Best Hiking & Adventure Boots for Men for 2024

There’s a huge range of hiking boots to choose from, from sturdy leather boots designed to tackle steep mountain passes to lightweight shoes more at home on the Italian Riviera. Finding the right pair for you means thinking carefully about what you want from your shoes and where you’ll be taking them.

If you’ll be primarily hiking on gentle country paths or carefully maintained forest trails, a hiking boot (like the Salewa Dropline GTX) might be a good choice; their lighter design makes them ideal for all-day wear. If you’ll be tackling rockier terrain — or simply prefer the extra ankle support — a mid-cut (or higher) boot like the On Shoes Cloudrock or Inov Rocfly G 345 GTX will offer more stability and sure-footedness.

Also consider the time of year and the weather. Some boots (like the Danner Mountain Pass Arctic Night) have thermal liners and soles designed specifically for snow and ice, while others (like the Erem XeroCole) are designed for breathability and comfort in warm conditions, like hiking the Arizona Trail.

While most hiking boots were made of leather, it is now more common to find boots made of synthetic fabrics. These can be lighter and more comfortable to wear (and easier to maintain), but can still provide excellent support for even strenuous, multi-day hikes. Leather boots are still widely available, however, and companies like Danner make excellent classic-looking leather boots that are comfortable and supportive over long distances.

If you’re likely to be hiking in wet conditions, look for Gore-Tex liners or other ‘own brand’ waterproof liners that the manufacturer may use. Be aware that ‘waterproof’ in boots rarely means ‘submersible’, so don’t expect to be standing in a river fishing all day and expect the water to stay out.

Finally, make sure you get the right fit. Some boots (like the Hanwag Tatra Wide) are specifically designed for people with wider foot shapes who have had trouble finding comfortable boots elsewhere. Most manufacturers offer sizing guidelines on their websites (“Fits true to size” or “Runs small”), so keep that in mind when considering fit.