Top 10 Best Hiking Shoe Brands On The Market For Hikers
When it comes to hiking, the right pair of shoes can make or break your experience on the trail. Whether you’re tackling rugged mountain paths, traversing wet terrain, or exploring forested trails, having shoes that offer the perfect combination of comfort, durability, and traction is essential. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best pair for your needs.
In this post, we’ll explore the top 10 best hiking shoe brands on the market for hikers—each known for delivering high-quality footwear designed to enhance your outdoor adventures. From lightweight trail runners for fast-paced hikes to rugged boots built to handle tough terrains, these brands offer a variety of styles that cater to every type of hiker. Whether you’re an avid hiker or a weekend trail enthusiast, this guide will help you find the ideal hiking shoes that keep your feet comfortable, supported, and ready for any adventure.
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Salomon
Salomon is agreeably one of the top well-known footwear brands for those hitting the trails. From the high-quality designs that can endure everything from trail walking to challenging mountain treks.
What started off as a ski and binding company now holds a large reputation for all types of outdoor gear. Continuously innovating and providing progressive gear, you cannot go wrong with a pair of boots from Salomon. You can expect comfort, sturdiness and superior craftsmanship to keep your feet comfortable and gripping to various different terrains.
Notable hiking shoe: X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex
These shoes feature enough grip and stability to tackle any tactical terrain yet are as light as trail runners. Not to mention, they feature a waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry throughout your adventures.
Merrell
It is safe to say that Merrell products can be found anywhere in the world. Their presence in over 150 countries is proof that their shoes are above the competition and offer top-notch features. Furthermore, Merrell’s unique blend of flawless craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, and impeccable attention to detail make it the favourite shoe of more than one generation of hikers.
Merrell’s logo is synonymous with quality, reliability, and a passion for excellence that few brands share. Since day one, this commitment to quality has been at the core of their beliefs. Buying Merrell hiking shoes is a great first step toward stress-free adventures.
Notable hiking shoe: Moab Speed 2 Light Shoes
The Moab Speed 2 Light shoes are incredibly lightweight, making them ideal for trail running. Designed with a thick insole, they perform great on uneven trail giving you confidence that you can tackle any trail with these shoes.
Hoka One One
The founders of Hoka One One created this brand to help inspire people to get moving. They pride themselves on their innovative shoe design that features impeccable cushioning and uniquely designed midsoles. You will never experience the level of cushioning and comfort that these shoes can offer you in any other brand.
While Hoka shoes do feature more cushioning than your average shoe, this by no means makes their shoes heavier in weight. In fact, Hoka proudly holds the badge of being the best weight-to-cushion ratio, meaning you will be able to move with ease without feeling weighed down by your shoes.
As a proud member of the United National Global Compact (UNGC), the largest corporate sustainability initiative, Hoka aims to maximize sustainable materials by opting for recycled, renewable, regenerated and natural materials whenever possible.
Notable hiking shoes: Speedgoat 4
This pair of award-winning shoes features superb breathability and durable fabrics. Not to mention, they have 3D-printed overlays to aid in midsole support and comfort.
Altra
Altra is the kind of company that is bold enough to go against everything that has been established for decades and savvy enough to translate innovation into practical and trendy designs. Indeed, Altra discovered that the heel-toe height difference wasn’t beneficial for runners and thus came up with an amazing design that could outdo all competition.
To make a long story short, Altra was considered to be among the best ten hiking footwear brands on the planet within the first ten years of its existence, something that takes other brands decades. If you want the most advanced technology at the service of conquering the hardest trails effortlessly, look no further than Altra footwear.
Top-of-the-line hiking shoe option: Olympus 4
The locked-in feel and the comfort of the new premium tongue make this breathable, mesh-equipped pair of shoes great for even the toughest of terrains. Furthermore, the Vibram MegaGrip outsole provides superb traction while the toebox allows for an ample amount of room for toes to be spread naturally, adding additional support, stability and comfort.
