Three season boots are the walking footwear most of us wear for a large part of the year, so they are worth careful consideration, especially in relation to fit and expected terrain. Get the fit wrong and you’ll feel uncomfortable or insecure and if your footwear is under- or over-specified for the ground you’ll cover, the simple act of walking will not be as straightforward as it should be.
The best pair of walking boots for three season hiking will need to tick a number of boxes and strike certain balances. They’ll need to have a sturdy sole that can cope with rocky terrain, for instance, but there will also need to be a bit of flex to make the wearer comfortable when covering long distances. A sole that can grip reliably to a range of surfaces, from wet rock to muddy slopes, is always going to be desirable too, plus you’ll want to look for padding and cushioning that will keep you comfortable but without causing overheating if you do need to wear the boots in warmer temperatures.
The best walking boots for hiking in cold and wet weather will be backed up with a waterproof membrane and this will often be in the form of Gore-Tex (though there are many other different fabrics are available). This membrane will block out water from puddles and wet vegetation while also allowing moisture vapour generated from your feet (aka sweat) to escape from the inside.
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For hiking in conditions that are very likely to be very warm and very dry, you might want to consider walking boots that aren’t lined with a waterproof membrane as this will limit the likelihood of your feet overheating and sweating.
Left to right: the Hanwag Banks II GTX, the Keen Ridge Flex and the Inov-8 Roclite Pro G400
Some hikers will favour non-lined walking boots even when hiking in wet conditions. This will generally be if they own quality, leather boots that have minimal seams and that are well maintained with water resistant wax. It’s a traditional approach but one that many will swear by – check out our guide to re-waterproofing hiking boots and shoes for more info on that. Almost all of the options assessed in this round up have waterproof membranes, but you will find in some instances that brands will sell non-lined versions of them too.
Bear in mind, if your boots are a little old and broken, you could consider whether you can fix them up. This guide on how to repair walking boots should help there.
Our experienced gear testers have assessed a broad range of options for this group test, with aspects such as performance, price, reliability and longevity all taken into consideration. The following list shows the walking boots for men and women that have come out on top.
These walking boots were all tested extensively by outdoor industry professionals within our gear review team. In this instance, our testers were Peter Macfarlane, Kirsty Pallas, Fiona Russell and David Lintern. They were all responsible for the testing and reviewing throughout the entire process and they carried out their assessments in mountainous locations throughout the UK, including in the Cairngorms, Inner Hebrides and the mountains of Snowdonia. The testing season ranged from spring through to autumn and involved short and long hikes over mix terrain.
Here are the best women’s walking boots of 2023, according to our expert testers. Scroll further down the page to find our selection of the best options for men.
Materials: Schoeller ceramic-coated fabric upper, Gore-Tex membrane, graphene-enhanced rubber soles | Features: sole with ‘iconic’-shaped studs and water dispersion grooves, ‘meta plate pro’, external heel cage | Men’s version: yes | Sizes: UK 3.5 to 8.5 (including half sizes)
Inov-8’s main specialism lies in trail running and there’s a big focus on lightweight performance throughout the brand that extends into their hiking collection. Case in point: the Roclite Pro G400. It’s a light, versatile boot that fits like a slipper, with a narrow to mid-width female fit and a smooth but precise lacing system. The upper, which is made from synthetic mesh, is lined by a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane and there’s light protection at the toe and at the heel where there’s a stabilising external rubber structure.
Then there’s the impressive outsole. This contains graphene, a substance that’s commonly regarded as one of the toughest materials in the world. Inov-8 use this across most of their collection these days in order to increase the lifespan of their products. You’ll find 6mm trail shoe-like lugs across the outsole too, making the Roclite Pro G400 ideal for muddy conditions. The grip is generally good except on wet rocks and tree roots, and the uppers are durable and resist abrasion. Sole rigidity is lacking, so look elsewhere if you prefer a stiffer sole.
