The best walking shoes for UK hikers in 2026 are the ones matched to the ground you actually walk on, not the ones with the busiest spec sheet. This guide covers the full low-cut field, and the terms get used interchangeably so it is worth saying up front that walking shoes, hiking shoes, hiking trainers and trail shoes all point at the same idea: a low-cut shoe that does the job of a boot on most days without the weight and heat of one. I have grouped them by what they are actually for rather than splitting them across separate pages, because the choice a real hiker faces is a rugged do-everything shoe versus a lighter, faster trail trainer, not a marketing category.
I hike in Dorset, so these get judged against chalk downland, the Jurassic Coast path and Purbeck mud. That is the terrain this guide is built around: grippy when dry, slick when wet, and boggy for a good chunk of the year. My own low-cut pair is the Salomon Speedcross 6, and my three-year everyday waterproof shoe is the adidas Terrex Trailmaker 2, both of which appear below alongside the rugged hiking shoes most people are shopping for first.
If you are not sure a low shoe is right for you at all, start with my walking shoes vs walking boots guide, then come back here to pick the shoe.
How to choose a walking shoe
Five things decide whether a walking shoe suits you: waterproofing, fit and width, grip, weight, and whether you should be in a shoe at all rather than a boot. Get those straight and the shortlist writes itself. Here is how I weigh each one.
Waterproof vs breathable
This is the first real fork and it is a trade-off, not a ranking.
A waterproof shoe, usually GORE-TEX or a brand membrane like KEEN.DRY or adidas RAIN.RDY, keeps water out over the height of the shoe. That is a real benefit on wet grass, dewy mornings, light rain and shallow mud, which describes most of the UK year. The catch is that a membrane traps heat, so a waterproof shoe runs warmer in summer, and once water gets in over the collar it stays in, because the membrane that kept it out now keeps it from draining.
A breathable, non-waterproof shoe does the opposite. It lets your feet breathe on hot days and drains and dries fast when it does get wet, so a soaking on a warm afternoon is a minor inconvenience rather than a ruined walk. The price is wet feet the moment the grass is damp.
For UK hiking across the whole year, I lean waterproof for most people, because our ground is wet more often than it is hot. If you mostly walk dry summer trails, or you run the flat sections and value airflow, a breathable shoe like the Speedcross is the better tool. I was a committed breathable-trainer hiker for years until the Trailmaker converted me, and that is covered properly below.
Fit and width
Fit matters more than any spec on the page. The best-reviewed shoe in the world is the wrong shoe if it does not fit your foot, and this is where the brands really differ in shape.
Salomon runs narrow and locks the foot down hard, which is superb if you have a slim foot and awful if you do not. KEEN runs wide with a roomy toe box and is the first place I send anyone with broad feet or wide toes. Merrell sits in the middle and offers a proper wide fitting, which is a big part of why the Moab suits so many people. La Sportiva runs precise and snug in a more technical, performance shape.
Two rules hold whatever the brand. You want your heel and midfoot held firmly with no slip, and you want thumb-width of room ahead of your longest toe so you do not bruise your toenails on long descents. Try shoes on late in the day when your feet have swollen, wear the merino socks you will actually hike in, and if a shop will let you, walk a slope. A secure fit is also what protects your ankles far more than any collar height, which is the whole argument in the shoes vs boots guide.
Grip and lugs
Grip is two things: the rubber compound and the lug pattern. On UK ground both matter, because our problem is not steep dry rock, it is wet chalk, slick limestone and clay that clogs a shallow tread.
For the compound, Vibram and Salomon Contagrip are the benchmarks and both hold well on wet rock. For the pattern, deeper and more widely spaced lugs bite into soft ground and shed mud better, which is why an aggressive shoe like the Speedcross feels planted in a Purbeck bog and a shallow-tread shoe skates on the same ground. The trade-off is that deep soft lugs wear faster on hard surfaces and feel less stable on rock.
