When it comes to men’s hiking footwear, many users nowadays are leaning on a good balance between weight and durability. It is all about comfort with style, which provides more value by allowing you to use it beyond hiking.
The trend is veering away from the bulky and rugged look, so we are seeing more lightweight and comfortable mens hiking boots. Donning a pair like this makes it easier for you to traverse longer and challenging trails, carry your pack with ease and move faster and more efficiently.
When it comes to materials, we are seeing more leather. Leather provides the right thermal resistance (during winter hikes), water resistance, durability, and class to men’s hiking footwear. But of course, there are still traditional fabric options like mesh, suede, and non-abrasive textile. Fabric is also more breathable and has more colors to choose from.
Meanwhile, sport hiking boots are also becoming popular as a more durable and better-performing option. The cushioning is great, insoles hug the curves of your feet well, and are lightweight, corrosion, and water-resistant.
Then there are other variations of men’s hiking footwear like camping boots and mountain boots. In reality, you do not need to buy one for each purpose, as they are essentially the same and are just branded for marketing purposes.
To help further shed the light when it comes to men’s hiking footwear, we did our research here at Top Best Reviews. We now bring you our top 3 recommendations for the best men’s hiking footwear worth investing in for your next great adventure.
Before we proceed with the list, we gauged each option using the following key performance indicators:
- Durability
- Weight
- Comfort
- Weather or corrosion resistance
- On-trail performance
| Name | Key Feature | |
|---|---|---|
| Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes– Editor’s Choice | Mountain grip, shock-absorbing, and puncture-resistant outsoles | Check Price |
| Danner 30800 Mountain Light II 5″ Gore-Tex Hiking Boots | Made with 100% pure full-grain leather and has a stitched-down design | Check Price |
| Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots | Reinforced toe cup, heel cup | Check Price |
Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes – Editor’s Choice
I was drawn to the words “tactical shoes” and found out that men’s hiking footwear has more or less the same characteristics as its tactical counterparts. Nonetheless, we find these tactical hiking boots built with longevity, performance, and durability for the toughest hiking situations for many reasons.
One, the outsoles have good adhesive grips, helping you cross both wet and dry terrains with ease. It secures your every step, decreasing your risk for falls and injuries along the way.
Next, the same outer soles, along with the grip of mountain hike boots, provide nice flexibility for your toes. This allows you to sprint or moves with ease and without straining your calves too much.
For additional safety, the outer soles are made of puncture-resistant material that protects your feet from the sharp objects you might step on during the hike.
These are also waterproof hiking boots since it is sporting a Gore-tex membrane. This material provides water protection on the outside and from the inside of a men’s hiking footwear.
The inner soles provide the right amount of cushion and arc support. With proper break-in, it almost molds to your feet and hugs it for ultimate comfort.
Being tactical footwear, it is built for intense conditions. The Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes is designed with military and law enforcement people in mind. A pair is curated with the understanding of their working conditions and movement requirements. It is made to provide the right support and stability while they carry out their important work and missions.
This hiker shoes mens comes in classic colors of black, brown, and green, which you will notice are colors that blend in the environment. It sorts of acts like a camouflage in some way, which makes it blend with the surroundings and not cause a commotion among the animals along your path.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Mountain grip, shock-absorbing, outsoles | Some users find the inside soles uncomfortable for their feet |
| Gore-tex membrane | |
| Puncture-resistant outer soles | |
| Flexible | |
| Made of leather |
Conclusion
If you need more from traditional men’s hiking footwear, then, by all means, get a Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes. The brand has been creating quality footwear for decades now, and it already has a proven track record when it comes to quality and adaptability.
Danner 30800 Mountain Light II 5″ Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
If you want something sleek, stylish, and premium-looking men’s hiking footwear, these mens walking boots is for you. You get a one-piece full-grain finest leather upper and a stitch-down construction that only promises durability and craftsmanship. It also comes in either black or brown color, enabling it to match any outfit style or color. The simplicity of the design does not say a lot about its performance, which I’ll elaborate more later.
