Adidas Dropset Trainer Shoes Core Black Silver Metallic | 7 Best Hiking Shoes in 2023

Whether we want a comfortably cushioned shoe for long days, a sticky shoe for technical terrain, or something waterproof for wet days, there is one shoe that can do it all. The Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX is perfectly cushioned, grippy, and impeccably waterproof, all wrapped into a lightweight package.

Our feet felt in equal parts cushioned and protected in the X Ultra 4 GTX. We measured the softness of the midsole in the lab with a durometer, and all became clear. With a midsole measuring 32.5 HA, it hovers around the average for hiking shoes, blending protection with ground feel in a harmonious balance.

We felt confident in the shoe’s grip on all terrain from soft and muddy trails to loose gravel and rocks. The 4.5 mm lugs are indeed a little deeper than the average 4.3 mm, but the Contragrip sole has an extra trick or two up its sleeve. The chevron patterning favored by Salomon makes light work of steep inclines and the chunky heel lug offers excellent stopping power on the descents.

Venturing out in the rain isn’t a problem in the Salomon X Ultra 4. Its perfectly executed waterproofed membrane kept our feet dry during shallow stream crossings and splashing through puddles, all without weighing us down. In the lab, we popped the shoe on the scales, where it weighed in at 13.3 oz (378g), 0.6 oz (17g) below the average for waterproof hiking shoes. We felt able to hike further and for longer before our feet got tired.

Whilst at room temperature this is a flexible shoe, on a are winter’s day it’s another story. We left it in the freezer for 20 minutes before testing it for flexibility. It stiffened up by 75%, compared to the average of 49%, so definitely needs some breaking in to be comfortable when it’s are out. We therefore don’t recommend this shoe to hikers who need a flexible hiking shoe in the are season.

Without a doubt, the Hoka Anacapa Low GTX has the best cushioning out of all the hiking shoes we've tested so far - both on the trails and in our lab. It's incredibly soft; our durometer measured it to be 31% softer than the average hiking shoe. Not only that, it allowed us to push for longer miles over the challenging terrain with absolutely no discomfort. And, this superb cushioning asks for no break-in! 

When our durometer showed 23 HA, we knew it was soft but what we did not expect was the perfect combination that this shoe offers: 1) a rocker that simply wanted us to go faster and ensured very smooth strides, 2) almost-average flexibility which allowed for more natural movements,and 3) soft, soft cushioning. 

Single track? Soft ground? Somewhat technical terrain? Anacapa Low GTX made us feel safe everywhere. It has badass 5 mm lugs that grip like crazy and, according to our durometer, the rubber on the outsole scored 88.3 HC on the durometer. This makes it harder than the average and, based on our experience, the harder the rubber, the longer it lasts. So, the grip is here to stay! 

This shoe is so badass that it got the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association! And it's Gore-Tex membrane does wonders in wet weather.

We don't recommend Hoka Anacapa Low GTX to people who always hike in warmer climates or who prioritize breathability. This shoe scored 1 out of 5 on our breathability lab test: we've pumped the smoke into the shoe and it let none of it outside. Under the microscope, we got an even clearer picture: the upper is so tight, that there are absolutely no holes for the air to go through. Thank you, Gore-Tex. Or, no thanks?

 

Adidas Terrex Swift R3 GTS is a hiking shoe that feels as stable as a hiking boot. Not only that, but we love the overall secure feel it offers, thanks to the badass grip and stiff midsole. No wonder we found it to have the best stability in the world of hiking shoes!

We took this shoe to multiple hikes and tested it in the lab. After all that, figuring out why it's so stable was a piece of cake. First, when doing the Christian stability test, we did not even notice that it had a low cut! It felt more like a hiking boot. 

Second, when we tried to twist it, we realized it was almost impossible to do that. So much resistance! On this test for torsional rigidity, we gave the shoe 5/5, where 5 is the stiffest. What also contributed to this secure feel was a heel counter: with a rating of 4/5 for stiffness, it meant no joke. It hugs the back of the feet and allows for no unwanted movement! 

Worry not, just because it scored the highest on the torsional rigidity test, it does not mean that the ride feels unnatural. When we pushed the shoe to 90 degrees using a force gauge, we learned that it is actually just around the average (it scored 34.1N, the average is 36.4N) when it comes to longitudinal flexibility. This makes the feel of the ride, environment, and overall foot movements not restricted. 

