Best men’s walking boots and shoes 2024, tried and tested on winter hikes

A really well-designed, mid boot at a great price, this proved to be a real standout during testing, performing brilliantly in all kinds of conditions.

The first thing we noticed was how lightweight these boots were, which was great when the miles started to take their toll. The springy midsole provided plenty of cushioning and we got plenty of energy return as we moved.

A nice padded collar added to the overall comfort of the shoe, while the nylon upper material was breathable (and sustainable, as it’s made from reused plastic bottles).

The waterproof membrane wasn’t quite as effective as we would have liked but, as long as you avoid totally submerging your feet in streams and puddles, it will provide a good barrier against wet ground.

There’s a beefy heel rand and toe bumper that offered plenty of protection when we were traversing the rougher stuff, and the boot held the heel down well, especially when we were flexing the foot on a climb.

Finally, we really liked the tread pattern on the boot, which dug down into a range of ground conditions.

While other boots in this line-up scored higher in terms of technical ability, the North Ridge Harlow offers great value for money, ultimately securing it our top spot.

If you’re not looking to challenge yourself with technical trails and razor-sharp ridgelines, these low-cut shoes will be the perfect walking buddies, whether you’re out with the dogs or rambling with friends before Sunday lunch.

Lightweight, they won’t drag you down, while the upper and midsole are comfortable, with plenty of protection at the heel and toe if you decide to get a bit more adventurous. We also liked the traction we got from the outsole on a variety of terrains.

This mid-shoe offers a relaxed fit and could be well suited for walkers with wider feet. It has a sizeable footbed and plenty of room at the toe box, while the lacing system still allows for a nice tight fit, so your feet aren’t moving around in the shoe while you walk.

But comfort isn’t all the shoe has to offer – there’s enough traction in the outsole to ensure you won’t lose your footing, while robust protection front and back will save you from any painful encounters with rocks and boulders. A hard-wearing synthetic and mesh upper adds to the appeal.

The original vectiv exploris took the top spot in our previous review of men’s walking boots, so we were keen to get our feet into the latest incarnation. These boots didn’t disappoint during testing, either. These have a broader platform than the originals, which offered up plenty of stability on Snowdonia’s slate trails, with the effective 4mm lugs digging into the loose ground beneath us.

The brand’s futurelight membrane upper was both breathable and waterproof, and there was plenty of comfort for all-day hiking. For a mid-rise boot, there was lots of energy return, which was very welcome towards the end of the day when the pub in the distance didn’t seem to be getting any closer.

While this boot scored similarly to the North Ridge Harlow, the latter is half the price, leading it to take our top spot this year.

These Croatian-made mid boots offered lots of protection and support from the leather upper, which was also very breathable when our feet were working hard during testing.

Here, premium materials combine to deliver an incredibly rugged boot that will be able to survive and thrive in the harshest of hiking conditions.

There’s good cushioning in the midsole, while the Vibram outsole has a very gnarly tread pattern that, during testing, gave us mountain goat levels of sure-footedness.

The Gore-Tex membrane has been combined with a nice high tongue, to keep the water on the outside, and there’s plenty of comfort from toe bumper to ankle cuff.

We also really liked the fact the boots feature a mechanical lace lock, which totally secures the lower half of the lacing and can be adjusted with one hand, making on-the-go adjustments really easy.

Danner has always produced boots that look really good without compromising performance on the trail, and it has really excelled with this design. Its supremely comfortable full-grain leather upper looks great right out of the box, and even better the more broken in the boots become.

The Gore-Tex waterproof barrier is still supremely effective at keeping out water while remaining breathable and keeping feet cool.

There’s a Vibram SPE midsole, which added to the overall wearability of the leaf and gave good bounce while walking, while the outsole delivered traction and even better grip over wet rocky ground.

What we loved about these boots was how the upper, midsole and outsole deliver responsiveness while walking, and really allow you to feel the trail and get some feedback, while providing a very effective barrier against harsh ground underfoot.

We tested this footwear on a day of almost continual rain and we ended it with totally dry feet, which was very impressive. The lacing system gives the upper a very customised and comfortable feel, and we felt well protected from toe to heel.

The midsole did a great job of absorbing the bumps that came with the more unforgiving sections of the hike. As for the Duratread outsole, it gave us plenty of confidence, especially when going downhill, and we never felt like our feet were about to slip or slide.

Although this shoe didn’t grab our heel as much as we would have liked, its broad platform will be a good fit for walkers with wider feet. There’s a good mix of materials in the upper, to allow feet to breathe, while also enabling plenty of waterproofing against long wet grass or unforeseen puddles, thanks to the brand’s Dri-Tec membrane.

The shoes felt nice and light on our feet, so they won’t drain you of energy, and the traction proved to be effective over a range of terrains. 

If you know you’re going to be walking in a dry environment and don’t need to worry about waterproofing, these canvas-upper mid boots will keep your feet cool, while offering plenty of protection against anything you might come up against – including insects. The boots have an anti-insect treatment in the upper itself, so you won’t have to worry about any bugs dining out on your feet while you walk.

