20 Best Hiking Boots For Desert (2023 Updated)

I am on my second pair of these Hi-Tec hiking boots. My first pair lasted me over 3 years, so I decided it was time to get some new ones. Within those 3 years, I never once had a problem with these boots, other than some normal wear and tear that all hiking boots eventually get.

I’m a fairly avid hiker, hiking at least 4-5 times per month, with a couple of those times being overnight hiking/camping trips. These boots have lasted throughout miles of hiking. I can easily cross over shallow streams/creeks wearing these, as they are waterproof.

They are true to size, but of course they take a few miles of hiking to get them broken in. Once they are broken in, they are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I recommend these boots for anyone looking for great, super affordable hiking boots.

Right out of the box the black toe scuff on front does not appear to be glued on well and is actually bunched up, not sure how long it will stay. The tread grips well on street and home surfaces. Size EE is a plus, footbed is comfortable as well.

Purchased for casual use, not hiking, as they appear to be on of the least quality Hi-Tec boots I have ever seen. (Still using 5 different pairs over the last 20 years. Added 3 pairs from Big 5 in the last 2 years.

) I favor the fit and usually the durability of Hi-Tec shoes.

I live & work on a ranch. I need a good, waterproof work boot at an affordable price. I’m happy with how well these boots hold up considering the abuse that I give them. I have two pairs of HiTec boots and alternate them daily.

They last about a year that way before starting to come apart at the seams. Even then they last a little longer but my socks may get wet. Lol. If you’re looking for a boot to wear for backpacking a far distance these probably shouldn’t be your first choice.

They’re really not designed for that. If you need a day hike or work in the yard boot then these will do nicely.

There is nothing really positive to write about this boot if you intend to hike in any wet environment. Two copies failed waterproofing on first hike in same region of the boot. On our first hike out in snowfield, both mine and my wife’s leaked in the same places and we had to contend with our cold wet feet for the rest of the time.

There appears to be a design issue, where the Goretex and upper are strained at the toe joints and start to leak water in after working them in briefly. In the past years, we have tolerated Quest GTX limited endurance, knowing that the waterproofing will completely fail in about 1-2 months of hiking (that is about 2 trips), regardless of the Nikwax application, which is just an over-hyped short term bandaid for an actual membrane failure and water will pour in with continuously wet environments.

Having two of two failure on first hike is really unacceptable. I’m not sure what special version website reviewers and bloggers receive where they wear these day in and day out for a season without any leaks or issues and report this as “best rated boot”.

I would beware the hype. They have always been weak on membrane but now worse than before. Our experience was in line with other reviewers that had major water ingress issues, and it is time to move on to another brand/line.

I absolutely love these Lowa Zephyr boots. My second pair now (both gore tex and regular) the most comfortable boots I have ever worn, and especially right out of the box. As a retired firefighter/smokejumper, these boots are my go to for everything outdoors.

I even wear them for long endurance mountain trail racing and winter time hiking. The non-gore tex keep my feet warm and dry in winter, extremely durable in all weather elements and fit the contour around all areas of the foot preventing movement / slipping on steep inclines, and side hill.

The best ankle support in all the above conditions. Absolutely no blisters, and they wear nice with any style clothing. My all day everyday best footwear I have worn, and I have worn lots of boots in my job.

These are the best!.

This is my fifth pair of zephyrs. For a patrol boot it doesn’t get any better. I stopped wearing boots from companies known for making sunglasses and undershirts 10 years ago. Lowa makes high quality mountaineering and hiking boots.

These boots take only two days to break in and wear like a sneaker. They are light on your feet during a foot pursuit and feet stay dry when walking through damp tall grass or stepping in a deep puddle.

Not a great cold weather boot but wool socks will help. The tread will last about a year and a half of 4-10 shift work and less if worn every day. The suede upper does get dirty easy but water and nylon brush cleans up the boot nicely.

