7 Best Backpacking Boots

Backpackers looking for a stable, durable and cushioned boot for multi-day adventures can look no further. The Salomon Quest 4 GTX ticks all the boxes, and more, making it our best backpacking boot overall.

The Salomon Quest 4 GTX is a champion of stability, especially when carrying a fully-loaded pack. The integrated ankle support system keeps our feet locked firmly and snugly into the boot. We rated the heel counter as one of the stiffest that we have tested; at 5/5 it holds our heel tightly but without compressing. Heel slippage is non-existent (so no blisters, either!). The midsole is 2.7 mm wider than average, providing a stable landing platform which prevents rolling on uneven trails.

Durability is the name of the game in this boot, and it survived our tests both on the trail and in the lab with barely a scratch. The Contragrip outsole showed almost no sign of wear and tear after our test hike, so we tested the hardness in the lab with a durometer. It measured an impressive 88.3 HC, quite a bit harder than the average 87.4 HC. Since the outsole measures a solid 7 mm thick, it will take a whole lot of hiking to wear out this boot!

We felt a lot of cushioning under our heels which protected us from sharp edges on the trail. In the lab, we measured the heel stack at 38 mm - quite a jump from the average of 36.2 mm. The midsole finds the sweet spot between comfort and support, measuring 27 HA with our durometer, around the average. Altogether, we found the cushioning kept our feet protected and comfortable during long days with heavy packs on our backs.

With all of its sturdy materials, the Salomon Quest GTX is not a flexible boot. We bent it to 90° with a force gauge, which measured a stunning 62.3N - making it 42% stiffer than average! While we personally didn’t find it a problem while hiking, we don’t recommend it to backpackers who prefer a more flexible boot.

We tested the Hoka Kaha 2 on hikes and literally pulled it to pieces in the lab. With its impressive cushioning leading to exceptional comfort, reliable support and flawless waterproofing, we deem the Hoka Kaha 2 to be a backpacking boot with the bets cushioning.

The Hoka Kaha 2 is the champion of cushioning - it’s got lots of it and it's super-soft. We measured 3.1 mm of extra foam below the heel and a massive 5.7 mm of extra foam under the forefoot! Combining two layers of foam in the midsole, it manages to be both soft (the primary cushioning measures a squishy 21.7 HA with the durometer) and supportive (the secondary layer measures a firmer, more supportive 31.6 HA). Packed with such divine cushioning, the Kaha 2 is an excellent choice for a backpacker’s boot.

The Hoka Kaha 2 is sturdily built, and with its Nubuck leather upper and high collar our feet feel well-supported on rough trails and while carrying heavy packs. In the lab, we bent and twisted the boot, which was no easy feat – in the end, we awarded it 5/5 for torsional rigidity. 5 is the most rigid rating, which means this shoe doesn’t twist easily and it prevents us from twisting our ankles.

No one likes getting caught out in the rain during multi-day hikes, and the Hoka Kaha 2 makes sure we are in high spirits, no matter the weather. In fact, despite splashing through several streams and traipsing through wet grass, our feet remained bone dry all day long. We brought out our smoke machine, pumping smoke into the boot to test for breathability. No surprises there – not even a tiny tendril of smoke made it through the Gore-Tex membrane, so we awarded the boot 1/5 for breathability, one of the least breathable (and most waterproof) boots on the market.

The Hoka Kaha 2 is advertised as having a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop, but when we measured the sole with a calliper, we found that this isn’t the case. At 11.2 mm, the drop is firmly within the average hiking boot range of 10-12 mm. For most people this is perfect, but hikers who prefer a lower drop might be surprised at the elevation in the Kaha 2.

Our backpacking adventures are guaranteed safe with the Asolo Fugitive GTX’s unwavering support. With a protective construction, it’s our defence against unwanted elements in the wild. We can hike for hours on end as this backpacking boot offers the best comfort.

With its water-repellent and heat-preserving design, our feet stayed warm and dry as we crossed streams. Our breathability confirms its impermeability with a low 1/5 rating. The high collar and fully gusseted tongue prevented water intrusion, while the toe bumper served as our shield from painful toe stubs.

The firm cushioning maintains our balance on rocky terrains, while the ultra-stacked 42.1 mm heel offers protection from landing impact and sharp objects. Our durometer confirms the foam is 31.9% denser than average. For additional support, Fugitive GTX keeps the midsole rigid to enhance our surefootedness. And true enough, the midsole emerged 94.3% stiffer than average. While these elements seem tough, they enhance comfort by preventing leg fatigue from trying to maintain our balance. Further ensuring our steady footing are the 3.6 mm grippy and multi-shaped lugs that excel on any terrain we try.

Unfortunately, the outsole's durability is compromised by its weak adhesion to the midsole. After just a few test hikes, the outsole started to peel away. While the boot is designed to be resoled when necessary, it should still provide longer-lasting performance.

KEEN Pyrenees offered the best with wide toebox experience among all the hiking boots we backpacked with. It’s hard to beat Pyrenees’ robust and protective platform, which feels stable and homey. We found its sweet spot hiking all day in cold weather and occasionally crossing streams.

Our toes can splay naturally even with our thickest socks. Our calliper shows the toebox is a generous 108.0 mm. Pyrenees doesn’t hold back and offers more space than average in the big toe area at 83.5 mm. This enhances our surefootness and control while carrying heavy loads on uneven terrains. 

Pyrenees provides all-day comfort with its generous heel cushion and velvet platform. Our durometer confirms its plush feel at 15.9 HA vs. the 26.6 HA average. An average forefoot stack leads to a massive 18.1 mm drop. A raised heel is essential for backpacking as it reduces our leg strain. Furthering stability is a midfoot shank for further support to avoid unwanted ankle movements.

