Best Waterproof Hiking Boots: 9 Picks, Reported Dryness Results and Who Should Skip Each

The 9 Best Waterproof Hiking Boots at a Glance

Nine boots that independent outlets name for waterproofing. Tap a photo or the button to see the boot on Amazon. For the general list, see our best hiking boots guide.

Price category reflects current US listings: budget is roughly under $150, mid-range roughly $150 to $200, premium above $200. Prices change, so confirm on the product page.

How Waterproof Is Waterproof?

Waterproof is a spectrum, and Switchback Travel is blunt about it: its reviewers state that there are no true waterproof hiking boots. Here is what the sources say about the trade-offs.

Waterproofing Results Reported by Each Outlet

These are the waterproofing results each outlet reported. Test methods differ, so do not compare them one to one.

Which Boot for Which Hiker (and Who Should Skip Each)

Who should skip each boot

Best Waterproof Boots for Heavy Loads

Waterproof boots for long, loaded, wet trips.

Salomon Quest 5 GTX

Best for: heavy loads and long wet trips

Treeline Review names it best overall at 2 lb 10 oz for men and 2 lb 4 oz for women, saying the GORE-TEX exterior resisted saturation in its water tests. Switchback Travel names it Best for Backpacking, calling it supportive and protective under heavy loads. RunRepeat names it best for backpacking too, but lists poor breathability.

What this means for you: a dependable waterproof boot for loaded trips, at the cost of weight and warmth.

Fit and sizing: GearJunkie says it runs slightly large, while Treeline Review says regular width and true to size.

Men’s and women’s versions: Separate women’s model, the Quest Echo, covered in our best hiking boots for women guide.

Watch for: Treeline Review lists slow drying, a rigid feel, eyelets that may wear prematurely and that it runs warm. Switchback Travel calls it overkill for casual hiking.

Skip it if: you do casual day hikes or hike in summer heat.

LOWA Renegade EVO GTX Mid

Best for: wet conditions, rough ground and a leather boot that lasts

Treeline Review names it best for narrow feet at 2 lb 9.6 oz, saying water kept beading on the exterior after 15 minutes under a running faucet while the interior stayed dry. Switchback Travel names it the Best Premium Leather boot, durable and supportive, and breathable enough for summer.

What this means for you: a dependable leather option for wet, rough trips.

Fit and sizing: Treeline Review lists narrow, medium and wide widths.

Men’s and women’s versions: Women’s weights are about 2 lb 2.2 oz.

Watch for: Treeline Review lists a high price, breathability that could improve and a long break-in. Switchback Travel says the previous version had durability problems.

Skip it if: you hate break-in time or have very wide feet.

SCARPA Rush TRK GTX

Best for: backpacking in wet weather

Treeline Review names it Best for Backpacking at 2 lb 7.2 oz for men, saying the GORE-TEX stayed watertight across settings and needed multiple submersions to saturate, with about a day to dry. It praises durability, traction and ankle support.

What this means for you: a protective waterproof boot for loaded trips. Only Treeline Review among our sources covers it in detail.

Fit and sizing: Treeline Review says sizing can be tricky.

Watch for: Treeline Review says it could be more breathable and the sizing can be tricky.

Skip it if: you want a light boot or hike in warm weather.

Best Lightweight Waterproof Boots

Lighter waterproof boots for day hikes and fast trips.

Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX

Best for: light day hikes where you want waterproofing and breathability

Switchback Travel names it Best Overall at 1 lb 15 oz for men, praising a good balance of waterproofing and breathability, strong traction and stability. Treeline Review names it Best Breathable, saying it had the shortest dry time of the waterproof boots it checked, though it noted mild interior moisture in its testing. CleverHiker names it Best Hiking Boots Overall.

What this means for you: the best-balanced waterproof boot for light loads.

Fit and sizing: Treeline Review says it runs long on this page, while the same outlet says true to size elsewhere and CleverHiker says it runs small, so try before you buy.

Men’s and women’s versions: Women’s weights are lower per Switchback Travel.