For mixed UK day hiking, a moderate multi-directional lug of around 4 to 5mm on a Vibram or Contagrip sole is the sensible middle, which is exactly what the Moab and the XA Pro run. Save the deep aggressive lugs for properly soft, muddy ground.
Weight
Weight on your feet is the tiredness you feel in the last few kilometres of a long day. A pair of light trail shoes can be well under half the weight of traditional boots, and you notice the difference at the end of a 25km day, not the start.
Most low-cut hiking shoes here sit between roughly 360g and 500g per shoe. The lighter, more athletic shoes, the NXIS Evo and the trail trainers, live at the bottom of that range. The tougher, more protective shoes, the Targhee and the leather Salomons, sit at the top and trade grams for durability and support. Heavier is not worse, it is more shoe. Buy the lightest shoe that still has the protection and grip your terrain demands, and no lighter.
Walking shoes vs walking boots
Before you buy any shoe on this page, be honest about whether you need a boot instead. For most UK day hiking, on dry or mixed trails, in spring through autumn, with a daypack, a walking shoe is not a compromise, it is the better tool. Boots earn their place with heavy multi-day loads, real winter and crampons, deep bog and standing water, cold, very rough rocky ground, and weak or recovering ankles.
I own both, and more low shoes than I would care to admit: boots for winter and wet, and a rotation of trail shoes for the other three seasons. The full argument, including why the ankle-support case for boots is weaker than people think, is in walking shoes vs walking boots. If your question is instead which kind of low shoe, my trail running shoes vs hiking shoes guide breaks that down. With that settled, here are the shoes.
Rugged hiking shoes
These are the do-everything low shoes: supportive, grippy and protective enough for loaded day hikes and rough ground, without the height and heat of a boot. If you want one pair of walking shoes for general UK hiking, buy from this group.
1. Merrell Moab 3 (top pick, Editor's choice)
The Merrell Moab is the best-selling hiking shoe in the world, and after years of it being the shoe everyone recommends first, that is not an accident. Moab stands for Mother Of All Boots, and the low shoe carries the same idea: comfortable straight out of the box with no breaking in, grippy on mixed ground, and forgiving of a wide range of foot shapes. It is the shoe I point most first-time buyers at, and the one experienced hikers keep coming back to.
What makes it the default pick is the balance. The Vibram TC5+ outsole with 5mm lugs holds well on the chalk and hard-pack the Jurassic Coast throws at you, the EVA midsole with a heel air cushion is soft enough for long days on hard ground, and the pigskin suede and mesh upper is supportive without feeling stiff. It comes in a breathable non-waterproof version and a GORE-TEX version, and in a proper wide fitting, so most people can get the fit and the weatherproofing they want.
It is not the lightest or the most technical shoe here, and the softer cushioning is less precise than a La Sportiva on rock. For general UK day hiking, that comfort-first balance is exactly why it wins. Buy it if you want one dependable pair and do not want to overthink it.
- Comfortable from the first wear, no break-in
- Excellent Vibram TC5+ grip on mixed and hard ground
- Available in waterproof, non-waterproof and wide fittings
- Forgiving fit that suits most foot shapes
- Not the lightest shoe here
- Soft cushioning is less precise than technical shoes on rock
- GORE-TEX version runs warm in high summer
The default all-round UK walking shoe. First-time buyers, wide feet, and anyone who wants one dependable pair for coast path, downland and mixed trail.
- Weight
- ~460g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- GORE-TEX version, or breathable non-waterproof
- Outsole
- Vibram TC5+
- Lug depth
- 5mm
- Heel-to-toe drop
- 11.5mm
- Upper
- Pigskin suede and breathable mesh
- Available widths
- Standard and Wide
- UK price
- ~£100 (GTX), less for non-waterproof
2. Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 GTX
The XA Pro 3D is Salomon's stability shoe and the low-cut option I would put ahead of the Moab for anyone who wants a more locked-down, supportive ride on uneven ground. The name refers to the 3D Advanced Chassis, a moulded frame between the midsole and outsole that resists the sideways twist you get on rough trail and cambered ground. It is the reason this shoe feels planted on terrain where a softer shoe rolls.
