7 Best Waterproof Hiking Boots in 2024

When we look for the best overall waterproof hiking boot, it’s got to be supportive, grippy, lightweight, keep the water out, and we want our feet to be comfortable over long distances. We found all of that in the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX!

On our hikes, our feet felt supported by the high ankle collar, and we felt secure even when carrying heavy loads. We can’t get enough of the Contragrip sole, which works wonders on practically anything. The 5.1 mm lugs are 16% deeper than average, and we walked confidently even on loose ground.

We measured the flexibility of the boot with a force gauge by bending the boot to 90°. The average measurement is 42.8N - at 27.9N the X Ultra Mid GTX is a really flexible boot! It gave us a lot of confidence as it helped our feet flex and grip the ground underfoot.

For hikers who like a bit of ground feel, the 31.5 mm midsole heel height is a bonus (the average is 35.8 mm), and it also helps to keep the weight down. At just 13.8 oz (390g), the X Ultra Mid GTX is almost as light as a hiking shoe, but with the extra support afforded by a boot. Given that the average weight for hiking boots is 19.5 oz (553g), this is a godsend! It’s also got some of the most amazing waterproofing we’ve seen - the gusseted tongue and high collar keep the water out, even when standing in running water for over a minute!

For winter hikers, we recommend looking elsewhere. We simulated winter conditions by putting the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes and then testing the flexibility with a force gauge. We recorded an unbelievable 126% decrease in flexibility compared to room temperature, which impacts the boot’s performance.

With exceptional impact protection and effective waterproofing that doesn’t weigh us down on our mountain treks, the Hoka Anacapa 2 Mid GTX is our best cushioned waterproof hiking boot. We discovered in the lab that it has a wide base that boosts stability, making it an excellent choice for longer day hikes when more comfort and less fatigue are needed.

We found plenty of foam to shield us from sharp rocks and soften hard landings, notably under the forefoot which has an extra 2.8 mm material vs. average. We measured the cushion with our durometer to be a firm 30.0 HA, which brought a springy yet surefooted sensation.

Having tested this boot in wet grass, rain, and shallow streams, our feet remained completely dry. The upper didn’t let any smoke pass through in our breathability test, earning the lowest 1/5 score. It delivers excellent waterproofing through its thick leather overlays and Gore-Tex lining.

While cushioned and airtight shoes tend to weigh heavier, the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX remarkably weighs only 17.4 oz (494g), 7.7% lighter than average. This makes it our top choice for long hikes, as we can put in more miles before our feet get tired from hauling extra loads.

While protective in many scenarios, we can’t recommend this boot for challenging terrains. This boot will feel too cumbersome as these trails require more agility and ground sensitivity.

Since we can only pick one waterproof hiking boot that is best for backpacking, it has to be the Salomon Quest 4 GTX, without a doubt. It screams support and stability, which is a must for any heavily loaded adventurer, and the Gore-Tex lining is the star of rainy days on the trail. It even performs well in the cold, meaning those early- or late-season treks are still on the cards!

Rarely has such a supportive hiking boot passed through our lab! Salomon’s innovative integrated support system clamps our feet securely into the boot without constricting. The heel counter scored the stiffest rating of 5/5, so heel slippage was non-existent, even on steep inclines. After our manual twisting tests, we rated this boot a very rigid 5/5 for torsional flexibility. Rolling an ankle is not an option, either!

The Gore-Tex lining runs high up the ankle, keeping our feet dry even during stream crossings. The particularly high collar and fully gusseted tongue are especially helpful at keeping water and debris out of the boot. Dry feet mean no blisters - especially important on multi-day hikes.

In the lab, we simulated winter conditions by putting the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes before testing the midsole hardness. At room temperature, the midsole sits at the average of 27 HA. In the cold, it increases only a little, to 32.9 HA. In practice, this means the midsole will still be almost as soft and comfortable as it would be on warmer days without breaking in.

Unfortunately, while the 38 mm heel stack provides a load of cushioning, the boot has an overall heel-to-toe drop of 18 mm, 5.6 mm higher than average. This may be too much for some people, so we don’t recommend Salomon Quest 4 GTX to hikers who prefer a more natural feel to their boots.

For a comfortable and supportive hiking boot for backpacking and day hikes, the KEEN Pyrenees is up there with the best of the best. 5-star waterproofing and a superbly plush midsole make for comfortable hikes in all weather. The reinforced toe box extends this boot’s shelf-life, leading us to vote for the KEEN Pyrenees as the best waterproof leather hiking boot.

The leather upper is complemented by the KEEN.DRY membrane, which makes this boot completely impenetrable to water. Splashing across streams and hiking for hours in the rain wasn’t enough to get our feet wet. In the lab, we pumped smoke into the boot to test for pores in the membrane. The KEEN Pyrenees scored a perfect 5/5, the least breathable and therefore most waterproof. These are our go-to boots for multi-day hikes when we prioritise our feet’s comfort and well-being.

Speaking of comfort, these leather boots break the mould by being unbelievably comfortable straight out of the box. We pressed a durometer to the midsole in the lab and were astounded by the results. Registering just 15.9 HA, it is 60% softer than our lab average! Even after 20 minutes in the freezer, they were only slightly firmer, and still 32% softer than most other shoes at room temperature! It makes a delightful change from stiff and solid leather boots, and our feet thanked us during our long test hikes. These boots are also consistent in winter, behaving as we might expect regardless of the temperature outdoors.

