20 Best Shoes For Thru Hiking (2023 Updated)

My goddaughter in New York recommended these boots after reading very good reviews about them knowing I was struggling to choose new ones. The actual boot is very comfortable and fits well. I was told by a podiatrist to always buy a size larger in a trainer and walking boot so I purchased a 5 although my normal shoe size is 4.

On my second wearing I got a blister on my ankle above my heal, I have very sensitive feet so wasn’t surprised, the ankle cuffs are a little hard. I did however read a review that advised wearers to watch a YouTube video on how to tie laces properly on walking boots.

I found a Trekkit video and was amazed at how differently they advise how to tie laces than I tie mine. I’m waiting for my blister to heal before trying this technique but I’m confident that it will make a big difference.

Overall I think the boots are comfortable, subject to more breaking in, they look good and seem to be waterproof as I walked in puddles without a problem. 10 out of 10 after a few more wears I’m confident.

NOTE: my review is based on just a few steps in the house, as this shoe runs big! (I’m normally a very true US Women’s 9. 5 / EU 41 (which is what I ordered) and there was way too much length and even some extra width to spare.

By contrast, La Sportiva’s TX4 fit me perfectly in a US Women’s 9. 5 / EU 41. while in La Sportiva’s TX Guides, (a horrifically stiff shoe that I WON’T wear for that reason alone), I had NO ROOM to spare in an EU 41.

5. At best though, I do NOT need to take this shoe outside to determine: NO 5 STARS, no matter how awesome those sweet lugs are on the loose footing, as there is a severe lack of protection. Sadly, Scarpa, La Sportiva, and MOST other companies can’t make a shoe worth a you know what that has BOTH decent lugs AND superior protection.

The lugs on these are incredible and no doubt will perform amazing in terms of traction on loose footing but the protection factor is FAR INFERIOR. obviously this may seem like a crazy protective shoe to those heading away from super light weight / mesh.

but for those wanting to do off-trail (or even rugged ROCKY trails), WATCH OUT! Yes, while these ARE a step above the mesh crap, even the toe guard is inferior to shoes that use a rubber toe guard. Backs of the shoes are okay (and MOST TIMES are) but holy heck.

the SIDES of these shoe SEVERELY lack protection. If you DO NOT need decent/deep lugs, then I recommend Scarpa, as they have a whole line up of shoes that are SUPERIOR (some even to my Camp 4’s!) in terms of BOTH the protection AND the overall comfort/fit factor.

In terms of design/fit aspects, there were some mild pressure points in an area that is fairly common (right over where one ties the laces). BUT given that these were clearly too big, I’d think/hope that could be eliminated/greatly minimized if I decide to size down.

Very decently fitting tongue/lacing system without pressure points elsewhere, so that was a HUGE plus; and very decent job in terms of a shoe that HAS deep lugs BUT WITHOUT a horrible ‘high heel effect’ (such as in the Salewa Moutain Trainers) where you may feel more prone to rolling an ankle.

that said, (whether due to the deeper lugs OR a slightly stiffer shoe than some of my other top candidates or perhaps a bit of both), this shoe, in my opinion, has less “precision” (in terms of being able to better feel the contour of the ground underfoot, like say the footing (which have excellent precision): TX4 (La Sportiva), Camp 4’s (Five Ten) or Salewa’s Wildfire Edges (which would be an EPIC shoe if not for the horrific lacing system that caused crazy pressure points along the entire top of my foot on the top-inside).

With the incredible lugs on this shoe and decent overall fit, I could *live with slightly less precision as long as it climbs/edge decently. *so long as my shoe repairmen could slap on a quality rubber toe guard + some rubber on the sides, that is! Hoping that the Garmont Dragontails will bridge the gap where this shoe falls short, as I’m nearly out of options.

I’ve had these boots for about 4 months and worn them on wet, muddy hikes and multiple days hiking through snow and ice around Quebec City. My feet have stayed dry and warm in any conditions so far, paired with some merino socks of course.

The vibram sole grip is excellent and I feel sure footed in these on almost any terrain, only solid patches of ice were a little slippery. They’re quick to lace up and the laces cinch tight, although they did seem thin and fragile at first they’ve held up.

They did start to fray just slightly in one area but it has not torn. Not significant enough of an issue for me to lower the rating. The footbed does feel a bit elevated in the heel compared to some other boots I’ve tried on and had in the past but it’s comfortable for all day use for me.