Owners and testers consistently praise the same things: a secure, sporty fit that holds the foot without hotspots, All-Terrain Contagrip that grips confidently on wet rock and gravel, and long-haul durability that outlasts most trail shoes. The Quicklace system pulls tight in seconds and tucks away, which is a small thing you appreciate every time. The GORE-TEX version keeps the wet out for typical UK conditions.
The recurring gripe is the fit width. Like most Salomons it runs narrow, so if you have a broad foot this is not your shoe and you should look at the KEEN Targhee below. It also runs warm in summer as any GTX shoe does. For a slim to medium foot that wants stability and grip on mixed and rough ground, this is one of the best hiking shoes going.
- Weight
- ~360g per shoe (men's, GTX)
- Waterproofing
- GORE-TEX
- Outsole
- All-Terrain Contagrip
- Lug depth
- 3 to 5mm
- Heel-to-toe drop
- 11mm (28.7mm heel / 17.3mm toe stack)
- Support
- 3D Advanced Chassis
- Lacing
- Quicklace
- UK price
- ~£140
3. Salomon X Ultra Pioneer GTX
The X Ultra Pioneer is the more affordable way into a Salomon hiking shoe, and it takes the DNA of the well-regarded X Ultra line and prices it for everyday hikers. At around 390g per shoe it is a little lighter and more nimble on the foot than the XA Pro, and testers describe it as an easy, comfortable all-rounder rather than a hardcore stability shoe. The GORE-TEX membrane and Contagrip outsole cover the essentials for UK trail and light hillwalking.
The usual Salomon notes apply: a secure, fairly narrow fit that slim feet love, standard lace-up rather than Quicklace on this model, and a shoe that feels most at home on trail and hard-pack rather than deep mud. Owners rate it highly for the money and it is a sensible pick if you want the Salomon feel without the XA Pro price.
If you want more shoe and are prepared to pay for it, look at the Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GTX as the leather alternative in this family. The leather upper is more supportive and hard-wearing than the Pioneer's textile, at a little more weight and cost, and the 360 platform is the same one I trust in the mid boot version for wet and winter days. It is the step up for hikers who want a tougher, longer-lasting Salomon shoe.
- Weight
- ~390g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- GORE-TEX
- Outsole
- Contagrip
- Fit
- Secure, runs narrow to medium
- UK price
- ~£120 (Pioneer), ~£150 (360 Leather)
4. KEEN Targhee III WP (best for wide feet)
If you have wide or high-volume feet, start here. KEEN is the brand that built its reputation on a roomy toe box, and the Targhee III is the low-cut hiking shoe hikers with broad feet keep coming back to. Where a Salomon clamps your foot down, the Targhee gives your toes room to splay, and for a lot of people that is the difference between a shoe they can wear all day and one they cannot.
It is more than a wide fit, though. The KEEN.DRY membrane with a PFAS-free water repellent handles UK wet, the KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber grips well on mixed ground, and the rubberised toe bumper and supportive build make it feel protective and planted under a day pack. Owners consistently report it as comfortable out of the box and hard-wearing. It is on the heavier side at around 500g per shoe, and testers note the grip is good rather than class-leading on the wettest rock, but as a wide-footed hiker's default it is excellent.
Alongside it, KEEN now sells the Targhee IV. The headline change is KEEN.FUSION construction, which fuses the upper to the sole without glue for a bond KEEN guarantees will not delaminate, plus cushioning that resists packing out. It is the most durable Targhee yet and worth the look if longevity is your priority, though it is heavier again at around 546g and costs a little more. The III remains the value pick of the two, and the fit ethos is the same.
