The Danner Mountain 600 is a sturdy waterproof hiking boot that will protect your toes, and ankles, and fit so comfortably that I didn’t need to break it in.
For faster hikers, an ultralight option is the Adidas Terrex Fast Surround. The Continental Rubber soles provide great grip for lightweight hiking shoes. This has been discontinued so it’s harder to find online but if you can find it, it’s worth it!
Adidas Terrex collaborated with Parley for the Oceans to create the Terrex Voyager, a versatile, lightweight hiking shoe with a built-in water drainage system that allows your shoe and feet to dry quickly
I have three go-to pair of shoes for the trails: Adidas Terrex Fast Surround hiking boots for lightweight hiking and backpacking, Adidas Terrex Parley hiking shoes for water trails, and Lowa Renegades for a heftier hiking boot option.
Read on for my review of each shoe to find which one best suits your needs and let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about the product’s performance!
Best Hiking Shoes for Beginners: Altra Trail Running Shoes
If you’re new to hiking, these trail shoes will be a good transition as you get into hiking. They provide a lot of flex and are very comfortable and lightweight so they will resemble the feel of your daily gym shoes except these are built for dirt trails.
These are also the best hiking shoes for wide feet!
A lot of thru-hikers like this shoe because of how ultralight and cushy it is which is the precise reason I bought it too. I’ve been wearing these since 2018 and haven’t lost any toenails from them like I often do with other shoes. It’s definitely the most comfortable trail shoe I have, maybe because it’s more of a running shoe and not like regular trail shoes, yet it’s durable for dirt hiking trails. I love the wide toes and the ultra-soft cushion soles. I have the non-waterproof versions of the Lone Peak 4.5 & Lone Peak 5 and I honestly don’t notice the difference. Altra updates these every year and the older models get discontinued and harder to find. My only issue with this shoe is the grip – I’m used to Adidas which has an extremely solid rubber grip on the soles and I find myself slipping a bit more in these Altras on granite. They also wear out a lot faster.
Price: $129.95
Weight: 9.2 oz
Waterproof: no
Recommended: Yes, for a fast, light, comfortable shoe if you’re willing to replace them every couple of seasons depending on how often you wear them.
Best Hiking Boots for Beginners:
Danner Boots Mountain 600
When I first tried these on the Danner Mountain 600, they felt a bit stiff. Unlike many hiking shoes I like, I felt these needed to be broken in a little. But after wearing them twice, I fell in love with them. These are a great pair of waterproof hiking boots for anyone looking to spend more time on the trails, whether it’s crossing through streams or hiking a peak.
The front of the soles roll with your walk which makes each stride feel more fluid and the soles are thick which at first did make me feel like I was on a platform, but you get used to that.
Minor details but I actually really love the shoe laces on these. You can always swap out laces on shoes, but the flat ones they come with stay tighter on me than most rounded shoelaces. After years of hiking, I’ve come to notice the rounded shoelaces come undone for me often when I don’t double-knot so I do appreciate the little details here.
There are a lot of mixed reviews about sizing. I typically wear a 7.5/ 8 and ended up liking the 7.5. I did try the 7 first because I was recommended to size which I thought was weird, but I’d recommend staying true to size or going up half a size.
Price: $210
Weight: 2 lb (or 32 oz) per pair
Waterproof: Yes
Recommended: Definitely! Great option for beginners looking for a waterproof boot
Buy the Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots here.
Best Hiking Boots for Beginners:
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid-Hiking Boots
These are the original hiking boots that I wore everywhere when I first started my hiking journey. They went with me on my first two ascents up Mount Whitney, Yosemite’s Half Dome, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, all SoCal six-pack of peaks, Angel’s Landing in Zion, Grand Canyon, Big Pine Lakes, and more… they carry a lot of sentimental value for me.
What I love about these boots – first off, I think they look good for hiking boots which I know many girls will appreciate – I’d definitely recommend sticking with a neutral dirt color though. They’re very hefty but that’s what makes them sturdy. I could accidentally kick rocks and keep on trekking along without feeling a stub in my toes.
Lowa has a one-year warranty but even after I passed that period, they still replaced my boots completely free of charge after I ruined mine (I probably overused it in such a short period of time) which makes them an awesome company in my books – it’s always nice when a company shows they actually care right?
