6 Best Waterproof Hiking Shoes in 2025

How we test waterproof hiking shoes

What we initially do is buy all the hiking shoes we are going to test. We get our funds from our own wallets, without accepting any donation from anyone. This way, we stay objective and unbiased.

The next thing we perform is wear testing. We go hiking and cover various trails and streams to fully test the shoes' capacity in different aspects, such as grip, water tightness, durability, and more.

Lastly, we cut the hiking shoes in half and test them in the lab. We measure the shoes' different parameters, from lug depth and shock absorption to breathability and longitudinal stiffness!

3 must-haves in waterproof hiking shoes

When shopping for waterproof hiking shoes, there are 3 things we strongly recommend looking for. Our recommendations come from extensive wear testing and shoe lab tests. 

1. Superb waterproofness. Usually, the shoe name itself indicates whether the shoe is waterproof or not. Look for GTX, Gore-Tex, WP, Waterproof,... in the shoe name. 
2. Breathability. Although, by default, waterproof hiking shoes tend to be less breathable than non-waterproof ones, we suggest looking for at least average breathability. In our world, that means a score of 3 out of 5 on the breathability test. 
3. Grip. Finding shoes with the grip you need depends on the terrain and we, of course, have a suggestion for every type of it. 

We go down the rabbit hole for all 3 of these features below. 

How to recognise waterproof hiking shoes

Look for words like Waterproof, WP, Gore-Tex, or GTX in the shoe name. If that’s not enough, check the specification of the upper (membrane).

Make sure it is waterproof. Do not settle for water-repellent or water-resistant!  

Every waterproof shoe comes with specifications of the waterproof membrane: how waterproof it really is. The number that tells us that is called hydrostatic head and it’s measured in millimetres. Hydrostatic head is measured by filling a tube with inner dimensions of 1’’x1’’ with water and putting it over a piece of certain fabric. It is the number of millimetres of water that the tube can take before water begins to leak through the material. The higher the number in mm, the more waterproof the fabric. 

Consult this explanation below to understand better which membrane you need:

When we test hiking shoes, we subject them to various elements - snow, rain, or simply water, when crossing a creek or a stream. 

In the lab, we examine the upper under the microscope. This allows us to add another layer of testing to the breathability tests, but also to understand the construction of the waterproof upper. 

But then, how breathable are waterproof hiking shoes? 

Breathability of waterproof hiking shoes

It’s a known fact that waterproof shoes are less breathable than non-waterproof ones. In the lab, we test this with a smoke machine. We pump smoke into the shoe and analyse how much of it comes out and where. In the example below, we compare a waterproof shoe to a non-waterproof one and notice how the latter is way more breathable:

In waterproof hiking shoes, it is really important to find those that are breathable, especially if you plan to use them in moderate to warm temperatures. It’s not an impossible task, thanks to our lab tests. See the list of our top 5 waterproof hiking shoes that actually don’t suck at breathability: 

Even with the water-tight membrane, the water can still end up in your shoe. It can slide down your legs, your trousers, or you can simply get in a puddle you did not know was very deep. 

When this happens, all you want for your shoe is to breathe! Otherwise, your feet will spend a lot of time in, basically, water, and blisters could be the mildest consequence. 

However, if you plan to hike in winter, you might want to look for less breathable shoes. Less breeze means more warmth. In that case, we advise these shoes: 

What’s a gusseted tongue and why do you need it

Tongues can be non-gusseted (not attached to the sides), semi-gusseted (partially attached to the sides) and fully-gusseted. Fully-gusseted tongues are attached to the sides of the shoe, below the eyelets on the inner side. Because of this, they can’t move freely to the sides and are much better and keeping the water, snow and debris outside the shoe. 

Traction: it’s all about the lug depth 

Waterproof hiking shoes imply wet weather and wet surfaces. Getting familiar with the tread patterns and lug depths helps immensely because it allows you to recognise the shoes that work well on the terrain you chose for your hike. 

