Boring hiking boots are a thing of the past. Here are our top picks for stylish hiking boots for men that perform as good as they look.
Danner Mountain Light II (Buy on Amazon)
Vasque Sundowner Gore-Tex Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Woolrich Packer Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Forsake Trail Hiking Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Rax Wild Wolf Mid Venture Hiking Boots (Buy on Amazon)
Merrell Eagle Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Timberland Euro Hiker Cordura Fabric Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Arc'teryx Bora2 Mid Hiking Boot (Buy on Amazon)
Under Armour Newell Ridge Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots (Buy on Amazon)
Adidas Terrex Fast X Mid GTX Boot (Buy on Amazon)
THE SEARCH FOR COOL HIKING BOOTS
Let's be honest here. Most hiking boots are pretty darn ugly. The focus on tech in outdoor footwear has created an environment where stylish designs are given the least attention. While it’s no secret that outdoor fashion is ions behind the rest of the fashion industry, the sad fact is that proper hiking boots may be the ugliest pair of shoes in your closet.
But there is hope.
Fortunately, stylish hiking boots do exist. Brands like Danner and Forsake have recently introduced vintage style hiking boots that not only look awesome but perform great on the trail. Brands that are normally not known for their hiking footwear, such as Adidas and Under Armour, have also successfully entered the market with hiking boots of their own. These brands are challenging what a hiking boot can look like. Design elements like exciting colors and athletic-shoe-inspired profiles are being mixed with the functional features needed for hiking.
Maybe there are stylish hiking boots for men after all.
VINTAGE STYLE HIKING BOOTS
Fans of the classic hiking boots style will love the following picks. These are back to basics designs that blend retro hiking boot construction with modern footwear features for lightweight functional hiking boots that will keep you looking and feeling good on your next trek.
DANNER MOUNTAIN LIGHT II HIKING BOOT
Danner is a boot brand that prides itself in it’s carefully crafted boots made in Portland, Oregon. The brand is known for durable outdoor footwear and the Mountain Light II is no exception. The upper on the Mountain Light II is made of one piece of leather like many of the old style hiking boots it was modeled after. While modern day features like a fiberglass shank and GORE-TEX liner make this boot a powerhouse of a hiking boot.
Features at a glance:
Waterproof
Shock Absorption
Wet & Dry traction
Durable Vibram outsole
Made in USA
VASQUE SUNDOWNER GORE-TEX BOOT
Vasque has released a vintage style hiking boot of their own with the Sundowner boot. This boot is made specifically for hiking and backpacking so you can rest assured that the needed features are there on your next trip outdoors. The uppers of these boot are made of one solid piece of S.B. Foot Leather that is tanned in the U.S. This translates to a simple boot design that is built to last and will only look better with age.
Features at a glance:
Waterproof S.B. Foot Leather Uppers
Rubber outsole with aggressive traction lugs
D-Ring Speed Lacing Eyelets
PU comfort footbed
WOOLRICH PACKER BOOT
The Woolrich Packer boot is a winer boot modeled after the classic hiking boots of days passed. This is a cold weather boot so anyone looking for a multi-season boot may want to give this boot a pass. However, as far as winter boots go the Woolrich Packer boot provides great traction in wet conditions, amazing warmth retention on freezing days and look amazingly stylish both when hiking and for casual wear.
Features at a glance:
Waterproof full grain leather upper
Woolrich wool collar and lining
Stacked leather heel with a rubber outsole
Cold weather boot
SNEAKER INSPIRED HIKING BOOTS
Casual footwear lovers will love these sneaker inspired hiking boots. They add elements such as familiar profiles and pops of color to an otherwise boring hiking boot design. These boots are perfect for casual hikers who need something a little more functional than their daily casual shoe for days on the trail.
FORSAKE TRAIL HIKING BOOT
Founded by two college friends in 2009, Forsake may be the youngest footwear company on our list. They specialize in stylish outdoor footwear designs that perform great on the trail and look just as good on the street. What’s exciting about this brand is their refreshing hiking shoe designs. These are boots that you actually wouldn’t mind wearing around town after a long day hiking.
The Trail hiking boot includes a lot of the useful features you can expect to find in a hiking boot: waterproof-grade materials, cushioned footbed and EVA midsole for comfort, and rugged full grain leather uppers. One cool feature that we love about the Forsake Trail boot is it’s gusseted tongue which prevents debris from getting inside the shoe during your hikes. Talk about smart design!
Features at a glance:
Waterproof
Breathable membrane for all weather conditions
Full grain leather uppers
Anti-microbial cushioned footbed
RAX WILD WOLF MID VENTURE HIKING BOOTS
In a world of expensive hiking boots it’s refreshing to finally see an affordable alternative that is actually pretty stylish. At first glance the Rax Wild Wolf hiking boot looks more like a trendy high top sneaker than a hiking boot. But a closer look reveals functional features such as an anti-skid rubber sole, shock-absorbent midsole and waterproof uppers.
