Hiking boots

Hiking boots are one of the most essential pieces of gear in your hike or backpacking trip. Ankle support and a rigid sole help your ankles stay in one piece and keep your feet going even in extensive use. Lighter, more flexible boots and shoes serve you in easier terrain and when carrying moderate loads on your back. When you spot a letter such as A, B, B/C or C in context with a boot or shoe, you ...

Hiking boots are one of the most essential pieces of gear in your hike or backpacking trip. Ankle support and a rigid sole help your ankles stay in one piece and keep your feet going even in extensive use. Lighter, more flexible boots and shoes serve you in easier terrain and when carrying moderate loads on your back. When you spot a letter such as A, B, B/C or C in context with a boot or shoe, you can tell how rigid it is: A is close to a running shoe, B is good for rocky trails and C is ready for rocks and boulders while carrying a heavy pack.

When testing a pair of hiking boots on solid, flat terrain such as a store floor or on asphalt, you’ll feel the shoes are… well, a bit too rigid. When going off road, however, you’ll benefit from their stiffness in a new fashion, especially when carrying some weight on your back. As these shoes gather kilometers (or miles, if you will), you’ll notice them getting a bit softer and more compliant as their leather panels adjust to the strain.

Most hiking boots sold in the Northern countries are equipped with a waterproof membrain. The popularity of Gore-Tex footwear is mostly based on the moist conditions in Nordic countries, where rubber boots or wellingtons used to be the de facto choice for outdoors people. A modern hiking boot will not only keep your feet dry but also give your ankles the support they need when you’re walking, perhaps already a bit tired, with a heavy load in rocky terrain. For some conditions a non-membrane option is the one to go for and for that reason you’ll find them in our collection as well.

Many hiking boots come with a stiffness rating. This tells you how supportive and rigid the boots are. A and A/B class boots are suitable for day trips and light backpacking, B, B/C and C class boots are at their home in more demanding conditions, especially with a heavy backpack. Some manufacturers have their own stiffness ratings, but we always strive to tell the best uses of each boot model. The stiffness of a boot not only refers to how much ankle support they give but also to the stiffness of their mid sole in terms of torsional and fore-aft-rigidity. Even the stiffest shoes can be adjusted to more moderate conditions thanks to their advanced lacing systems, allowing for independet adjustment of the fore foot and the ankle.

By taking care of your boots you’ll keep them going on for ages. Especially if the boots are subject to swamp or marshland conditions or sea waters, it’s best to rinse them with fresh water after you come back home. It’s also a good idea to swipe or brush off any dirt or muck off them when you finish your hike. All the leather and textile surfaces of our hiking boots are factory impregnated to be water repellent. This not only protects you from water but also helps keep the material breathable: if the surface gets soaked through, there’s no chance for the underlying layers to get rid of the moisture from your feet. This impregnation has a lifecycle of its own, and as it wears off you should treat your boots with a refreshing dose of care products. With a brand new boot you’ll see that any water will run off the surface while an older boot might show signs of immediately taking in the moisture. When you see your boots sucking in all available moisture, it’s time to go for some care products. With leather materials waxing the leather is also a great idea, as it refreshes the leather and prevents it from drying. Meindl, Nikwax and Lowa make excellent shoe care products for this use and they enable you to keep your prescious boots in tick. Pay attention to whether a product is suitable for Gore-Tex or other membranes: we always mention this in the description of care products. Take care of your boots - your feet will thank you!

If you intend to store your hiking boots for a while, it may happen that the soles develop a hardened surface. In this case you shouldn’t hesitate using a wire brush. Just brush the sole to break the surface a bit. This brings back the original grip without damaging the shoe. Remember, they were originally made to support your entire weight on rocky terrain. Hiking boots also like to be used: regular use keeps the mid sole materials “alive”, keeping them from crumbling. Remember to store your hiking boots in a dark, cool place and never keep them on top of floor heating.

A solid companion to hiking boots is a pair of hiking socks. We recommend you use one pair of thin liners and a pair of regular thickness socks on top. This allows the socks to move in relation to another, saving your skin from a lot of trouble. On long excursions changing the liner sock will get you a long way while the thicker hiking sock can take several days of use. By choosing a weather compatible material to the socks you wear you can make a big difference in your comfort. In cold conditions wool is the master of the universe while in hot conditions synthetic fabrics will be able to get rid of the most moisture.

Although most of our hiking boots will feel great out of the box, we seriously recommend you wear them on extended walks before going for your holiday trip. This allows the boots to acquire the shape of your feet, and also spot any trouble areas that may benefit from protective tape or salve.