The rubber outsole actually does a very good job of providing some cushioning but is particularly effective at providing stability on loose ground, with the front bumper guarding against stubbed toes.

This is a well-constructed, lightweight mid-boot with a leather upper that wasn’t as stiff as many of the other leather boots we tested. It will still need a few miles to run it in and make it supremely supple but, having said that, we had no issues with hot spots, even after wearing the boots straight out of the box.

The midsole was spongy enough to keep us from feeling every rock and ridge underfoot, without dampening the energy return and momentum we got from the shoe. A well-designed rubber outsole was particularly suited to wet conditions, as the lug pattern allowed water to escape easily and not interfere with traction.

From the moment we took them out of the box, we really liked the look and styling of these mid boots. As we laced them up, we were impressed with how incredibly comfortable they felt. They have an almost customised feel, and they moulded to our foot, leaving no room for rubbing, yet still enabling us to move our toes to create a good balance.

The foam compound used in the midsole worked to create a natural roll, which helped when our legs were getting tired. The outsole, meanwhile, was excellent at keeping us grounded and absorbing the blows from tougher terrain and rock. Plus, the Gore-Tex lining did its job brilliantly in wetter sections, but we also weren’t left with two steaming feet when the sun finally decided to make an appearance.

We immediately liked the space these boots afforded our feet, and we could instantly tell they were going to make for very good walking companions. Once on, we were pleased to find the boots didn’t pinch our toes, instead allowing them to create a nice firm base to walk on.

On the outside, the sole had plenty of confidence-inspiring grip over all kinds of terrain. It flexed well over hard rock, while the lug pattern dug into muddy trails, but didn’t get clogged or bogged down, so there’s security with every step. The spongy midsole felt like it was really helping maintain momentum, too, especially when we started to get heavy legs.

This was also helped by the weight of the shoe, which Inov-8 has managed to keep to a mere 345g, which is very impressive for a boot lined with Gore-Tex. The high ankle offered good support while remaining supple, and the laces adjusted easily and never came undone. When the sun did make an appearance, all the other materials that make up these boots meant we weren’t left with overheating feet, either.

The 410g cloudridge shoe is lightweight enough to make for effortless walking with excellent ankle support and a Missiongrip outsole that allowed us to traverse slippery terrain at speed. It also offered a good mixture of protection, as well as flexibility, moving with the feet and curving around rough ground to further cushion the blow of tough terrain.

Our feet felt nicely cradled as soon as we put the boots on, and we were ready to walk after locking in the most comfortable fit with the speed lacing system used by the brand. Where these shoes really stand out, though, is in their ability to almost bounce you along a trail, which seems to be down to the spacious tread pattern on the outsole that allows for greater flexibility as you hit each stride, so the shoe creates its own energy.

The lack of waterproofing makes this an excellent spring/summer shoe, especially with the 3D mesh lining and tongue that add to its overall breathability.

This shoe is lightweight enough (345g) that it won’t weigh you down on a day hike but, thanks to the combination of materials used in the midsole, they really connect you to the terrain. This makes it much easier to find the right foot placements and stay on your feet when things get a little tricky.

A Gore-Tex membrane keeps the water out without turning the inside of the boot into a horribly humid sweatbox, and the Vibram Megagrip outsole was incredibly grippy on lots of different surfaces, especially wet rock.

The robust toecap adds another level of confidence, as you can eat up the miles quickly without worrying about any hard knocks that might be waiting for your feet around the corner.

The flexibility of these mid shoes offers a real connection to the path you’re treading – in particular, harder, rockier, routes. The nice, wide fit that Vivo is known for works well in a walking boot like this, giving the foot plenty of room to stabilise itself every time you plant it down on the ground.

The mix of a knitted wool collar and leather upper looks great and also feels very natural from the first wear, with no breaking in required. It also means the ankle can move more naturally as you walk, while still feeling supported.

The outsole is strategically raised over the upper, in a wave pattern, to offer increased protection from shale and loose rock trails. Underneath, it offers plenty of grip, and we found it was particularly sticky over rock, while the well-thought-out lug pattern also worked well on looser trails and over grass. Bungee-style walking laces add to the overall wearability, too.

These mid-height boots have more of a trail running shoe feel when you first put them on, as they’re lightweight, with a lace closure that makes the boot hug both foot and ankle.

The midsole complemented a natural walking stride from toe to heel, and we really felt the effects after just a few hours, with lots of comfort and no aches and pains. A Continental rubber outsole provides impressive grip without adding to the weight of the shoe and also offered good protection on harder trails.

The hybrid looks of this shoe mean it’s well positioned to take on a range of terrains, in both warm and wet conditions. It feels very lightweight and cradles the heel and ankle well, while opening out at the forefoot to promote natural stability and confidence.

It’s lined with Gore-Tex, so you don’t have to call time on your adventure when the weather turns, but its suede and textile upper means it keeps feet cooler during spring and summer hikes, too. There’s a smooth underfoot feel with a nicely cushioned midsole, which means the shoe works with you on every foot strike. There’s also an intelligently lugged outsole that will give even the clumsiest climber bags of confidence over rock and looser surfaces. Plus, the fact these are so lightweight means they will really take the resistance out of a long day’s walking.