How to choose your hiking boots: the guide

Your footwear is the one piece of kit that goes with you every step of the way - and it's the main thing standing between a great day out and one ruined by a blister. Too stiff, and they'll tire you out; too soft, and they stop protecting you; a poor fit, and they'll hurt. The good news? Choosing the right walking boots comes down to a few simple things, once you know what to look for.

The first thing to check isn't the brand, but the boot height and what it's meant for: day walks on the trail, a loaded-up trek, or wet terrain. We'll cover it all — ankle support, waterproofing, sole, fit — but first, here are three pairs we recommend depending on what you need.

Our selection

Three models for three common needs: the lightweight low-cut shoe for the trails, the waterproof version for wet terrain, and a women's model that's light and on-trend. You can also browse our full walking boots and shoes collection to compare models.

LOW-CUT

Lightweight for the trails

Men's Low-Cut Walking Shoe

£74.90

MODEL

Brown and Orange / 36 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 37 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 38 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 39 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 40 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 41 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 42 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 43 — £74.90 Brown and Orange / 44 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 36 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 37 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 38 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 39 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 40 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 41 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 42 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 43 — £74.90 Grey and Blue / 44 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 36 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 37 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 38 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 39 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 40 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 41 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 42 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 43 — £74.90 Olive Green and Yellow / 44 — £74.90

Add to basket

VIEW PRODUCT

WATERPROOF

Keep your feet dry

Waterproof Walking Trainers

£109.90

MODEL

Black / 36 — £109.90 Black / 37 — £109.90 Black / 38 — £109.90 Black / 39 — £109.90 Black / 40 — £109.90 Black / 41 — £109.90 Black / 42 — £109.90 Black / 43 — £109.90 Black / 44 — £109.90 Black / 45 — £109.90 Black / 46 — £109.90 Black / 47 — £109.90 Black and Red / 36 — £103.90 Black and Red / 37 — £103.90 Black and Red / 38 — £103.90 Black and Red / 39 — £103.90 Black and Red / 40 — £103.90 Black and Red / 41 — £103.90 Black and Red / 42 — £103.90 Black and Red / 43 — £103.90 Black and Red / 44 — £103.90 Black and Red / 45 — £103.90 Black and Red / 46 — £103.90 Black and Red / 47 — £103.90 Black and Blue / 36 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 37 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 38 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 39 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 40 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 41 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 42 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 43 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 44 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 45 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 46 — £109.90 Black and Blue / 47 — £109.90

Add to basket

VIEW PRODUCT

WOMEN'S

Lightweight with great support

Lightweight Women's Walking Boot

£83.90

MODEL

Grey and Purple / 36 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 37 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 38 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 39 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 40 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 41 — £83.90 Grey and Purple / 42 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 36 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 37 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 38 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 39 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 40 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 41 — £83.90 Turquoise and Fuchsia / 42 — £83.90

Add to basket

VIEW PRODUCT

Low-cut, mid-cut or high-cut: the number one factor

This is THE choice that shapes everything else. The boot's cut determines ankle support — and therefore the type of terrain you can tackle with confidence:

• Low-cut boot. It sits below the ankle, leaving it free to move. Lighter and more flexible, it's perfect for active walking and day hikes on easy trails.
• Mid-cut boot. It wraps the ankle for good support without being too stiff. The best all-rounder: multi-day hikes, a 10-15 kg rucksack, varied terrain.
• High-cut boot. Maximum ankle support and full protection. Best kept for trekking, mountain routes and heavy loads over tough, unstable terrain.

To see at a glance which cut suits your style of walking, here's the summary:

Waterproofing: membrane or water-repellent coating?

Wet feet are a sure route to blisters and cold. There are two levels of protection. A water-repellent treatment causes water to bead on the surface - fine for morning dew or a brief shower, but it eventually saturates. A waterproof membrane (such as Gore-Tex or equivalent) keeps water out while still letting your feet breathe - essential for spring and autumn walks, high-altitude routes, or any time the ground is wet underfoot. If you mostly walk in dry summer conditions, you might prefer a highly breathable boot, even if that means less waterproofing.

