The best boots for off-road walking depend on what you plan on doing, for how long, and in what conditions. It’s not a simple decision. There are, however, a few things you should know to make the process easier.
Firstly, what many of us think of as walking boots are really three-season boots. They’re all-rounders, good for anything except deep snow, waterproof and supportive. Modern boots are made from synthetic materials and lean toward trainers in their designs, they’re lightweight and easy to clean, and you can easily take them with you for a walk in the woods as well as on the fells.
Despite gravitating toward trainer-like looks, high ankle support is still worth having as it’s all too easy to put your foot on a rock and hurt yourself. Waterproofing is important too, as while you might not be walking through streams or fords, a wet patch of mud can ruin your day by leaving your foot squelchy and uncomfortable. Soles are also important, being thicker and stiffer than trainers and with a tough tread that can work on rock or grass.
A good fit is really important. Your toes need to be able to splay and wiggle without being tightly boxed in, otherwise, you’ll get tight spots which will rub and cause blisters. Modern synthetic fabrics are ready to go straight from the shop and don’t require wearing-in, though if you purchase a pair with leather components be aware these will change as they age, possibly becoming stiff if not cared for, but will eventually mould themselves to your feet in a way their synthetic counterparts cannot.
Selim Say, Vice President of Footwear for outdoor apparel retailer Jack Wolfskin, says: “It’s an exciting time to start hiking! Although the outdoor industry has made great strides in function, weight reduction and material innovation for years, there always seemed to be little new insight and overly rigid views about what kind of shoes should be worn, and how much protection and stability a hiking boot should offer.
“There’s been an influx of new hikers that bring a whole new set of needs. Never have there been so many lightweight, versatile, ergonomically well-developed hiking shoes and boots on offer. Traditional brands that have been practising their craft for decades are now being challenged and need to dust off their concepts to think outside of the box.”
Here, we implore you to follow in our footsteps, and try one of these inspiring brands for your next big hike.
Trust us – we’ve done the legwork.
Shop the best below
Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX Boot Men's
By far the standout shoe, this lightweight mid-height boot fits closely but with great comfort. The Gore-Tex lining ensures your feet stay dry, even in the characteristic wet British weather, while the breathable construction prevents overheating during more strenuous walks.
The mid-height design offers excellent ankle support without sacrificing mobility, making them ideal for both day hikes and longer treks. The Vibram outsole provides good traction on varied terrains offering stability on slippery trails.
In testing, the Arc'teryx Kopec Mid GTX Boots excelled in performance, comfort, versatility and looks. This makes them a reliable choice for anyone looking to tackle the outdoors with confidence. Whether you're an avid hiker or a casual walker, these boots are sure to enhance your experience.
Buy now £180.00, Arc'teryx
QUECHUA Men's Waterproof Hiking Shoes - MH500 Blue
I recently tried the QUECHUA Men's Waterproof Hiking Shoes, an affordable option by Decathlon - and I was pleasantly surprised. I was impressed by their sheer comfort after an extended dog walk. The cushioning and support are ideal for tackling all types of terrains found in the British countryside, while the waterproof shoes stand strong in the face of wet conditions.
The low-cut design makes these shoes not only functional but also able to be worn with a range of clothing. They look great both on the trails and during casual outings, allowing for versatility beyond just hiking. For anyone looking for reliable hiking footwear without breaking the bank, I highly recommend the Quechua Men's hiking shoes. With their combination of comfort and waterproofing, they offer great value when you consider the affordable price tag.
Buy now £64.99, Decathlon
Columbia Newton Ridge Walking Boots
These boots stand out for their combination of durability and comfort. Constructed from a blend of leather and mesh, these boots are designed for rugged terrain while providing breathability. The lightweight design minimises fatigue during long hikes, while the waterproof feature keeps your feet dry even in damp conditions.
With a classic aesthetic, they pair well with any outdoor outfit. However, some users find that sizing can be a bit off, so it’s advisable to try them on or consult the sizing chart before purchasing.
We found the Columbia Newton Ridge boots to be a reliable option for hikers seeking both functionality and style.
Buy now £100.00, Columbia
Trespass Men's Finley Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
The Trespass Men's Finley Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots offer excellent value for outdoor enthusiasts at a reasonable price. Featuring a waterproof membrane, these boots keep your feet dry during wet conditions while the mid-height design provides solid ankle support, making them suitable for varied terrains.
The durable upper and reinforced toe cap adds extra protection, while the cushioned insole ensures comfort during longer hikes. They may not have the premium look of higher-end models, but the Finley boots are surprisingly lightweight and comfortable - perfect for casual hikers or those just starting their outdoor journey.
Buy now £59.99, Trespass
Adidas Terrex Trailmaker Mid Gtx Hiking Boots
The adidas boots are an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Their Gore-Tex lining ensures waterproof protection without sacrificing breathability. The Continental Rubber outsole delivers exceptional grip on diverse surfaces, making these boots suitable for both wet and dry conditions.