I won’t wear any other boot. They are getting very popular. I had to wait two months because they were on back order but worth the wait.

I already own a pair of hardscrabble’s that I love. The only thing I didn’t realize is that the hardscrabble’s have a waterproof membrane (that by the way makes the boots truly waterproof). That’s not so bad for occasional use or in situations where you need a truly waterproof boot.

But for everyday use, they absolutely wreaked havok with athlete’s foot because that membrane wouldn’t allow easy breathability. Upon learning this the hard way, I ordered a set of these desert guide’s which are essentially the same boot but without the waterproof membrane.

No more athlete’s foot! Same fit and dependability of the hardscrabble’s. I’m wearing these every day out in the fields farming. Most comfortable, tough, and dependable boot there is. At the end of the day, my feet don’t hurt like they used to with other brands of work boots.

Why else would I spend that kind of money a second time? Because its totally worth it!!!.

No matter what, to be a fantastic boot it needs to fit-for my foot, Kenetrek has nailed it! I bought a pair of the Desert Guide boots in a men’s 8. 5 M. The arch support is the best I’ve ever had in a boot, heel is stable without blistering, and ample toe room gives my foot/toes room to spread.

I bought the DG boot to use as a work boot and a hiking boot. Working conditions are cutting trees on hills and slopes so I can vouch for the boots stability and comfort on steep terrain. Hiking is back country in the Pacific NW and also gravel logging roads.

The DG boots are performing perfectly!.

The boots are stiff but loosening up with more break in. Definitely a good quality, my feet are somewhat narrow so they fit a little loose with thinner socks. Will fit better with a thicker sock, right now I lace them pretty tight.

So far so good, I’ll never buy a Cabelas brand boot again.

I purchased these shoes for my son. He totally loves them! He started wearing them immediately after he opened the box.

I’m definitely not exaggerating when I say these are the most comfortable athletic shoes I’ve ever owned. They provide support, comfortable footbed and plenty of traction.

I bought these and they were to small. I tried to use a boot stretcher to stretch them a little and the toe of the shoe popped off. They’re actually fairly comfortable and I really like them. Very sad they don’t fit after many attempts to get them to stretch.

I actually hiked 50+ miles in them.

I’ve worn these indoors and out. They are comfortable with no slippage. Great boot. They run small. I purchased a full size up. Half size due to heavier winter sock need so these are likely an easy half size small.

These shoes are excellent, but with one striking flaw. Firstly, these shoes are comfortable and rugged. I work in the field in documentary filmmaking and I’m very rough on all of my shoes and generally on my feet for 10-16 hour days.

I require three kinds of shoe. A good solid heavy duty hiking sneaker for light to mildly abusive terrain and weather, a solid hiking boot ( Danner mountain 600) for medium extreme and a heavy boot for the most extreme.

I have been able to rely on Danner for all three. I’ve had great experience with this particular hiking Trail 2650 GTX shoe for the lighter day to day side of things. It’s rugged, waterproof, has a great tough exterior.

My only complaint is that the sole has decided to start peeling off well before the rest of the shoe has run its course. At a year of this kind of use, I expect a Danner to have plenty of life left in it.

While every other aspect of the shoe is still 100%, the sole showing the normal amount of wear with plenty of lug left, I’m a little disappointed that the sole has decided to detach. I’ve corrected this with a once monthly application of some strong rubber adhesive.

This mostly does the trick, but still it eventually comes loose. All Danners are super comfy which, in and of itself, definitely earns it 5 stars in every way if not for this one small thing. I’d love to buy another pair of these but this is definitely an issue that I hope Danner addresses.

Perhaps I got a pair that the factory used a bad batch of glue on. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. But seriously, fix the glue, Danner.

Purchased my first pair a couple of months ago for long-distance motorcycle riding. Shoe size are true to size, a bit stiff at first, but loosens up nicely over time. Sturdy soles, which are essential for riding.

