20 Best Hiking Boots in 2024

Ankle Support

One of the main reasons for making the move from hiking shoes to hiking boots is the level of ankle support that they offer. This can allow you to take on trails that you perhaps wouldn’t be able to otherwise as they will give you more confidence and protect your ankles from potential injuries.

However, not all ankle support provided in hiking boots is equal. For those that offer more of a lightweight finish, you can expect the ankle support is typically less robust than a pair of heavier weight hiking boots that are much more rigid.

If the rigidity of the ankle support offered in your new hiking boots is extremely important to you, we would recommend checking the rest of the materials used to decide if the support offered is adequate for you or not.

Typically, those offered in a leather or suede finish or synthetic leather will be the most rigid around the ankle. Whereas those offering a synthetic finish may be less protective around the ankles.

Arch Support

The arch support offered with most of the hiking boots in our round up is similar. This is a minimal to mid-level of arch support and will suit most hikers with a normal arch.

If you have high arches, then it is entirely possible to replace the insoles that come in your new hiking boots with something that is more specific to your needs. These can be introduced easily and inexpensively, so don’t have too much of an impact on the overall price of the boots you’re buying.

That said, it’s worth checking if the hiking boots that you are planning to buy have enough room for a chunkier insole if that’s what you would be looking to replace with. It’s worth seeing if there is enough room in the toe box for any additional height that can be created with different insoles to those that are designed for the boot.

Fit

Fit is an important consideration with any hiking footwear, as it can make the difference between feeling comfortable on the trail and not really thinking about your feet or feeling like you can’t go on any further because your feet are in shreds.

We have tried to make as much information available on the different fits and widths that are offered in the hiking boots that we’ve recommended in our reviews. Of course, some manufacturers offer different width fittings but sadly there is no standard when it comes to what this means. So, what one manufacturer considers a wide fit could be considered a normal fit by another manufacturer.

If you are between sizes, we would always recommend sizing up if no further information is given. If a half size is offered, then we would of course recommend you take that.

Materials

There are various main materials used in hiking boots on today’s market, here are some of the most common:

Full Grain Leather

Full grain leather is typically used in more rigid and often heavier hiking boots. Full grain leather provides excellent protection against the elements including rain and is one of the hardiest options out there. You will often see full grain leather used on hiking boots that are more traditional.

Nubuck Leather and Suede

Nubuck leather and suede are a good medium ground in terms of weight and density after full grain leather. This is generally much softer and more pliable than full grain leather and therefore allows for more give and flexibility in the hiking boot. They also offer a lot in terms of comfort and can mold more to the shape of your feet, creating a very individual fit that feels perfect for the wearer.

You will often find some of the more high-end alpine boots and cutting-edge mountaineering boots are offered in a full in a nubuck leather, suede and synthetic mix. This allows manufacturers to get the best of both worlds with the advantages of synthetic materials and the comfort of leather.

Vegan Leather

Vegan leather is becoming increasingly popular and is a fantastic option for hikers wishing to avoid the use of animal products in their hiking boots. Certain brands now offer entirely synthetic leather or vegan leather options and go as far as to avoid using animal-based glues to create a fully plant based product.

There is a chance that a synthetic compound may not last as long as a traditional leather boot, but they are far from a runner up product and some of the models out there are extremely durable and punch well above their weight in terms of performance.

If looking for vegan hiking boots, we would suggest checking for the vegan certification on the manufacturers page. Make sure that the boot is definitely vegan and is free from animal based glues – some boots on offer are synthetic but still make use of traditional glues that can contain animal product.

Synthetic Nylon and Mesh

Synthetic nylon and mesh are typically used on hiking boots that are trying to come in at a lighter weight and generally, the use of synthetic materials is helpful in improving breathability. If you hike somewhere with very little rain, then you may want to look at synthetic hiking boots instead of a more traditional leather or plant based leather option.

Synthetic compounds are also generally not as strong or durable as leather/synthetic mixes. So, with that in mind you can expect hiking boots that are entirely synthetic may not last as long as more traditional hiking boots will.

Mid and Outsoles

Onto the mid and outsoles of your hiking boots, these will typically make use of rubber, this is generally molded to provide excellent traction against trail conditions. The midsole is also molded in such a way that it protects the feet from shocks that you can expect when pounding your feet along a hard trail for hours on end.

EVA foam is typically used in the midsole and can vary between slightly more cushioned and harder for different levels of comfort in the boot. If you’re planning to take on longer distance backpacking trails or go for miles in your boots, then we would recommend going for a hiking boot with a slightly harder mid soul as this prevents wear out happening quickly.