Best Hiking Boots

For backpacking with a real pack it is the Salomon Quest 5 GTX, which tops Gavler's list at 9.4 — 4D Advanced Chassis, Gore-Tex, mid-cut ankle lock, about $240. If the job is long moderate miles and joints, the Hoka Kaha 3 GTX (rank 2, 9.2, about $240) is the comfort pick testers keep putting first. Day hikers who want out-of-box comfort and a wide option can stop at the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof (rank 3, 9.0, about $175). Leather long-game buyers should look at the Lowa Renegade EVO GTX Mid (rank 4, 8.8, about $280). Pair the boot with a pack from Gavler's Best Hiking Backpacks list and, if you actually want a trail shoe, Best Trail Running Shoes — not this list.

Buy a mid (everything on this list) when you want debris coverage, a little ankle hold, and a waterproof shaft that sits above trail splash — Quest 5, Kaha 3, Renegade, Bridger. Buy a low (a hiking shoe, not a boot) when weight and flex matter more than cuff height: that is often a trail runner from Gavler's Best Trail Running Shoes list, not a short boot. The Scarpa Rush 2 Pro Mid GTX (rank 9, 7.8) and Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX (rank 5, 8.6) are the lightest mids here — they still are not lows. A low collar will not save a rolled ankle under 35 lb; a Quest-height mid might. If you have strong ankles and a 12 lb daypack, a mid is optional, not mandatory.

Gore-Tex (Quest 5, Kaha 3, Renegade, X Ultra 5, Rush 2 Pro, Danner Leaf/EVO) is a real membrane with a real warranty story. House membranes — Merrell Dry (Moab 3), B-Dry (Oboz Bridger), KEEN.DRY (Targhee IV), Danner Dry (classic Mountain 600) — keep splash and wet grass out and still fail in sustained rain or when mesh overlays wet through. Leather uppers bead, then soak, then get heavy; the liner is what keeps the sock dry. Every waterproof boot runs hotter and dries slower than a non-GTX shoe. If your trails are dry 90% of the year, a waterproof boot is comfort you paid for and heat you will feel. If you cross creeks every weekend, buy Gore-Tex and gaiters, not a mesh Moab and hope.

Start with the Oboz Bridger Mid Waterproof (rank 6, 8.4) or Keen Targhee IV Mid WP (rank 7, 8.2) — both ship regular and wide on an already generous last. The Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof (rank 3) has a true wide SKU and the easiest break-in. The Lowa Renegade EVO GTX Mid (rank 4) is one of the few boots with honest narrow / medium / wide, not just a roomy toe. The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX (rank 5) is the Salomon you can buy in wide; the Quest 5 is regular only. Hoka Kaha 3 and Scarpa Rush 2 Pro are regular lasts — try them on, do not mail-order hope. Altra Lone Peak is a zero-drop trail shoe, not a boot; we did not rank it here.

Yes, if the pack weight actually changes. Backpacking (30+ lb, ugly trail): Salomon Quest 5 GTX (rank 1), Lowa Renegade EVO GTX Mid (rank 4), Oboz Bridger (rank 6). Day hikes and light overnights: Hoka Kaha 3 GTX (rank 2) if you want cushion, Merrell Moab 3 (rank 3) if you want value, Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid (rank 5) or Scarpa Rush 2 Pro (rank 9) if you want a technical lightweight. Danner Mountain 600 (rank 8) and Keen Targhee IV (rank 7) are day-hike leather/wide picks, not heavy-pack chassis. One boot can cover both if your "backpacking" is 20 lb on maintained trail — that is the Bridger or Kaha, not the Quest.

Rankings combine expert review aggregation with community voting. Each boot receives a Gavler Score (out of 10) based on professional reviews evaluating trail durability, waterproofing honesty, break-in, and fit for day hikes vs backpacking — not Instagram aesthetics or mid vs low fashion. Community members vote for their top pick, with one vote per list. Altra Lone Peak is a trail running shoe (zero-drop, max toe box), not a hiking boot; Lone Peak Hiker 3 is the boot sibling if you want that last in a mid. We skipped the Lone Peak shoe on purpose so this list does not duplicate Best Trail Running Shoes.