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Outdoor Activities | March 28, 2024
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May 1, 2023
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Each different footwear brand offers hiking boots and shoes providing unique benefits and technology to the wearer. To help you in making your selection, we’ve created a list of the 10 most popular hiking boot and shoe brands so that you can head out on the right foot.
Check out our Hiking Guide to discover more tips about this popular activity that can be done both in summer and winter.
In this article, you will learn more about:
Note: The following brands have been classified alphabetically and not by order of performance or popularity in order to preserve neutrality throughout the article.
For over 80 years, Columbia has been dressing you from head to toe. Although this American brand is known for its ski clothing, it has begun becoming popular in the hiking field, with the creation of aerodynamic and colourful hiking shoes, as well as classic styles offering excellent ankle support. Some of its models now rank among the best walking shoes for both men and women.
“Engagement” is truly a word that defines Keen. Founded in Oregon in 2003 and known for its famous Newport sandal, the company makes continual social and environmental efforts that have a positive impact. Since 2017, it has minimized the use of perfluorinated compounds, synthetic chemicals that are harmful to the planet and humans, and replaced them with safe materials.
If you are not familiar with Lowa yet, you should know that the almost century-old Bavarian workshop is now a well-established brand celebrated for the high quality of its climbing shoes, hiking and mountaineering boots. The brand makes a point of designing its products in Europe to guarantee unparalleled quality and good working conditions for the craftsmen and women who contribute to its reputation.
If you imagine a traditional boot with blue laces when you think of Merrell, it’s because the brand is a hiking leader and stands out for its unique style, versatility and the remarkable durability of its shoes and boots. The brand has done so well: Merrell just celebrated its 40th anniversary!
Did you know that if you combine the words Outside and Bozeman (Montana), the city where the brand was born, you get Oboz? Established in 2007, the brand offers a ton of footwear models and promises to plant a tree for each pair sold.
Salewa has truly made its mark in the mountain activities world by creating reliable, high-performance products for hiking, climbing and mountaineering. Specializing in alpine sports gear, the brand has used its same know-how and skills since 2005 to develop a line of hiking boots and shoes. With a focus on lightness, support and comfort, this footwear can help you pile up the miles and reach the highest peaks.
This French brand has been equipping you for the ski slopes for 75 years. In addition to having expanded to other sports fields related to skiing – cross-country, ski touring, snowboarding, etc. – the brand introduced its line of hiking shoes in 1992. Given the brand’s expertise, it is safe to say that some of the best walking shoes for women and for men bear the Salomon seal.
Ironically founded on a beach in California by two hiking enthusiasts, The North Face has been conquering sports lovers and climbers, as well as athletes from all over the world.
Vasque has been taking you where you want to go for over 55 years, and it’s this very sense of adventure and power of nature that fuels each pair of shoes and boots made by this American company.
Slightly less well-known than other hiking shoe and outdoor brands, this Italian company is well established and run by the third generation of the Zamberlan family. Each boot model proudly exhibits artisanal detail and rounded design, the signature of this lasting brand that’s here to stay.
You may not need the freshest, newly-released hiking boots or shoes model for your daily walks, but on the trails, it is a whole other matter; a good pair of boots or shoes is a must. This is even more true when the terrain or conditions are harsh. Don’t leave anything to chance and rely on one of the top brands you just read about for your next outing – wearing the right pair of men’s or women’s hiking shoes will only make it better!
