Has the advent of long, sun-soaked spring days got you itching to lace up your boots and head outdoors? Make sure you’ve got the right protection on your feet first, with our pick of the best men’s hiking boots on the market (we’ve found ones for women, too). First up, you’ll need to decide whether you want a leather or fabric design. Leather boots are heavier but will last for years if you care for them. They can feel stiff and unforgiving when new, but will mold to your feet over time. Fabric boots are a lot comfier straight out of the box, are usually lighter and feel more like wearing trainers on the trail. If you’re planning on hiking all year round, high-cut boots are your best bet – they’re warmer and offer better ankle support. If you’re after something to take on summer travels, lower cut hiking shoes (basically very rugged trainers) are a good option and easier to wear around town as well as in the hills. When it comes to fit, make sure there’s lots of room to wiggle your toes and no tightness around your heels, and always try boots on whilst wearing proper hiking socks.

The brand buzzwords to look for are Vibram soles, which are tough, bouncy and hard-wearing, and boots treated with Gore-Tex, sometimes written GTX, a reliable waterproofing agent. Companies often use their own versions of these technologies – make sure the pair you buy claim to be waterproof, and not just water resistant. There’s a lot of lovely stuff packed into the Renegade. A seamless lining and soft, cushioned insoles keep feet comfortable mile after mile, while the tough yet lightweight Vibram soles won’t weigh you down. The higher cut protects ankles and the Gore-Tex nubuck leather outer is as good-looking as it is waterproof. An outstanding all-rounder of a boot. This is a well-priced, comfortable and versatile hiking shoe. The Redmond is fully waterproof, using Columbia’s own Omni-Tech treatment to keep rain out. Well-designed midsoles offer cushiony support and the soles’ tough grip offers great traction, even on wet days. They’re ideal for warmer but changeable weather.

The new Alterra is a good-looking, waterproof addition to all-Italian brand AKU’s line-up of modern, comfortable boots with retro looks. If you’re prone to rolling your ankles, try this pair - an elasticated tongue and well-designed lacing system give great support on uneven terrain. Climbers and ambitious hikers will love these. They’re designed to give great grip on via ferrata routes and steep rocky trails, a job they do excellently. And it’s a boot that means business, cramming in design features including memory foam insoles, liquid rubber waterproofing and climbing compatible soles. A classic for good reason, Brasher’s sturdy boot is surprisingly breathable for such a solid-looking boot. Our tester loved the Country Master’s timeless looks and waterproof, buttery-soft leather uppers, as well as the pillowy foot beds. These are so light and comfortable you can just sling them on and forget about them. Jack Wolfskin’s Vojos are a no-fuss choice at a pocket-friendly price - ideal for summer hikes or Duke of Edinburgh challenges.

The soft suede outer may need more careful cleaning than most, though. Danner’s coveted leather creations are the hipsters of the hiking boot world, but that doesn’t mean they put style over substance. new running shoes painThese beautiful boots are carefully crafted in Portland using Vibram soles and Gore-Tex leather uppers, and are also a sustainable choice, as Danner will repair your boots for a reasonable fee if they get damaged. where to buy nike canvas shoesPick them if you want to invest in something special. nike sb shoe store onlineAvailable in four colours.nike shoes in japan If you’re hunting for a bargain, look no further than Karrimor’s cheap-as-chips Munros. runner's world shoe catalog

These smart, simple leather boots offer fantastic support and comfortable insoles, and are so waterproof our tester reckoned sporting them was ‘like wearing wellingtons’. running shoes cincinnati ohAn absolute steal for such a well-made boot. These are a great pick for cold-weather walking, as the fully waterproof uppers, higher cut ankles and soft, fleecy lining work together brilliantly to protect your feet from the elements. Merrell recommends this strong and sturdy boot for backpacking and they’re definitely comfortable enough to go long distances, although you might overheat on summer hikes. If you don’t like the feel of clunky hiking boots weighing you down then this lightweight Terrex pair will be right up your street. They look like running trainers but perform like hiking shoes, with Gore-Tex and exceptionally grippy soles, which don’t bat an eyelid at wet rock. Take them hiking or trail running – they can take the pace.

It’s worth testing out as many boots as you can to find out what styles (and often which brands) suit your feet the best. You simply cannot get a great pair of hiking boots for a better price than Karrimor’s Munro, making them a smart choice for weekend hikes. But if you can afford to invest in a well-designed all-rounder that can cope with more serious mileage, Lowa’s Renegade ticks all the boxes for waterproofing, sturdiness and comfort. Sian Anna Lewis is a travel and outdoors writer and editor of The Girl Outdoors blog. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testingThere has been something of a revolution in hill-walking gear in recent years. Heavy boots are a thing of the past, and these days – unless you are heading into snow or exceedingly wet conditions – it makes more sense to use the much lighter and more comfortable trainer-style of footwear known as “approach shoes”.