Watch for: Treeline Review lists reduced stability and less protection than heavier boots, and says it runs long. Switchback Travel says it is not supportive enough for heavy backpacking and lists thin underfoot cushioning.

Skip it if: you carry heavy loads.

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX

Best for: wet, muddy or snowy ground in a light boot

Treeline Review names it best lightweight at 1 lb 14.2 oz, saying the GORE-TEX ePE lining was reliable in mud, snow and river crossings. Switchback Travel also names it Best Lightweight, calling it plenty waterproof for stream crossings.

What this means for you: a light boot that handles wet ground, if the fit suits you.

Fit and sizing: Medium only per OutdoorGearLab. Treeline Review says it runs narrow.

Men’s and women’s versions: A women’s version is about 1 lb 9 oz per Treeline Review.

Watch for: Treeline Review says it runs narrow and has moderate ankle support. Switchback Travel says it is overkill for groomed trails with a flexible collar that lets in debris, and that the heel can be too wide for some.

Skip it if: you have wide feet or stick to groomed trails.

Altra Lone Peak 9 Waterproof Mid

Best for: light, roomy waterproof hiking

Switchback Travel names it Best Comfortable at 1 lb 15.9 oz for men, describing an integrated waterproof bootie with a wide forefoot, flexible and agile, good year-round. RunRepeat names it best lightweight in its wide-feet guide.

What this means for you: a light waterproof option with a roomy toe box.

Fit and sizing: Switchback Travel says wide forefoot.

Watch for: Switchback Travel lists limited support for heavy packs, a concern about wet-surface grip and zero-drop adjustment. RunRepeat says it grips well on wet and dry ground, so the sources disagree on traction.

Skip it if: you want ankle support for heavy packs.

Best Roomy and Budget Waterproof Boots

Roomy and lower-cost waterproof options.

KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof

Best for: wide feet in moderate wet

Treeline Review names it best for wide feet at 2 lb 8.6 oz, saying its KEEN.DRY lining let no moisture in after a 15-minute submersion, with 1 to 2 days to dry. CleverHiker names it Best Wide-Fit.

What this means for you: a roomy waterproof boot, though the sources disagree about how waterproof it is.

Fit and sizing: Medium and wide per Treeline Review.

Watch for: The sources disagree. Outdoor Life found an earlier Targhee not waterproof, leaving a large puddle after its test, and GearJunkie says the KEEN.Dry waterproofing is not as effective as other options.

Skip it if: your trips are wet all day or you have narrow feet.

Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof

Best for: budget waterproofing for maintained trails

Switchback Travel lists the Moab 3 Mid WP among its other favorites, describing a comfortable, durable leather boot with Merrell Dry waterproofing, a low collar and limited support for heavy loads. GearJunkie says Merrell sells a Gore-Tex version for about $20 more, and CleverHiker names it Best Budget.

What this means for you: the cheapest route to a waterproof boot, with the standard Merrell Dry membrane.

Fit and sizing: Standard and wide per GearJunkie.

Watch for: GearJunkie says it is too bulky for technical terrain. Switchback Travel lists a low collar and limited support for heavy loads.

Skip it if: you need maximum waterproofing for long wet trips.

Vasque Breeze Waterproof

Best for: an affordable waterproof boot with proven dryness in testing

Outdoor Life names the Vasque Breeze Best Overall, saying the VasqueDry lining kept feet dry through both of its test rounds, with fairly quick drying and a reasonably light build.

What this means for you: a dependable, affordable waterproof boot, with a narrow fit.

Fit and sizing: Outdoor Life says it runs small and narrow, so sizing up is suggested.

Men’s and women’s versions: A women’s Breeze is also sold.

Watch for: Outdoor Life says the tight fit may be uncomfortable for some. Only Outdoor Life covers it among our sources.

Skip it if: you have wide feet.

Also named

Treeline Review names the Columbia Newton Wander Best Affordable, saying the interior stayed dry but the upper soaks up water, and that the men’s boot may need a half size down. Outdoor Life names the Danner Arctic 600 Best for Winter, saying it survived both waterproofing tests, and the Asolo Eldo Mid, which it found not as waterproof as other boots. Switchback Travel names the Nortiv 8 Armadillo Fieldlite Mid Best Budget. We have not matched these to a current US men’s Amazon listing, so there are no buy buttons.