These mens leather hiking boots utilize a lace-to-toe system, which secures a good fit for every foot type. The shoe platform is also made wide to provide ample wiggle room for your feet but is fully supported with the lace-to-toe system.
As for the outsoles, they are Vibram Kletterlift mind you. These outsoles are popular for their durability, right thickness, and enduring performance that they are a great choice for footwear used by mountaineers, tactical people, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In the same way, these outsoles are also lightweight but provide outstanding shock absorption.
Meanwhile, the Danner 30800 Mountain Light II 5″ Gore-Tex Hiking Boots is lined with Gore-tex for maximum waterproof protection. This ensures that your feet are protected as you go through rain, rivers, etc. Not other bad weather can stop you from going on a hike anymore.
Aside from being waterproof hiking footwear, the Danner 30800 can still be worn as your regular footwear. It has that sleek and semi-formal appeal, classically designed to complement different attires.
Men’s hiking footwear just needs proper break-in to soften the soles and adapt to the natural contours of your feet well. I personally recommend doing this whenever you get new footwear, particularly hiking work boots.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Made with 100% pure full-grain leather | Some users have problems with the shoe tongue being uncomfortable and causing blisters |
| Lined with Gore-tex | |
| Stitched-down design | |
| Vibram Kletterlift outsoles | |
| With Danner Airthotic heel cradle |
Conclusion
The Danner 30800 Mountain Light II 5″ Gore-Tex Hiking Boots is obviously curated to fit the lifestyle of a hiker. This men’s hiking footwear is made of pure leather, has Vibram Kletterlift outsoles, Danner Airthotic heel cradle, and Gore-tex lining. If are okay with doing some serious break-ins first before bringing it to the great outdoors, it will be worth it.
Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots
This men’s hiking footwear combines different materials that provide the best in terms of protection, durability, water resistance, comfort, and performance. This results in a modern take on the traditional mens outdoor boots.
The Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots sure look tough on the outside, with premium suede Italian leather uppers as starters. You’ll also immediately notice that it has a heel cup and a toe cup connected with rubber outsoles that provide full protection for your feet.
Flipping it, you can now marvel at its contoured lugs in the outsoles, providing the right traction and grip on both wet and dry surfaces.
Enveloping everything is a breathable Gore-tex lining, which provides maximum water resistance and at the same time, ventilation for your feet. Having this in your mens waterproof hiking boots prevents excessive sweating that risks you to bacteria growth.
The midsoles serve as the key to its comfort. It is made of lightweight Polyurethane material, but, can still provide excellent cushioning and shock absorption, helping your feet thrive in long hours of trekking across different types of terrains.
However, this particularly men’s hiking footwear is not ideal as men’s winter hiking boots, rather, only for light hikes or perhaps, some camping.
As with other footwear, it is best to get the correct size to ensure optimum protection and comfort. The Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots is true to its size, but a good leeway of one or two sizes up will suffice for thicker socks especially during winter.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reinforced toe cup, heel cup | Some users complain of laces easily wearing out |
| Made of Italian suede leather | |
| Lined with breathable Gore-tex | |
| Resilient PU midsoles |
Conclusion
The Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Hiking Boots is made to last as it combines premium materials to provide the durability, comfort, and performance you need for every hiking trip. This men’s hiking footwear is made with Italian leather uppers, Vibram soles, Asoflex thermoplastic support, and PU midsoles.
We find this also one of the best waterproof hiking boots on this list because of the Gore-tex lining combined with the suede uppers that are both breathable materials.
Final Verdict
Considering all the key performance factors of the best boots for hiking, we find that the Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes ticked the most. It is tactically durable, has the right lightweight-ness, and provides the right comfort and cushioning. This men’s hiking footwear also makes great camping boots, mountain boots, and winter hiking boots, and overall a great men’s hiking footwear.
The Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX 2 EN Tactical Shoes can also be used as work boots and sports boots because of their outstanding outdoor performance. It has the right flexibility, excellent traction, and water resistance that are essential to withstand any kind of hiking conditions, making it the best hiking boots for men.