Not a big fan of the lacing, which can become undone if you are careful, but not a deal killer. Bought two additional pairs I was so pleased with the boot. Will upgrade to 5 stars but if their water-resistant claims are proven true (haven’t been tested yet).

I recently bought a pair of these boots. I am an experienced hiker and was looking for a durable, well made boot. I trusted Vasque as I have had several beloved pairs of hiking boots in the past. The sizing was correct and fit well when trying on.

This boot ends above the ankle which is where the problems begin for me. On the trail, the upper is stiff and uncomfortable and lacing differently has not helped. Loosening causes the top of the boot to rub and flop against my leg.

More secure (not tight) lacing causes pain at ankles and top of foot just below the ankle. Also, the sides of the ankle support push my feet medially on weight bearing resulting in pronation. This is despite a firm insert I wear for plantar fasciatis.

The back of the support pushes my achilles going downhill making descending awkward. The soles did grip wet rocks well. I have about 15 hours in these including two moderate, 3 mile hikes. My ankles and tops of feet hurt after my hike yesterday.

Not sure I want to tolerate more breaking in. I don’t think these are going to work for me. Disappointing. Back to the search.

This is not a review of how a boot felt in the store or walking around a little bit. This a a review of how this boot held up being used for what it was made for. Bought a pair several years ago. Loved them at first.

after a while of using, the sole started getting lumps in the front where the show bends. I thought maybe it was must that pair, so i bought another pair before a hiking trip. New ones were fantastic.

There boots are no where near being worn out. That actually don’t look worn at all. Now having the same issue. There is a sharp rise/limp in the front sole of the boot where it bends. I’ve changed the liners but the lump is still felt.

I even tried beating the lump down with a sledge hammer, no luck. There boots are going into the trash and I will never buy this brand again. A name brand boot like this should last and feel good until it at least looks very worn.

Extremely limited and grossly deficient ventilation. Sock was drenched with sweat inside of an hour on a simple, flat day hike to break them in along Lake Tahoe. Have worn earlier models such as the 7466 for years.

I asked about breathability when buying it and the clueless sales person assured me it was fine. It is terrible. Never had blisters or breathability problems with earlier models; sure, had toe rubber separate but patched together with shoe goo; and the most recent one had the sole wear out in two years but at least they were hiking boots.

this new one is a blister boot. And yes, tried replacing socks every 45 minutes.

I discovered these boots a few years back and decided to give them a try not expecting a lot. I liked the way they looked and thought for the price I couldn’t go wrong. I work outside in landscape construction in all seasons in the south and had been spending between 150.

00-250. 00 on each pair of boots. They would typically last me a year as I am hard on boots. I received my first pair of these and was pleasantly surprised at first. They were light, easy to break in within one day and they were waterproof.

They typically will last me 8-10 months before the soles become thin and I replace them with a new pair. I am on my ninth pair of these boots and continue to order them. They are undoubtedly the most comfortable boot I have worn.

They are a value, which is becoming increasingly more difficult to find these days. It will be sad day for me should HQ decide to stop manufacturing these boots.

These are great boots, and priced to sell! That said, I have several pairs of boots to choose from, should SHTF. I think these might wind up, being my first choice to turn to, getting me through whatever calamity comes my way.

Whilst made for the desert, I wish they were offered in coyote tan/brown, too. The shoelaces, are better, than what comes standard, with most USGI issued boots. I still replaced the laces, with OD 550 paracord, though.

From what I gather, I think these will hold up well, under the stresses placed upon boots, whilst out in the field. I have worn these for quite a spell, and my feet never fatigued to the point, my morale suffered.

I have yet to find a boot, that has kept my feet from fatiguing. I doubt there is such a boot. But, these come quite close. Quite close, indeed. And, they’re waterproof!.

Just bought 2nd pair for both me & my son. Very comfortable & rugged. Use for outdoor work & remote fishing trips. Great ankle support. Boots Last years & years and not worn out. Just looking a little rough from mud & such.