Many in the expedition world use them to get to the areas where they need to put on their more technical boots. Personally, I’ve come to favour this type of footwear for the majority of my Dartmoor and alpine walking trips, when I can plan to stay at least moderately dry. The lightweight feel of the shoes, coupled with their greater stretch capability, makes them a more versatile choice than a boot. I’ve also found that they allow me to move over rough ground with greater sure-footedness. There are many things to consider when buying a shoe. First, check how your foot will spread if you intend carrying a rucksack. Second, make sure there are no surfaces standing proud on the inside of the shoe, as these will inevitably rub at some point. Third, your feet swell in heat, so your shoe needs to be able to accommodate this – but if your feet slide inside it, particularly when you are going downhill for long periods, your toes are going to crunch against the front and it won’t be long before you’re losing toenails.

I asked manufacturers to send me shoes that would be effective for crossing reasonably dry terrain but with the chance of an inadvertent step into a puddle or wet ground. I asked for the shoes to be particularly good at dealing with rocky ground that had become wet through rain. I’ve been a great fan of Salomon boots for years, so I expected the shoes to be of a similar nature. However, my hopes were not matched by the overall performance of the Eskape Aero. For one thing, it has a proud surface where the tongue is stitched into the shoe, and when I did a long trek across the top of Dartmoor at speed I soon found it rubbing. This was even more of a problem when I tried to use the shoe in its multifunction capacity and run across a 20km hill trail in warm conditions. By the time I completed the run my toes were all sore and blistered. I wasn’t overly impressed by the cushioning of the shoe on rocky terrain either. That said, it maintained a good grip on all the terrain I covered and I liked the way it held my foot in a natural position.

I think that much could be done so that this shoe achieves its full potential – the number one factor being to ensure it doesn’t cause rubbing. It is extremely breathable, but that comes at the price of its having almost no resistance to water, which was an issue when I encountered water cross-cutting the trail I was running. Robustness & grip 4 In very dry conditions this would be a good shoe to wear, but work needs to be done to remove the rubbing areas on the inside. This is a great shoe, which I now use regularly for all my activities. It fits the multi-function criteria I set, and I could use it as effectively for hill walking as I could for running. It is lightweight, comfortable and waterproof but breathable. I covered a lot of ground in this shoe and it was comfortable from the outset. It has good traction and works as well on grass as it does on rocky terrain or mixed ground. You could use these shoes with equal confidence on a trail in Nepal and a jungle trek in Borneo.

Heck, they worked amazingly well on Dartmoor in the rain, so they can handle just about anything. A really great shoe that will meet almost any challenge you throw at it. Versatile and robust enough for scrambling up the rock slopes of Skye, or walking the Headhunters Trail in Borneo. The best of the shoes I trialled. When this shoe arrived I wondered whether Columbia had got a different list of criteria from the ones I had set. The shoe didn’t appear to meet the demands of being multifunctional and ideal for long-distance trekking. For one thing, it has an unusual base shape and appears very thin in terms of material and structural support. But my apprehensions disappeared the moment I stepped out on a 20km walk across the mixed terrain of Dartmoor. The shoes are extremely light, the lacing system ensures they hold your foot, and the sole is incredibly good at providing grip on all surfaces. I was also very impressed by how waterproof the shoes are – when I knocked my pan of water over my foot, I was amazed to find that not a drop got into the shoe.

My only reservation is that I didn’t really enjoy running on rocky trails, as the shoes seemed to transmit the uneven terrain to my foot. This feeling was increased when I started to load myself with weight. This is a great shoe for an unladen walk and even for some rock scrambling, but I would use other shoes if I were doing an approach walk into a base camp carrying weight. Robustness & grip 5 Ideal if you like scrambling over rocks and even as a climbing shoe if you just want to walk to a face and do a bit of easy climbing, but I wouldn’t be keen to use it for a long laden trek or a run. Advice on the best walking holidays How to survive on a desert island Paul Hart offers advice on how to survive should you find yourself stranded on a desert island, including tips on locating food and building a shelter Action Packed: the best waterproof trousers Action Packed: the best waterproof jackets Action Packed: the best tents Action Packed: the best rucksacks