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

We have all been there—the terrain all of a sudden becomes tougher, and we wish we had something more formidable wrapping our feet. For such a situation, you and your homies had better be in some of the best hiking boots for men.
Having tested 350+ high-quality men’s hiking boots, we give you kicks that deserve the highest recognitions in a handful of categories. So, whether you need a brawny all-rounder or a boot that can pamper your feet while towing a loaded pack, this is the space for you.
How we test hiking boots
We take pride in our unbiased reviews. To make sure that we stay on the lane of objectivity, we live by the following:
- Hiking boots for men aren’t always cheap. That said, we buy each pair using our money.
- We hike for days to test these men’s kicks to find out each one’s strengths and area of expertise. Over various terrain and in different weather conditions, we test them.
- To make our reviews on men’s hiking boots comprehensive, we include in the mix thousands of reviews from both regular users and experts.
Every men’s hiking boot that we review comes with a CoreScore. This RunRepeat-exclusive scoring system allows us to come up with our top picks below.
Best hiking boots overall for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
- Top 8% in hiking boots
- Top 29% in Lowa hiking boots
- Top 8% most popular hiking boots
Pros
- Comfortable hiking shoe
- Lightweight
- Short break-in time
- Excellent ankle support
- Waterproof
- Excellent grip
- Breathable
Cons
- Poor build quality
- Expensive price tag
- Doesn’t offer much in terms of torsional stability
Verdict
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!
Best men's hiking boots for backpacking
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
- Top 5% in hiking boots
- Top 5% in Salomon hiking boots
- Top 5% most popular hiking boots
Pros
- Superb comfort
- Very secure fit
- True to size
- Stable
- Perfect ankle support
- Fantastic grip
- Great for long-distance hikes
Cons
- Expensive
Verdict
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.
Best lightweight hiking boots for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
- Top 6% in hiking boots
- Top 7% in Adidas hiking boots
- Top 1% most popular hiking boots
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Eclectic colorways
- Groundbreaking grip
- The plushest midsole in any hiking boot
- Durable outsole
- Perfect for urban hiking
Cons
- Poor durability in the midsole
- Terrible support throughout the shoe
Verdict
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!
Best wide toe box hiking boots for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
This shoe has a 9% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 12% most popular hiking boots
Pros
- Amazing arch support
- Very durable
- Wide toebox
- Comfortable for long treks
- Snug, secure fit
Cons
- Break-in period
- Not for wet, slippery surfaces
- Heavy
Verdict
Best hiking boots with best comfort for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
- Top 26% in lightweight hiking boots
- Top 24% in eco-friendly hiking boots
Pros
- Lightweight
- Excellent ankle support
- Offers comfortable feel
- Flexible
- Budget-friendly price
- Laudable warmth
- Excellent grip on various terrain
- Short to zero break-in period
- Commendable toe cap
Cons
- Unsatisfactory waterproofing
- Lack of breathability
- Restrictive fit
- Poor quality
Verdict
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!
Best value hiking boots for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
This shoe has a 9% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 22% in hiking boots
- Top 16% in Timberland hiking boots
Pros
- Comfy interior
- Commendable stylish design
- Versatile (outdoor and casual)
- Supportive arch zone
- Satisfying lightness
- Right-out-of-the-box comfort
- Effective waterproofing
Cons
- Not durable
- Too narrow
Verdict
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.
Most popular hiking boots for men
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all hiking boots.
- Top 18% in hiking boots
- Top 17% in Salomon hiking boots
- Top 2% most popular hiking boots
Pros
- The boot of choice for multi-day hikes
- Lightweight
- Waterproof
- Excellent grip
- Supportive midsole
- Detailed ground feel
- Great ankle support
- Protective
- Perfect lacing system
Cons
- Midsole may be thin for some
- Very stiff in colder climates