Looks wise, these boots are stellar! Partially the reason I bought them, but performance wise and everyday wear I don?t believe they?re worth the money. I have plantar fasciitis so I always look for boots that have more of a tennis shoe/hiking boot profile than the ordinary tactical boot when purchasing boots for work.

I?m on my feet a lot so comfort is a huge thing for me and to me they aren?t worth the hype that this brand has for comfort! They?re lightweight and I haven?t had any issues with my feet getting wet during the rain.

But, they?re not slip resistant at all on smooth surfaces when wet! They?re very tight fitting and have good ankle support, but I wouldn?t suggest even trying these unless you have really narrow feet.

Within the first three weeks of wearing them the little ?on? at the toe had already fallen off which was disappointing. These boots are for hiking so I will say for ankle support they?re good but other than that I haven?t used them for hiking so I can?t speak on them with that intended use.

Also I wear a 9 in tennis shoes, wear a 9. 5 in this boot and I wear compression socks not thick socks.

This review is for both the male and female versions as I tested them with a friend but was only approached to review the female version. My comments were consistent with both versions, though I am not sure if there is anything specific to either that I am missing.

These boots have a few design flaws, namely the placement of the heel locking metal loops and the excessive amounts of side leather. These two things mean that tightening down the boot to tailor your fit is difficult if your feet are a bit smaller than the boot, or even if they are the right size but you want a snug fit.

There is not enough of an adjustment range because of the small tongue gap, which helps with protection but not sizing. Likewise, the awkward amount of leather on the middle sides causes it to bend in when tightened, which pushes the mostly unpadded metal heel lock lug into the sides of your ankles.

This is apparent with both appropriately sized boots and too big sized boots, as I have tried both. This is dissappointing because the boot fits well in all other aspects and doesn’t seem to have any other hotspots.

The only other negatives would be some spotty quality control, as one pair of my boots had uneven amounts of leather in the toebox, and some of the stiching on the rubber molding was stiched outside and over the groove where the stitching needed to be.

Some loose stiches throughout as well, but nothing terrible. Reinforced stitching was a comforting sight. On the positive side, this boot fits exceptionally well a half sized down, or at your normal size if you have wide feet.

The leather is supremely thick and durable feeling, but not too immobile. The breathability is AMAZING and very noticeable for a hiking boot like this. While the outsole traction pattern does not look or feel convincing for technical climbs or rock scrambling, it feels thick and durable and the toe box protection exceeded expectations.

All of the metal hardware, though able to move, looks and feels to be of high quality. The heat stamped leather branding is inconsistently dark on my boots and sometimes barely visible, but in general it is stylish and the perfect amount.

The boot feels very sturdy under foot and I am impressed with how carefully selected every material was. In summary, this feels like the version one that it is. Hearing about how the company listens to both its retail partners and users, I am very confident future models will build upon these.

That being said, this is still an excellent boot and a great purchase considering you are supporting a shift in how footwear companies approach sustainability and performance. Great job Erem!.

I really want these because they’re beautiful and relatively sustainable, but I’m returning them. They’re seriously cute and I’d even wear them in the city. They’d actually be fine for that, especially if you don’t have wide feet.

However, for hikes, the toe box is too narrow for my wide feet, while the ankle/heel is too loose, and the drop is too high. TOE BOX: I bought my normal shoe size, and the toes fit like normal shoes; you can see that they’re slightly almond toe shaped.

They’re narrower than my Salomon backpacking boots. The front leather border of the laces gently presses the top of my foot (near my toes) with every step, which might get annoying on an actual hike.

BACK OF BOOT: The leather going up the top of my foot toward my ankle stands up too straight rather than curving in to hug the top of my foot and front of my ankle. Even if I pull the laces really tight, the boots don’t hug my ankle and heel, and then the corner eyelet presses on my inner ankle bone.