The harder and flatter the surface, the smaller the lugs. But, because wet weather means soft ground and additional elements like snow, mud and slush, we recommend looking for deep lugs: 4mm and above. The distance between the lugs should grow as the terrain gets stickier.

This image from trail running shoe tests shows the difference the best: first being a road-to-trail shoe with cramped shallow lugs, second being a shoe with deep lugs (many of them) and third being a shoe great for mud, with lugs that are further apart and very deep

Because of this, mud shoes (both trail running shoes and hiking shoes) have deep lugs with a lot of space between them to help them shed mud more easily. Regular soft-ground shoes can also have deep lugs if they need to bite into the ground but can be more dense. 

If the wet surfaces you’re hiking on are rather flat, we recommend softer rubber, which is usually better for such terrain, it is stickier than hard rubber. Among the most common ones is the Vibram Megagrip. In the lab, we measure the softness of the outsole with a durometer (shore HC). The lower the reading, the softer the rubber. 

Shock absorption of waterproof hiking shoes

To determine the shock absorption of hiking shoes, we follow the ASTM F1976-13 methodology. This means that we use a specialised machine to drop an 8.5 kg mass from a height of 5cm (total energy input of 5J) onto the heel. This exact drop location is marked at 12% of the inner shoe length, which is where we also measure the heel stack height per World Athletics guidelines. 

Shock absorption tells us effective the midsole is at dampening the impact. Think of it like this: when you're walking somewhere, rushing, and you have cushioned shoes on, you can pick up quite a pace and stomp those heels at the concrete, because there's a protective midsole keeping you safe. On the other hand, if you tried to do the same thing but barefoot, your heels would hurt a lot. Even if you were wearing barefoot shoes. 

So, it's the midsole that deals with these impact forces and the better it is at absorbing them, the less stress is sent towards the hikers' legs. This is even more important for hikers who weigh more or carry heavy backpacks. 

The higher the shock absorption, the better!

How durable are waterproof hiking shoes

The durability of the softer rubber is usually worse than that of the harder rubber. Because of this, we recommend using deep-lug hiking shoes on soft ground and not on hard, flat surfaces. 

To determine the durability of the outsole, we press a Dremel against it and use a tread tyre gauge to measure the dent the Dremel has made. This tells us how durable the outsole is - the bigger the damage (the dent), the less durable it is.

When it comes to testing the durability of the upper, we also use the Dremel but we then visually assess the damage on a scale of 1, for the least durable, to 5, for the most durable. 

In the example below, we can see a hiking shoe on the left, which got the highest rating for durability (5/5), and on the right, a shoe that scored 2/5. 

How to prevent water from getting into your hiking shoes

Use the gaiters! Ideally the knee-high ones. They are lightweight, pack easily, and can basically save the day. They also come in a waterproof version. 

Waterproof, water-repellent, and water-resistant: explanation 

This comparison explains all 3 types of shoe uppers that can, to some extent, deal with water: water-resistant, water-repellent and waterproof.

If you’re new to buying hiking shoes, make sure the fit is right!

In case this is your first pair of hiking shoes, here are are recommendations on the shopping process: 

1. Go shopping or try the shoes out later in the day, afternoon or evening. Our feet are naturally swollen then a bit from the whole day of activities and it is similar to what happens on hikes. 
2. Take the socks you plan to hike in with you and try the shoes on with them. Also use your orthotics if you have them. 
3. Look for the best comfort possible. There should be no hotspots and the shoe should not feel loose. Hikers prefer being able to put 1 finger behind the heel into the shoe when the foot is pushed forward to the max. 
4. Use the ramp to test the shoe completely, on uphills, downhills, uneven terrain. You should experience a perfect lockdown: no heel slipping, no feet sliding to the sides. 
5. Take into account that you might need to break the shoes in. 

Please, read our beginner-friendly guide on hiking shoes. It covers all the necessary steps you should take to ensure you get the best hiking shoes for your needs.