
Salomons aren’t just the gorpcore shoe du jour, the brand also has a long history of outfitting mountaineering types for the French Alps. Because of their popularity in the fashion world as of late, it naturally brings into question whether it’s a shoe brand that brings together style and function: is Salomon a good brand for hiking?
If you ask the right people (i.e. not the guy in front of you in line for his flat white), experienced hikers can attest to the brand’s shoes carrying them for thousands of kilometres. The X Ultra range is a notable pick for their versatility: catering to ambitious missions or casual beginner day trips, the model ticks boxes for comfort and durability for a variety of terrain. Think of the X Ultra 4 like this: they’re flexible like a sneaker, and with their Gore-Tex outer and mid-ankle rise, they’re built with the protection and toughness for hiking.
Best men’s hiking boots for wide feet: Altra Lone Peak All-Weather Mid 2
Known for their roomy toe boxes – tech they call ‘FootShape’ – hiking boots from Utah-based Altra are out picks for those with wide feet. Considering how your toes move is important, you want to provide enough space for them to spread out naturally. With their FootShape, this model also keeps the big toe in a straight position. The shoe is also built flat, meaning there is no arch support here (consider getting insoles), and there is no elevation in the heel. One of the lighter picks on the list, their lightweight design also accommodates trail runners.
Best men’s hiking boots for narrow feet: Salomon Quest Element GTX
Shoes from the French brand are built on the narrower side. General advice for hiking boots is to size up, so even for those with narrow feet, the extra space is enough allowance for your feet to relax into them (and wool socks will take up the rest of the space). This Salomon model is especially built for tough terrain designed to stabilise your feet for a secure and precise fit.
Best men’s waterproof hiking boots: On Cloudrock 2 Waterproof
A key feature to any hiking and outdoor shoe is that it’s waterproof. Back when man did without the comforts of engineered garments to brave the elements, oiled and waxed leather was the bread and butter to staying dry. Then came the creation of Gore-Tex, a water-repellent yet breathable woven fabric, making itself a key feature of waterproof outdoor gear. Today, most of the best hiking footwear has adopted the technical fabric, but On’s Cloudrock 2 takes the cake: using three layers of the fabric membrane that water droplets practically roll off. This version of the Cloud shoe is also an updated model with added heel stability and a reinforced collar for a secured fit around the ankle.
Best men’s hiking boots for flat feet: Merrell Moab 3 Mid
Flat footed folk know the woes of running shoes into the ground faster than anyone. Merrell’s Moab 3 shoe is built like a brick (without the weight of one) to last hundreds of kilometres worth of trails. For starters, the Vibram outsole provides excellent traction for wet and dry terrain, as well as more of that Gore-Tex protection we’ve touched upon so far. But it’s the supportive insole and cushioned midsole that’s a key feature for flat footed hikers.
Best men’s lightweight hiking boots: Acrux TR BTX boot
Best known for their Gore-Tex shells you’ve seen more on the streets, that same mission to implement the fabric membrane into all wardrobe essentials is extended to their hiking boots, too. The Acrux TR BTX boots weigh in at 550 grams, with their focus on lightweight and packable design over durability. Not to say durability is lacking here, the brand’s SuperFabric uses micro-plated technology to deliver abrasion resistance while still keeping it lightweight. Gore-Tex, of course, is ever present here for waterproof protection.
Best men’s hiking boots for plantar fasciitis: Keen Targhee IV Waterproof Mid Hiking Boots
An upgrade to their version three model, Keen’s Targhee IV boots are for the recreational hiker who wants to go for longer day adventures. Known for their exceptional arch support and cushioning, the model will keep plantar fasciitis at the back of your mind. Probably the most crafty pair on the list, its glue-free construction ensures durability for years. And not that it took until the last pair on our list, Keen has also considered that hiking is still a perspiring activity, the shoes use a pesticide-free odour control – the freshest hiker on the trail.
Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
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