- Weight
- ~500g per shoe (Targhee III, men's)
- Waterproofing
- KEEN.DRY membrane, PFAS-free DWR
- Outsole
- KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber
- Lug depth
- ~4mm multi-directional
- Fit
- Wide, roomy toe box
- Toe protection
- Rubberised bumper
- Available widths
- Standard and Wide
- UK price
- ~£120
Read the full KEEN Targhee III review →
5. KEEN NXIS Evo WP
The NXIS Evo is KEEN's answer to hikers who want the brand's comfort and fit ethos in a lighter, faster, more athletic package than the Targhee. At around 425g per shoe it is noticeably nimbler underfoot, and the lower drop of roughly 8mm and softer, springier feel make it the KEEN to pick for covering ground quickly rather than plodding under a heavy load.
What sets it apart is how light and flexible it feels underfoot: an engineered knit mesh upper with TPU overlays, a springy dual-density EVA midsole and a lower drop of around 8mm give it a running-shoe feel the Targhee does not have. The KEEN.DRY membrane keeps it waterproof. Testers like it as a light, breathable-feeling waterproof shoe with a still-generous KEEN fit.
The trade-off versus the Targhee is protection and outright durability. There is less shoe here, the grip is good rather than aggressive, and it suits trail and moderate ground better than gnarly rock. If you want a lighter KEEN with a roomy fit and a bit of pace, this is the one.
- Weight
- ~425g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- KEEN.DRY membrane
- Outsole
- KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN rubber
- Lug depth
- ~4mm multi-directional
- Heel-to-toe drop
- ~8mm
- Midsole
- Springy dual-density EVA
- Upper
- Engineered knit mesh with TPU overlays
- UK price
- ~£130
6. The North Face Hedgehog 3
The Hedgehog is The North Face's long-running hiking shoe and it has earned its place by being a firm-footed, protective waterproof shoe at a sensible price. This is the low-cut shoe version rather than the mid boot, and it is aimed squarely at hikers who want a stable, supportive shoe for mixed trail and light hillwalking without paying premium money.
The grippy rubber outsole is the pick of the spec: a multi-directional lug pattern that holds well on wet rock and hard ground and wears slowly, which is not always a given at this price. A midfoot shank and added stiffness through the toe give it a supportive, planted feel on rough ground, and the DryVent membrane keeps UK wet out reliably. Testers describe it as a comfortable, firm, no-drama hiking shoe.
It is a firmer, less plush ride than the Moab, so if you want soft cushioning this is not it, and the fit runs to a standard width with no wide option. For a supportive, well-priced GORE-TEX shoe with a Vibram sole, it is a strong value pick.
- Weight
- ~430g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- DryVent membrane
- Outsole
- Grippy rubber, multi-directional lugs
- Support
- Midfoot shank, stiffened toe
- Fit
- Standard width
- UK price
- ~£125
7. La Sportiva Spire GTX (premium and technical)
The Spire GTX is the technical shoe in this group and the one to buy if your walking pushes into rougher, steeper, more demanding ground. La Sportiva come from a mountain and climbing background, and it shows in a precise, performance fit and a shoe that feels stable and confident where softer hiking shoes start to feel vague.
Two things set it apart. The outsole is Vibram XS Trek with an Impact Brake System lug design that bites hard on descents, and it edges on rock and holds on steep ground far better than a typical trail shoe. The waterproofing is GORE-TEX Surround, which runs ventilation channels through the sole for 360-degree breathability, so it is the rare waterproof shoe that stays comfortable when things warm up. At around 420g with a low 6mm drop, it feels agile and connected to the ground.
It is the most expensive shoe here and it earns that on technical terrain, not gentle towpaths, so it is overkill for easy trails. The fit is precise and snug in the La Sportiva way, which suits a medium to slim foot and not a broad one. For scrambly, rocky, mountain-adjacent hiking, this is the pick.
