7 Best Gore-Tex Hiking Boots in 2023

Many pairs of hiking boots have passed through our lab, but only one is worthy of the title of best overall Gore-Tex hiking boot. Our pick is lightweight, grippy, and flexible - a great combination for multi-day hiking. Give it up for the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX!

It is jaw-droppingly light for a Gore-Tex boot. Our scales showed an astounding 13.8 oz (390g). Given that the average of all the hiking boots we have tested in our lab is 18.3 oz (519g), this is an amazing achievement for the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX! The energy we saved over the course of a long day made our multi-day hikes far more enjoyable.

Grass, gravel, and wet rock are no match for the grippy Contragrip outsole. We measured the lugs at 5.1 mm deep, 0.7 mm deeper than average. The shoe scored 2/5 in our torsional flexibility tests, where 1 is the most flexible. This malleable midsole allows our feet to flex over uneven terrain, maximizing the surface area in contact with the ground and increasing the grip even further. We felt secure footholds on whatever we found ourselves hiking on.

We tested the waterproofing in a classic way - by standing in a stream for over a minute. The fully gusseted tongue and high collar kept the water out and our feet stayed bone dry. This is crucial for our multi-day hikes when damp boots can cause blisters quickly.

On cold winter days, these boots will stiffen up significantly, as we found when we left them in the freezer for 20 minutes. We then tested them for flexibility and found they were an unbelievable 126% stiffer than at room temperature. We, therefore, don’t recommend them to hikers looking for a boot for winter hiking unless they plan to keep them indoor and give them time to warm up if needed.

Did someone say a super plush, lightweight, waterproof hiking boot? We sure did. The Hoka Trail Code GTX came back from the lab and our test hikes with the lofty label of the most comfortable Gore-Tex hiking boot. It’s our go-to boot when we need something cushy that will protect our feet from the elements.

With a higher-than-average stack height, the Hoka Trail Code GTX has plenty of material underfoot to soften our steps and protect our feet from the trail. But it’s not just the amount of material that matters. The secret to the Trail Code GTX’s plush feel is in the midsole. We pressed a durometer to the midsole, registering a seriously comfy 23.4 HA. Since the average hiker measures 27.9 HA, the Trail Code GTX is like walking on marshmallows!

This boot takes waterproofing seriously, with a number of features coming together to keep our feet warm and dry, whatever the weather. We found the high collar and gusseted tongue keep water and dirt out of the boot, while the tightly-woven upper fabric works with the Gore-Tex to keep the rain at bay. Just to make sure, we tested the boot’s breathability in the lab by pumping smoke into the boot. Absolutely no smoke came out, so we awarded the boot the least breathable rating of 1/5.

The average weight of the waterproof boots that have passed through our lab is 18.9 oz (536g), so we were astounded by the extremely lightweight feel of the Hoka Trail Code GTX from the moment we put it on. The scales provided an explanation – this boot weighs an impressive 15.5 oz (440g) and is 18% lighter than average! We still have energy in our feet at the end of a long day of hiking in this boot.

The Hoka Trail Code GTX is advertised as having a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop, but we found evidence to the contrary during our lab tests. With a drop measuring 11.2 mm, it is still 1.2 mm lower than average, but may be a surprise to hikers who prefer a boot with a lower drop.

There’s only one best cushioned Gore-Tex hiking boot and it’s undoubtedly the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX. Not only does it have a plush midsole to die for, but it’s also completely waterproof, lightweight, and stable, making it a worthy companion for our long day hikes.

We could rave about this comfy midsole for hours! We put it to the test in the lab, finding the midsole is way softer than average – 22.5 HA compared to the average of 27.9 HA. It’s noticeable from the moment we slip our feet into the boot and it keeps our feet comfortable and raring to go all day. We also tested the midsole in cold conditions by putting the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes before retesting with a durometer. Interestingly, it only stiffened up to 29.5 HA, making it just a little stiffer on cold days than most other boots at room temperature! Good news for winter hikers.

The Gore-Tex lining of the Anacapa Mid GTX is perfectly implemented, keeping our feet warm and dry in even the most torrential downpours. The gusseted tongue stops both water and debris from entering through the gaps. And while waterproof boots are usually a bit weightier, the Anacapa Mid GTX is remarkably light, weighing in 3.5 oz (99g) below average! By the end of our long hikes, our feet still felt fresh and with energy to spare.

We noticed the rigidity of the midsole on our hikes, and even landing unevenly on rocks and roots we didn’t twist an ankle. Back in the lab, we bent and twisted the shoe manually. We finally awarded it 5/5 for torsional rigidity, the stiffest rating possible. We felt surefooted and trusted our foot placements on uneven trails.

Our durability tests of the upper didn’t leave us feeling very confident in the shelf-life of this boot. After applying a Dremel at a force of 3.2 N and 10K RPM for 12 seconds, a large hole appeared in the upper. This doesn’t bode well for hiking or scrambling in rocky environments, so we don’t recommend this boot to hikers who predominantly trek on technical terrain.

The Salomon Quest 4 GTX is our best Gore-Tex hiking boot for backpacking. Not only is it completely watertight, but also impeccably supportive and durable, making it the perfect companion for long days carrying a heavy load.

