How to Choose Walking and Hiking Boots

The right pair of hiking boots is the single piece of kit that makes or breaks a day on the hill. Get it right and you stop thinking about your feet entirely, which is exactly the point. Get it wrong and a blister two hours from the car park can turn a good walk into a long, sore trudge home. Choosing walking boots is not complicated once you understand what actually matters, so this guide walks through the decisions that count: the cut and weight, waterproofing for Irish ground, fit and sizing, support and grip, and where the current Salomon range fits in. By the end you will know what to look for and which boot suits the walking you actually do.

Match the boot to the walking you actually do

The most common mistake is buying more boot than you need, or less. A heavy four-season mountaineering boot is overkill for towpaths and forest loops, while a flexible low-cut shoe will leave you wishing for more under a loaded pack on rough ground. Be honest about where your feet spend their time.

For most people in Ireland the sweet spot is a lightweight to midweight mid-cut boot. The mid-cut height gives a little ankle protection and helps keep mud and water out on boggy ground, without the weight and stiffness of a full backpacking boot. If you walk well-kept trails and value a natural stride, a low-cut walking shoe is often plenty. If you carry a heavy pack on multi-day routes or tackle rough, rocky terrain, you want a stiffer, taller boot that supports the load and protects the ankle. The categories blur, and that is fine. Think in terms of how much weight you carry and how rough the ground gets, and the right height and stiffness follow naturally.

You can browse the full range across men's hiking boots and women's hiking boots, or see everything together in the main hiking boots collection.

Why waterproofing matters on Irish ground

Anyone who walks here knows the ground is rarely bone dry. Bog, wet grass, stream crossings and a sky that changes its mind by the hour all conspire to soak your feet, and cold wet feet are the fastest route to misery and blisters. A waterproof boot is not a luxury in this climate, it is the default.

Most quality boots use a waterproof, breathable membrane, and GORE-TEX is the one you will see most often. The membrane sits between the outer and the lining, blocking liquid water from getting in while still letting sweat vapour escape, so your foot stays drier from both directions. It is worth understanding the limits. A mid-cut boot keeps water out up to the ankle, but step into a stream deeper than the collar and water comes in over the top, so height matters as much as the membrane. Breathability also has a ceiling, and on a warm climb your feet will still get damp with sweat, which is normal. If you want to see the waterproof options grouped together, the GORE-TEX boots collection pulls them into one place.

One honest caveat: a membrane boot dries more slowly than a non-membrane one once water does get inside, so for very wet, warm conditions some walkers prefer a quick-draining shoe. For the Irish hills nine months of the year, though, a waterproof mid boot is the sensible call.

Getting the fit and sizing right

Fit matters more than any feature on the box. A technically brilliant boot in the wrong size will still ruin your day, while a modest boot that fits well will serve you for years. This is the part worth slowing down for.

Start with length. You want roughly a thumb's width of room in front of your longest toe when standing, because on a steep descent your foot slides forward and your toes will hit the end of a boot that fits snugly in the shop. Many people take a half size up from their everyday shoe size for exactly this reason. The heel is the other half of the equation: it should be locked in place with almost no lift when you walk, since a moving heel is what raises blisters. Width is just as real as length, and if you have a broader foot, look for boots offered in a wide fitting rather than forcing a standard last.

A few practical habits help. Try boots on later in the day, when your feet have naturally swollen to their largest, and always with the socks you actually walk in, since a thick hiking sock changes the fit noticeably. Lace them properly, walk around, and find a slope or a fitting ramp if the shop has one so you can feel what happens to your toes downhill. This is one good reason to buy boots in person where you can, and our stores have staff who fit boots all day and know the brands.

Understanding support, soles and grip

Once a boot fits, the next questions are about what it does underfoot. Support comes from the midsole and the internal shank, a stiffening plate that controls how much the boot flexes. A stiffer boot carries a heavy pack and edges onto rocky ground more confidently, while a softer, more flexible boot feels nimble and natural on gentler trails but tires the foot faster over rough terrain. Match the stiffness to the load and the ground, not to how rugged the boot looks.

Grip is the outsole, and it does two jobs: biting into soft ground and holding on wet rock. Deeper, more widely spaced lugs shed mud and dig into bog and grass, which is exactly what Irish ground asks for. The rubber compound matters too, because a sticky compound holds far better on wet stone than a hard-wearing but slippery one. You will see Vibram outsoles on many boots and Salomon's own Contagrip on theirs, both designed around that balance of durability and wet grip.

