Over the past 12 months, your faithful footwear fetishist has tested more than 50 pairs of outdoor shoes - from traditional leather hiking boots to ultralight trail runners and everything in between. That's dog walks in the local park, rugged coastal path epics, thru-hikes with a pack that could double as a small car, and even the occasional glacier stroll (because why not?).

Hikers now face a bewildering menu of options: old-school leather clodhoppers, ultralight trail-running sneakers, stiff approach shoes, and pillowy long-distance hikers built for big-mile days. The right choice depends on where you walk, how fast you move, how much you carry, and how much foot punishment you consider a character-building experience. Below, we've assembled top picks for every type of hiker, plus a separate guide on whether you should hike in boots or trail runners, and another on the best lightweight hiking boots and shoes. Don't forget to check out our other outdoor guides - best hiking daypacks, best puffer jackets, and best backpacking stoves.

Updated July 2026: New additions include the HOKA Kaha 3 GTX, Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GORE-TEX, Keen Targhee Apex Hiking Shoe, Mammut Duncan III Low GTX, Altra Lone Peak 9+, and Danner Mountain 600. Prices and links have been refreshed, because inflation waits for no hiker.