How to find the best hiking shoes of 2024

Imagine this, you just ordered a brand new pair of hiking shoes online after glancing at a few buzzwords like: “waterproof hiking shoes” or “great shoes for hiking and backpacking”, but what arrived wasn’t expected at all.

A set of double-lined, insulated, cold-weather hiking boots show up and you get a sinking feeling in your stomach. You’re about to go for a 10-mile hike through a hot and arid desert, in August and it’s too late to exchange them. Not an ideal situation. 

Finding the perfect hiking shoes or the best hiking boots might sound a bit dramatic. You might be thinking to yourself, “Can’t I just use a regular pair anywhere?”. I used to think this way. I had no idea there was a difference, to begin with. 

When I planned my first backpacking trip, I didn’t know what to look for so I found something that “looked cool” and bought them. Later on, I found out that I grabbed a pair of trail running shoes for Iceland that weren’t exactly waterproof and I ended up having completely water-logged feet the entire last day of my trip. Safe to say I learned my lesson. 

I was clueless about the fact that different types of environments and topography lend toward specific attributes of the various hiking footwear available.  Who would have thought? Apparently, not me.

My goal with this article is to share some knowledge that you might benefit from in choosing great hiking or backpacking footgear. I’ll even give a few suggestions at the end for some great shoes on the market that you can check out. 

Before I get started I want you to know that there are dissimilarities between hiking shoes, hiking boots, and trail runners. Each type has its advantages which play into this article. Read up on the differences between hiking shoes, boots, and trail runners if you’re unclear. There’s even something called an approach shoe, but let’s not get too technical. 

So follow along as I delve into the essential factors of how to find the best overall hiking gear for your feet. Hopefully, after you’ve finished reading this post, you’ll have all the info you’ll need to snatch up the right pair of hiking shoes that’ll keep your feet comfortable and supported on any trail, in any weather, and in any season.

Understanding Terrain-Specific Needs

The first thing to keep in mind when shopping for a good pair of hiking shoes or boots is what you will be navigating over the majority of the time. Are you going to be walking on ugly unkept trails that are sure to be full of surprises, or are you going for a day hike on a well-groomed walkway that hasn’t seen a rock bigger than a golf ball in years?

Any traditional hiking shoe can handle a little bit of everything you throw at it, but the farther you walk, the greater the influence terrain is going to impact your decision. Here are the main types – 

1. Rocky Trails

A few rocks here or there aren’t going to be a big deal, but if you’ll be trekking over loose rock or giant boulders in the Rocky Mountains then your feet are going to demand durability as well as protection from the elements. 

Try and opt for burly hiking shoes with sturdy soles that also have excellent traction. If you’ll be traversing at a high altitude, look for insulated boots that provide an extra layer of warmth. Navigating uneven surfaces without compromising comfort or support is your main focus here.

My recommendation

For a rugged shoe/boot hybrid that won’t let you down, I would go with the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof. It’s one of the best-selling hiking shoes out there. It comes with a protective rubber heel and toe cap, a Vibram® outsole, and contours to your foot for a perfect step.