The shoe’s premium nubuck leather, firm lockdown, and extremely tough outsole make it an armour from the cold, water, rocks, and other elements. Its KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber is one of the toughest in our lab, with a 92.0 HC durometer reading.

With a 1/5 score on our breathability test, Pyrenees feels like an oven in temperatures above 50°F or 10°C.

When we want a supportive, ultra-grippy backpacking boot that won’t weigh us down, we turn to the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX. It is one of our favourite boots from La Sportiva, and with a slew of features to keep us safe and comfortable on our multi-day hikes, it takes top place as our best lightweight backpacking boot.

With its rugged build, the Ultra Raptor II looks like a hardcore, heavy boot, so we were nothing short of stunned to find our scales registering an incredible 14.6 oz (415g)! At 3.4 oz (96g) less than average, we feel quick and nimble when wearing these boots, and they are perfect for putting in long days without tiring our legs out.

Plenty of protective overlays and a shank embedded in the midsole not only keep our feet safe from bumps and scrapes but also provide a tonne of support from twisting. In the lab, we twisted the boots torsionally, which was pretty hard to do! We awarded them a 5/5 for rigidity. Even while wearing a heavy pack, these boots don’t give in to twists, and our ankles thanked us for it.

We can’t rave about the Ultra Raptor II’s grip enough! It held firm on soft, muddy ground, smooth, wet rock and loose gravel alike. We flipped them over in the lab to take a closer look. We measured the lugs at 4.3 mm, around the average of 4.2 mm for hiking boots. But what really cinches it is the tread design. A combination of narrow, toothy lugs and wider ones activate when they are most needed - think of it like the 4x4 of hiking boots! We felt confident and stable on anything the trail threw at us.

We don’t recommend this boot to beginner backpackers. According to our measurements, the Ultra Raptor II is 6.9 mm narrower at the forefoot and 8.5 mm narrower at the heel. Aside from the fit, it means a less stable landing platform, which is especially important when carrying heavy loads.

No one wants blisters while backpacking due to their feet slopping around in over-wide shoes, and that’s where the Scarpa Boreas GTX comes in. This extra-supportive boot delivers unparalleled stability, especially while carrying a heavy pack, all whilst providing a snug fit. The Scarpa Boreas GTX is surely the best backpacking boot for narrow feet.

The lean silhouette of the Boreas GTX hints at its toe box dimensions, and when we tried them on we found it a comfortably snug fit for our narrow feet. Whipping out our calliper in the lab, we measured the widest part of the toe box to be 100.8 mm, slightly below the average of 102.2 mm. The boot tapers, measuring 75.1 mm at the big toe, 3.6 mm less than average. Every little helps, and for hikers with narrow feet this could be just the ticket. We found it helped eliminate blisters gained from too much movement in wide boots.

Our first impression of the Boreas GTX’s midsole was that it felt firm underfoot, and as soon as we shouldered our pack it all made sense. Our feet felt exceptionally supported from below and kept them from feeling fatigued during our test hikes. Back in the lab, we pressed a durometer to the midsole, and our measurements confirmed our field tests. Registering 28.1 HA, the Boreas GTX is in fact 10.6% firmer than average.

There is more to this narrow boot than meets the eye, and we were captivated by its incredible stability while hiking along rough and uneven trails. In the lab, we bent and twisted the boot manually. This rugged, solid boot put up a lot of resistance, so we awarded it a high 5/5 score for rigidity. We trusted every footstep while hiking heavily laden, making this a great choice for backpackers.

This tough, leather boot is also pretty hefty. While certainly not the heaviest backpacking boot in our lab, it is still 2.5 oz (71g) heavier than average. Hikers looking for a lightweight backpacking boot can look at the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX.

We tested the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid in a gruelling series of tests both on hikes and in our lab. It ticked all the boxes for a top-quality backpacking boot. It’s boasts terrific traction and first-rate support and stability, especially while carrying a heavy pack. For all this and more we concluded that the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid is the best backpacking boot with the best grip.

The chunky, multi-directional lugs of the Renegade GTX Mid bite well into soft ground, and we feel surefooted on dry dirt or mud. We measured the lugs in the lab, finding them to be 24.3% deeper than average. The Vibram outsole is slightly softer than average, increasing our grip on hard surfaces, both wet or dry. All in all, this is in incredibly grippy boot, and we trust them implicitly while hiking with a heavy rucksack.

The leather Renegade GTX Mid feels like a solid boot on our foot, so it was no surprise to find it took a whopping 82.5N to bend it to 90° in our flexibility test. Since the average is 42.1N, we were concerned that it might feel a bit too stiff, but this boot comes into its own on long, multi-day hikes. The reduced flexion helps our feel remain fresher for longer, and helped us cover long distances with ease.

Rarely have we encountered such a stable boot as the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid. Our lab and field tests showed that it has several strings to its bow. A TPU shank in the midsole delivers a very high torsional rigidity - when we twisted the boot in the lab we could barely move it, so it scored a maximum score of 5/5 for rigidity. The notable Monowrap midsole is cleverly designed so as to encase our foot between the raised foam sidewalls, instead of sitting on top of the midsole like in a regular boot. We greatly appreciated the sense of added of stability and reduced risk of twisting our ankles.

Our stack height measurements revealed a heel-to-toe drop of 17.2 mm, 26.4% greater than the average. This is a very steep drop, and may be too much for some hikers. We don't recommend the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid to hikers who prefer a more natural feel to their boots.