Best Hiking Boot Brands
If you love to spend time in the outdoors doing anything from hiking to fishing, hunting, and climbing, you’re going to need some hiking boots. Hiking boots are one of the most important things you can own as they can make a trip into nature and comfortable and enjoyable one, or one filled with blisters and a lot of foot pain.
When it comes to picking a great pair of hiking boots that will support your feet and ensure you’re comfortable on the trail, it’s wise to choose them from some of the best hiking boot brands out there. This will ensure a level of quality for long-lasting durability and you’ll end up with hiking boots that make the journey easier instead of harder.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Hiking Boot Brands
- Best Allrounder
MerrellJump To Review - Best Of The Best
ZamberlanJump To Review - Best On A Budget
SalomonJump To Review
We have put together a list of some of the best hiking boot brands currently in operation and taken a detailed look at each of them, so you can make sure that your next pair of hiking boots you buy, is made by a brand that has your foot comfort covered.
Top Product Overview
 | Best Allrounder
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 | Best Of The Best
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 | Best On A Budget
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Best Hiking Boot Brands
Merrell
The first of the best hiking boot brands we are going to look at is one I’m sure you have heard of, Merrell.
Merrel started making hiking boots in 1983 and made a name for itself quite quickly, so much so, it was bought and sold as a company twice in 10 years.
Today, Merrell is based in Michigan, USA, and makes some of the best hiking boots in the world.
Every hiking boot they produce is made with undeniable quality and comes with all the features you might need to keep your feet happy and comfortable.
Their range of hiking boots is huge and you can always find one to suit you whether you’re after waterproof hiking boots, some for alpine summits, or lightweight options for brisk day hikes near to home.
Every pair of boots also comes with a 60-day guarantee that Merrell takes seriously, ensuring you’re always happy with your purchase in the end.
Their boots are not on the cheap side but they do last and are worth every penny.
Pros
- Great range of hiking boots for all situations
- Top-quality and long-lasting
- Come with great cushioning and ventilation
- Excellent 60-day guarantee on all boots
- Mission to provide comfort and versatility
Cons
- Quite expensive boots
Product Information
- Founded: 1981
- Headquarters: Michigan, USA
Zamberlan
Perhaps a little less well-known than Merrell, Zamberlan has been making footwear since 1929 and is certainly one of the best hiking boot brands around today.
Based out of Italy with a strong market hold in its home country plus the UK and Japan, Zamberlan is one of the best when it comes to pushing the industry forward.
They were the first to produce a women-specific hiking boot which happened in 1986, they were the first to use rubber soles instead of leather, and they came up with Hydrobloc leather which is both water-resistant and breathable.
If you’re looking for a pair of top-quality hiking booths, Zamberlan is a brand to go for. Every booth goes through rigorous testing and quality control and has to hit immaculate standards to make the cut.
The boots are high-quality, durable, comfortable and they pride themselves on great fit and breathability. The boots are not cheap though, but that’s what you get for quality.
Pros
- Innovative and forward-thinking brand
- Their boots are incredibly durable
- Each boot is rigorously tested
- Their quality control is second to none
- Fit and breathability are their forte
Cons
- The boots are expensive
Product Information
- Founded: 1929
- Headquarters: Italy
Salomon
If sure you have all heard of Salomon and they are one of the best hiking boot brands when it comes to quality vs price.
Now, no hiking boots should be too cheap, as this is often a recipe for discomfort and blisters on the trail, so if you’re looking to save a few bucks but still want to have some great hiking boots, Salomon is a great brand to be loyal too.
Their hiking boot range is pretty huge and you’re almost guaranteed to find a pair that suits your needs, whatever they may be.
Every boot is designed with durability and quality in mind, so much so, that Salomon has enough confidence to offer a 2-year warranty against materials and defects for every pair of hiking boots they make.
Salomon started out in the 1940s but didn’t actually start making hiking boots and shoes until 1992. Nowadays, there isn’t a ‘best hiking boots’ review that doesn’t feature Salomon somewhere and one of their most popular boots is the Quest 4D in case you want to take a look.
Pros
- Awesome range of hiking boots
- All hiking boots are top quality and last
- Hiking boots come with a 2-year warranty
- Great price vs quality compared to others
- Are committed to making sustainable products
Cons
- Still not that cheap
Product Information
- Founded: 1947
- Headquarters: France
La Sportiva
You may or may not have heard of La Sportiva but they are one of the most responsible and best hiking boot brands out there.
Based out of Italy in the foothills of the Dolomites, just like their Italian counterpart Zamberlan, they make some of the best hiking boots around.