KEEN’s characteristic wide toe box is of course present on the KEEN Pyrenees, yet it's a toe box with an added extra. The rubber toe cap prevents damage and scuffs to the leather upper while hiking on rough, rocky terrain. To get a handle on just how tough the toe cap is, we subjected it to our Dremel in the lab. Spinning at a rate of 5K RPM at 3.2N, after 12 seconds, the Dremel left the slightest dent in the rubber. We awarded the boot the maximum score of 5/5 for durability. This boot took some bumps and scrapes during our test hikes, and it came back looking none the worse for wear.

Leather boots will never break the record for lightweight boots, but in the case of the KEEN Pyrenees, they weigh in over the odds. Tipping our scales at 21.7 oz (615g), they are 3.6 oz (103g) heavier than average. We don’t recommend the KEEN Pyrenees to hikers looking for a lightweight hiking boot.

The Bugaboot III is a clear winner when it comes to insulation in waterproof hiking boots! It became our best friend on sub-zero hikes and, in the lab, we tore it to pieces and got even more convinced that it does not get better than this when warmth is a priority. 

Talk about insulation: the tongue. It's very thick at 14.2 mm! We went wild with the lace tightening and could feel no pressure on the instep. When we cut the shoe in half we could also see white fluffy insulation - the majority of it was placed in the tongue and over the toebox, and some behind the heel.

What's also great is that there's a lot of material between our feet and the ground. In very cold weather, this means a lot. Looking at the heel stack height, our calliper measured it to be 46.9 mm high! That's a record-high number for hiking boots. The average sits at 36.2 mm. So, there's 22.8% more distance from the ground than you'd experience in an average hiking boot.

The snowy and icy ground is a joke for the grip on the Bugaboot III. In the lab, we used a calliper and measured the thickness of the lug. They are 5.7 mm deep! That's 1.2 mm more than the average. And they did wonders in cold and wet weather. 

A cherry on top is definitely the durability of the upper or, to be more precise, the toebox bumper. This protection is as hard as it gets. We tried destroying it with a dremmel and we barely made a dent. We rated the durability of this part with the highest rating: 5 out of 5! This is also how the boot feels - no worries about hurting your toes when hiking over ground covered with obstacles. 

Want something crazy warm? You got it. The price you have to pay? Forget about breathability. We've pumped smoke into this boot and watched as it.. did not escape. Not through the upper, not through the tongue, not even through the eyelets. We rated the breathability of the Columbia Bugaboot III as 1 out of 5, 1 being the least breathable. 

Who’s for an adaptable, ultra-supportive hiking boot that keeps our feet dry and protected from bumps and scrapes on the trail? We certainly are, which is why we dubbed the Asolo Fugitive GTX the champion of supportive, waterproof hiking boots.

Whether on rough trails or carrying heavy packs, the Fugitive GTX never let us down. Its stable platform made us feel footsure and confident in all conditions, and it outshone the competition in our lab tests. We squeezed and pushed the heel counter, awarding it the stiffest rating of 5/5. Coupled with the 3 pairs of hooked eyelets which allow us maximum flexibility to get the lockdown we need, there is little chance for heel slippage in this boot. We also rated it 5/5 for rigidity, making the Fugitive GTX truly second to none in the support department.

As always, the Gore-Tex membrane keeps our feet dry even on the most torrential days, and the high collar and gusseted tongue stop water getting in while splashing through streams, puddles, and wet grass. We peered at the upper fabric through the microscope, and it’s really no wonder. The densely woven fabric makes it hard for anything to get through - not even light can peek through the pores! Our smoke tests confirmed our observations - the Fugitive GTX scored 1/5 for breathability, making it one of our least breathable boots.

Even after scrambling over sharp rocks, we noticed the Asolo Fugitive GTX showed barely a scratch. In the lab, we double-checked our findings by pressing a Dremel to the toe box at a speed of 5K RPM at 3.2N for 12 seconds. Sure enough, the robust rubber showed its mettle and left the tiniest hint of damage. We were left with no choice but to declare the Fugitive GTX the maximum 5/5 for durability. It stands up well to our Dremel tests on the outsole and heel counter, too.

Our lab tests confirm that the Asolo Fugitive GTX is not recommended for beginner hikers or those with wide feet. We measured the forefoot midsole to be around 5 mm narrower than average, and the heel 11.5 mm narrower than average. This translates to less room above to accommodate wider feet, but also a less stable landing platform for beginner hikers.

We discovered the best lightweight waterproof hiking boot through lab tests and actual hikes — Salomon’s Outpulse Mid GTX. It gels the hiking and trail-running experience together by giving us a fast, lightweight, and agile boot. On top of that, we can cross streams and hike through rain confidently because it blocks water out.

We’re blown away by how light Outpulse is vs. the usual chunky boot. Upon checking, it weighs 13.6 oz (386g) — 4.8 oz lighter than the average hiking boot! We feel its significant weight reduction and low stack boosting our agility through better ground feedback.

We’re amazed at how fast we can effortlessly run with a boot! Outpulse is very responsive due to the stiff TPU Energy Blade that runs through the midsole. We didn’t feel tired after a long day of hiking because the cushion felt comfortable. And true enough, our durometer shows it’s 25.4% softer than average.

Its premium GTX membrane shielded us from cold air and water in all our wet encounters. We checked with our microscope and saw how tightly woven the material was. We’re sure of its waterproof defence as long as it remains below the boot collar’s level. Since the heel is quite loose and the laces aren't enough for lockdown, water crept in and we ended up with wet socks.