The sole and grip

Underfoot, two things matter. The cushioning (midsole) absorbs impact and protects your joints over long distances. The grip (a lugged outsole, such as Vibram or equivalent) keeps you steady on wet rock, mud and scree: deep lugs and sticky rubber make all the difference on descents, where slipping is most likely. A good sole means as much safety as comfort.

Comfort and sizing: don't overlook the details

As a general rule, go half a size to a full size up from your everyday shoe size when choosing walking boots: your feet swell with effort and slide forward on descents, so you need room in front of your toes. Always try boots on later in the day (when feet are slightly swollen), wearing your walking socks, and walk on a slope if the shop has one. Your heel should sit snugly with no pressure points. Even the best boot on paper is worthless if it doesn't fit YOUR foot.

Men's and women's: real differences

It's not just about size or colour. Women's models have a narrower fit at the heel, a forefoot that's often slimmer, and cushioning calibrated for a generally lighter body weight. Choosing a style suited to your shape, rather than a rough "unisex" fit, makes a real difference to comfort over time.

Socks: half the comfort

We forget it far too often: even the best boot counts for nothing if you're wearing a cotton sock that holds onto moisture and causes blisters. A technical walking sock (merino wool or synthetic) wicks away sweat, cushions friction points and regulates temperature. It's the essential partner to your boots - and one of the best comfort-to-price ratios in your entire kit.

Tall Hiking Socks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 (1 review)

£24.90

Pay in 4 instalments of £6.22 with no fees with Shop Pay

MODEL

White / 37-45 — £24.90 Black and Grey / 37-45 — £24.90 Black and Lavender / 37-45 — £24.90Add to basket

Depending on the season and use

In summer, on dry, warm trails, a well-ventilated pair, or even a pair of hiking sandals with a grooved sole, offers unbeatable coolness and lightness for easy walks and river crossings. In contrast, snow and cold call for warm, waterproof models with strong grip. Match the footwear to the outing rather than searching for the one universal pair - it doesn't exist.

Men's Leather Hiking Sandals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 (14 reviews)

£79.90

Pay in 4 instalments of £19.98 with no fees with Shop Pay

MODEL

Light Brown / 38 — £79.90 Light Brown / 39 — £79.90 Light Brown / 40 — £79.90 Light Brown / 41 — £79.90 Light Brown / 42 — £79.90 Light Brown / 43 — £79.90 Light Brown / 44 — £79.90 Light Brown / 45 — £79.90 Light Brown / 46 — £79.90 Light Brown / 47 — £79.90 Light Brown / 48 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 38 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 39 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 40 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 41 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 42 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 43 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 44 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 45 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 46 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 47 — £79.90 Dark Brown and Beige / 48 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 38 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 39 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 40 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 41 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 42 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 43 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 44 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 45 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 46 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 47 — £79.90 Olive Green and Beige / 48 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 38 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 39 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 40 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 41 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 42 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 43 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 44 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 45 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 46 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 47 — £79.90 Brown and Beige / 48 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 38 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 39 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 40 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 41 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 42 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 43 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 44 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 45 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 46 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 47 — £79.90 Black and Beige / 48 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 38 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 39 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 40 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 41 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 42 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 43 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 44 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 45 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 46 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 47 — £79.90 Dark Green and Beige / 48 — £79.90Add to basket

Once your feet are sorted: get the rest ready

Good boots are the foundation, but they're not everything. To set off truly prepared, make sure you pack your rucksack properly (water, safety, protection), and choose a rucksack suited to the length of your outings. It's all about the whole set-up: it's the details working together that make for a great walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should you get for walking boots? Go half a size to a full size up from your usual shoe size: your foot swells and slides forward on descents. Leave a finger's width of space in front of your toes, with your heel held firmly in place.

Low-cut or high-cut boots for beginners? For day walks on footpaths, a low or mid-cut boot is enough and stays lighter on your feet. High-cut boots only really earn their keep on tough terrain or when carrying a heavy rucksack.

Do you need waterproof boots? Yes, whenever the ground might be wet (spring, autumn, higher altitudes). In dry summer conditions, a non-waterproof, breathable boot dries faster and ventilates better.

How do you avoid blisters? Boots in the right size, laced properly, paired with technical socks (never cotton), and a gradual break-in before long outings. Treat any hot spot the moment it appears. For more on breaking in boots and preventing blisters, the specialist site Randonner Malin covers good practice in detail.