Lundhags Bjerg Mid
$149.76
Lundhags Bjerg Mid
Mid height hiking shoes, without a membrane. Sizes for men and women.
Merrell Women's Rogue Hiker Mid GTX
$166.49
Merrell Women's Rogue Hiker Mid GTX
ISPO success! Moderate support and low weight - waterproof hiking boots for women.
Merrell Men's Rogue Hiker Mid GTX
$166.49
Merrell Men's Rogue Hiker Mid GTX
ISPO success! Moderate support and low weight - waterproof hiking boots for men.
Meindl Guffert GTX
$266.89
Meindl Guffert GTX
Men's <b>wide last</b> hiking boots.
Lowa Mauria Evo GTX Ws Wide
$208.33
Lowa Mauria Evo GTX Ws Wide
Women's heavy duty hiking boots with Gore-Tex membrane. Wider last.
Lowa Mauria Evo GTX Ws
$208.33
Lowa Mauria Evo GTX Ws
Women's heavy duty hiking boots with Gore-Tex membrane.
Meindl Bergell MFS W GTX
Christmas Selection
$216.69
Meindl Bergell MFS W GTX
Women's waterproof hiking boots.
Meindl Bergell MFS GTX
Christmas Selection
$216.69
Meindl Bergell MFS GTX
Men's waterproof hiking boots.
Lundhags Jaure II MS LT High
$300.36
Lundhags Jaure II MS LT High
Top of the line hiking boots with a tighter shaft fit. Opti S last for less volume around the ankle.
Lowa Camino Evo GTX
$225.06
Lowa Camino Evo GTX
Stable hiking boots by a quality manufacturer. Men's sizes.
Meindl Chiasso W Identity GTX
$233.43
Meindl Chiasso W Identity GTX
Supple hiking shoes. Women's sizes.
Lowa Camino Evo GTX Wide
$225.06
Lowa Camino Evo GTX Wide
Rugged Gore-Tex hiking boots for men. Wide last.
Meindl Chiasso Identity GTX
$233.43
Meindl Chiasso Identity GTX
Supple hiking boots for men, with a wide last.
Lundhags Professional II High Opti
$250.16
Lundhags Professional II High Opti
Top-quality Lundhags boot without a waterproof membrane. Wide last.
Lundhags Vandra II Mid
$208.33
Lundhags Vandra II Mid
Sturdy and supportive, non-membrane hiking boots.
Hanwag Tatra II Wide Lady GTX
$291.99
Hanwag Tatra II Wide Lady GTX
Women's top quality trek boot with wide last.
Hanwag Tatra II Wide GTX
$291.99
Hanwag Tatra II Wide GTX
Men's top quality trek boot with wide last. Supportive model.
Hanwag Alta Bunion II Lady GTX
$241.79
Hanwag Alta Bunion II Lady GTX
Women's waterproof hiking boots with a bunion last.
Lundhags Mira II WS LT High
$208.33
Lundhags Mira II WS LT High
Women's super sturdy hiking boots with a higher shaft.
Meindl Vakuum GTX
$250.16
Meindl Vakuum GTX
Supportive, comfortable trekking boots from a bootmaking legend.
Hanwag Banks SF Extra
$233.43
Hanwag Banks SF Extra
Super comfortable hiking shoes for men, with a spacious Straight Fit last.
Meindl Matrei GTX Lady
$199.96
Meindl Matrei GTX Lady
Women's lightweight, waterproof hiking boot with a wide last. A/B stiffness: nice and nimble.
Meindl Matrei GTX
$199.96
Meindl Matrei GTX
Lightweight, waterproof boot with gentle ankle support and a wide last. A/B stiffness: nice and nimble.
Meindl Vakuum GTX Lady
$250.16
Meindl Vakuum GTX Lady
Supportive, comfortable trekking boots for women from a bootmaking legend.
Lowa Renegade Mid GTX
$158.13
Lowa Renegade Mid GTX
Extremely flexible, multipurpose hiking boot
Meindl Kansas GTX
$183.23
Meindl Kansas GTX
High quality waterproof hiking boots for many kinds of terrain. Men's sizes.
Meindl Kansas GTX Lady
$183.23
Meindl Kansas GTX Lady
High quality waterproof hiking boots for many kinds of terrain. Women's sizes.
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Lady
$158.13
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Lady
Extremely flexible, multipurpose hiking boot for women
Hanwag Bangri Lady
$183.23
Hanwag Bangri Lady
Supple hiking shoes without a membrane. Women's sizes.
Lowa Mauria Evo LL Ws
$208.33
Lowa Mauria Evo LL Ws
