A key piece of kit you will need for your hiking adventures are of course a good solid pair of hiking boots or trail shoes. No matter where you plan to hike, you need something reliable and solid on your feet that will keep you comfortable. Above we link to our top hiking boot recommendations.
Some Tips Before you Buy
As with rain Jackets, there are so many quality hiking boot options available these days, it is worth taking some time to consider what you will be using your trusty hiking boots for.
It’s worth noting that there are many different qualities you can look for in a hiking boot depending on the environment you’re hiking in, e.g. different size cuts, technical capabilities, etc., and, most importantly, what function you need your boots for.
With that in mind, if you’re new to hiking and have never bought hiking boots before, check out the guide on how to choose hiking boots or shoes. That will walk you through all the many things you need to consider when choosing a pair of hiking boots or shoes.
It's also worth stating that in my opinion, there is no such thing as ‘the best hiking boots’ in some kind of universal context. While you can get pretty close to a hiking boot that works well for many, there will always be a significant portion of people for whom the boots just don’t work. Foot sizes differ, tastes differ, hiking styles differ, etc. etc. In summary, Hiking Boots, like any pair of boots or shoes, are a truly unique thing for each individual.
So, what I am listing above is my opinion based on various factors e.g. personal experience, user reviews, etc. However, it’s just possible that what I have listed may not be the best option for you in that category. I hope that doesn’t sound contradictory but what I want to do first and foremost is provide you with good information to help you make an informed decision.
If you'd like to see more hiking boot options, I suggest you check out the best men's hiking boots or the best women's hiking boots. These list out some of the best hiking boot options available in the market today. There, you will find a whole host of other excellent hiking boot options, which are all top performers with good user ratings. Again, you can follow the links on those pages to learn more about a specific pair of boots.
Trail Shoes
The final section on this page shows my favorite trail shoe option. I have to be honest and say that I don’t hike a lot in trail shoes, that is I don't use them to hike in mountains and on the trail that much. I do use trail shoes nearly every day but mainly for normal day to day use. Don’t know what it is, but I prefer my hiking boots for the days on the hills and my trail shoes for knocking about in. I am still very demanding of them though!
Best Trail Shoes
Perfect for trail hiking in Spring and Summer, trail shoes are a great option when appropriate to wear. The best option is the Lowa Lo Renegade II GTX Hiking Shoes.
I bought the Men's Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo Hiking Shoe's about three months back and I have been very pleased with them. They are comfortable and very sturdy. They've kept my feet dry and comfortable so far this winter and I expect them to last a long time.
I was initially interested in these shoes as the Lowa Renegade GTX Hiking Boots, shown above, have been a top performer with many happy customers for some time now so I wanted to see if the same level of quality would pass into the hiking shoes. I can confirm that to be the case.
They retail at the high end of the scale so definitely in the higher range for a pair of hiking shoes so quality would be expected for sure.
Pros: Comfortable and very sturdy, minimal break-in period, great grip, good multi-purpose hiking shoes
Cons: Definitely a bit heavier and bulkier than other trail shoes
Best Uses: Hiking, day-to-day use
Learn more about the Lowa Men's Renegade II GTX Lo for men here.
Conclusion
OK, so that’s it for now. I hope you found this information useful and it helps you in the process of choosing the right pair of hiking boots or shoes for your needs. Take your time and educate yourself well in the process and, most importantly, be clear about what you need your hiking boots or shoes for.
If you just like to walk your dog in low hills all year round, you don’t really need a pair of full on backpacking boots … you can if you really want to though of course 🙂 You get the idea though, knowing what you need them for is key.
I'll be updating this page as things change but these are my recommendations for now. Happy hiking!