- Weight
- ~420g per shoe (men's US9)
- Waterproofing
- GORE-TEX Surround (highly breathable)
- Outsole
- Vibram XS Trek with Impact Brake System
- Lug depth
- 5mm
- Heel-to-toe drop
- 6mm (32mm heel / 26mm toe stack)
- Fit
- Precise, performance, medium to slim
- UK price
- ~£185
8. Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite (best budget)
The Bodmin is the honest budget option, and it is worth being clear about what that means. At around £43 it is a fraction of the price of the Moab, and it is the shoe to buy if you walk occasionally, are new to hiking and not ready to spend £100-plus, or want a knock-about pair you are not precious about. What you get for the money is a waterproof walking shoe from a familiar UK brand that will get you round a coast path in the dry.
The spec tells the story. The Weathertite membrane keeps out light wet, the Duragrip rubber outsole and Phylon midsole cover the basics, and the suede and mesh upper is comfortable enough for shorter days. It does the job it is priced to do.
Where you feel the gap to the Moab is over distance and in the wet. The cushioning is firmer and less refined, the Weathertite membrane is not as durable or breathable as GORE-TEX and tends to give in over time and hard use, and the grip and support are adequate rather than confident on rough or slick ground. This is a shoe I am informing you about rather than pushing you towards: if your budget really stops at the £40s it is a sensible buy, but if you can stretch to the Moab or a Salomon, the extra outlay buys real comfort, grip and durability you will notice on every walk.
- Waterproofing
- Weathertite membrane
- Outsole
- Karrimor Duragrip rubber
- Midsole
- Phylon EVA
- Upper
- Suede and mesh
- UK price
- ~£43
Lightweight hiking trainers and trail shoes
These are the faster, lighter end of the field: trail trainers built for pace and soft ground rather than load-carrying and rough rock. If you like to move quickly, run the flat sections, or want the lightest thing that still grips, look here.
9. Salomon Speedcross 6
The Speedcross is my own low-cut shoe for dry days and it has its own full review, so I will keep this short and send you there rather than repeat myself. In brief: it is an aggressive, deep-lugged trail shoe that is superb on soft, muddy and steep ground, the kind of Purbeck and coast-path terrain where a shallow tread skates. The Contagrip Mud outsole and deep chevron lugs bite into ground that defeats a normal hiking shoe, and the narrow Salomon fit and Quicklace lock the foot down for fast, uneven walking.
It is not waterproof in the standard version, though a GTX one exists, and those deep soft lugs are made for mud, not hard rock, where they feel less stable and wear faster. For dry-day speed and soft ground it is one of the best trail shoes going, and the full detail is in the review.
- Weight
- ~300g per shoe (men's)
- Waterproofing
- Non-waterproof (GTX version available)
- Outsole
- Contagrip Mud, deep chevron lugs
- Heel-to-toe drop
- 10mm
- Fit
- Narrow, locked-down, Quicklace
- UK price
- ~£130
Read the full Salomon Speedcross 6 review →
10. adidas Terrex Trailmaker 2 GORE-TEX (best waterproof)
These are my own shoes and I have worn them for three years, so this is the one entry here I can write from real mileage rather than research. I did not even buy them for hiking. I bought them to stop my feet freezing while I stood in long wet grass watching my son play football, and with a pair of warm socks they were so good at that job that I started reaching for them everywhere.
Here is the honest turnaround they caused. I was a committed lightweight, breathable-trainer hiker who accepted wet feet in even light rain as the price of a fast, airy shoe. I was sceptical that a waterproof shoe would be worth the heat and the weight. The Trailmaker converted me. I was shocked at how well they kept my feet dry, and once I trusted them I started wearing them on the Jurassic Coast and other trails on any day I did not want a boot. The waterproofing earns its place the moment conditions turn, which in the UK is often.
They are amazingly grippy. The Continental rubber outsole holds on wet chalk and grass in a way I did not expect from a shoe at this price, and I have never felt let down by them on a descent. They are a little heavier than my Speedcross, and over a long hike you do notice it, so if outright lightness is your priority the Speedcross wins. But for a do-most-things waterproof trail shoe, the small weight penalty is a fair trade.
On durability, they have earned my trust. Three years of near-constant use, football touchlines, trails and everything in between, and only now has a small area at the front started letting a little moisture in. For the punishment they have taken, that is remarkable, and it is why they are my pick for the best waterproof shoe here and the one I still wear all the time.
