Compare ankle support, waterproofing and break-in
Light, grippy boots that need little break-in
Minimal break-in requiredContagrip outsoles for mixed terrainQuicklace systems on many modelsLight for the support offeredWide range from trail shoe to boot
Comfortable out of the box at fair prices
Comfortable with little break-inWide fit options on many modelsVibram outsoles across the rangeWaterproof and ventilated versionsAccessible pricing
Resolable boots built for heavy loads
Built for carrying heavy packsMany models can be resoledLeather construction with long service lifePrecise European fitPremium pricing
Rebuildable American-made boots
Several models are rebuildableFull-grain leather constructionMade in the USA on selected linesStrong heritage stylingLonger break-in on leather models
Technical boots for steep and rocky ground
Designed for technical mountain terrainPrecise fit for scramblingCrampon compatibility on several modelsSticky rubber compoundsNarrower fit than most brands| Product | Salomon 9.6 | Merrell 9.1 | Lowa 8.5 | Danner 8.0 | La Sportiva 7.4 |
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| Highlights | Minimal break-in required · Contagrip outsoles for mixed terrain · Quicklace systems on many models · Light for the support offered · Wide range from trail shoe to boot | Comfortable with little break-in · Wide fit options on many models · Vibram outsoles across the range · Waterproof and ventilated versions · Accessible pricing | Built for carrying heavy packs · Many models can be resoled · Leather construction with long service life · Precise European fit · Premium pricing | Several models are rebuildable · Full-grain leather construction · Made in the USA on selected lines · Strong heritage styling · Longer break-in on leather models | Designed for technical mountain terrain · Precise fit for scrambling · Crampon compatibility on several models · Sticky rubber compounds · Narrower fit than most brands |
Editorially scored by our research team.
Every score out of 10 is assigned by our editors from published pricing, features, fees, coverage and support terms — not from user-submitted reviews. Scores are our own opinion and change as products change. Read our full methodology.
Salomon is our top-scoring pick in Hiking Boots, at 9.6/10 — it highlights “Minimal break-in required”.
Merrell scores 9.1 and is the one to compare against it — it highlights “Comfortable with little break-in”.
Both scores are our editors’ assessment of published specifications, pricing and terms against the criteria in our rating methodology — they are not aggregated customer reviews.
The single most useful question is how much weight you will carry, because that determines how much support you need underfoot.
Trail shoes and light hikers suit day walks with a light pack. They are lighter, cooler and need almost no breaking in, and they flex more.
Mid-weight boots with a stiffer midsole suit multi-day walking with a moderate pack — the extra stiffness stops your foot fatiguing over rough ground.
Backpacking and mountaineering boots are stiff enough to carry heavy loads and to take crampons. They are heavy and unpleasant for a gentle day walk.
The common error is buying more boot than the walking requires. A stiff mountaineering boot on a summer day hike is heavy, hot and no safer.
A waterproof membrane keeps water out and also slows moisture escaping, so feet get warmer and damper inside. In persistent wet and cold that trade is clearly worth it. In hot dry conditions it is often not — non-waterproof boots breathe far better and dry far faster when they do get wet.
Worth knowing: once water comes over the top of a waterproof boot, it stays in. A membrane boot that floods takes considerably longer to dry than a ventilated one.
Membranes also need maintenance. The outer fabric's water-repellent treatment wears off and needs reproofing, and a boot that "wets out" feels like it is leaking even when the membrane is intact.
Sizing for boots differs from everyday shoes, and this is where most discomfort originates.
Size up by roughly half a size from your normal shoe. Feet swell over a day's walking, and descending drives the foot forward — the classic symptom of a boot that is too short is bruised or lost toenails after a long descent.
Try boots on in the afternoon, when your feet are already slightly swollen, wearing the socks you will actually walk in. Sock thickness changes fit more than people expect.
The check that matters: with the boot unlaced, slide your foot fully forward until your toes touch the end — you should fit a finger behind your heel. Then lace properly and walk a slope if the shop has one. Your heel should stay put; if it lifts, the boot will give you blisters regardless of anything else.
Width matters as much as length. Several manufacturers offer wide fittings, and a wide foot squeezed into a standard last will never be comfortable.
Full-grain leather is most durable and water-resistant, heaviest, and needs a genuine break-in period. It also moulds to your foot over time and can often be resoled, which makes it economical over many years.
Split leather and synthetic mixes are lighter, cheaper and comfortable almost immediately, and wear out sooner.
Whatever you buy, break it in before a long walk — several short outings first. The idea that boots should be painful until they soften belongs to an era of stiffer leather; a modern boot that hurts in the shop will hurt on the hill.
Deeper, more widely spaced lugs shed mud and grip soft ground; shallower patterns suit hard rock and trails. A pronounced heel brake helps on descents.
Sole stiffness should match the load, as above. A useful test is trying to flex the boot by hand — a day-hiking boot should bend at the ball of the foot, while a load-carrying boot should barely flex.
Socks matter nearly as much as boots. Wool or synthetic blends manage moisture; cotton holds it against the skin and causes blisters.
Consider resoleability if you walk often — a resolable boot costs more and can last through several sole replacements, which changes the long-term economics entirely.
Sizing, fit and construction vary considerably between manufacturers. Try boots on before buying where possible, and confirm current specifications and width options with the manufacturer.