10 Best Hiking Shoes In 2021

With impressive padding that ensures comfort and a sculpted insole that provides foot support, Salomon Men’s X Ultra 3 Low GTX is the best hiking shoes on our list for those who are into trail running and recreational hiking. They are tough, lightweight, and provide great traction on a variety of footing even in wet conditions. Since these hikers' shoes are one of the top-rated lightweight shoes in the market, Salomon is perfect for casual to typical hiking sessions.

Design

With Gore-Tex waterproof bootie liners to ensure breathing and protection till ankles, Salomon X comes with a textile and synthetic upper layer and an injected EVA midsole that is supported by a contagrip rubber outsole. This helps you in gripping the terrain more aggressively. Additionally, these hiker shoes from Salomon X feature mudguards and integrated rubber toe caps for added durability and have a single pull lace system, that enables you to tie it firmly in no time.

Performance

Lightweight and flexible, these trail running shoes from Salomon X have a list of features that ensure a top-class performance. Designed as waterproof, these outdoor shoes have a foam cushioning around the chassis and specific Ortholite foam on the heals for extra comfort and stabilization. As it uses soft textile linings, the surface wicks the moisture away and keeps your feet dry. With a flexible and perfectly placed tongue gussets that block debris from getting inside, they are anatomically sculpted to hold your feet in place and prevent slippage for more stable descents.

Featuring an extremely capable and popular design that offers the perfect support for long hikes, Keen Men's Targhee II is the editor’s choice for its extra toe protection and heavy waterproof breathable membrane. They are a solid choice for light to medium backpacking trips and rugged day hikes. Moreover, they have a nubuck leather as the top surface and a top-notch four eyelet lacing system that makes these trail shoes perfect for hiking sessions in cold weather.

Design

With a nubuck leather and mesh combination covering the top surface that results in a dry, waterproof and breathable membrane, each shoe comes with three parts; a dual-density compression-molded EVA midsole, a torsion stability ESS, and a proprietary rubber outsole. Though the pair is designed to be heavy and stiff, it has a flexible forefoot and features an added layer of density from the heel to the forward end of the arch for a stiffer midfoot. Adding on, these trail running shoes have a lug pattern on the rubber sole to offer high traction and ensure a large amount of surface area contact.

Performance

On the performance front, the heavy-duty outdoor shoes have a classic and durable build that offers impressive foot support and comfort. With an internal support mechanism that is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the original form of the foot, each shoe has a well-padded tongue, a balanced footbed, and a roomy toe. Adding on, it has a beefy rubber toe cover and stiff soles to quell discomfort and add protection on pointy, rocky terrain. On top of all, it has a top-notch four eyelet lacing system that secures the shoe on your foot firmly and lets your forefoot to be loose in no time when you need a break.

Designed with Columbia Techlite material that provides superior cushioning for impact absorption and maximum comfort while navigating aggressive terrain, Columbia Men’s Redmond Waterproof Low Shoes are the most budget-friendly shoes on our list for its quality-oriented and lightweight construction. Offering impressive breathability and resistance against water, these trail walking shoes are the perfect pick for someone who is looking for a budget-friendly option that is suitable for short, easy trails or yard work.

Design

Coming from a renowned brand such as Columbia, these shoes are constructed with proprietary material for top quality waterproof lining and soles at different levels. The upper layer of each shoe is a combination of suede leather, mesh, and webbing with an Omni-Tech waterproof breathable membrane. For the midsole, the shoe uses lightweight Techlite material and likewise an Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber for the outsole. Featuring a round heel shape, this low-top hiking shoe from Columbia has narrow forefoot width and ankle collar height but enough to give a firm fit using its lacing system.

Performance

Whether it is comfort, support, or traction Columbia performs decently in each dimension. For extended comfort and support, it has a padded tongue and has an impressive waterproof and breathable membrane that ensures the right air circulation around your foot and restricts the water to enter inside. Moreover, the included cushioning inside the shoe is great in absorbing impact while navigating aggressive terrain. With all that, each shoe has a multi-terrain traction system that provides an ideal grip to specific environments such as ice and snow. Considering the price, the design, performance, as well as the style, these outdoor shoes impress several hikers who need an option for regular and casual outings.

Offering out-of-the-box comfort and outstanding ventilation, Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator grab their spot on our list for a durable leather construction that is supported by comfortable footbeds and Vibram® traction, thus makes it a choice for anyone who is looking for an all-round performer for short to moderate trailing ventures without encountering water. Justifying its name “Moab” meaning Mother-Of-All-Boots, these trail shoes help you in challenging your limits on abusive trails or in soggy conditions.

Design

Crafted with leather that comes from a tannery that has a gold rating by the Leather Working Group, each shoe comes with a thick upper that is made up of suede leather and mesh lining with an EVA midsole, a nylon shank, and a Vibram TC5+ outsole that has a 5mm lug depth for grip. Additionally, it has a molded nylon arch shanks to add stability while you are on the move. To secure such a heavy design on your foot, it includes thick and rounded laces that are like a cord and has contoured footbeds with zonal arch to keep the shoe on its place even when you pace up on a trail.

