Recommended Hiking Boots

An example of a good hiking boot for day hiking - not too too or heavy, but solid in ankle support

Well, if you've read through the whole Hiking Boot Guide, you should have a good idea of why you need a goot boot for hiking and what to look for when getting one. However, for simplicity, here's a quick summary of features you want on any boot you get for day hiking.

Full Ankle Support - The boot must be cut high enough to prevent you from rolling over your ankle in any ways, even with a light pack on.
Waterproof - Getting a hiking boot that isn't waterproof is kind of strange. Good Gore-Tex boots costs only a tad more than non-waterproof boots, and open up the boots versatility.
Lightweight - Day hiking boots should be relatively light weight. Keep them under 4 pounds per pair, with 3 pounds being the idea.

Additionally, you may wish to read the "Boot Fitting Tips" section on the bottom of this page, too.

Good Hiking Boots

I will not recommend any particular hiking boot here. The reason for this is because I'm quite happy with my boots that are 5+ years old (made by Vasque), so I haven't bought any boots recently. So instead, I'll point you to the right place to find the boot you want. Just remember, keep in mind that any boot you buy MUST provide solid ankle support and ideally should be waterproof.

The boots shown below are all available through Zappos. I suggest buying boots through Zappos for several reasons, not the least of which is the free shipping AND free return shipping (always a handy thing when buying hiking boots that need to fit like a glove).

If you are unsure of what brand to get, I would recommend going with Vasque. I have two pairs of Vasque boots (one for backpacking, another for day hiking) and love them both.

Vasque Hiking Boots - My favorite! OK. I'm biased. But I have TWO pairs of Vasque Hiking Boots that are a minimum of 5 years old and have seen heavy use on the trail. They are superb. If in doubt about what to get, go with Vasque!

Columbia Hiking Boots - Columbia is probably one of the most popular of day hiking boots around. Their products tend to be a bit less expensive than other top-line manufacturers. Still, they have a nice selection of day hikers available.

North Face Hiking Boots - The North Face has a nice line of quality day hikers. Like all their products, the construction of the boot is excellent. A bit on the expensive side, but well worth it.

Salomon Hiking Boots - Salomon has a small but very good line of day hiking boots. Rugged and reliable.

Lowa Hiking Boots - I find Lowa boot to be quite interesting. Lowa boots sort of straddle between "day hiking" and full "backpacking". In addition to a few dedicated day hiking boots, Lowa has a full line of heavy-duty backpacking boots. One reason they are so popular on the AT Trail.

Boot Fitting Tips

Also, here's some boot fitting tips that you will want to keep in mind.

Try out the Boots when Wearing a Hiking Sock - You'll wear a hiking sock when hiking, so be sure to try out the boots size with hicking socks on. NEVER wear cotton sicks when using your hiking boots!!
Test Walk - If you feel the boot substantially moving on the heel when you first walk around on a flat surface, send the boots back (a good reason to order boots from Zappos - free return shipping). A big boot is a recipe for blisters and the large size is not something easily fixed.
Walk Uphill - This is crucial. Find a tiny but relatively steep hill in the backyard or something. Take a walk up it. If you feel the heel moving, bad news. You only want a tiny movement of the heel. Any more will lead to blisters.
Walk Downhill - Find a small hill and walk down it at full speed. If your toes bump the end of the boot, it's too small. Send the boot back and get a different size. Bumping your foot into the end of the boot is a recipe for massively messed up toe nails on long hikes!

Other Places to Find Hiking Boots

Admittedly, I'm stuck on Zappos for buying footwear due to their selection, competitive prices and superb policies. However, there are many other places to buy hiking boots online. So here's a few other good places to check out. Happy boot hunting.

Backcountry.Com

Always a good place to go for high-quality technical gear, including boots.

REI.Com

Another always good source for good quality outdoor products.