Women's heavy duty hiking boots. Membrane-free, with leather liner.
Lowa Men's Camino Evo GTX Wide
$266.89
Lowa Men's Camino Evo GTX Wide
Rugged Gore-Tex hiking boots for men. Wide last.
Lowa Men's Ticam Evo GTX
$275.26
Lowa Men's Ticam Evo GTX
Stiffer trekking boots for more demanding terrain.
Lowa Women's Renegade Evo Mid GTX
$208.33
Lowa Women's Renegade Evo Mid GTX
A highly versatile and comfortable, waterproof hiking shoe. Women's model, normal width.
Hanwag Women's Nazcat II GTX
$216.69
Hanwag Women's Nazcat II GTX
Rugged and stable trekking shoes for women.
Lowa Baldo GTX
$149.76
Lowa Baldo GTX
Mid high hiking boots for demanding use. Waterproof. Men's sizes.
Lowa Camino Evo LL
$208.33
Lowa Camino Evo LL
Leather lined, membrane-free hiking boots for men.
Lowa Men's Renegade Evo Mid GTX
$208.33
Lowa Men's Renegade Evo Mid GTX
A highly versatile and comfortable, waterproof hiking shoe. Men's model, normal width.
Lowa Women's Lavena Evo GTX
$225.06
Lowa Women's Lavena Evo GTX
Women's backpacking boots for active use in rough terrain.
Lowa Women's Badia GTX
$149.76
Lowa Women's Badia GTX
Mid high hiking boots for demanding use. Waterproof. Women's sizes.
Meindl Schlern MFS
$225.06
Meindl Schlern MFS
Supportive hiking boots for men. Non-membrane model.
Lowa Z-11S GTX C
$225.06
Lowa Z-11S GTX C
Hunting and backpacking boots for men.
Hanwag Bangri
$183.23
Hanwag Bangri
Supple hiking shoes without a membrane. Men's sizes.
Meindl Women's Air Revolution 1.5
$233.43
Meindl Women's Air Revolution 1.5
Supple, super comfortable, airy yet waterproof. Women's sizing.
Lowa Renegade Mid W GTX Wide
$208.33
Lowa Renegade Mid W GTX Wide
Extremely flexible, multipurpose hiking boot for women. Wide last.
Hanwag Makra Light GTX Lady
Christmas Selection
$141.39
Hanwag Makra Light GTX Lady
Light, waterproof hiking boots for women.
Meindl Men's Air Revolution 1.5
$233.43
Meindl Men's Air Revolution 1.5
Supple, super comfortable, airy yet waterproof. Men's sizing.
Hanwag Makra Light GTX Men
Christmas Selection
$141.39
Hanwag Makra Light GTX Men
Light, waterproof hiking boots for men.
Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid TF
$158.13
Lowa Zephyr GTX Mid TF
Waterproof ankle-height shoes for service use, hiking and light trekking.
Meindl Schlern W MFS
$225.06
Meindl Schlern W MFS
Supportive hiking boots for women. Non-membrane model.
Lundhags Pro II High Wide
$283.63
Lundhags Pro II High Wide
Supportive, high hiking boots without membrane.
Hanwag Men's Nazcat II GTX
$216.69
Hanwag Men's Nazcat II GTX
Rugged and stable trekking shoes for men.
Lowa Women's Innovo Mid GTX
$166.49
Lowa Women's Innovo Mid GTX
Modern, sporty, comfortable hiking boots for women, with moderate support. Waterproof.
Lowa Men's Innovo Mid GTX
$166.49
Lowa Men's Innovo Mid GTX
Modern, sporty, comfortable hiking boots for men, with moderate support. Waterproof.
Hanwag Kalixfors SF Extra GTX
$333.82
Hanwag Kalixfors SF Extra GTX
Gore-Tex boots for hunters, nature observers and why not hikers as well. Straight Fit Extra last.
Lowa Mauria LL Ws
$216.69
Lowa Mauria LL Ws
Women's hiking shoes without waterproof membrane.
Lundhags Vandra II Mid Wide
$191.59
Lundhags Vandra II Mid Wide
Wide last hiking boots. Membrane-free "shell boot".
Viking Villrein Pro High GTX Boa
$418.33
Viking Villrein Pro High GTX Boa
Waterpoof, surprisingly light high shaft hiking boots with the super practical Boa lace system.
Lundhags Vandra II High
$225.06
Lundhags Vandra II High
Sturdy and supportive, non-membrane hiking boots.
Lundhags Jaure II Ms High Wide
$367.29
Lundhags Jaure II Ms High Wide
Top of the line hiking boots with a tighter shaft fit. Wide last model.