La Sportiva
After close to 100 years of dressing the feet of some of the most demanding athletes in the world, La Sportiva has innovated and adapted to stay on top of the game. That restless struggle for excellence took them on the path of trying new fabrics, new grips and conquering new heights.
Be confident that La Sportiva hiking shoes are the perfect balance of cutting-edge technology and the know-how only 100 years of manufacture and innovation can give you.
Notable hiking shoe: Spire GTX
The Spire GTX hiking shoes are the quintessential La Sportiva DNA packed into a low-cut shoe design that is breathable, versatile, and waterproof, thanks to its Gore-Tex Surround technology.
Danner
Danner has provided adventurers with the best tools to conquer the wild and come back safe and sound for almost a century. Charles Danner started this company to make the greatest boots for all outdoor endeavours.
Nowadays, skilled, experienced craftsmen and women still make their shoes from the best quality material they can find. The decision to handpick materials granted them a reputation for being the most durable footwear for mountain adventures in the world.
Notable hiking shoe: Trail 2650 Campo GTX
Lightweight, comfortable, breathable, and made with Gore-Tex Invisible Fit technology, the Trail 2650 Campo GTX shoes are the pinnacle of Danner’s legend.
The North Face
Over the years, The North Face has grown to become one of the most reputable and well-known brands. What started as a small endeavour only for outdoors enthusiasts and hikers later expanded to include street couture. Now, you can wear North Face both on and off the trails.
Along with Salomon and Merrell, this might be the most common logo to come across when hitting the trail. You shouldn’t overlook their catalogue when shopping for your next pair of hiking shoes.
Notable hiking shoe: Vectiv Escape Futurelight
These versatile, breathable and waterproof shoes feature ultra Vectiv grip. So it is no wonder why they are one of The North Face’s best-sellers.
Tecnica
Hard work and innovation revolutionized Tecnica. They are the creators of the famous Moon Boot for skiers, which became an icon of the 20th century and sold over 25 million pairs around the world.
Although that propelled the brand to the top, they didn’t stop there. Tecnica continued to develop and design, leading it to become a multi-brand group that manufactures and commercializes some of the best outdoor gear on the market.
Whenever you see the Tecnica Group logo in your outdoor gear, you know you’re in expert hands.
Top-of-the-line hiking shoe option: Plasma S GTX
As the terrain gets more technical and challenging, you will be grateful for your Plasma S GTX’s exceptional grip, flexibility and agility.
Arc’teryx
Arc’teryx is a brand that is ready to meet the highest demands in the industry. Thus, they manufacture gear not only for the most discerning athletes in the world but also for law enforcement and the military. Being the chosen gear for important life-saving roles means that Arc’teryx gear is dependable and can withstand any inclemency.
With a short yet utterly rich history of innovating toward excellence, this brand has expanded to other continents and continues to gather fans around the globe. If you are truly serious about your gear, this is a great option for your next pair of shoes.
Top-of-the-line hiking shoe option: Konseal AR Approach
With a base of Vibram Megagrip, a breathable nubuck suede structure, and unrivalled comfort, this is the ultimate shoe to conquer any challenge. Not to mention the impeccable grip that will aid in traction on technical and mountainous terrain.
Saucony
Way over a century of non-stop activity makes this one of the oldest companies in the shoemaking world. As a result, the accumulated know-how and the attention to detail are on a different level, separating Saucony from all its competition. After so many years in the same line of business, there is nothing this company hasn’t witnessed. Moreover, they top the lists for outdoor shoes with exciting collaborations, groundbreaking athletes, and cutting-edge technology year after year.
They might have been making shoes for over a century, but they are not stopping any time soon. Try a pair of Saucony and find out why they are still the go-to option for demanding athletes around the world.
Top-of-the-line hiking shoe option: Xodus 11
The aggressive PWRTRAC grip keeps you on the ground, while the breathable upper helps your feet stay dry throughout the way. Also, the PWRRUN+ cushioning helps you be more comfortable and faster.
