Hiking Boots: How to Choose in 2026

Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer or just gearing up for your very first outdoor adventure, the right hiking boots can make all the difference — giving you comfort, safety and an unforgettable experience on every trip.

These days, though, there’s a huge range of hiking boots out there. So how do you make sense of it all and find the pair that’s perfect for your needs?

In this article, I’ll walk you through what to look for when choosing hiking boots and which factors to weigh up, so you can pick the best possible footwear for the trail.

How to choose hiking boots

When choosing hiking boots, always keep these basic factors in mind:

• who’ll be wearing them (woman, man, child),
• what activities you’ll use them for (everyday wear around town, running, hiking, climbing),
• in what conditions you’ll wear them (summer sunshine, all weathers or extreme conditions),
• what terrain you’ll tackle (pavement, unpaved trails, mountains, rock, snow),
• and whether you have any special requirements (sweaty feet, preferred material, high instep, etc.).

Once you’ve got a rough idea about these questions, we can move on to the different types of hiking boots.

To make things easier, I’ve rated the specific hiking boots mentioned in this article. You’ll find the rankings in the table below:

⚠️TIP: Have a read of our article on the best trekking boots. You’re sure to find a pair you love. 😉

Types of hiking boots

Hiking footwear comes in several different types.

By gender

Naturally, hiking boots are split by gender into men’s, women’s and children’s pairs. The main differences come down to the boots being shaped to suit the anatomical differences between genders, and of course their look and colour schemes.

For the ladies, for example, I’d recommend the Vectiv Exploris 2 Mid Futurelight, and for the men the Terreno High boots. For kids, I’d go with the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Low A/C Wtpf hiking boots.

You might also like: What travel gear to pack

By cuff height

Hiking boots are also distinguished by the height of the cuff, namely low-cut and high-cut. You may also come across a mid and ankle-height split.

Low-cut boots tend to be lighter, while high-cut ones are usually heavier — but they’ll protect you from ankle injuries. So low-cut hiking boots are better suited to less demanding activities, whereas high-cut boots are more at home in tougher terrain.

Among low-cut hiking boots, I’d recommend:

• Adidas Terrex Eastrail 2,
• Rapida Evo GTX,
• Merrell Trail Glove 7 A/C.

And for high-cut hiking boots, reach for:

• Desert Light O1 Boot,
• Hanwag Lhasa II Wide Lady,
• Regatta Samaris III Jnr.

By terrain

Hiking boots are also categorised by the terrain you’ll be wearing them in.

• Walking shoes (for example the Black Diamond M Circuit 2): Designed for easy terrain such as surfaced paths, parks or city strolls. This group includes lightweight outdoor shoes, trail-running shoes and trekking sandals. They have a soft sole and are very comfortable — ideal for shorter, less demanding outings.
• Lightweight trekking boots (for example the Ducan Low GTX®): Boots in this category have a stiffer sole than walking shoes, yet stay fairly soft and comfortable. They’re usually higher, giving better protection against twisting your ankle. Great for surfaced paths and less demanding trekking.
• Trekking boots: This category covers sturdy boots with a stiffer sole, perfect for unpaved trails and moderately demanding terrain. They’re suited to hikes with a heavier rucksack and to multi-day mountain trips, offering solid support and protection. Take a look at: Island Active MFS.
• Mountain boots (for example the Hanwag Alta Bunion II GTX): Tough, robust boots often made from full-grain leather. They usually feature a high rand that shields the boot from mechanical damage. These are ideal for demanding trekking with a heavy pack, scrambling over scree and crossing glaciers.
• High-altitude mountaineering boots: These are made for alpine hiking and technically demanding terrain, including glaciers and snow-and-ice climbing. Built from durable materials, they have a heel groove for attaching semi-automatic crampons. For high-altitude hiking I recommend the La Sportiva TX5 GTX.
• Climbing and expedition boots (for example the Ultra Raptor II Mid Leather GTX): Footwear for extreme conditions, designed primarily for mountaineering and expeditions. These boots are often insulated, made from durable materials and fitted with grooves for fully automatic crampons at both the heel and toe. They’re built for vertical terrain and climbing.
• Approach shoes: These are designed for getting to climbing walls and via ferratas. Approach shoes are low-cut with a fairly stiff midsole and a special sole construction at the toe (the so-called climbing zone) that gives good contact with rock or the steel elements on via ferratas. For these purposes I recommend the Salewa Ws Mtn Trainer 2 GTX.

Which material to choose for hiking boots

Hiking boots are mostly made from three main materials: synthetics, textile and leather — or a combination of synthetic material and leather.

A textile upper has several advantages. The boots are lighter, mould to your foot better, dry faster and tend to be more affordable than full-leather options. If they’re fitted with a membrane, they can also be waterproof. On the downside, they have a shorter lifespan and lower durability, which deteriorates with heavy use. If you prefer textile boots, I’d recommend the low-cut Regatta Samaris.

Leather offers greater durability, a longer lifespan and better water resistance compared with textile materials — though it usually comes with more weight, a higher price and lower breathability. Beautiful and functional leather hiking boots are the Regatta Burrell Leather.

And if you prefer synthetics — which give a hiking boot durability, water resistance and light weight above all — then check out the Cloudrock 2 Waterproof or the Terrex Swift R3 Mid Adidas.

How to choose the right size and try boots on

You should try boots on in the afternoon or towards the end of the day, when your feet are at their largest and slightly swollen, to mimic the conditions you’ll face on the trail. It’s also worth bringing along the socks you plan to hike in, so the fitting matches real conditions as closely as possible.

When trying on hiking boots, walk around, check that they sit well around the heel and instep, and make sure you have enough room for your toes. The boots should be about 1 cm bigger than your actual size.

If you feel any pressure, rubbing or other discomfort, the boots probably don’t fit properly. That can lead to blisters or other problems on longer outings.

Frequently asked questions