7 Best Hiking Boots For Men, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

For you serious gents out there, we bring you the greatest there is on the trail, and it’s none other than the Renegade GTX Mid from Lowa!

After testing hundreds of top-quality hiking boots for men, we’re convinced that this Lowa offering has the best waterproofing there is. Engineered with a Gore-Tex liner, the Renegade GTX Mid never let a single drop moisten our socks and ruin our off-trail adventure.

On the breathability front, this manly boot left us in disbelief (but in a good way). Yes, despite its solidly built leather shell being fully lined, its interior didn’t heat up in warmer conditions.

But is the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid comfortable, you ask? Absolutely! Right on the first day, the boot felt fantastic, particularly around the heel. Indeed, the boot felt broken in straight out of the gate, leaving us with pampered feet minus the pinching and hotspots!

Now, what is a towering boot without exemplary support? Well, the Renegade GTX Mid has tons of it, so you don’t ever need to worry about injuring your ankles or getting painful arches in it.

And let’s not forget the Renegade GTX Mid’s fantastic outsole. Its aggressive studs (a.k.a. lugs) kept our pace steady without losing our footing on muddy terrain. Yes, traction-wise, this bad boy from Lowa is a doozy!

Don the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX and rack up trekking miles like an absolute champ!

Our biggest takeaway from our tests has to be the boot’s amazing sole unit. It cushioned our feet on uneven terrain and gave us more than enough protection where we needed it (on rocky patches, for example). Indeed, the Quest 4D 3 GTX made us feel safe with its highly stabilizing and enduring sole unit!

Comfort-wise, the Quest 4D 3 GTX has to be your “it” boot for backpacking, simply because everything inside it felt plush to us right from the get-go. We didn’t feel any hotspots or sustained blisters in its plush confines during our initial hike. Extra props go to its rich collar—it gave us no rubbing at all!

In the area of waterproofing, this Salomon bad boy didn’t relent in moderate rains. Across creeks and streams (although we picked the shallowest parts), the Quest 4D 3 GTX proved its worthiness. The boot in question also fenced out water through four-inch-deep puddles. Amazing!

Matching its supreme stability is the hiker’s slip resistance. Yes, its proprietary outsole (also known as Contagrip) saved up from losing our footing on sloppy surfaces such as mud and mulchy bogs.

Are you looking for the GOAT in the realm of lightness? Then feast your eyes on the Terrex Free Hiker from Adidas!

Yes, agility is what you can expect from this featherweight gem, given that it only comes in at approximately 760 g per pair. In this must-buy for men, the speedster in us was kept beyond satisfied, whether on level ground or uneven terrain.

Another propelling thing about the Free Hiker is its springy sole unit, particularly its proprietary midsole. Indeed, its Boost midsole, which is a favorite among sporty hikers, allowed us to make more daring strides minus the weightiness. Most impressive about it was the way it supported our arches as we made our way across flatter terrain rather speedily!

Grip-wise, the Adidas Free Hiker floored us, too! While its lugs are low-profile, these rubber studs gave us more than enough purchase on a variety of surfaces, including dewy grass and wet rock.

This lightweight must-have for the gents also has incredible comfort. It felt supremely cushy on day one, especially around the instep. Its high breathability also contributed to the overall comfiness of the boot. Yes, you’ll be striding comfortably in this Adidas hiker minus the sweat!

Oboz knows how to make great boots! The Sawtooth II Mid is a heavy-duty hiking boot and hasn’t shown any premature wear in the sole or the upper. I’ve worn them on numerous hikes and to work where I’m on my feet all day. The leather has broken in nicely and while the sole has roughed up a bit, it still slips pretty bad on wet surfaces.

Now this—the Targhee III Waterproof Mid—has to be on your comfort radar. After testing 300+ pairs of hiking boots for men, we crown this KEEN hiker as the king of pampering!

Plush from the moment you put it on, the Targhee III Waterproof Mid can be used and enjoyed right away. While most boots would require a few short miles to loosen up their confines, this manly gem required none. We want to highlight its supple instep and heel for spoiling our feet through and through.

The leather upper of the Targhee III Waterproof Mid felt like a tank. That said, it was more for support than for something you need to do away with. In fact, we can safely say that this KEEN bad boy has a perfect blend of solid support and ankle mobility.

In terms of protection, the Targhee III Waterproof Mid is a giver. So protective was its toe cap that you’d be forgiven for thinking that the shoe was a work boot instead of a full-fledged KEEN hiker.

Now, the Targhee III Waterproof Mid is a complete package price-wise, too. Yes, with an MSRP of $140, this brawny boot is a deal sealer!

Coming your way handsome but not pricey is the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof from Timberland.

With its MSRP of $115, this gem of a boot is a wise buy for those looking for something truly supportive. We’re talking mainly about its wall-like collar, which kept our wobbly ankles in check throughout our adventures.

Despite its strong ankle cuff, the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof never felt stiff around the collar. We scaled low-level inclines and navigated hillsides, and came away impressed with the boot’s flexibility.

Did we need to go on a pre-hike to break in the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof? No, the boot in question felt snug straight from the Timbs box. We give its bunch-free instep zone and lift-less heel section extra credit in this regard!

We also give the boot’s waterproofing the highest praise. Living up to its name, the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof made our traipsing through creeks and puddles the highlight of the show. Indeed, its Timber-Dry liner and gusseted tongue helped us brave the wet outdoors like absolute kings!

At roughly 480 g per kick, the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof is among the lightest bunch. We just wish its forefoot zone was a bit roomier.

A mighty dependable piece of gear from Salomon—is what many will likely say once they don the Cross Hike Mid GTX. Indeed, this trail wonder from Salomon empowers hikers with its remarkably grippy outsole, all while keeping the foot snug in its plush confines. And since it comes with a Gore-Tex liner, your tootsies can stay dry in light rain and through shallow waters.