They clean up easily and there’s been no rubbing or significant uncomfortable break in period. Definitely recommended, esp was a GTX non leather hiking boot option.

These are by far the most comfortable hiking shoes I have owned! They run a bit large but I had read reviews and ordered a half size smaller, and they are a little roomy in the toe box and I love them! They are so sturdy and really keep me balanced on rocks.

The gore-tex is great and really does keep them water-proof. (I have had other shoes which did not fulfill the waterproof promise. ) I hike a lot (but not rock climbing) and these can take all kinds of terrain.

I wore them today on a short hike to the beach and they were even great on the sand. They are light and I don’t want to take them off. I took them on a trip to Vermont and there was no break-in time and I wore them everywhere, even in the snow.

The neutral color is perfect and makes them so you can wear them with jeans any day. I actually purchased a second pair to keep for when my first pair is done, but they have been holding out great with lots and lots of miles.

Thank you to La Sportiva for this awesome shoe!! Thank you to Moosejaw for carrying this amazing product!.

First off im NOT a hiker. Im a fat guy from missouri who decided to go hiking in the Rockies. After looking at Merrels and Salamon boots in the $175-230 price range i wasnt happy with the fit and feel.

The gentleman at the store suggested these and they were Very comfortable. I bought them on a thursday, and wore them on an 11 mile hike up 2,000 feet that saturday, and my feet never hurt once! No break in, and no blisters! They are absolutely not a replacement for snow cleats, but in mud and over rocks they performed exceptionally! They felt pretty warm at first but still breath well.

And my feet stayed completely dry after walking through creeks and up a waterfall. I highly recommend these boots! Looking at how theyre made i dont expect them to last alot more than a regular shoe would, but for the price ill gladly buy another if these wear out.

Unlike the $200 boots iv read many reviews about not lasting~.

As an avid runner and occasional hiker, I have never had a need for hiking boots. I’ve always made do with duck boots or chacos. (Love my chacos, they cannot be beat. Please try to challenge me on this.

) However, with a July trip to Zion national park looming, it sounded like I was going to need some hiking boots. Off to try on boots I went. I am a hard size to find in women’s boots so I figured I would be stuck in the mens.

So that’s what I tried on. Not to trash talk the mens boots selection but they were pretty clunky for my feet. Leaving the outdoor store with no boots, online shopping was my next stop. My best friend and her mom are the diehard hikers in my life so I drifted to where they had found their favorites.

Columbia. Why not try and see if they might possibly have a size for me. AND THEY DO! Size 12, not too clunky and VERY comfortable hiking boots. I was very surprised to also find that they are not too hot in texas humidity and heat.

Thank you Columbia for having a womens hiking boot for me. I’ll have to report back on how they do at Zion. 🙂 happy outdoorsing!.

I have worn Columbia shoes (hiking boots, hiking shoes, sport shoes) for years. I usually pay more per pair than I did for these Crestwood shoes, but I wanted to try their “wide width. ” In addition, my older Columbia shoes were beginning to wear out (after a lot of use), so I needed to purchase new shoes.

In the past, I have not had an issue with regular width Columbia shoes, but I recently bought thicker socks and thought the “wide width” would accommodate the socks better. I could use the new, thicker socks with my older shoes (regular width) even though my feet were slightly snug (but still comfortable).

I bought this pair, and their width was less roomy than both of my regular width Columbia shoes from two years ago. In fact, the new Crestwood pair had a much smaller/narrower toe box than any Columbia shoe I had ever owned.

Even with thinner socks, my feet felt cramped in both the width and toe box areas. I checked the interior labels to make sure the shoes were wide width, and the labels stated that they were. I also noticed that the shoe tongues were not attached on their sides like they had been on all of the previous Columbia shoe models I had purchased.

This just made it more of a pain to put on the shoes, but that wasn’t a deal breaker. I was very disappointed in the fit, but I thought I would purchase the same pair again just in case I received a defective pair.

The second pair’s width had more room than the first pair, but they were basically the same width as my old regular width Columbia shoes. The toe box on this one was tolerable, but not nearly as roomy as my previous regular width Columbia shoes.