Features at a glance:
Waterproof
Lightweight shoe
Wolf Claw-like Antiskid Rubber Outsole
Shock absorbing EVA midsole
MERRELL EAGLE Hiking BOOT
Merrell has introduced a hiking boot with some serious vintage sneaker elements with their Eagle boot. These hiking boots were made for the casual hiker who wants to look good on and off the trail. The Eagle Boot's bright colors, cow suede uppers and throwback profile resembles more of an athletic shoe than a serious hiking boot. But Merrell has their bases covered and have included essential features such as breathable mesh lining, shock absorption and grippy outsoles to make this a perfect outdoor-ready boot.
Features at a glance:
Cow suede upper
Removable EVA footbed
Air cushion shock absorbing heel
Odor reducing breathable mesh lining
TIMBERLAND EURO HIKER BOOT
The Timberland Euro Hiker is long time best seller of Timberland’s outdoor boot line. Recently they have released a monochromatic Euro Hiker made with full ripstop Cordura uppers. What we get is a super stylish boot that can be worn both casually and outdoors. The versatility of this boot is thanks to it’s materials and construction. Not only does the boot offer an attractive profile, but ripstop Cordura is a rugged material that can withstand abrasions, scuffs and punctures. The outsoles are made of a lugged rubber that allow you to navigate rough terrains with ease.
Features at a glance:
Abrasion resistant ripstop Cordura uppers
Steel shank for arch support
Shock absorbing EVA midsoles
Lugged rubber outsoles for traction
ATHLETIC HIKING BOOTS
In recent years athletic shoe brands have delved into the outdoor world by releasing their own hiking boots and gear. This has led to a breathe of fresh air and the introduction of a new style of hiking boot that mixes what we love about athletic shoe design with all of the high tech features hiking boots are known for. By putting performance on a pedestal, these brands are able to introduce stylish hiking boots that even the most serious hiker will appreciate.
UNDER ARMOUR NEWELL RIDGE MID HIKING BOOTS
Under Armour may not come to mind when thinking of hiking gear but recently they have been killing it with their new line of outdoor footwear. The Newell Ridge boot looks like a basketball shoe hiking boot hybrid. This is what a hiking boot can look like if you made it less clunky, gave it a modern profile, and added cool color-ways to it’s design. The best part is that it’s still a technical shoe that is made for outdoor performance. It’s higher profile adds much needed ankle support while it’s grippy rubber outsole allows you to take on any outdoor terrain with ease.
Features at a glance:
Lightweight
Waterproof
TPU heel cradle for stability
Special Michelin® Oc Outsole for superior traction
ARC'TERYX BORA2 MID HIKING BOOT
Arc’teryx is not a athletic brand gone outdoor as much as a technical outdoor brand that has always valued great design. Their Borax Mid is a workhorse of a hiking boot that has all the features you need for a serious outdoor hike.
What makes this boot so special is it’s customization features. It’s really an all-year all-weather hiking boot thanks to it’s interchangeable foot liners. A Gore-Tex insulated liner is available for those cold winter hikes while a breathable low liner is available for hikes in warmer weather. Unlike the other boots on this list, the Arc'teryx Bora2 Mid Hiking Boot is a complete system that allows you to customize the fit and features according to your needs. For anyone who needs the absolute best, this is your hiking boot.
Features at a glance:
Single piece thermolaminated upper
Interchangeable Arc’teryx Adaptive Fit liners
Durable Vibram outdoor performance outsole
ADIDAS TERREX FAST X MID GTX BOOT
Adidas Outdoors has recently released a few different athletic hiking shoes and the Fast X Mid GTX boot might be our favorite release yet. First of all, it looks amazing. Although a lot of the design is borrowed from the stylish athletic shoes Adidas is known for one thing to note is that the Adidas Terrax line of hiking boots have been built from the ground up for outdoor performance. If you are looking for a hiking boot that allows you to do some fast hiking, then this is the real deal.
Features at a glance:
Waterproof Gore-Tex lining
FORMOTION™ mid-sole enhanced motion control and downhill comfort
TRAXION® outsole for maximum grip in all directions
A Few FINAL THOUGHTS
After a lot of research we made sure to only include stylish hiking boots for men that are actually made for outdoor wear. Recently there has been an interest to re-introduce classic hiking boot styles into fashion footwear. This can lead to a lot of confusion when shopping for a good looking hiking boot. There is a huge difference between “hiking boot style” and a “stylish hiking boot". This is why we tried to feature brands that are known for great performing hiking boots or have built their hiking boots with outdoor performance in mind.
Although there is nothing wrong with sporting a stylish hiking boot on the pavement, it’s important to make this distinction for those who really need a good boot to use on the trail. Plenty of fashion brands have released their own version of “hiking boots” that would do absolutely terrible when put to the test outdoors.
Important things to consider when shopping for a hiking boot:
Is this boot waterproof?
Does it supply good outsole traction for rocky or slippery terrain?
Does it have good ankle and foot support?
Is this hiking boot appropriate for the weather? (Cold, Hot or Wet Climates)
Hopefully these questions will set you on the right track on finding a hiking boot that is right for you.
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