Read our full inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 Gore-Tex women’s boot review
Materials: upper: 2.2mm full-grain leather upper and Nappa leather cuff, Gore-Tex membrane; lining: moisture wicking textile, midsole: ATC (All-Terrain Compound), footbed: dual-density EVA compound; outsole: Vasque ‘exclusive’ Vibram Frontier | Features: midsole with EVA cushioning pods and TPU shank, rockered toe, positive lock heel pocket, rubber toecap, padded tongue, metal eyelets and hooks | Men’s version: yes | Sizes: UK4-9 (including half sizes)
The St Elias FG GTX from U.S. brand Vasque is a solid, sturdy and stable walking boot with a supportive ankle design and three metal hooks for secure, reliable lacing. It has a Gore-Tex membrane for protection from wet weather, puddles, mud and rocks, as well as a rubber toecap and a double layer of leather at the heel. The insole and underfoot cushioning are in the middle range, and the outsole offers reasonable traction on varied terrain. From our tests, we found the lugs can become clogged with dirt – probably due to the fact that the lugs are placed quite close together. This is a boot that could be worn into winter, but in warmer summer weather it may feel a little heavy and warm.
Read our full Vasque St Elias FG GTX review
Price: £220
Weight: 940g (pair, size 39)
Pros: Climbing lacing, climbing zone on the sole
Cons: Steel cable attachment issue on test sample
Rating: 4/5
Materials: suede | Features: Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining, Vibram sole, multi fit footbed | Sizes: UK 3-9 | Men’s version: yes
The Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid 2 GTX is a bit of a hybrid that’s good for anything from hill and trail walking to scrambling and mountaineering.
The sole has enough flex to make this comfortable over long distances but then there’s also dependability and performance on rocky, technical terrain too.
It’s waterproof, thanks to its Gore-Tex membrane and the leather upper is very durable with plenty of reinforcement and padding in the right places. Climbing lacing extends right down to the toes giving the potential for a good, close fit.
At £220, it’s not the cheapest of options but, given its versatility and multi-use performance, you are getting some bang for your buck here.
Read our full Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid 2 GTX review.
Materials: suede and fabric | Features: Gore-Tex Extreme Comfort lining, Presa sole | Sizes: EU 36-42 | Men’s version: yes
Italian brand Scarpa are well known for producing great walking boots and they haven’t dropped the ball here. It’s a well-made reliable boot that’s very versatile, comfortable and agile feeling.
Scarpa have used their own Presa rubber for this boot and during a couple of days of testing on greasy granite our tester found it to be just as grippy as the more common Vibram rubber.
There is a good balance here between durability and weight and the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort lining brings excellent breathable wet weather protection. A comfortable ankle collar gives a nice flexibility, whilst still providing plenty of support on uneven surfaces.
We found that there is a little breaking in needed with this model with one of our testers struggling with the narrowness for a day on the hill. Its very comfortable once broken in though.
Read our full review on the Scarpa Rush TRK GTX
Materials: textile /synthetic upper with PU-coated leather details, Gore-Tex membrane (free from PFCs of environmental concern), OrthoLite sock liner, rubber Contagrip outsole with ‘Chevron’ lugs, EVA foam midsole with ‘EnergyCell’ | Features: Advanced Chassis, PFC-free water repellency, SensiFit construction, protective mudguard | Men’s version: yes | Sizes: UK3.5-9.5 (including half sizes
This has a robust synthetic upper with a high level of leather detailing at the toecap, heel and all the way around the rand of the boot. The fit is generous and would best suit a mid to wider foot, and the lacing system, which fabric eyelets, metal eyelets and a metal hook at the ankle, gives a comfortable, precise fit.
They are fairly lightweight at 412g each for the female UK 8.5. The cushioning is medium, and grip is good in most conditions. The heel of the sole is shaped to dig into soft terrain when descending, making it a solid and stable boot with good levels of protection.
Read our full Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex women’s boot review
