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The Best Hiking Shoes to Stay Quick and Light on the Trails

Trade full ankle support for lightness and agility to help you move quickly out past the pavement.

a collage of three hiking shoesArcteryx, Salomon, Merrell

By Hayley Helms

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Why should you buy hiking shoes instead of hiking boots? Well, it’s simple: because if you aren’t traveling over seriously rugged terrain or carrying a heavily loaded pack, you might not need the full-size version.

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Hiking shoes are lighter and more nimble than boots, but they still come kitted out with features like Gore-Tex waterproofing, grippy rubber tread and supportive, durable uppers. As a bonus, many of them are sleek enough to pass as everyday footwear around town.

Products in the Guide

How We Tested

collage of hiking bootsHayley Helms

Hiking shoes are designed to be worn in myriad environments, so we tested them in a variety of conditions to truly test these shoes’ capabilities. We crossed streams in them, hiked up leaf and rock-strewn trails, navigated our way down steep and slippery inclines and powered through washed-out, dried up river beds. On our journeys, we kept in mind fit and feel, waterproofing, weight and traction. At the end of the day, the best hiking shoe for you will be the style that fits the best.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

Best Overall: Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

Pros

  • Comfortable even after long hikes
  • Fit is ideal

Cons

  • A little bulky feeling at first
  • Weight: 13.7 ounces
  • Waterproofing: Gore-Tex
  • Upper: Synthetic / Textile
  • Sole: Rubber

One of the main differentiators between a hiking shoe and boot is agility, and the X Ultra 4 GTX has got it in spades. Our favorite hiking shoe is as nimble as a trail runner, but provides all the stability and grip of a hiking boot — without the weight. The cushioning is comfortable and supportive, without being too squishy or cutting down on the responsive feel.

Although we wouldn’t recommend this for extended trips — it’s better suited for single-day hikes — the X Ultra 4 GTX shines in technical, varied terrain. If you’re looking for a hiking shoe that’s as supportive and comfortable as it is technical and capable, you won’t need to look much further than Salomon.

Read our full review of the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX.

salomon x ultra 4
The Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX can handle washed out, treacherous trails as well as groomed fire roads — and everything in-between.
Photo by Hayley Helms for Gear Patrol

Best Upgrade Hiking Shoe: Naglev Unico Hiker

Pros

  • Burly and durable

Cons

  • Sold out often, due to popularity
  • Weight: 17 ounces
  • Waterproofing: Yes
  • Upper: Kevlar, TPU, wool liner
  • Sole: Natural rubber

The Unico comes from the birthplace of outdoor footwear (the Alps), and it’s a shoe designed to be a crossover between a hiking boot and a trail running shoe. Regardless of what it aims to be, it is an impressive piece of footwear, with an upper made of one single piece of Kevlar fabric. That durable exterior is lined with a sock-like wool liner that’s connected at the bottom of the shoe only so that it can “float” inside and better export moisture. The footbed is made of a blend of leather and coconut fibers.

The Unico is among the burliest hiking shoes to make our list, and that’s thanks to the materials that Naglev so carefully selected in its construction. The rubber outsole is stiff, and the Kevlar is borderline abrasive, but the Unico mitigates these factors with its interior wool liner and leather insole, both of which make the shoe far more comfortable than it looks. Unlike some of the lighter hiking shoes, it does require some break-in — if you’re looking for a more forgiving hiking shoe, check out some of our other picks — but the result is worth the process.

Best Budget-Friendly Hiking Shoe: Merrell Moab Speed

Pros

  • Out-of-the-box comfort is high

Cons

  • Lugs aren't as grippy as competitors

Merrell used its best-selling Moab as a base for a lighter, more nimble model called the Moab Speed that’s something of a hybrid between a trail running shoe and a hiking shoe. Despite its pared-down design, the Speed carries through one of the Moab’s most beloved characteristics: out-of-the-box comfort.

Our tester put in roughly 90 miles on a pair and found that the roomy toebox was ideal for longer hikes on relatively flatter terrain but second to the plush cushioning that makes these a truly comfortable set of hiking shoes. He noted that the lug pattern isn’t extreme and doesn’t provide significant braking — while we recommend them as a solid all-rounder, consider another pair if most of your hikes involve scrambling and steep terrain.