DROP: The heel is a tad too high compared to the forefoot, which feels weird. And as I walk, my foot slides forward a couple of millimeters from where it would be comfortable. This is partially from the previous problem and contributes to my heel feeling loose and uneasy in the boot.

OTHER (MINOR): The arch support is mild. You can replace the insoles though, and my Superfeet feel good in the boots. The color isn’t as uniform as in the pictures. I got caramel and the canvas part is redder (more of a muted brick color) than the picture, so it doesn’t match the leather as nicely.

That said, I do love how the boots are constructed, down to the cork insoles and soft-to-the-touch cotton laces. I wish I could keep them but feel confident about my decision not to.

Five weeks into ownership with no regrets. These shoes are comfortable and exhibit excellent control on all types of terrain including vegetation, dunes, loose rock, or a sidewalk. I live in a county where just over 1% of terrain is considered relatively flat.

These shoes keep their footing where nimble animals tend to slip. These have held firm without slippage on 35% to 105% grades covered in loose mineral soil and conifer duff. Wet and dry conditions have not affected the performance in temps ranging from 28F to 105F.

My normal habit with hiking shoes is to double-up on socks no matter the weather but I would buy a size down if that doesn’t appeal to your sensibilities. I have also found these to be comfortable driving shoes for 6-8 hour trips.

The drop-heel design, grippy soles, and breathability make the drive-time less arduous. My current experience can address quality and breathability. I have not owned these shoes long enough to give an “Excellent” score in durability but they don’t show much of any signs of wear and they still smell new after 100+ miles of intense hiking and fuel clearing on steep grades.

I really like the idea behind these boots – repairable, and ultimately recyclable. First, the pros. The price is fine, on a par with the major boot makers. Their construction is excellent, very well made and sturdy.

Finally, their customer service is also excellent. However, sadly my new boots don’t fit as well as I’d like. Erem warn that the boots are cut “roomy” – an understatement! I normally wear 11 or 11. 5 in hiking boots, so got the 11’s, and they were way too big.

I returned them, and to their credit Erem had a new pair on my feet in a week, size 10. 5. But after wearing them on a couple of hikes, I think they’re still too roomy. They’re pretty comfortable but even with 2 pairs of socks my feet still move around too much in the boots.

They are also bulky and the uppers are very stiff, I hope they’ll soften up in time. So I would recommend ordering at least a half size smaller than normal, maybe a full size. Since I’ve already hiked in mine I doubt I could return them again for a smaller pair.

Originally bought these as something waterproof but a little lighter to wear during fall in the Colorado mountains this upcoming season, but ended up with an outcome unlike anything I could have ever wished for.

I went to a huge music festival in Ohio this past week. Weather was super weird and some of the terrain was wet and muddy. These boots kept my feet so warm and dry. Better yet, they are SO comfortable.

My feet usually tire out super quickly at festivals. By the second day it usually hurts to walk. 5 days in to a week long trek making nearly 20,000 steps a day and my feet barely hurt at all. I had unlimited energy for walking, which really allowed me to enjoy the full festival, which I’ve never been able to do before due to foot pain.

These boots handle incredibly rocky and hilly terrain extremely well. Important also to note that there was no break in period. I only wore them twice before the festival. Amazing. 10/10 recommend.

They are a bit narrow and fit snug throughout. I have wide feet too. That being said, the army issued me boots that fit the same way. I whined, they told me to shut up. They ended up being the best boots I have ever worn.

If you have wide feet and they feel snug front to back, remember they are leather. Take them to the bathroom and shower in them a couple of times, or soak them for about 30 minutes. Then wear them for a while.

You’ll immediately notice the difference because it will form to your feet. I’ll say from there that you’ll probably be blister free and comfortable. These boots won’t be great out of the box but will be great once they are broken in.

All that aside these boots are very very light even when soaking wet. The lace placement doesn’t seem too great but I can get over that.