Whether it’s late winter and the snow is melting, or summer, and the flowers are blooming, you want to get out there and hike. I get it. Trekking through nature, spotting wildlife, and gazing at still lakes is so rejuvenating. But, your adventure will be more enjoyable with the right pair of shoes.
I’ve been hiking for about 25 years but consider myself a casual hiker. That’s why I asked 28 additional hikers with a combined experience of almost 340 years, what they considered the best hiking shoe. Our hikers’ answers resulted in a list of five top hiking shoes for men and women. Some of our hiking peers changed shoes according to the season, and others, wore the same shoe year-round. Answers were varied, but several brands really stood out.
Read on and discover what these outdoors people thought worked best in terms of comfort, material, support, traction, intended trail use, and more. The list is ordered in terms of popularity and includes shoes that hikers wear year-round.
Women’s Shoes
Over and over again, our group of female hikers stressed the importance of comfort, support, weight, and waterproofing in a hiking shoe. Also mentioned was the importance of warmth, traction, and durability. Just one female hiker mentioned the material and style, but many agreed that they prefer a mid or high shoe/boot for support. I like what one young hiker said to me: “Sneakers with good soles and traction just don’t cut it for me. It makes me feel more confident in my step to wear a hiking boot with my ankles cocooned.”
While we were able to pick out three clear winners, some hikers also mentioned a few other brands. These include The North Face (for the perfect fit), L.L. Bean (for price and durability), and Timberland (for combining purpose with style).
Female hikers seem to know what they need and want on the trail. Here are their top three choices in order of preference:
Salomon
Salomon is the top hiking shoe for our female hikers. It’s certainly a popular brand. In fact, the company website states that Salomon is the European leader in outdoor sports equipment. Salomon has been a subsidiary of Amer Sports since 2019 but was founded in the French Alps by Georges Salomon in 1947. Today, the company claims that by wearing their shoes, hikers can “Stay warm and dry in the toughest conditions.”
Our female hikers seem to value Salomon footwear for the same reasons. They particularly like the boots that are fitted with Gore-Tex. Models such as the X Ultra Trek Gore-Tex and Quest 4d 3 GTX are favorites (the latter is actually a backpacking shoe.) Both models are mid-level boots that appear to have aggressive traction and good waterproof protection.
Vasque
Our female hikers have good things to say about Vasque Footwear. Founded in 1964 by an American who was inspired by the hiking craze in Europe, Vasque has grown to be more than a family company. The footwear gurus claim to have achieved excellence while remaining true to company traditions.
Just two of our female friends shared the Vasque shoe model that they wear. These hikers live in Northern U.S.A and prefer the Vasque Talus XT GTX and Vasque Snowblime Ultradry boots. Hiker One told us that she prefers these boots because “they are U.S.A. made, waterproof, and extremely comfortable.” She also shared that she appreciates the support of the boot while still remaining lightweight. While Hiker One has traveled the globe in these boots, Hiker Two usually hikes in a very cold climate with tough terrain. For these locales, she prefers the Snowblime boot. Our hiker shared that with the benefit of the boot’s 200g Thinsulate, paired with thick merino wool socks, her “feet stay plenty warm even in subzero temperatures.”
Merrell
Fewer of our female hikers chose the Merrell over Salomon or Vasque, but the ones that did were big fans. The Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof model rose to the top of the list. One of our hiking friends says that she truly values the grip of the shoe: “[It] is great on steep surfaces and the shoe is stable, so you’re less likely to roll an ankle.” Overall, in addition to keeping their feet dry, our hikers value the versatility, durability, and comfort of the shoe. Many more of the male hikers in our group chose this shoe as their favorite.
Men’s Shoes
Merrell
Just over 35-percent of our male hikers chose Merrell. Since this brand appears on both lists, I wondered why the shoe was so popular. You see, I’ve never worn the brand myself. I know that while our hikers are all big fans, not all hikers are. In my own experience with a family member and in reading other reviews, some hikers relate that they feel the quality has gone down over time. Still, the majority of our male hikers agree with many other reviewers on the web. They feel that Merrell ranks high in stability, durability, and comfort. Favorites of our group include the Ontario 85 X and Moab 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boot. Both of these boots are waterproof, a major factor for most of our hikers. I agree!
The company states that they strive to “provide thoughtfully designed, rigorously tested products.” Merrell was originally founded in 1981 by two executives of a skiwear company and a luxury shoe designer. Today, the American company is owned by Wolverine World Wide which sells its products in 151 countries across the globe.
It’s a Tie!
Our male hikers are looking for shoes that offer good support, durability, warmth, and traction on hard and muddy surfaces. So, the next three brands came in as a tie for second place. While they mentioned a few other brands like OKIY, Topo, Hoka, and the Red Head hiking sandals from Bass Pro Shop, our three, clear, second-place brands are Vasque, Danner, and Salomon. We’ve already mentioned Vasque and Salomon in the women’s section of this article, but Danner is a new choice.
For just under a century, Danner has crafted boots for work and play. The company is based out of Portland, Oregon, and states that their boots are made “…for adventure, exploration, and hard work.” Originally crafted for loggers, today, the company is a favorite with those who can afford to pay $150.00 to $400.00 per pair. (Note that this is right within the range of other brands.)
One of our male hikers shared why he loved the boot so much, saying “I hike in the Canadian Rockies. I use a pair of Danner Mountain 600s. They are incredibly comfortable, stylish, waterproof, and light for a full leather waterproof boot.” He added that he felt they had a long life. His boots would have survived longer if they hadn’t become a casualty of a rogue ember from a campfire! Still, he walked 700km in those leather boots. The Mountain 600 is offered with or without insulation; however, the insulation is not Gore-Tex but rather, 200g PrimaLoft
We learned about the Merrell and Salomon companies, as well as the general attributes of their footwear, in the women’s section. But what did our male hikers have to say about the brands?
A few of the men in the group like that Salomon insulates their boots with Gore-Tex. One male says that although the boot is comfortable and looks good, he also appreciates that Gore-Tex utilizes a lightweight, breathable material that is also waterproof. One of our Vasque fans prefers the Talus XT GTX Hiking Shoe. It too is insulated with Gore-Tex and is valued by our hiker because of its mid-range cost, leather uppers, and good traction.
Well, there you have it: the top hiking shoes recommended by your peers. Do you think another shoe/boot should have made the list? Write to us at ruschtotheoutdoors@gmail.com. Or, if you prefer, leave a comment on our Facebook page. Not on Facebook? Send us a message through Twitter or Instagram. We love hearing from our readers.
The following hikers provided information for this story:
Instagram: @hann_burglar, @avghiker, @TheBackcountryGuys @campbrood, @gilltravelstheworld, @trekkingmidwest, @homeiswherewehike, @agatosavannahs_hikes, @hike_witmealex, @greatnessoutdoors, @feelin.outdoorsy, @the_chronic_explorer, @outside.emily, @kb.hikes @brooke_themountainsarecalling @outsidewithchamp @chasing_trail_, @john.santa.121, @hikewithsummer, @outdooradventuresfitness, @trailsdetails, @hikingwithshawn, @hikewithmike_oc, @middle_aged_hiker_trash
Twitter: @TheNextSummitA1, @gyllenswan @Fatmanlittletrail
References
Photo Credits
Dreamtime (Cover)
Hannah Rusch
Pexels
Vasque