Every one of their boots is designed to fit well, give you great support and comfort, and they have a boot for all situations from climbing up Everest to relaxing day hikes.
Their boots are also full of great technology. La Sportiva was the first company to use Gore-Tex in their boots for a breathable and waterproof membrane, and if you’re an outdoor junkie, you’ll know what the Gore-Tex membrane has done for outdoor gear.
As a company, they also take their environmental standards seriously. They are BlueSign approved and they even recycle all their off-cuts for community projects like making a playground floor.
Pros
- Great high-end hiking boots
- Lightweight boots with innovative tech.
- One of the first to use Gore-Tex
- Great for breathability and water-proofing
- Great fit with top quality support and comfort
- Excellent environmental standards
Cons
- $200 or more for a pair of boots
Product Information
- Founded: 1928
- Headquarters: Italy
Lowa
Next up of all the best hiking boot brands is Lowa, a brand of hiking boots I have worn for many years. Lowa makes footwear and has been doing it exclusively since 1923 and, as you’d expect with all almost 100 years of practice, they make some of the best hiking boots around.
Lowa, unlike most companies in the world, has not moved their manufacturing to Asia and has kept it in Europe. This is due to their obsession with quality control which they say makes them number 1 in the hiking boot world.
Every Lowa hiking boot is made from the best materials around and put together to ensure long-lasting durability. You can find a Lowa hiking boot to match any terrain and they are as comfy as can be.
Each one is made with a focus on fit, durability, breathability, and cushioning. So much so, they only use polyurethane mid-soles which are far better than any EVA ones you might find.
If you’re looking for top-quality boots with great comfort that are fit for purpose and last, backing Lowa as your best hiking boot brand is a good idea.
Pros
- Manufacturing is European based only
- Use top quality polyurethane midsoles
- Boots are durable and long-lasting
- Focus on fit, cushioning, and breathability
- Excellent 24-month warranty and a great repair service
Cons
- Quite expensive
Product Information
- Founded: 1923
- Headquarters: Germany
Keen
If you want to back a brand based on its environmental and social responsibility, then the best hiking boot brand for you might just be Keen.
Keen is quite new to the market and was founded in 2003 by a man named, unsurprisingly, Martin Keen and is based out of Portland, Oregon.
The company is on a mission to make the planet better than they found it and they do it in two ways; through a responsible manufacturing process and by offering grants to Non-profits.
If you buy some Keen hiking boots you know that they are PFC free and some part of them might even be recycled. Also, a portion of your money will go to funding projects that make the world a better place.
Oh, and their hiking boots are pretty great too. They are comfy, offer great support, fit well and there is a solid range to choose from.
For the eco-warriors out there (which we all should be), Keen is a hiking boot brand that ticks more boxes than most.
Pros
- Excellent environmental practices
- All products are PFC free
- Some are made from recycled materials
- Great range of hiking boots
- Good quality and long-lasting
Cons
- Not as well-performing boots as others
Product Information
- Founded: 2003
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
Timberland
There is not much of a chance that you have been through life without seeing or hearing about Timberland.
They are one of the best hiking boot brands when it comes to quality vs affordability, and environmental responsibility.
Timberland’s mission is to be a Net Positive brand, meaning they as a company wants to take out more carbon from the planet than they put it.
They are doing this by trying to plant 50 million trees by 2025, which not only cleans the air but provides income to others too.
Their hiking boots are some of the most affordable high-quality boots out there. Each one is made from excellent materials with a great built quality that guarantees hiking boots that last, and they all come with a 1-year warranty too, just to be safe.
They have a large range to suit most hiking terrains, and they are quite stylish as hiking boots go when compared to other brands.
Pros
- Super responsible brand
- Top-quality hiking boots
- Hiking boots that are stylish and fit for purpose
- Projects to protect the outdoors and communities
- Quite affordable for the quality
Cons
- Not as high-performance as others
Product Information
- Founded:1952
- Headquarters: New Hampshire, USA
Columbia
If you are on a tight budget, then one of the best hiking boot brands for you to look closely at is Columbia.
Columbia started out in 1938 making ski apparel gear but quickly moved in all the departments of sportswear, even niches like fly fishing shirts.
They are one of the most popular sportswear companies out there because they have found a great balance of quality and price.
Columbia hiking boots are not the most durable or best performing around but they are comfortable, last quite a while, do well in all terrains, and are 50-75% cheaper than some of the other top brands featured in this article.
They are ideal for people who love to hike but can only go on the trail 10 times a year because they are busy with other things, and don’t need an expensive hiking boot to do it with.