- Waterproofing
- GORE-TEX
- Outsole
- Continental Rubber, wide-spaced lugs
- Midsole
- EVA
- Fit
- Standard, secure
- UK price
- ~£90
11. adidas Terrex Anylander Rain.Rdy (best value waterproof)
The Anylander Rain.Rdy is the budget waterproof pick from adidas, and it lands at around £60, which undercuts almost every membrane shoe here. It is aimed at the hiker who wants dry feet on wet UK trails without spending £100-plus, and on the numbers it makes a strong case for the money.
The waterproofing is adidas RAIN.RDY paired with a gusseted tongue to seal out splashes, mud and light rain, and the Traxion outsole gives a confident grip on mixed ground. A cushioned EVA midsole and a well-padded, supportive collar make it comfortable straight away, and owner ratings for it are strong. For a casual-to-regular hiker on the coast path or downland in the wet half of the year, it covers the essentials.
What you give up against the pricier shoes is refinement and long-haul durability. The RAIN.RDY membrane is not GORE-TEX and adidas do not publish the same wear guarantees, the cushioning is good rather than plush over very long days, and it is a lighter-duty shoe than a Moab or a Salomon on rough ground. As a value waterproof shoe for typical UK walking, though, it is hard to beat at the price.
- Waterproofing
- adidas RAIN.RDY membrane, gusseted tongue
- Outsole
- Traxion
- Midsole
- EVA
- Fit
- Standard, padded supportive collar
- UK price
- ~£60
Walking shoes at Blacks
Prices pulled live from Blacks, updated daily. Links are affiliate links.
Scarpa Men's Ribelle Cross 2 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Shoe
£165
Merrell Men's Moab Adventure 3 Waterproof Walking Shoes
£125
Merrell Women's SpeedARC Matis Hiking Shoe
£160
Salomon Men's Barrakee Outdoor Shoes
£59.97
adidas Terrex Men's Multi CLIMAWARM Half Zip Fleece
£65
Merrell Men's Moab Speed 2 Walking Shoes
£99.97
New Balance Women's Fresh Foam X Hierro Trek Shoes
£99.97
Altra Men's Olympus 6 Trail Running Shoes
£131.97
Every shoe compared
| Shoe | Type | Waterproof | Best for | Approx price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrell Moab 3 | Rugged hiking shoe | GORE-TEX or non-WP | All-round UK day hiking, wide feet | ~£100 |
| Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 GTX | Rugged hiking shoe | GORE-TEX | Stability on rough, mixed ground | ~£140 |
| Salomon X Ultra Pioneer GTX | Rugged hiking shoe | GORE-TEX | Affordable Salomon all-rounder | ~£120 |
| Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather GTX | Rugged hiking shoe | GORE-TEX | Tougher, longer-lasting Salomon | ~£150 |
| KEEN Targhee III WP | Rugged hiking shoe | KEEN.DRY | Wide feet, roomy toe box | ~£120 |
| KEEN NXIS Evo WP | Light hiking shoe | KEEN.DRY | Lighter, faster KEEN with roomy fit | ~£130 |
| The North Face Hedgehog 3 | Rugged hiking shoe | DryVent | Supportive value, grippy sole | ~£125 |
| La Sportiva Spire GTX | Technical hiking shoe | GORE-TEX Surround | Rough, steep, rocky ground | ~£185 |
| Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite | Budget walking shoe | Weathertite | Best budget, occasional use | ~£43 |
| Salomon Speedcross 6 | Trail shoe | Non-WP (GTX option) | Soft, muddy ground and fast days | ~£130 |
| adidas Terrex Trailmaker 2 GTX | Trail trainer | GORE-TEX | Best waterproof, grippy all-rounder | ~£90 |
| adidas Terrex Anylander Rain.Rdy | Light hiking shoe | RAIN.RDY | Best value waterproof | ~£60 |
Frequently asked questions
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