Best Classic Style: Danner Trail 2650

Pros

  • Sturdy and supportive for longer hikes

Cons

  • Middle of the road performance; not a technical hiking shoe

Danner’s most iconic hiking boot is the Mountain Light, which, despite what its name might have you believe, is notably not lightweight (but it is rugged as hell, though). The Trail 2650, however, actually is light. Danner says they’re 24 ounces a pair, the shoe is its lightest piece of hiking footwear yet. To get there, Danner built its upper with a combination of leather and mesh and used a Vibram outsole for traction.

The Trail 2650 certainly feels light on the feet, too. It fits much like a trail running shoe (the last that Danner used is based on them), but the construction includes a TPU shank and a heel counter, so they’re sturdy and supportive enough for hiking long miles on dirt and clambering over boulders. They’re available with or without waterproofing (a waterproof liner can make hiking shoes hot and lead to sweating) and they’re comfortable enough to wear around town as an everyday shoe, too. For all these reasons, they’re the ideal hiking shoe for most people and uses — for more technical, specific hiking shoes, keep reading.

Read our full review of the Trail 2650 here.

danner trail 2650
The Trail 2650 is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable, although it lacks the stability of other hiking shoes.
Ben Emminger

Best Town-to-Trail Shoe: Hoka Anacapa Low Gore-Tex

Pros

  • Makes use of sustainable materials

Cons

  • Too much cushion for some hikers
  • Weight: 14 ounces
  • Waterproofing: Gore-Tex
  • Upper: Leather Working Group Gold-rated waterproof nubuck leather
  • Sole: Vibram Megagrip

If you’re familiar with Hoka’s running shoes, then you won’t be surprised by the thick wedge of foam that supports the Anacapa Low. But Hoka runners will quickly learn that the Anacapa Low’s sole is less bounce and more support (and durability), as a hiking shoe should be.

Alongside the out-of-the-box comfort Hokas are prized for, the Anacapa Low also boasts a few sustainable features worth noting: there’s recycled polyester in the collar, the leather used in the upper is certified by the Leather Working Group and the sock liner is 50 percent soy-based. The company actually used its mid-sized Anacapa as a template, resulting in a reinvented model that combines the feel of a sneaker with the durability of a hiking boot, which makes it easy to wear them running trails, or running errands.

Best Minimalist Hiking Shoe: Arc’teryx Aerios Aura

Pros

  • Fine-tuned lacing improves fit

Cons

  • Mesh upper lets all the dirt and dust in
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces
  • Waterproofing: No
  • Upper: Synthetic
  • Sole: Vibram Megagrip

Arc’teryx isn’t as well-known for its footwear as it is for its technical apparel, but the Aerios Aura lives up to the brand’s high standards for quality. And like its clothing, the shoe packs lots of functionality into a clean and minimalist profile. Colors are coordinated and subtle, and the different materials that are present blend into one another almost invisibly; even the laces are fully integrated into the design, using loops of webbing instead of eyelets.

The lacing system might be the best part about the Konseal FL. It extends all the way down to the toe so that the fit can be adjusted and fine-tuned as much as possible, which in turn contributes to a better overall hiking experience, especially in technical terrain. The integrated system adjusts smoothly, too, so there’s less tugging and pulling to get the comfortable fit you need. The Aerios Aura don’t have as much cushioning as others on this list though, so fast-hikers and fans of lightweight minimalism will find the most use here.

arc'teryx aerios aura
For reference, the Aerios Auras are black — and after hiking the dusty trails near my home, both my shoes and socks were totally brown. Breathable mesh = lots of dust.
Hayley Helms

Best New Hiking Shoe: Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 Low Gore-Tex

Pros

  • Midsole is responsive
  • Overall fit has been streamlined and improved

Cons

  • On the heavy side
  • Weight: 15.5 ounces
  • Waterproofing: Gore-tex membrane
  • Upper: Abrasion-resistant mesh upper with seamless overlays
  • Sole: Continental rubber outsole

The mid version of Adidas Terrex’s insanely popular Free Hiker silhouette has made “best of” lists around the internet, including our own, but I’m putting my money on this new, low version of the Free Hiker 2.0 Low Gore-Tex. It resolves all the pain points of its predecessor, and is easily one of the favorite shoes in my hiking shoe roster. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn great.