Additionally, the mid-cut design provides ankle support, enhancing stability on uneven terrain. Some users have commented on the snug fit, which may require a break-in period. Despite this, the overall comfort and performance of the Terrex Trailmaker make them a top pick for serious hikers looking for a reliable companion on their adventures.
Buy now £120.00, Adidas
The North Face Men’s Storm Strike III Waterproof Hiking Boots
The NorthFace waterproof hiking boots are built to tackle challenging conditions with confidence. Featuring a waterproof and breathable upper, these boots keep feet dry while allowing moisture to escape. Comfort is a priority, thanks to the cushioned supportive design that accommodates long days on your feet.
The boots also have a modern look that appeals to both serious hikers and casual outdoor enthusiasts. However, some users mentioned that they can be a bit heavier compared to other options.
In testing, we found the Storm Strike III boots deliver excellent performance, making them a strong contender for anyone seeking durability and assurance on their hiking adventures.
Buy now £110.00, The North Face
Men's Regatta Samaris III Walking Boots
The Men's Regatta walking boots combine a traditional style with functional features. Made with durable upper material, these boots are designed to withstand various outdoor conditions while ensuring comfort throughout the day.
The cushioned insole offers great support, so they’re suitable for long walks or hikes. However, some users may find the fit slightly narrow - it’s important to try them on before committing.
After putting them through their paces, we found the Samaris III boots are a solid choice for those who want a blend of style and practicality in their walking footwear.
Buy now £83.95, Regatta
On Cloudroam Waterproof
The On Cloudroam Waterproof shoes are a standout choice for urban explorers and casual hikers alike. Their unique design features a lightweight frame and a zero-gravity foam midsole that provides exceptional cushioning and energy return. The waterproof materials ensure that your feet remain dry during unexpected showers or muddy trails, while the breathable material promotes airflow.
The outsole is designed with moulded lugs for improved traction on various terrains, perfect for city streets or light trails. Some users have expressed that while the Cloudroams are incredibly comfortable, they may not provide the stiffness required for more demanding hikes.
Overall, the On Cloudroam Waterproof shoes offer a fantastic blend of comfort, style, and practicality, making them a versatile addition to your footwear collection.
Buy now £180.00, Daniel Footwear
Berghaus Explorer Trek
Robust, light and waterproof, these boots feature a Gore-Tex liner to keep out the water and are an excellent choice for an enthusiastic new walker. The suede uppers are breathable, helping to keep your feet cool in all weather, while the rubber soles give excellent grip.
Coming in a mixture of navy blue and grey, or a ‘carbon blue’ so dark as to be almost black, these are a subtle design that would blend in many places that aren’t traditional walking boot habitats. Being light, they’re also not as clunky as some boots can be, allowing them to be worn indoors or down the street without drawing questions about your mountaineering hobby.
These boots are good all-rounders, and while the cushioned insoles will adapt to your feet over time, there shouldn’t be too much problem wearing them from brand-new. Note that the width fitting on these is described as ‘medium’, so anyone with particularly wide feet should try on various pairs before committing, to avoid being left in pain.
Buy now £170.00, Amazon
Craghoppers Adflex
Trail boots are ideal for warmer climates, these look very much like trainers with air bubbles in the sole or a trail running shoe with a higher ankle.
The lightweight uppers are made from recycled plastic bottles and marine litter (or at least part of them are) and are designed to keep insects out, while the waterproofing comes from Craghoppers’ own AquaDry. Further recycled materials are scattered throughout the boots’ construction, adding to their green credentials. Even the laces are recycled.
There's some clever design at work too, with open lacing that doesn’t put pressure on the top of the foot and antibacterial insoles that should help cut down on odour after a long hike.
When you look like something Kanye West would wear down the pub, then you need to feel the same way, and the Adflex boots are extremely light and easy to put on. They’re so much like trainers that the stiffness and support you expect from walking boots might not be there at the level you expect. Still, they’re well worth a try if you keep a pair of comfy boots for less demanding hikes.
Buy now £109.20, Amazon
Inov8 Roclite 345
Looking almost as if you could play basketball in them, the Roclite 345 boots are comfortable from the first time you try them on. They’re also lightweight and quite reasonably priced, and come in a number of interesting colour combinations beyond the usual browns and greys.
The soles are infused with modern wonder material graphene, essentially a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms, that brings an extra level of toughness to the bits of the sole that flex. How much the graphene actually helps and how much is marketing hyperbole is hard to tell, but the boots are exceptionally light and with Gore-Tex uppers they’re waterproof too, but breathable.