Performance

With extra protective rubber toe caps to ensure safety, these trail running shoes come with a wide forefoot that is flexible, you can easily find the right balance on the even on tough terrain. Adding on, its closed-cell foam tongues keep moisture and debris out while the EVA midsoles and included Merrell air cushion heels help you in absorbing shock and adds more stability. Adding to its performance is the mesh on the top of the shoes that is one of the best in class for keeping the foot breathable. Despite having a low ankle collar and a membrane that is not waterproof, Merrell is one of the highly recommended ones, if you prefer hiking in dry and warm environments.

With a low-cut design with a sporty shoe appearance, Vasque Men's Juxt Multi-Sport Shoes is a perfect option that is a great option for hikers who plan on mostly sticking to dry trails. It comes with a durable construction that provides enough stability and dry traction for casual outings and promises a long-lasting life. Like most of the shoes from Vasque, these shoes are also available in different sizes that fit medium to wide feet. Light in weight, Vasque is a pick for you if you want to add some more style to your next outdoor strolling.

Design

With a highly tunable lace system that has eight alternating traditional eyes and webbing loops for adjusting the tightness of the lacing better than most shoes, these pair of shoes have a sporty appearance and feature a 1.6 mm suede leather as an upper layer that is supported with a molded rubber toe cap. With that, the midsole consists of molded EVA above a TPU plate for the shank while the outsole is made of rubber sole that is proprietary to Vasque. On top of all, the hiker shoe has collar foam and wicking lining that makes it perfect for long hikes or trail running.

Performance

From smaller and angular lugs that are along the perimeter to the firm off the Grid rubber outsole, these shoes have everything to ensure excellent traction on dry surfaces. With depression in the heel, each shoe has a molded TPU plate that increases midfoot stability while the low profile, molded EVA midsole offers excellent ground feel without sacrificing comfort. Thanks to its minimal padding around the opening that is ideal for making flexible moves, these shoes give a great feel around the ankle. Furthermore, despite having no waterproof lining, they come with small vent holes throughout its plushy mesh and suede tongue, which makes them one of the most breathable shoes on our list. 

KEEN Men's Voyageur is another top-rated lightweight hiking shoe on our list that have high-grade construction for durability, flexibility, and breathability. They give a comfortable fit and feature leather uppers with polyester mesh for improved ventilation, making them the right option for trail running sessions in dry and warm geography. With an aggressive rubber sole to offer excellent traction in the dirt and pretty sticky on rocks, these shoes for men are a nice grab to keep as back up or as a first buy for beginners.

Design

Featuring a secure-fit lace capture system with sturdy leather eyelets and heel wrap to help to lock of feet into footbeds, these trail walking shoes are designed to test the difficult grades of trails. With leather uppers with polyester mesh on the top surface for high breathability, KEEN features compression-molded EVA midsoles to offer shock-absorption. Adding on, the outsole for each shoe is crafted with non-marking carbon rubber that has an aggressive 4mm multidirectional lugs for long-wearing durability and superb terrain bite. What makes these shoes so perfect is the inclusion of supportive ESS plastic shanks to provide torsional stability and protection from uneven and rocky terrain.

Performance

With an impressive is its S3 (shock, suspension, stability) heel support structure to ensure feet support, dissipates shock, and reduces the chance of twisting an ankle, these shoes are known for their high standards of performance on dry trails. Featuring polyester linings that help in wicking moisture away, they offer impressive ventilation and keep your feet comfortable and dry. While the lacing system secures these shoes on your feet firmly, its webbing pull loops at heel and tongue allow easy entry/exit, and being padded its gusseted tongues keep out debris and moisture and relieve the lace pressure. Moreover, it has patented rubber toe bumpers protect your feet from bumps and abrasion and its rubber sole offers top-notch traction on several surfaces. Overall, with these pairs of shoes, you can be sure that your feet are dry, comfortable, and safe as you like them to be.

Impressively lightweight and offering firm grip over rock surface, Vasque Men's Grand Traverse Shoes gets their spot on our list for its flexible design that comes with a relatively flat Vibram Megagrip sole with some approach shoe like traction that makes it suitable for not only trail running but also for basic rock-climbing sessions. As these shoes are designed for hybrid hikers who like to go beyond conventional day hiking, this pair is an excellent choice unexposed desert scrambling where rocks may trouble its competitors.

Design

Designed for speed on a variety of terrain, these outdoor shoes have the best hiking shoes reviews for its hybrid style construction. Featuring a suede leather and a polyurethane-coated mesh on the top these shoes ensure awesome breathability when compared to all-leather models. With molded EVA midsole, each shoe comes with dual-density EVA footbeds to cushion your feet for long days on the trail. Moreover, the outer sole is made of Vasque’s dual-compound Vibram® Ibex rubber and together with rubber toe caps delivers excellent traction for hiking as well as basic edging and smearing on rocks.