I returned the first pair and kept the second only because I needed a pair of shoes. I like the look of them, but the fit isn’t my favorite. These shoes are definitely NOT “wide width. ” Perhaps next time, I will go back to the more expensive Columbia shoes, because these do not have the same quality as my previous pairs.

I just hope that the narrower width and cramped toe box aren’t the trend for Columbia shoes now, especially because I will need to find another shoe manufacturer if this is the case. Bottom line, I would not recommend this particular pair of shoes.

already had a pair of terrex shoes for 2 years. used them on quite demanding hikes, get them covered in mud pretty much every weekend. they’re still doing farily well. the sole of these shoes is basically unbreakable, solid and stable.

had to buy the mid-boots version this time for having ,more ankle support. they might feel a bit hard in the beginning, but walk 20-30miles in them and they’ll feel great. definitely not for walking on iced terrain.

wet slabs are fine, unless they’re really smooth. the goretex membrane will last more or less depending on what sort of terrain you go for. but can be easily restored with no problems. definitely get half size on top of what you normally wear, they’re quite narrow.

but again, they’ll get much better with time and the width will adapt to your feet. definitely recommend.

I have the non gtx eastrail in a size 9 and they are the perfect size but i wanted the gtx version for wet weather walking. I tried some on in store and bought the size 10 in the gtx version. Took them home to try on with walking socks and they are a little too long but massively too narrow.

These are 2 sizes bigger than the non gtx version so why so narrow? Tried them in the house with walking socks and I couldn’t walk a trail in them in comfort. Unfortunately sports direct only give a credit note or exchange for shop bought items and they have nothing else I like so will have to go elsewhere and hope I want something from them in future or I’m £70 down.

Why can’t I just have a refund???.

Adidas’s Terrex Free Hiker C. RDY excel for hiking in damp and cold climates, however for more normal hiking I would recommend another pair of hiking shoes. The strong points that this shoe offers when hiking in rain or snow can become pain points when hiking in hot summer days.

Small disclaimer though, this is my first pair of cold weather hiking shoes, so features that might be standard among cold weather hiking shoes will be novel to me. The most novel aspect of this shoe is its internal sock and shoelace-less zip closure system.

After hiking for 30 minutes, I realized that I didn’t need to break these shoes in as I would normal hiking shoes. The combination of the soft insole, lack of hot spots caused by traditional lace closure system, as well as its internal sock let me put it on and immediately start hiking.

A novel problem caused by the zip closure system also introduced itself to me 30 minutes into my hike. Normal hiking shoes offer a degree of protection for the ankle by securing it against side-to-side movement, while allowing front-and-back freedom.

The zip closure system on this shoe provides a great seal against the elements, however it also restricts your ankle’s mobility. On level ground this isn’t an issue, but when going up or downhill this becomes a noticeable pain point.

Bending my ankle forward or backward is met with a slight resistance from the shoe itself. Imperceptible at first, it gradually became an annoyance a few miles in. This trade-off is why I mentioned that these shoes are very niche, yes they keep your socks dry and feet warm, but the mechanism that does so also slightly restricts ankle movement.

In terms of weight and grip they are excellent, my friends also commented on these shoes for its style as well. All in all, a very solid pair of winter hiking shoes, especially in the PNW. Great for walking around town or hiking in the wet cold.

Initially set out for a GTX boot for hiking thinking I needed support. Ankle issues. Tried all different things. No success. Almost bought hiking shoes but I didn’t want something snow and debris could hinder my hikes.

Didn’t want gaiters either. These boots feel similar to a gym shoe. A little different to put on but easy after slipping your foot in just enough then grabbing w one hand the forward sock like material and the other grabbing the rear sock material.

No big deal. Lace free. even better. I was skeptical at first so 2 miles on the treadmill different speeds and incline. No issues at all. Extremely comfortable. 12 miles hiking now. I love them. Not much insulation but perfect with a merino wool sock.

The inserts were nothing special I did upgrade. I live in northern Indiana. We’ve been hiking in 20° and 5° weather my feet were fine. Standing around will be an issue w warmth. There is no such thing as one boot does everything.

For my use these have been impressive. They run a little big. REI didn’t have mens so I rolled the dice and won.

Finding a good hiking boot is so hard but this one is definitely a top contender for me. They are SO light (I kind of can’t get over how light they are)! The boots don’t have laces but I didn’t mind because the upper fits snuggly, especially with a tall/thick sock (which I did find necessary because the zipper chafed against my leg).