The treads manage the trick of gripping soft ground while also being able to shed any mud that sticks, meaning you don’t get a magical half-inch taller after a walk in something stodgy, and the only downside is that, with all the lightness that’s been designed into them, you can wonder about exactly how much support they’re giving your ankles.
Buy now £95.00, Amazon
Hanwag Banks Men's GTX
Hanwag’s Banks walkers have been available for 16 years and come in different shapes and sizes, but these GTX boots utilise Gore-Tex to help keep the water out. Traditionalists can go for leather linings instead. There's high ankle support, and the exterior is made from nubuck leather.
Soles come with a 1.5-millimetre thick polyurethane foam wedge for extra shock absorbency, and the boots are available in a couple of different width fittings, which is important when trying to achieve a good fit, as well as specialised ladies' fittings. For men, these include the SF Extra fit, which is wider around the ball of the foot to prevent rubbing where the toes flex.
Made in Europe, Hanwag’s boots are made with the foothills of the Alps in mind, keeping the feet of those undertaking demanding hikes in all sorts of terrain reliably dry.
Buy now £230.00, Cotswold Outdoor
Zamberlan 996 Vioz GTX
Heavy, stiff leather is the name of the game here, which results in boots that are superbly secure and durable, ready for tough terrain.
These are old-school boots, and as such require old-school methods. You’ll need to break them in - mould them to the shape of your foot, which will differ from the ‘last’, or foot mould, they were constructed around. Leather can take this, and if you can get away with wearing them around the house (at least while they’re clean) followed by a few trips to the shops, you’ll do better than if you try to hike for miles over rough ground with them straight out of the box. Look into leather conditioners too.
With a higher ankle support than many others on this list, and a good wide fit to accommodate thick socks, these are an ideal boot for walking in cold, wet places - there's a Gore-Tex lining to keep the water out, and the leather has had a waterproof treatment to stop the damp getting past even the outer layer. Properly cared for, they should last many years.
The downside to a boot like this is its weight, which approaches twice that of the less cumbersome examples here, and the price. If you find yourself doing a lot of scrambling across loose surfaces before splashing through something wet and occasionally having to come to a sudden stop, then these would make a very good choice of footwear.
Buy now £235.00, Amazon
Adidas Terrex Free Hiker GTX
A more trainer-like shoe, as you’d expect from Adidas, and infused with the company’s Boost technology (which means a highly cushioned midsole made of foam) that bounces a little of your energy back to you as you hike, or run.
As fashionable as they are practical - up to a point, anyway - these are ideal for lighter walks, though distance isn’t really a problem. Ankle support that you expect to be too stretchy actually holds the foot well. It’s a gaitor-like extrusion that prevents any stones or dust from entering the show. This causes the shoes’ one main drawback - it acts like a sock inside the shoe, meaning there's a knack for getting them on involving a loop at the back. Initially baffling, it’s fine after a few tries.
They are available with or without a Gore-Tex liner, so you can trade waterproofness for breathability if you expect to be using them in a dry climate. The shoes also host 4mm of tread depth underneath meaning that, while a good all-rounder suitable for most conditions, you might be better off with a heavier, more aggressive pair if you intend to drag them through thick, wet mud on a frequent basis. As much as anything else, it would be a shame to get the colours dirty.
Buy now £180.00, Adidas
The North Face Hedgehog
Classic boots, available in several different styles, the Hedgehogs only come in one colour but strike a great balance between weight, toughness, and price. The North Face’s boots have the look of a good pair of walkers, and are priced to undercut the competition.
With breathable Futurelight waterproof membranes and a synthetic leather outer that can feel a little stiff out of the box, there's no doubt they’ll improve over the course of a few walks. Soles come with cushioning foam, and are shaped with a stiff toe area and heel plate that allows the foot some natural movement without compromising grip.
Speaking of which, the treads point in multiple directions, making them less likely to slide through wet grass or mud, and while not as deep as others on this list should provide decent traction when the going gets soft. The outer soles contain five per cent recycled rubber, and appear capable of shrugging off descents over rocks and mud.
Buy now £135.00, The North Face
La Sportiva Nepal Cube
Technical mountaineering boots are a step ahead of anything else on this list, these are what you want when your hiking ambitions begin to involve thoughts of ropes, helmets and Yeti.
Built to be light and warm, there's a Gore-Tex layer in these to keep the water out, while (bright yellow) leather uppers 3mm thick are treated to aid in moisture-proofing. Crampons can be attached to a section of the midsole, an ankle cuff tightens to keep snow out, and there's a honeycomb of carbon-based insulation in the sole too. They’re a popular choice, and for good reason.
Lighter than previous Nepal boots, the Cubes still contain clever features, such as a removable tongue that allows you to get the fit just right. It’s impossible to say that the Nepal Cubes feel like wearing running shoes, but with the Impact Brake System in the soles, as well as a shock-absorbing effect from the positioning of the treads, they don’t exactly feel like wearing mountaineering boots either.