This boot is a champion of support, keeping us feeling stable and confident while hiking on rough, rocky trails. Salomon’s integrated support system boasts unparalleled lockdown and stability, and we couldn’t roll our ankles if we tried! In the lab, we bent and twisted the shoe, finally rating it 5/5 - the stiffest rating possible for torsional flexibility. On the trail, we found that even with a heavy pack, the stiffness in the midsole prevented us from twisting and injuring our foot.

With its multiple overlays made from rubber, nubuck leather and a robust Cordura-like fabric, this boot means business. It looks as tough as nails, and it survived our test hike without damage too, so we put it to the test in the lab. We applied a Dremel at a force of 3.2N and 5K RPM for 12 seconds on the toe. It left only a small scratch on the upper. We tried a similar test on the outsole, only this time at 10K RPM for 22 seconds - the resulting damage to the lug was less than a millimeter deep. If we needed any proof of the Salomon Quest 4 GTX’s durability, this is it!

No backpacker wants wet feet during their thru-hike as we all know how uncomfortable wet boots are after several days. The Gore-Tex membrane resists rain for hours on end and river crossings are a piece of cake. The fully gusseted tongue prevents water and debris from sneaking into the boot, and the high collar makes it possible to cross deep puddles and streams without water flowing in. On rainy days, the 4.7 mm lugs gripped well in mud, and we found the wide spacing between the lugs made it easy to shed, increasing our grip.

Backpackers who spend a lot of time hiking in winter will want to know that this boot is very rigid in winter! We put it in the freezer for 20 minutes before testing it for flexibility with a force gauge. The force gauge recorded an unbelievable 85.3N! For reference, the average for hiking boots is 62.2N in winter conditions (which is in fact the room temperature flexibility of the Salomon Quest 4 GTX). There is no doubt that this is a rigid shoe in the cold, and it will need some breaking in on cold days. We don't recommend it to hikers looking for a flexible cold-weather boot.

We evaluated GTX hiking boots in the lab and on actual adventures and found Outpulse Mid GTX the best for speed hiking. This mid-cut kick shines with its shoe-like features that all enhance speed — lightweight, flexible, and natural feel — while giving the protection of a solid boot.

Outpulse significantly reduces its weight and provides enough flex to boost our speed and agility. In our bend test, it emerged 32.7% more adaptive than average. It maintains a low stack that allows us to navigate tricky trails better. Upon checking our scale, this boot weighs like a heavy-duty shoe at 13.6 oz (386g). That’s astonishingly light vs. the average hiking boot (18.4 oz/521g)!

Outpulse proves its capacity to maintain a fast pace effortlessly in our hikes. Upon checking in the lab, it has a TPU Energy Blade integrated into the midsole that launches us forward. It uses our energy efficiently by springing back the power we give with every stride.

On wet encounters, the premium Gore-Tex membrane ensures our feet stay warm and dry. Under our microscope, we saw how tightly knit the material is.

Unfortunately, Outpulse can only handle streams and puddles below the heel collar level. The fit feels sloppy. Even if we tighten the laces, there’s still room for water to creep in. Best to avoid deep water levels with this pair.

Backpacking in the wilds in the Asolo Fugitive GTX is a dream. With its wide toe box delivering superb comfort and stability, these fully waterproof boots keep our feet dry and blister-free - crucial for multi-day hikes. Its funky, patterned midsole is the champion of traction on a wide variety of terrain. There’s a lot to love in the Asolo Fugitive GTX, which we have chosen as the best Gore-Tex hiking boots with a wide toe box.

With its tall profile, it doesn’t look like an especially wide boot, but looks can be deceiving. We love how spacious the toe box feels on our feet – our toes have room to splay out, giving us extra stability and comfort during long days on the trail.

The Gore-Tex lining in this boot is second to none, and our feet stayed dry all day, even after multiple stream crossings. The Fugitive GTX includes a gusseted tongue and together with its high collar, it’s all but impossible for rain and stream water to get into the boot.

The outsole is a thing of beauty, with its variety of patterned lugs. The lugs adapt to all types of terrains and forces, and we experienced superb traction on loose ground, steep ascents and descents, mud, snow and wet rock. If the outsole wears out, the Asolo Fugitive GTX is designed to be resoled, so with proper care, we will be accompanied by this boot for many years to come.

A backpacking boot of this caliber is by no means a lightweight hiking boot. Weighing in at 24.3 oz (690g), it is 4.8 oz (136g) heavier than our lab-tested waterproof hiking boots. Hikers looking for a lighter option may want to look elsewhere.

Merrell Moab Speed Mid GTX has got to be the most amazing lightweight GORE-TEX hiking boots we have ever brought to our escapades. This hiker registered an almost non-perceived weight of 10.58 oz (300g). On paper, it is 37.3% lighter than its peers, but on foot, it made us feel like floating.

There is no trouble in getting ourselves in drizzly and damp situations, as the Merrell Moab Speed Mid GTX got our backs (aka feet). It perfectly shielded our toes from moisture, so fresh and comfy feet all the time. 

Even when the terrain got more extreme, we were confident with the ankle-bolstering collar of the Moab Speed Mid GTX, which by the way, granted us steadiness. While the sticky outsole also ensured our surefootedness, we were not happy about its quality, which exhibited premature deterioration. If you require incredible durability, we propose getting other sturdy options.