The Best Waterproof Hiking Boots for Men and Women
These boots are some of the reigning test champions in this category, winning Outdoor Gear Lab’s Editor’s Choice for best hiking boots, Switchback’s top for rough terrain, and Wirecutter’s top spot.
To buy: (men’s) zappos.com, $230; (women’s) zappos.com, $230
Maloney found that the Salomon Quest 4D GTX (above) and Lowa Renegade GTX were her top recommendations in her testing career. The Lowa boots are also a Switchback favorite, featuring a leather upper and Gore-Tex liners.
To buy: (men’s) zappos.com, $240; (women’s) amazon.com, from $211
La Sportiva snagged the second-place slot at Wirecutter and praise from Runner’s World for the Trango. Testers report it's both breathable and waterproof, which can be a rare find.
To buy: (men’s) amazon.com, from $175; (women’s) amazon.com, $220
The Zodiac is Runner’s World’s favorite for backpacking and an Outdoor Gear Lab top choice, particularly for rock and snow travel.
To buy: (men’s) zappos.com, $269; (women’s) zappos.com, $269
One of the REI staff’s favorite all-around and another Wirecutter and Switchback favorite, Merrell's Moab wins kudos for its combination of a budget-friendly price tag and light weight.
To buy: (men’s) amazon.com, from $102; (women’s) amazon.com, from $101
The Targhee appears on multiple best-of lists as well, particularly for its wide toe box, making it a good choice for those looking for a wider-width waterproof option. And if you want the whole family to match, Keen even has a range of kids’ designs.
To buy: (men’s) nordstrom.com, $145; (women’s) nordstrom.com, $145
Switchback calls the Falcon “where we think hiking footwear is headed.” What the Falcon boots lack in support and stability compared to a bulkier boot is balanced out with less weight and more technical features.
To buy: (men’s) zappos.com, $235; (women’s) zappos.com, $235
Another highly praised pair around the internet, the Nucleo is lightweight and has a Gore-Tex layer that surrounds the entire boot, not just the top. A mostly leather exterior adds extra durability.
To buy: (men’s) amazon.com, $199; (women’s) amazon.com, $199
Luxury travel advisor Julie Michaels has worn her Ballard boots through safaris, gorilla treks, and hiking in Bhutan. “While there are sportier and more teched-out styles, they are simple and stylish enough that you won’t feel out of place wearing them in cities or on the plane, so you’re not sacrificing luggage space with bulky boots,” she says. “They are ‘water-resistant’ and work well in the rain, but I would suggest adding additional waterproofing for more extreme conditions.”
To buy: (women’s) amazon.com, from $48
Kristin Addis, CEO of bemytravelmuse.com and frequent backpacker, is a fan of the Montara for its excellent tread and color range. “I found that the biggest differentiator between boots actually was the tread. When you’re hiking on sheer rock or glacial moraines, it’s so important to have that,” she says.
To buy: (women’s) amazon.com, from $108
The Terrex boots were named one of Gear Patrol’s favorite boots of 2018, where they liked the modern sneaker-like design, speed lacing sytstem, and light weight, complete with Gore-Tex Surround. As a bonus, they’re entirely made of textile and synthetic materials if you’re looking for a potentially vegan option (though the full component list isn’t available on Adidas’ website).
To buy: (women’s) adidasoutdoor.com, $200
Backpacker’s “most waterproof” hiking boot has a bonded waterproof membrane backed with wicking fabric to help minimize sweating.
To buy: (men’s) columbia.com, $125 (originally $210)
If you’ve landed on this list looking for something a little different and want one pair of boots to pack for both backwoods hiking and city strolls, with more striding through puddles than fording rivers, Blundstones are the option for you. They’ll hold up and look at home under either circumstance, and the leather is oil-treated for maximum water resistance. Green told us that “a boot made from one piece of leather and that has been properly waxed will be as watertight as one can ask.”
To buy: (unisex) zappos.com, $180
The Best Waterproof Hiking Boots for Men and Women
When you’re squishing down a swampy trail, the last thing you want is to keep that feeling going in your boots for the rest of the hike. A good waterproof hiking boot means you won’t let the swamp in to begin with, but if you aren’t careful, you may end up cultivating one of your own.
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