The best men’s walking boots 2025, tried and tested out on the trails

These mid-reach boots boast a very chunky silhouette and beefy outsole, which I really appreciated, especially when I was trudging across cold, hard frosty moorland paths. However, for a big, rugged boot, they were lightweight and it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them after a few metres of setting off. I didn’t need to worry about waterproofing, which was excellent and, even with big, thick winter hiking socks on, breathability throughout the shoe was good.

The toe box was roomy enough to make the shoe comfortable, but not so roomy you need to double-layer socks, and the heel fits nice and snugly, helping to avoid blisters. On the outside, there’s plenty of protection from the upper, and that big bumper that surrounds the base of the shoe means you can stride out without worrying about ground-level collisions.

This mid-shoe offers a relaxed fit well suited to walkers with wider feet. It has a sizeable footbed and plenty of room at the toe box, while the lacing system still allows for a nice tight fit, so your feet aren’t moving around in the shoe while you walk.

But comfort isn’t all the shoe has to offer – there’s enough traction in the outsole to ensure you won’t lose your footing, while robust protection front and back will save you from any painful encounters with rocks and boulders. A hard-wearing synthetic and mesh upper adds to the appeal.

These low-cut shoes are made for speed and comfort. They performed especially well on wet walks with their three layers of protection, including an effective membrane, seam sealing throughout the shoe and a water-repellent treatment on the upper. The chunky silhouette and thick midsole provided plenty of protection, and held the foot higher to minimise stumbles and collisions with boulders and rocks. The mesh ankle collar was comfortable and offered good protection, and there’s a complex lug pattern on the outsole. This provided efficient traction, while ensuring I didn’t end up with lots of claggy mud stuck to the bottom of my boot.

I immediately liked the space these boots afforded my feet, and could instantly tell they were going to make for very good walking companions. Once on, I was pleased to find the boots didn’t pinch my toes, instead allowing them to create a nice firm base on which to walk.

On the outside, the sole had plenty of confidence-inspiring grip over all kinds of terrain. It flexed well over hard rock, while the lug pattern dug into muddy trails, but didn’t get clogged up or bogged down, so there’s security with every step. The spongy midsole felt like it was really helping maintain momentum, too, especially when I started to get heavy legs.

This was helped by the weight of the shoe, which Inov-8 has managed to keep to a mere 345g – very impressive for a boot lined with Gore-Tex. The high ankle offered good support while remaining supple, and the laces adjusted easily without ever coming undone. When the sun peered out from behind the clouds, all the other materials that make up these boots meant I wasn’t left with overheating feet, either.

I absolutely loved the construction of this light, mid-height boot, with its tough Cordura upper allowing for plenty of movement while also providing a glove-like fit. These features make them among the most comfortable on test for day hikes, with the GTX membrane ensuring my feet stayed dry.

The Vibram megagrip outsole provided great traction over the full range of wintry conditions with its 4mm lugs. There’s good ankle protection, too, and a wide toe box adds to the overall comfort of the shoe when wearing thick socks.

The first time I slipped my feet into this Merrell pair, it felt like I’d been wearing the footwear for years. There was no need for a break-in period, with the shoe offering immediate comfort and a flawlessly snug fit – attributes it maintained for many miles to come.

This pair is not much to look at, and will feel a bit clunky if you’re used to wearing trainers or more slimline walking shoes, but the fit offered plenty of support over a range of terrains, and the moabs showed no signs of wear after a series of lengthy walks.

Beyond this, the waterproof membrane kept my feet dry through problematic patches of long, wet grass, while the mesh in the upper kept me cool during the (admittedly brief) warm and dry spells I encountered. This was the cherry on top of the cake from an already-impressive walking shoe. However, if waterproofing isn’t a deal-breaker, you can save yourself a few quid by opting for the cheaper non-Gore-Tex version.

The Terrex outdoor brand from Adidas has offered up another shoe which is well suited to ambitious adventures when you’ve got plenty of miles planned, thanks to the brand’s usual combination of a reliable Gore-Tex membrane, comfortable EVA midsole and grippy Continental outsole.

The gusset tongue adds to the shoe being a good barrier to the elements and the lace closure was quick and easy.

Adidas has managed to keep the weight to a minimum – so you can really eat up the ground if you’ve got a mile-heavy hike ahead of you – while there’s lots of protection to help when you’re tackling rocky paths and boulder fields. They actually make a good approach shoe that you can switch out for some mid-height boots, if you’re going higher.

Danner has always produced boots that look really good, without compromising performance on the trail, and it has excelled with this design. Its supremely comfortable full-grain leather upper looks great right out of the box, and feels even better the more broken-in the boots become.

The Gore-Tex waterproof barrier is supremely effective at keeping out water, while remaining breathable and keeping feet cool.

There’s a Vibram SPE midsole, which added to the overall wearability of the leaf and gave good bounce while walking, while the outsole delivered traction over wet, rocky ground.

What I loved most about these boots was how the upper, midsole and outsole deliver responsiveness while walking, and really allow you to feel the trail and get some feedback, while providing a very effective barrier against harsh ground underfoot.