Performance

Whether you're hiking established trails, scrambling wet slabs, or hustling down scree fields, these shoes are one solution for all and deliver an impressive performance in everything from hiking and approach to trail running. With their stand-out performance when gripping, these shoes give you the confidence to rip around rocky surfaces while you are out. Using the loops on the back to pull the shoes on or clipping them off to your harness, you receive a highly stable performance despite its low ankle height. Moreover, the suede leather on top of each shoe is relatively thin, and with mesh panels along the side and on the top of the shoe, it removes the warmth coming from the feet and keeps them dry. While the other shoes on the list are typical shoes, these are hybrid and can be used for occasional climbing as well.

Built using ultra-light materials that are combined to deliver a sleek and agile experience, Salomon Outline Low GTX is one of the best shoes for women on our list for their running-shoe like feel that comes with waterproof protection and popular Ortholite insole to keep you comfortable for miles on the trail. Offering decent protection till ankles and this pair of lightweight shoes are the perfect choice for anyone planning a trip with some light hiking or sightseeing in the mix.

Design

Designed to give a short shoe like appearance, the upper surface of these shoes is made of waterproof textile that is supported with GORE-TEX® waterproof liners, that are tested to keep you dry even in typical wet scenarios. While the midsole of each shoe is made of an injected EVA that is supported by a Thermoplastic polyurethane arch shank for added stability, the outer sole of these shoes is made of Solomon specific on marking Contagrip rubber with 5mm deep lugs in a reverse chevron pattern. Despite a low ankle height, these shoes are designed with durable tongues and a classic lace-up system that provide the utmost protection from water and other elements till a height of 3.25 inches above the ground.

Performance

One of the best shoes in its class, Salomon Outline Low GTX Shoes is a popular choice of hiking women for its lightweight and flexible construct that is integrated with a list of features. Featuring a textile-based upper surface, these shoes offer high resistance to water while ensuring enough breathability to keep feet dry and comfortable. While the included midfoot shanks provide stable and effortless movement to your feet, the outer sole provides a firm grip on both wet and dry surfaces, allowing you to increase and decrease the trail running pace. With protective toe caps and gusseted tongues, you can always be sure that your feet are fully guarded against rocks, roots, and other trail obstacles.

To provide a reliable grip with top-notch protection against the water, sharp rocks, and other elements of a technical trail, Salomon X Ultra 3 Low GTX get their spot on our list for their extremely popular ankle length design that comes with large, deep, and well-spaced lugs to ensure best in class traction on loose, muddy and slippery trails. With a durable construct and sufficient paddings, these shoes are built to enhance confidence on technical trails with tough descents, that is why are a great option for those who like to hike fast, cover a lot of miles, and challenge their limits.

 Design

Featuring one of the best designs for a typical hiking shoe, Salomon X Ultra 3 is sculpted for women's feet to hold them in place and prevent slippage for more stable descents. With a firm fitting narrow shape that comes with a textile upper layer and a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membrane. For the midsole, these shoes use molded EVA that can be injected for excellent cushioning under the foot. With that, each of these shoes come with a unique outsole pattern with a combination of 2 types of rubber that helps you grip terrain more aggressively and have specifically placed lines on the outsoles for increased flexibility. Last but not the least, these shoes include tongue gussets, mudguards, and integrated rubber toe caps that in combination provide excellent protection to your feet.

Performance

Whether it is protection, durability, excellent traction, comfort, or support, Salomon X Ultra 3 Low GTX Shoes for Hiking have been an all-time favorite choice of the women hiker community. The top layer of these shoes resists to water while the associated mesh keeps the right balance of air inside the shoes. Thanks to its advanced chassis that is surrounded by foam cushioning and supported by a specific Ortholite foam and contoured EVA heel cups, your feet are never short of comfort and support. On top of all these shoes have single-pull lacing that helps you in tying the shoes securely on your feet, thus allowing you to go for anything between a casual hike to a technical trail running.  

With rich leather overlays and high-quality seam-sealed construction that offer exceptional waterproofing even when submerged in water, Columbia Men's North Plains II grabs the last spot on our list for its comfortable fit and rugged style, that offers full ankle protection and keeps the feet stable even at a fast pace. Being light on weight and giving a tight fit, these waterproof hiking boots are the best choice for those who go frequently on trailing and hiking and prefer just a little more extra ankle support and water resistance.

Design

Measuring 4.5 inches from the footbed to the highest ankle point, these shoes for hiking come with 15 individual pieces of leather, sewn onto the synthetic mesh with single-seam stitches on the top that is supported by waterproof seam-sealed membrane booties. At the mid-layer, these shoes feature Techlite midsoles that are a trademark of Columbia and an Omni-grip outsole for top quality gripping on wet rocks as well as in the mud. Moreover, to secure the shoe on your feet and keep them protected, each shoe comes with a scratch rubber toe cap and a patented lace system, thus adding more sturdiness to the shoe.

Performance

To start with, Columbia North Plains II Mid is very lightweight and tight-fitting waterproof hiking boots that offer maximum protection, comfortable and support. On the upper surface, a very well-designed mesh that is supported by 15 individual pieces of leather is there so that breathability and water resistance is never an issue. Adding on, each shoe has an inner membrane that closely hugs the foot, each shoe comes with an ample cushioning at the downside. Although these shoes have a lot of features that add to its performance, its Omni-grip outsole is the most impressive one as it allows hikers to test his abilities on challenging trails.