The high rise upper also keeps my ankles feeling supported. The other feature I’m loving is the waterproofing. I haven’t had a chance to try in snow yet, but they have replaced traditional rainboots for me for sure and have kept my feet dry in downpours and flash floods.

The tight ankle keeps the rain out of the top and the lower just stays dry in inches of water. An incredible shoe. The sleek design also works great for daily city wear so it’s getting worn regularly and not just on the occasional hike or trip.

And overall great addition to my closet, highly pleased. (SO LIGHTWEIGHT).

“I REALLY want to like these shoes,” I think to myself as I spend the second night in an Icelandic hotel room thankful for the complimentary hair dryer while I sit on the bathroom floor blow drying the life back into these shoes.

My Salomon hiking boots are heavy and the waterproofing was potentially compromised from multiple stream crossings so I thought I’d purchase a smaller lightweight versatile waterproof trail running shoe for my Iceland and Europe trip because my friends have converted to hiking in trail runners and it’s something I’ve considered for hot weather anyway.

I tried them on at REI and loved everything about the fit. They had wide toe room, were very supportive, and didn’t hurt my feet when running around Ladybird Lake during the Texas drought. However, within 30 minutes into a rainy, muddy hike the waterproofing over the top of my left foot failed.

It definitely wasn’t from rain paints dripping into my shoes, which I wouldn’t have faulted the shoe for. It was like the very dorsal middle aspect of the toes where only sky water touches. My feet were soaked by the end of it as my right foot eventually became compromised too.

Disappointed, I dried the shoes and tried again the next day thinking it was probably my fault/user error. When waterfall viewing at Seljalandsfoss, just getting the spray on me soaked through to my feet.

The tread was at least very good though. I tried no socks but ended up with blisters on my heel. Now I’m not even halfway through my trip and wishing I could have a do-over. The inside of the shoe says waterproof eVent waterproofing and REI calls them waterproof, but the Altra website says “weather resistant”.

I feel like I’ve been duped. These will be going back to REI upon my return. I would consider purchasing Altras for running in dry weather only but I’m pretty bitter right now. Going to stick with Salomon.

I wear these shoes for any kind of walking or light hiking. They provide great support and are comfortable even in hot weather. They are great for travel, too. I love the light color for summer. The shoes fit perfectly out of the box.

I usually wear an 8. 5 and these are true to size.

I have really enjoyed these shoes so far. They were lightweight and comfortable enough to wear in and out of the car on a long Northeast road trip, but functional and supportive enough to also wear while hiking on the AT and running in the city.

I have weak arches and ankles and the shoe definitely supports them. And they’re cute!!!.

I bought these a few months ago now, and the first thing i think about is just how breathable they are. They are certainly NOT waterproof. If your looking for waterproof look elsewhere. These are more ideally suited to hot humid country.

where it’s mostly dry weather. However, they do dry out extremely fast if you do get them wet. And their light weight… tracktion. and stability are perfect for hiking the Appalachian Trail etc. At first i was skeptical of the lacing as they didn’t have the higher laces i am used to with a toughened backpacking boot, but realized, they are so light… such lacing in unnecessary anyways.

If you replace the insoles with a good ortho set such as superfeet, or sole you will be doubly delighted. As for traction. they have good mixed terrain traction. Slippery rocks in New England. the sandy shores of a beach… the wet boulder country.

However, i have heard complants in scree country (on certain rock formations and the like), but you cant have it all. As for my complaints. these boots felt wonderful and light straight out of the box.

But they have some drawbacks. For one thing… if you purchase these to do a lot of every day street walking (tarmac), shopping and all of that kind of thing… then the “cleat” type soles will become painful after about three to four miles.

Superfeet help this to some extent… so does a short break in period. Also. i found these to be extremely… tight in the toe box. More so then any other shoe ive ever owned. I kept telling myself “they’ll break in.

you’ll see”… but the toe box doesn’t. Even with the thinnest Darn Tough socks i’ve got these are painful in the toes. And the strangest thing is i can wiggle my toes easily inside the shoe, and they (my toes) seem to be exactly where they should be in the shoe… but when walking uphill, downhill… and even straight on down the road… they are painful in the toes.