As a company, they are also pretty great at reducing their environmental impact but they are quite as committed as some of the best ones out there like Keen or Timberland.
Pros
- Super affordable hiking boots
- Long-lasting and quality products
- The hiking boots are super comfy
- Pretty good environment responsibility
- Ideal for casual hikers
Cons
- Not for high-performance hikers
Product Information
- Founded: 1938
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
Hi-Tec
Hi-Tec is another one of the best hiking boot brands when it comes to affordability. Their mission is to get people outside with comfortable hiking boots on their feet.
Originally founded in 1974 in the UK, Hi-Tec is now based out of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and continues to produce long-lasting, high-quality footwear at affordable prices.
Their boots are full of technology that ensures they are comfortable, light, breathable, waterproof, and can handle all terrains you might fancy hiking on.
Hi-Tec boots are not the best around but they are solid and ideal for anyone who likes to hike now and then or doesn’t have the time or need to buy more expensive hiking boots.
They have a large range to choose from too, including light or full-on hiking boots.
Pros
- Make great quality hiking boots
- All their hiking boots are affordable
- Excellent range of hiking boots
- All hiking boots are comfy, light, and waterproof
- Full of great technologies
Cons
- Not high-performance hiking boots
Product Information
- Founded: 1974
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
What To Look For In The Best Hiking Boot Brands
What kind of hiker are you?
Before you go out looking for a brand to hang your hat on, you should think about yourself as a hiker, or more simply put, how often do you use your hiking boots? Or, where do you plan on using your hiking boots?
By understanding this, you can then look at brand selection more objectively. If you plan on doing weekend hikes with family over easy terrain and that’s it, then maybe you don’t need to go for the best brand out there and can settle with a good one.
If you hike all the time, or when you do hike, you’re summiting mountains, then you shouldn’t even look at the good brands, and should only focus on the best.
Your hiking shoes are what will help you get to the top of your hike more than anything else, so make sure you pick a brand that is in line with what you’re using them for and where you plan on using them.
Price Vs Quality
When it comes to outdoor gear, price and quality go hand in hand. If you’re in need of a serious pair of hiking boots for some extreme expeditions, then you should be spending around $200 or more on a pair with a brand like La Sportiva or Zamberlan. This will give you some of the best hiking boots on the planet to help you reach your accomplishments or whether it’s summiting Everest or circling Mont Blanc.
For those of us who are less extreme hikers and love a good hike around a national park but aren’t going to the top of the world, it’s best to pick boots that are around the $100 mark from brands like Salomon. This is the ideal balance of price and quality as you still get a great boot with all the technology needed to be light and comfy on all terrains but you get to pay a lot less for it.
When it comes to spending as little as possible but still retaining quality, brands like Columbia fit the bill. You can find a good pair of hiking boots that are comfy for chilled hikes for about $50.
Eco-Minded
If you’re looking for hiking boots then you are probably a lover of the outdoors and might want to pick a brand that does something to protect it.
Almost all the brands mentioned do something to help the environment, whether it’s planting trees or recycling materials, or having a clean PFC manufacturing process.
In this day and age, how you spend your money matters more than ever. It’s very apparent the governments are going to control the manufacturing process to the standard required, so it’s up to us, the consumer, to choose what practices we fund.
By backing a brand with top-draw sustainability and environmental practice, your money is going into helping the world, and it’s also going into changing it, and brands that damage the planet will slowly be put out of business if everyone did the same.
Brands like Keen and Timberland do a lot for the environment, so if you want to back a brand with great consciousness, then choose one of those. Unfortunately, the best products are not always made by the best eco-minded brands, so sometimes you have to make a balance in your head about which way to go.
Our Favorite Hiking Boot Brands
Best Allrounder
The all-around best hiking boot brand is Merrell. They make excellent hiking boots for every situation and each pair is as durable and comfortable as the next. They even come with a 60-day guarantee just in case, but I doubt you’ll have to use it. If you’re looking for one brand to be loyal to, Merrell is a great choice.
Best Of The Best
The best hiking boot brand of them all in Zamberlan in my eyes. Based in Italy, founded by a cobbler in the Dolomites, they make hiking boots that are better than all the rest. They are super comfy, fit amazingly, last 1000’s miles, and their quality control is the best in the business. Their hiking boots are expensive but it’s worth it once you feel them on your feet.
Best On A Budget
The best hiking boot brand if you still want good quality but at a more affordable price is Salomon. Salmon has a huge range of hiking boots to suit most needs and every boot is comfy, fits well, is breathable, and is backed by a 2-year warranty on defects or materials which you probably won’t need since the build quality is so fantastic.