The chances are that you don’t need these boots - they’re B3 rated, the stiffest type of mountain boots made for use with crampons to really dig into the snow and ice - but they’re the natural end-point of a journey that begins with the more trainer-like boots popular among hillwalkers. It’s just good to know they’re out there.
Buy now £530.00, Ellis Brigham
Haglöfs Duality AT1 GT Men GORE-TEX Waterproof Walking Boots
One of the most stylish hiking boots by a country mile, the Haglöfs Duality do what Swedish brands do best, and seamlessly blend aesthetics with technology. While they certainly don’t come cheap, they’re proof that you get what you pay for with interchangeable midsoles for navigating multiple terrains – green for rocky trails and red for more relaxed ones. As you’d expect, a GORE-TEX membrane keeps you bone-dry, whatever the weather.
Buy now £240.00, Cotswold Outdoors
Merrell Men’s MQM 3 GORE-TEX
The MQMs – standing for ‘moving quickly in the mountains’, apparently – are stable enough to hike in, agile enough to run in, and durable enough for light scrambling. The stand-out feature is, of course, the GORE-TEX® membrane, offering exceptional breathability and waterproof performance. We rather like them in orange for a pop of colour against rugged scenery.
Buy now £120.00, Merrell
Hoka One Anacapa Nubuck-Trimmed GORE-TEX Hiking Boots
Could these fabulous boots from the athletic French shoe brand Hoka be any more fashion-forward?
Despite the fact they look better suited to the runway than the mountains – there’s more than a whiff of Weezy about them, let’s be honest – they’re rugged-terrain ready, thanks to breathable and waterproof GORE-TEX technology and a distinctive ergonomic shape designed to handle the undulating contours of nature.
Buy now £160.00, Hoka
The North Face VECTIV
Prepare for the spring trail season with the latest additions to The North Face’s trademarked VECTIV collection - FLIGHT VECTIV™, VECTIV™ INFINITE and VECTIV™ ENDURIS II. The shoes are kitted out with the “innovative soling architecture” like the optimised rubber outsole and rugged soles to keep you gripped on all terrains.
Dubbed by the brand as the most cushioned in the range yet, the ENDURIS II is designed for those elevate miles to offer comfort throughout your adventuring, while keeping your feet cool and ventilated with an engineered air mesh upper. There are fits for both men and women.
The INFINITE (£145) is all about protection as it propels you further and faster with a stabilised 3D plate and rocker, while the FLIGHT (£180) is ultra-lightweight and responsive for speed.
Worn by Ferndanda Maciel and Kaytlyn Gerbin, the duo were able to set a new record on the South Patagonian Continental route that usually takes a week. They were able to complete it in just over 13 hours - if that’s not a testimonial to the new technology, we don’t know what is.
Buy now £125.00, The North Face
Timberland Timberloop Trekker Hiking Boots
Standing out amongst nature in their signature yellow, there’s no denying that the Timberloop Hiking Boots are a stylish choice for a ramble – made from sustainably-sourced premium, no less – but their functionality is pretty damn good, too. They come with a lightweight and breathable footbed for comfort; while the compression-moulded sole provides cushioning. Like walking on air – heavenly.
Buy now £120.00, Timberland
Jack Wolfskin Force Striker Texapore Mid M Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Modern, athletic, and – dare we say it – more than a little bit sexy, the Force Strikers from Jack Wolfskin are designed for intensive day hikes or multi-day hikes in the hills and mountains. So basically, you’re covered. Offering stability, comfort and support, they feature an innovative sole that saves your energy for uphill slogs, while they’re waterproof and breathable to boot.
Buy now £128.00, Amazon
Columbia Men's Peakfreak X2 OutDry Shoe
You can always count on American sportswear brand Columbia to come up with the goods when it comes to heading out into the great outdoors.
Excellent name aside, the Peakfreaks come in an ocean-inspired turquoise, while features include a cushioned midsole and waterproof construction for wet-weather performance.
Lightweight and rugged – what’s not to love?
Buy now £79.00, Amazon
Verdict
The very best walking boots are those that fulfill your needs for the walk you’re about to take. These may be a slightly beefier pair of trainers, ideal for a dusty walk along miles of unfinished roadway. Or your walk may take you into the hills, to cold and wet places, which necessitate layers of insulation, thick lugs underneath to keep you upright if things get slippery. Either way, it’s good to have the right equipment, and there are all-round boots like the Berghaus Explorer Trek boots and Craghoppers boots we’ve highlighted above that will do either, and still be useful if the end of your walk happens to be at a local hostelry.
Once your needs become more specialist, then only particular combinations of features, technology and materials will do, but owning a good pair of three-season walking boots means that you’re well-prepared for a long or challenging walk, whatever the conditions.