This was deceptive, because in the photo’s they look like they have a wider toe box. So the cushioning is about standard or better, but between the “cleat” like pattering of the soles. and the tight toe box, after about four miles my feet are killing me.

Overall. these are well designed boots, perfect for hazy, hot, humid… but dry conditions. However, consider ordering up half a size or a full size depending on sock preferences.

I am a big fan of La Sportiva’s climbing shoes and was excited to try this pair of hiking shoes during my thru hike on the PCT. The traction once again proved to be some of the best I have experienced in a hiking or trail runner shoe.

These shoes also offered great toe-guard support/stiffness to protect against rocks. I found that while the heel had good cushioning, the forefoot of the shoe lacked adequate cushioning to protect against loose/pointy rocky surfaces.

Disappointingly, it left my metatarsal heads progressively more painful on rougher terrain. There was also an issue for me with the narrow width of the shoe that kept me from being able to continue using them.

They could work well for a hiker with narrow feet who is not doing significant daily mileage on softer right terrain. The shoes seemed very durable on the tread rubber and the uppers.

Love these shoes. I used to wear Keens and lately they have not been fitting me correctly. Don’t know why. Tried Vasque shoes, Merrill shoes and boots. Finally tried these La Sportivas and they are great.

Very comfortable and supportive. Haven’t tried them on a hike yet, but as a street walking shoe they work very well. I also like that they are really lightweight.

Truth in advertising, this review is more about my previous Trailhead shoes than the ones I recently bought. I bought my first pair of Trailhead in a different color about three years ago, but because I worked full time in an office I was only able to wear them infrequently on weekends.

That all changed in March 2020 when everything shut down & I started working from home. Every morning I would get a three-five mile walk on a mix of roads and moderate trails in before work. I primarily wore my Lems on the walks & have continued to do so to this day.

They’ve proven to be very comfortable with the right amount of support for moderate paths & inclines, as well as lots of stair steps. Most impressively, they are showing only minimal wear and tear after literally hundreds of miles of use.

I’m still using them for my daily walks while at home. I bought the second pair as a good multipurpose shoe now that I’m starting to travel again. The only thing I would caution is the shoe fits OK in terms of size, but it is close.

I wear a 8. 5D & the Trailhead is true to size. It is not cramped, but my toes are “aware” of the front of the shoe. It is not a problem for moderate trails, but for someone planning on steeper trails I’d recommend going for a half size larger to account for downhill walking.

I have had these and worn them now for enough time to provide a fulsome review (almost a year). I will start by noting that I buy Lems because I have bunions that require a wider toe box. ;Also, I will start with the cons then follow with the pros.

First off, if not used with a shoe horn (or if you accidentally slide your foot in without undoing the laces and mash the back of your shoe), the back heel area of the shoe becomes lumpy – subsequent wearings are impacted adn the lumpiness cannot be fixed.

This happened to my right shoe the second time I wore them. Super annoying. It has flattened out to an extent so it is tolerable. It would be nicer if the shoes were made with a slightly more flexible (i.

e. leather) construction in the area of the bunions. I can fit my toe separators (or even the correct toes – although I don’t love them) in, but it feels snug when I wear wool socks. The shoe itself is comfortable.

I have narrow feet but need the toe room for bunions and this shoe is good for that. I hike in them regularly and they are decent. I still don’t 100% trust the treads but I also haven’t used them on wet/slippery terrain much.

The shoe laces are GREAT. The holes are small so when you pull the lace through to the tightness (or looseness around the bunion) that you’re looking for, the laces stick there. This is probably the shoe’s greatest feature in my opinion.

Other than the looks. I love the way this shoe looks. It just sort of blends in but when someone does happen to notice my shoes, they most often ask me what kind they are and where I got them. So ya.

They need to fix the heel construction, soften up a bit of the bunion movement/stretch area and these would be great.

This is one of the best wearing and performing shoes I’ve had. Love everything about it. Except that is falls apart WAY to fast and in the worst ways. Probably the least durable shoe I’ve ever owned, period.

Which for $130 is unacceptable. Like, I could buy a $25 shoe from a discount store that would hold up longer than this thing. Sole completely separated from both shoes after moderate street and hiking use, plastic piece that gives form to heel cracked right away, stiching coming out.

Wish I could justify buying another pair, but no way. Hopefully company improves durability.

There are better Salomon shoes out there/ not very good support.