Price: $240
Weight: 2 lb 2 oz (or 34 oz)
Waterproof: Yes
Recommended: Definitely! Great option if you’re looking for a pair of burlier hiking boots
Best Lightweight Hiking Boots:
Adidas Terrex Fast Surround GTX Mid-Boots
In the last four years, these Adidas Terrex hiking boots have been my grab-and-go pair, unfortunately, Adidas discontinued this shoe (men’s version can still be found on Amazon). My favorite thing about them is they’re super lightweight for hiking boots which is perfect for moving faster on the trails, quick overnight trips with my ultralight backpack, and still have ankle support. They’re waterproof which is a must for me, flexible yet durable, and have an amazing grip with Adidas Terrex’s Continental Rubber soles! I can walk on slick granite or sandstone and not be afraid to slip which boosts my confidence on certain trails.
The only downside to this is the lace bungee. I prefer shoelaces so I can tighten my shoe extra tight and these bungees come a little looser after time so loose little rocks can fall in, but it’s not bad enough to stop me from wearing these all the time.
Price: $200
Weight: 11.6 oz
Waterproof: Yes
Recommended: 100% yes! Best for lightweight hiking or when you need a good grip on the bottom of your soles
Best Water Hiking Shoes:
Adidas Terrex CC Voyager Parley Shoes
These have become my go-to water shoes. I prefer closed-toe water shoes over sandals for walking in the water because I get very irritated and uncomfortable when little rocks slide under my feet in sandals while hiking in streams. I’ve tried Chacos and Keen sandals and although they’re comfortable and good options for lighter trails/ playing in the water, I prefer water shoes/ sneakers for trails that require more of a hike (ex: Subway, Zion, Havasupai, Escalante River, Canyons)
These versatile hiking shoes are made in collaboration with Parley for the Ocean: the yarn used is made from recycled plastic intercepted before it reaches the ocean! The Climacool fabric technology makes the shoe very breathable and lightweight all-around, the EVA midsole provides excellent grip for both dry and wet trails, and the drainage system on the side of the shoes makes it a great option for water shoes that dry quickly! I wear these both as water and non-water trail shoes!
If you don’t know already, I’m a huge fan of Adidas Terrex hiking shoes so I’m super excited that Adidas is creating products to minimize environmental impact!
Price: $100 (cheaper on Amazon)
Weight: 7.9 oz
Waterproof: no – good drainage, breathable and quick-drying
Recommended: Absolutely! Best for water trails or short hikes requiring minimal support but good grip
Best Shoes for Scrambling/ Best Approach Shoes:
La Sportiva TX2
If you haven’t noticed by now, I have a strong preference for lightweight gear, and the La Sportiva TX2 approach shoes are the lightest and most comfortable approach shoes. The grip on these are amazing and I can scramble and climb routes up to 5.6 comfortably in them! Unfortunately, the original TX2 has been discontinued and now replaces with TX2 Evo, but I personally don’t like the sock-like feature on hiking shoes.
I recently bought the TX Guide approach shoes which also have amazing grip on them, but they are certainly a bit heavier and more notably stiffer.
What are approach shoes?
Approach shoes are designed to be a hybrid between hiking shoes and rock climbing shoes, with features that make them suitable for both activities. Approach shoes typically have a sticky rubber sole, low profile, and reinforced toe box, which provides the wearer with excellent grip, sensitivity, and protection on rocky terrain. With their versatile design, approach shoes are becoming increasingly popular among outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy technical approaches to climbing routes and can even climb alpine routes maybe up to 5.7 in them, depending on your skill level and comfort.
Price: $130, the discontinued sale price is $78!
Weight: 7.2 oz
Waterproof: no
Recommended: Definitely! These are my favorite approach shoes and I love them more than TX Guides
Just bought Adidas Terrex Free hikers. These are the first Terrex shoes I’ve tried. Prior to this, my favorites have been the Salomon gtx mids. In a few days I’ll be taking the Terrex on 60+ miles of planned hiking in NH and Maine so I’m anxious to see how they do. I’d never considered Adidas as a hiking shoe until I saw a previous post of yours. Fingers crossed.
Hi Bil!
I have a pair of freehikers too and you’re going to love the boost soles on them! My absolute favorite thing about all Adidas Terrex shoe I have is the grip – I feel very secure in not slipping even though my clumsiness still gets the better of me at times. The only big recommendation I have for the Freehikers is size down! I’m usually a 7.5/8 and I think I actually got a size 6.5! The definitely run a bit large.
Happy trails!🤗
Yes…I did size down a half size and they feel more secure and less sloppy/loose on my feet. If the weather works out, I’ll be taking them up Mount Washington next week on their first long hike so we’ll see how they do. My only real concerns are how bad they’ll be in heavy rain and how easily the material may tear on sharp rocks. The cushioning feels great and their light weight is amazing.
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