This is a well-constructed, low-cut boot that was comfortable to wear. It boasts a rugged Vibram outsole that gave me plenty of confidence to travel quickly, even over loose rock, while the Texapore Ecosphere Pro membrane offered good waterproofing in soggy conditions and allowed my feet to breathe. The midsole was stiff enough to allow me to travel over the rough stuff without feeling it, but also offered good connection on looser trails.

A low-cut, durable shoe that’s at home on lower trails, thanks to an outsole with deep lugs. it also has a design that makes it easy for water to escape and not turn the bottom of the shoe into a muddy plate.

The midsole offered good protection while remaining flexible as I stomped over more technical sections, and the suede upper was supremely comfortable with Aquadry waterproofing to keep feet dry. Although, there’s no waterproof membrane, so, I wouldn’t go wading through any streams with these. Plenty of buffering at the toe with a rubberised cap, and the solid ankle and heel support, means you can feel confident you’re not going to end up in any bother.

This is a truly versatile boot for ambitious walkers and hikers, which will take you from the lower approach routes all the way to the via ferrata, if you’re feeling ambitious. The combination of a Hydrobloc treatment on the suede upper and Gore-Tex lining means you can guarantee waterproofing, and for a big boot I was particularly impressed with how tailored and snug it was, thanks to a lacing pattern that reaches almost all the way down to the toe of the boot.

The Vibram Pepe sole system with Megagrip compound ensures greater grip on different types of terrain, and the dual density EVA wedge midsole guarantees cushioning and stability.

Despite being heavy on features, the shoe keeps the weight down and protection is guaranteed from the high cut upper that secured the ankle. Also, the fact the whole boot is surrounded with a rubber/PU band increases the durability and means this shoe will be with you for many seasons to come.

These Croatian-made mid boots offered lots of protection and support from the leather upper, which was also very breathable when our feet were working hard during testing.

Here, premium materials combine to deliver an incredibly rugged boot that will be able to survive and thrive in the harshest of hiking conditions.

There’s good cushioning in the midsole, while the Vibram outsole has a very gnarly tread pattern that, during testing, gave us mountain goat levels of sure-footedness.

The Gore-Tex membrane has been combined with a nice high tongue, to keep the water on the outside, and there’s plenty of comfort from toe bumper to ankle cuff.

We also really liked the fact the boots feature a mechanical lace lock, which totally secures the lower half of the lacing and can be adjusted with one hand, making on-the-go adjustments really easy.

I tested this boot in non-stop rain and ended the day with bone-dry feet, which was very impressive. The lacing system gives the upper a customised and comfortable feel, and I felt well protected, from toe to heel.

The midsole did a great job of absorbing the bumps that came with more unforgiving sections of the hike. As for the Duratread outsole, it gave me plenty of confidence, especially when going downhill, and I never felt like my feet were about to slip or slide.

Although this shoe didn’t grab our heel as much as we would have liked, its broad platform will be a good fit for walkers with wider feet. There’s a good mix of materials in the upper, to allow feet to breathe, while also enabling plenty of waterproofing against long wet grass or unforeseen puddles, thanks to the brand’s Dri-Tec membrane.

The shoes felt nice and light on our feet, so they won’t drain you of energy, and the traction proved to be effective over a range of terrains.

If you know you’re going to be walking in a dry environment and don’t need to worry about waterproofing, these canvas-upper mid boots will keep your feet cool, while offering plenty of protection against anything you might come up against – including insects. The boots have an anti-insect treatment in the upper itself, so you won’t have to worry about any bugs dining out on your feet while you walk.

The rubber outsole actually does a very good job of providing some cushioning but is particularly effective at providing stability on loose ground, with the front bumper guarding against stubbed toes.

From the moment I took them out of the box, I really liked the look and styling of these mid-boots. As I laced them up, I was impressed with how incredibly comfortable they felt. They have an almost customised feel, and they moulded to my foot, leaving no room for rubbing, yet still enabling me to move my toes for balance.

The foam compound used in the midsole worked to create a natural roll, which helped when my legs were getting tired. The outsole, meanwhile, was excellent at keeping me grounded and absorbing the blows from tougher terrain and rock. Plus, the Gore-Tex lining did its job brilliantly in wetter sections, without leaving me with two steaming feet when the sun finally decided to make an appearance.

The flexibility of these mid shoes offers a real connection to the path you’re treading – in particular, harder, rockier routes. The nice, wide fit that Vivo is known for works well in a walking boot like this, giving the foot plenty of room to stabilise itself every time you plant it down on the ground.

The mix of a knitted wool collar and leather upper looks great and feels very natural from the first wear, with no breaking-in required. It also means the ankle can move more naturally as you walk, while still feeling supported.

The outsole is strategically raised over the upper in a wave pattern, offering increased protection from shale and loose rock trails. Underneath, the boot offers plenty of grip, and I found it was particularly sticky over rock, while the smart lug pattern also worked well on looser trails and grass. Bungee-style walking laces add to the overall wearability, too.