A word on the old "boots support your ankles" idea. A mid or high cut does offer some protection and a feeling of stability, particularly under a heavy load, but ankle strength comes mostly from your own muscles and from walking attentively. Plenty of experienced walkers cover serious ground in low-cut shoes. The height is about protection and keeping debris out as much as it is about support, so do not feel you must buy a tall boot if a shoe genuinely suits your walking.

A closer look at Salomon for SS26

If one brand has come to define the modern, lightweight approach to hill walking, it is Salomon. The French marque built its name on trail running and brought that obsession with low weight and precise fit across to hiking, which is why its boots feel quick and athletic rather than heavy and traditional. The SS26 range is strong, and it covers the full spread from day walks to multi-day routes, so it is a useful lens for everything covered above.

The natural starting point is the X Ultra 5 Mid GORE-TEX, Salomon's flagship day-hiking boot and a genuine bestseller here. It is lightweight and waterproof, with the brand's Contagrip outsole and an Advanced Chassis that steadies the foot on uneven ground without making the boot feel stiff. The SensiFit lacing wraps the foot closely for that locked-in heel, and it comes in a wide fitting as well as standard. For the great majority of Irish hill walkers carrying a daypack, this is the boot to beat.

If your priority is plush, out-of-the-box comfort, the Elixir Activ Mid GORE-TEX is the one to try. It is a softer, more cushioned waterproof boot pitched at comfort over long days on mixed ground, and it carries the deepest stock in the range right now across both men's and women's sizes. At the other end, the Quest 5 GORE-TEX is the serious option: a supportive, tough multi-day boot built to carry a full pack over long, rough routes, with the stiffer chassis and taller cuff that heavier loads demand. Between the three you have a clear ladder from comfortable day boot to dependable backpacking boot.

Salomon is also worth a look if you decide a shoe suits you better than a boot. The X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX shoe takes the same waterproof, grippy formula in a low-cut form for fast day walks and dry-underfoot trails, and the legendary Speedcross sits in the trail running shoes if you want an aggressive lugged shoe that crosses over between running and walking. The full in-stock range is below.

Boots or shoes: do you actually need a boot?

It is worth asking the question directly, because the answer is not automatically "boots". A low-cut walking shoe is lighter, more breathable and quicker on its feet, and for trail walking, travel and dry summer days it is often the better tool. You give up some ankle protection and the higher waterproof collar, and you let more grit and water in on rough or wet ground, which is the trade. Many walkers own both and choose by the forecast and the route.

Beyond Salomon, the boot wall here is deep. Merrell is a reliable choice for comfortable, good-value walking boots and shoes, Meindl brings classic leather boots built for support and longevity, Keen is known for roomy toe-boxes that suit broader feet, and Scarpa covers the more technical, mountain end. Different brands are cut to different foot shapes, which is another reason trying a few pairs side by side beats buying blind. And when the weather turns properly warm, a pair of walking sandals can be the right answer for easy trails and water, which we cover in our guide to choosing walking and hiking sandals.

Looking after your boots

A good pair of boots is an investment, and a little care doubles their life. Knock the worst of the mud off after a walk and let them dry naturally, away from direct heat, because radiators and open fires crack leather and degrade adhesives. Reproof the outer now and again with a wash-in or spray-on treatment to keep water beading off and the membrane breathing, since a soaked-through outer stops a boot breathing even when the membrane is intact. Loosen the laces and pull the tongue open to help them air out between outings.

Know when to retire a pair, too. When the lugs are worn smooth, the midsole no longer springs back, or you start feeling the ground through the sole, the boot has given its best and grip and cushioning are gone. Resoling is possible on some heavier leather boots and rarely worth it on lightweight ones, so for most walkers a worn pair is simply a sign it is time for the next.

Finding the right pair at 53 Degrees North

Boots are the one purchase where trying before you buy genuinely pays, so if you can get to one of our stores, our staff fit walking boots every day and will get you into the right size and shape rather than the first thing off the shelf. If you would rather order online, the same care applies: check the sizing notes, order the size that gives you that thumb of room, and send anything back that does not fit.

Order online for free Click & Collect, or free home delivery over €100 across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, usually 1 to 2 working days with DPD.

Whichever way you shop, the goal is the same. A boot that fits, suits your ground and keeps the wet out is one you will forget you are wearing, which leaves you free to enjoy the walk. Take your time over the fit, be honest about the terrain, and the rest falls into place.