Best hiking boots for travel | top picks for men and women

One of the essential items you need for long-term travel is a solid pair of shoes. Hiking boots are a great option for backpacking, as they keep your feet well protected and can stand up to all sorts of weather conditions in a way that sneakers just can’t. If you’re the kind of traveller who likes to get outdoors and see the natural wonders of this world, they’re an absolute must! In this guide we give some practical tips on how to find your perfect pair, and pick out the best hiking boots for travel currently available.

This is not a sponsored post: we have not been paid by any of the brands featured in this article. The hiking boots we recommend are based on our own research and testing. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Do you need hiking boots for travel?

Like any piece of travel equipment, this really depends on your travel style, how long you’ll be on the road and what you plan to do on your trip.

If you’re heading to a hot region like Southeast Asia and intend to spend most of your time island-hopping, relaxing and exploring cities leisurely, then hiking boots might be overkill. A pair of sneakers or even some good flip flops will probably do the trick.

But if you plan to spend a lot of time exploring outdoors, and you will be travelling in places where you’re likely to encounter a range of terrains and weather conditions, then hiking boots should be high on your ‘things to buy’ list.

We spent a year travelling on a career break across South America, Oceania and Southeast Asia. We trekked in a diversity of environments, from the Andean mountains of Peru to the glacial landscapes of Patagonia, and from the jungles of Northern Thailand to the fjords of New Zealand.

One of the best decisions we made was to invest in good hiking boots for the trip; we couldn’t have got through it all without them.

Check out our recommendations on the best travel backpacks

How to find the best travel boots for you

There are a surprising amount of factors you need to consider when choosing a pair of hiking boots for travel, whether you are heading on a journey yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift for hikers. To help you cut through the noise, here’s our lowdown on what you need to look out for…

1.  Cut: high, mid or low?

One of the most important characteristics of a hiking boot is its cut. Your choice of cut should depend on the travel activities you’re planning to do.

• High cut boots rise up above your ankles, and offer the highest levels of ankle support. These are ideal if you are a serious hiker, like to get off the beaten path and you enjoy more technical activities like mountaineering or rock-scrambling. They provide the best protection for difficult terrains, and excellent support if you’re carrying a heavy load.
• Low cut boots are cut beneath the ankle and are similar in appearance to regular sneakers, but are generally more resilient and durable. They are typically the lightest boots and provide maximum flexibility. These are a good option if you are planning more casual and lighter travel, such as city sightseeing and day hikes on well-trodden paths.
• Mid cut are like a halfway house between high and low cuts. They provide decent ankle support while retaining an element of flexibility that high cut boots lack. These are the perfect option for travel if you are planning a good mixture of trekking and general backpacking.

2.  Waterproofing and breathability

The last thing you want when you’re on a multi-day trek into the wilderness is for your footwear to be invaded by water. Getting your feet wet is not only uncomfortable, but it will also make you more susceptible to blisters, and cause your boots to smell bad.

Keeping water out of your boots is only half the equation, too. It’s also important for vapour to be able to escape, so you don’t get a build-up of sweat when walking in heat.

We highly recommend hiking boots built with Gore-Tex waterproofing. This is a membrane that keeps water out, and is also great for allowing your feet to breath at the same time. Keep a lookout for those three magic letters GTX when shopping.

3.  Comfort

Nothing is more important than how your feet will feel in a pair of hiking boots. At the end of the day, the comfort level of your boots will have the biggest impact on your overall experience.

If you can, try a few boots on before you commit to a buying decision. Have a good walk around and get a feel for them. If you wear additional insoles, bring them along with you for the fit.

One thing to note is that brands tend to use similar foot moulds across all of their products. If possible, it’s a good idea to go with a brand you’ve used before and trust.

When you’ve bought a new pair of boots, you will need to take time to ‘break them in’ before you do any extended walking in them. Some boots require a longer break-in period than others, in particular high-cut boots.

At the very least, wear your new boots on a few short and easy walks and build it up. If you jump straight into a strenuous hike there’s a strong chance you’ll come out with chafing and blisters.

4.  Size

Getting the right size hiking boots can be quite a tricky business. It won’t always be the case that your regular shoe size will translate to being your optimal hiking boot size. There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to finding the right size boot:

• Hiking socks are thicker than regular socks, and thus make your feet bigger inside your boot.
• Your feet swell after walking. The best time to try hiking boots on for size is after you’ve had a good long walk.
• The two factors above often mean that it’s best to buy hiking boots approximately half a size higher than your regular shoe size.
• Read online product reviews of any potential new boots, and keep an eye out for comments about size. Some brands have smaller fits than others.

5.  Weight

The weight of your hiking boots will also have an effect on your overall experience. This is particularly true for backpackers and long-term travellers, as you won’t wear your boots all the time – and when you don’t, you will be lugging them around in your backpack.

What’s more, it’s harder to carry weight on your feet than anywhere else on your body. As a general rule, the lighter your boots, the better.

6.  Versatility

Space is an invaluable commodity for backpackers, and footwear takes up a lot of it. You can’t carry many pairs of shoes with you on a long-term trip. This means it’s a big bonus if your hiking boots can be used for multiple purposes.

A downside to heavy-duty, high-cut boots is that they don’t transition so well to general backpacking and walking around cities. If you find a pair that are suitable for a wide range of your activities, you’ve hit the sweet spot.

7.  Get some good socks too

If you intend to spend a lot of time hiking and camping on your travels, in particular in colder climates, then you will need some good hiking socks to keep your feet snug and warm.

Merino wool socks are an excellent choice for long treks like Peru’s Inca Trail. Our go-to brand is Bridgedale, which always provides high quality and durability.

8.  Looking after your travel hiking boots

A solid pair of hiking boots should last you a long time. To get the most out of them and to maximise their durability, you need to take care of them.

Hiking boot cleaner doesn’t take up a lot of space in your backpack and will help to keep your boots in good condition. Pack some in your backpack and give your boots a regular clean after use.

More reading on travel gear

Are you heading to South America on your travels? Check out our Inca Trail packing list and Patagonia packing list to make sure you arrive prepared. Love it? Pin it!