Our Waterproof Boot Evaluation Framework

We score each boot on five questions using only what the named outlets published.

1. Source agreement. How many outlets name it?
2. Waterproofing evidence. A reported test result.
3. Breathability and drying. How it handles heat and wet.
4. Terrain suitability. Day hikes or loaded trips.
5. Recurring drawbacks. Complaints the outlets raise.

Source agreement counts outlets that name the boot in a waterproof or overall ranking. The rest summarizes what those outlets wrote.

How to Choose Waterproof Hiking Boots

• Be honest about your trips. Switchback Travel suggests non-waterproof boots when wet is certain, because they dry faster.
• Check the membrane. The boots here use GORE-TEX, KEEN.DRY, Merrell Dry, VasqueDry or an integrated bootie.
• Match the weight to the load. See our best hiking boots guide for the full comparison.
• Keep the boots clean. Dirt can clog the membrane. See our hiking boot cleaning guide.

Where the Expert Reviews Disagree

Targhee waterproofing. Treeline Review reports no interior moisture after a 15-minute submersion, while Outdoor Life found an earlier Targhee not waterproof and GearJunkie says the waterproofing is not as effective as other options.

X Ultra 5 sizing. Treeline Review’s waterproof guide says it runs long, its main guide says true to size, and CleverHiker says it runs small.

Lone Peak 9 grip. Switchback Travel flags wet-surface grip as a concern, while RunRepeat says it grips wet and dry ground well.

Questions About Waterproof Hiking Boots, Answered

“What is the best waterproof hiking boot?”

Treeline Review names the Salomon Quest 5 best overall, Switchback Travel names the Salomon X Ultra 5, and Outdoor Life names the Vasque Breeze.

“Is GORE-TEX better than other membranes?”

The sources do not say so directly. Treeline Review reported results for GORE-TEX and KEEN.DRY boots, with different outcomes in different tests.

“Are waterproof boots always better?”

No. Switchback Travel says there are no true waterproof boots and prefers non-waterproof boots when wet is certain.

“Which waterproof boot is cheapest?”

The Merrell Moab 3 sits in our Budget category.

“How do I care for them?”

See our hiking boot cleaning guide.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

• Assuming waterproof means dry. Switchback Travel says waterproof boots can wet out in deep crossings and dry slowly.
• Skipping the socks. Switchback Travel suggests quick-drying merino and synthetic blends.
• Using waterproof boots in heat. Several outlets list poor breathability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best waterproof hiking boot?

Treeline Review names the Salomon Quest 5 best overall, and Switchback Travel names the Salomon X Ultra 5.

Are there truly waterproof hiking boots?

Switchback Travel says there are no true waterproof boots, and that they can wet out in deep crossings.

What is the best budget waterproof boot?

The Merrell Moab 3.

Which waterproof boot is most breathable?

Treeline Review names the Salomon X Ultra 5 Best Breathable.

Which waterproof boot suits wide feet?

The KEEN Targhee IV, though the sources disagree about its waterproofing.

Should I choose non-waterproof boots?

Switchback Travel says to when wet conditions are certain, because they dry faster.

Do these come for women?

Most do. See our best hiking boots for women guide.

How do I clean hiking boots?

Follow our hiking boot cleaning guide.

The Short Version

For light loads pick the Salomon X Ultra 5, for heavy wet trips the Salomon Quest 5, for leather the LOWA Renegade EVO, and for budget the Merrell Moab 3. Treat waterproofing as a trade-off with breathability, not a guarantee.

Keep Reading

Sources

• Treeline Review: Best waterproof hiking boots
• Outdoor Life: Best waterproof hiking boots
• Switchback Travel: Best waterproof hiking boots
• CleverHiker: Best hiking boots for men
• GearJunkie: Best hiking boots
• RunRepeat: Best hiking boots
• OutdoorGearLab: Best hiking boots for men