7 Best Lightweight Hiking Boots in 2023

If there's ever one hiker that really blurs the divide between trail boots and sneakers, it has to be the Free Hiker 2 from Adidas. It's as mighty effective on backcountry terrain as it is impossibly difficult NOT to admire. And as far as comfort is concerned, it's simply heavenly, especially once you're past its customary break-in period.

When we want a waterproof boot that doesn’t weigh us down, we turn to the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. It’s also super grippy and supportive so it’s the perfect companion for our multi-day hikes.

It doesn’t get much better on the waterproofing front than being able to stand in running water for more than a minute and emerge with dry feet. The extra-plush 17 mm tongue comes with a full gusset. Together with the high ankle collar and GoreTex membrane, this dream combination works wonders at keeping the water out. We especially appreciate this on our thru-hikes when it can be tricky to dry our boots out overnight.

Our ankles felt supported by the high collar and the pioneering active support system. Salomon opted for traditional lacing in these boots and it does a sterling job at locking our feet in securely. The plastic shank in the midsole provides additional stability and stops our ankles from rolling while traversing rocky and uneven paths.

In our lab, we weighed these boots at a remarkable 13.8 oz (390g), 5.7 oz (163g) lighter than the average waterproof hiking boot. This is good news for our Big Mountain Days, since we can put in more miles before our feet get tired! This weight has to be saved somewhere and we suspected it might be in the midsole. In fact, in the lab, we measured the stack height to be 31.5 mm at the heel. Since the average for hiking boots is 35.8 mm, the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX does have a bit less material underfoot than average, but we really like the increased ground feel. Along with the faultless Contragrip sole and its 5.1 mm lugs (16% deeper than average), we felt grounded and confident on our hikes.

We don't recommend this shoe to hikers who do not enjoy the ground feel. They would have to look at hiking shoes with a higher stack height then. 

The Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX packs in heaps of cushioning in an astonishingly lightweight package. With its Hubble heel contributing to silky smooth transitions and a grippy yet cushy marshmallow feel underfoot, the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX is our favorite lightweight hiking boot with the best cushioning out there!

The Anacapa Mid GTX goes all in when it comes to cushioning - it’s super soft and there’s simply more of it! The plush feel is down to the midsole - using a durometer, we found the midsole is 19% softer than average! We found the heel stack measures 0.5 mm higher than average, and the forefoot 2.3 mm higher than average. On the trail, this means more material between our feet and the ground, so we felt wonderfully protected from sharp objects, despite the soft midsole.

On our test hikes, these boots held us steady on uneven forest trails, gravel, and rocky outcrops. The 4.7 mm lugs are only 0.3 mm deeper than average for hiking boots, but the unique and flexible lug pattern is what gives this boot its superior traction.

Amazingly, considering its many perks, the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX is an incredible 4.5 oz (127g) lighter than the average waterproof hiking boot, making it a great choice for long days on the mountain.

While hiking with heavy loads we found the collar was too weak to support both our weight and that of a backpack. For this reason, we don’t recommend the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX for backpacking and through-hikes.

If you need a break from stiff leather boots, the Hoka Trail Code GTX is one of our top picks for plush comfort. This lightweight hiker is filled with padded goodness from the collar to the sole. But when an obstacle comes your way, the boot also shows its teeth in order to grip, support, or keep you safe from water and debris. We are amazed at how much value the boot offers at such a reasonable price.

The pitch meeting for the Moab Speed Mid GTX may have been one that focused on addressing 2 hiking concerns: restriction and hit-or-miss control. Now it can be assumed that the meeting was a success since it resulted in a shoe that is solidly reassuring (and comfy) without the unwanted bulk. While owning one can be a gamble durability-wise, the shoe in question is barely a disappointment in virtually everything else.

We consider the Hoka Kaha 2 GTX a convincing day hiking option with backpacking capabilities. The boot justifies its above-average price point with exceptional material and build quality as well as exemplary waterproofing. We are amazed at how much support and cushioning went into the boot while still keeping it lighter than average. Even Kaha's few downsides are easily outweighed by the many benefits it offers.

If you want an outdoorsy pair of boots without the bulk of typical hiking footwear, the Sprint Trekker from Timberland is very worth considering. We instantly fell in love with the boot’s elegant leather upper and snazzy eyelets. What's more, it feels super light on the foot! As long as you think of it as a hiking-inspired sneaker for casual and easy-going trips, you will be pleasantly surprised.