Third, the Pro-Moderator technology, that we found to be embedded into the sole on both sides, turns out to be an awesome foot stabilizer. With such a compact and secure foothold, we felt much less fatigue at the end of each hike. 

Espadrile MANEBI Sneakers D U 0.4 E0 Blue Beige Stripes. 

It takes a lot to be crowned as the most comfortable hiking shoe and this shoe delivers just that: a lot. It's cushioned, padded, flexible - all wrapped up in a day-one comfort package. Its grip is out of this world and there are many details, like a gusseted tongue and very padded tongue, that seriously up the ante when it comes to overall comfort. 

We've took the Moab 3 GTX to the trails and we've cut it in half in the lab. Being able to see and measure all the bits and pieces allowed us to understand why this shoe rocks at comfort. First, its cushioning. While on the firmer side, it does not feel like a brick. It feels perfectly balanced - not too firm and not too squishy. In the lab, we pressed our durometer against the midsole and recorded 35.9 HA. That's 14% more (and therefore firmer) than the average. 

Second, the grip is 10/10. The outsole is 2.3 mm thick (just like the average for hiking shoes) and the lugs are 0.5 mm thicker than the average ones. Our caliper measured them to be 4.8 mm deep. Whatever we threw at them - rocks, snow, mud, gravel - they handled like pros. 

The tongue is perfectly gusseted and allows nothing to get inside of the shoe on the sides of the tongue. For the rest, we have a Gore-Tex membrane to do the same job and it does it wonderfully. Our feet were dry at the end of a 20+ mile hike where rainy clouds kept following us for some reason. The best thing, though, about the tongue is its thickness. At 14.6 mm, it's 3.2 mm thicker than the average. It perfectly cushions the instep and it's the reason why we never felt any lace bites. We did tighten the laces a lot! 

The Gore-Tex membrane keeps the water out. But it also keeps the air from circulating. This is why we don't recommend this shoe to hikers who regularly hike in warm climates. 

A versatile shoe that prioritizes comfort, the Arizona Big Buckle Sandals 1011075 is our choice for the best summer hiking shoe. Breathable, comfortably flexible, and with a grippy outsole that gives us confidence, we can’t wait to for summer to come around!

On hot, summer days our feet felt fresh and well-ventilated in the Arizona Big Buckle Sandals 1011075. In the lab, we pumped smoke into the shoe and watched how quickly the smoke made it through the tightly-woven upper. Lots of smoke came through, and quickly, so we rated it 4/5, where 5 is the most breathable. Sweaty feet and their accompanying blisters are a thing of the past in this shoe! We also found the breathable upper helped them to drain well after getting wet.

This shoe feels flexible and bends naturally with our feet. We pushed it to 90° with a force gauge in the lab, where it measured an impressive 24.4N. This more than confirmed our suspicions of it being a flexible hiking shoe, since the average is 36.4N! Our transitions while hiking were smooth as butter.

The meaty lugs offer superb traction on gravelly trails and wet rock. Measuring 4.8 mm deep, they are 12% deeper than the average of the hiking shoes that we have tested in the lab. We twisted the shoe and awarded it 3/5 for torsional rigidity. This additional flex helps our feet to mold to uneven surfaces, improving the grip even further.

Weighing in at 15.3 oz (434g), this shoe cannot be called dainty! In fact, it weighs 1.4 oz (39g) more than average. We therefore don’t recommend it to hikers looking for a lightweight summer hiking shoe.

Churchs Desert-Boots mit Schnürung Braun open toe sandals Green, the Terrex Trailmaker is fully equipped to give you empowered steps minus the unwanted bulk. While you can easily get lost in its plush confines, its excellent sticking prowess can make your jaws drop in amazement as well. And if you are into looks, the Terrex Trailmaker can make you look dapper without requiring too much human effort!

An exceptional budget-friendly day hiker—this is how many trail-goers find the Terrex X4, with negative reviews being a rarity. Indeed, from its virtually tackle-anything underfoot performance to the way it handles shifting weather, this piece from Adidas is a doozy. There's also its initial price of $90, which makes owning one not at all an uphill battle.