Although it’s a little weighty at 15.5 ounces for a men’s size 9, that bulk is justified in the protective and durable functionality of the shoe. Built with a burly Continental outsole and an abrasion-resistant upper with seamless overlays, the Free Hiker 2.0 Low Gore-Tex is more than capable of handling obstacles on the trail, and the midsole cushioning is more than enough to keep feet happy and pain-free after miles on the go. I personally found the mid version of the Free Hiker to be clunky, uncomfortable and oversized, but this new iteration solves all those issues; rather than just a new colorway or silhouette, this is a substantive update to an already popular shoe.

Best Sustainable Style: Veja Fitz Roy

Pros

  • Proves sustainable materials can be just as effective as virgin ones
  • Feels much lighter than its actual weight

Cons

  • Not as responsive as a more technical hiker
  • More expensive than some traditional hiking brands
  • Weight: 13.5 ounces
  • Waterproofing: PFC-free DWR
  • Upper: 100% recycled polyester
  • Sole: Amazonian rubber (31%)

Veja is know for making lifestyle-oriented sneakers, so our tester was very pleasantly surprised at how much she liked the brand’s first-ever hiking shoe. Not only is it downright cool looking, it’s also insanely comfortable and made with over 40 percent sustainable materials. The outsole is made from Amazonian rubber, the upper is crafted from 100-percent recycled polyester and the shoe is protected from water with a PFC-free DWR water repellant coating.

Sustainability aside, this became our tester’s new favorite hiker for its comfort on trail: after a couple weeks hiking in the Fitz Roy, she was impressed with the stability, the wide toe box and the grippy, multi-directional crampons. If you’re looking for a cool and sustainable hiking option, she’s confident Veja’s got you covered.

Read our full review of the Veja Fitz Roy here.

veja fitz roy
The Fitz Roys are some of the most expensive hiking shoes on our list, but their comfort and durability justify the cost.
Hayley Helms

Best for Climbers: La Sportiva TX4 Approach Shoe

Pros

  • Great for wet, muddy conditions

Cons

  • Not ideal for long distance hikes
  • Weight: 13 ounces
  • Waterproofing: No
  • Upper: leather
  • Sole: Vibram Megagrip Traverse with Impact Brake System

Technically, La Sportiva’s TX4 is an approach shoe. Approach shoes, lightweight mountain footwear that rock climbers use to reach the base of a wall, typically feature a sticky rubber outsole to provide excellent grip, and the TX4 is no exception there. Its lug pattern and leather upper make it a great choice for full-time trail use, too, even if you have no intention of roping up and going vertical. Our tester praises its construction as “ideal for wet, muddy and loose rocky conditions,” which other approach shoes might not handle as well. Its low profile makes it ideal for use around town if you embrace the outdoorsy look. (And, if you do climb, this might be your new do-everything shoe.)

What Are Hiking Shoes?

A hiking shoe is a low-cut shoe with flexible midsoles and grippy, multi-directional lugs that provide both protection and speed on the trail. Similar to a hiking boot, hiking shoes are built to withstand obstacles on the trail, while maintaining a nimbleness a boot can’t provide.

Tread

There are varying types of tread on hiking shoes, each designed for a specific type of terrain. There are soles for steep and slippery hikes, for easy, moderate and advanced terrain and multi-purpose tread that can help you navigate different types of trails.

Waterproofing

Most hiking shoes these days come with an element of waterproofing — whether that’s in the form of a tightly-woven upper that naturally repels water or a membrane like Gore-Tex that protects are against wind, weather and water. Waterproof models generally run warmer than their more porous, breathable counterparts, but the difference oftentimes is negligible, and a little warmth is generally worth it for the value waterproofing provides.

How to Choose the Right Hiking Shoes

Choosing the right hiking shoe is entirely dependent on the terrain you’ll be hiking and of course, the shape of your foot. This definitive guide provides information on the best hiking shoes you can buy. In it, we break down each model’s key features, such as support, material, weight and more.

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