05 Wet Feet & Winter Best picks
Best Waterproof Hiking Boots
Ranked by membrane, width options and how they hold up on wet, muddy trails, not by brand name.
- By
- Mike M.
- Updated
- Method
- How we choose
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never decides the ranking: the method is published. Affiliate disclosure
Quick picks
The short answer
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Sold in Wide for both men and women on a Vibram TC5+ outsole, so it fits the most feet without giving up durability. | Best overall waterproof boot | 7.5 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 02 | Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Waterproof (B-DRY) Regular and Wide for men and women at an 8 mm drop, lower than most of this list's 11-12 mm mids. | Best for wide feet, lower drop | 7.3 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 03 | Merrell Moab 3 Mid GORE-TEX The GORE-TEX version of the Moab 3 Mid, for hikers who want published pore-size specs instead of an unnamed in-house membrane. | Best for a named, independently specced membrane | 7.2 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 04 | KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof KEEN.DRY membrane with a Wide width sold in both the men's and women's version, not just men's. | Best wide sizing for both men and women | 7.1 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 05 | Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX An Advanced Chassis and quickLACE lacing built for quick pace changes, with a men's E - Wide. | Best for fast, technical hikers | 7.1 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 06 | Danner Mountain 600 4.5" Full-grain leather built to be resoled and rebuilt rather than replaced, on a Vibram SPE midsole. | Best recraftable leather boot | 7.0 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 07 | Danner Trail 2650 Mid GTX A 28 oz-per-pair GORE-TEX mid at an 8 mm drop, lower and lighter than most leather boots here. | Best lightweight leather-mix mid | 6.9 / 10 | Check price on Amazon |
#ad · Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Scores are ours, compiled from published specs, widths and warranty terms against this page's problem, not lab tests. Photos are stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
What actually keeps feet dry in a boot
A waterproof hiking boot works by lamination, not by the outer material alone: a membrane sits between the upper and the lining, blocking liquid water while still letting some water vapor escape. That's true whether the boot uses GORE-TEX or a brand's own in-house membrane like KEEN.DRY or B-DRY. See waterproof vs. non-waterproof hiking boots for the full trade-off if you haven't already decided a waterproof boot is the right call for your trails. Assuming it is, the differences that matter between waterproof boots are width range (a membrane doesn't fix a boot that's too narrow), drop and outsole, and whether the membrane is independently specced or an unnamed in-house one.
How we ranked these for wet trails
We used the site's default rubric: problem fit (30%, meaning how directly the boot addresses wet trails) and fit range (25%, since a great membrane in a boot that doesn't come in your width isn't a fix) carry the most weight, then support (20%), durability (15%) and weight (10%). Every score comes from the published specs on each product's own page, not from wearing the boots ourselves; see how we choose for the full rubric.
In detail
Every pick, in full
01
Stock photoBest overall waterproof boot
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
Built for
Sold in Wide for both men and women on a Vibram TC5+ outsole, so it fits the most feet without giving up durability.
Widths sold: Men's Medium, Wide; Women's Medium, Wide
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 8
- Support & protection (20%)
- 7
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 7
- Weight (10%)
- 6
What it gets right
- Sold in Wide for both men and women
- Vibram TC5+ outsole with 5 mm lugs
- Pig suede leather and mesh upper over a molded nylon arch shank
What it doesn't
- Membrane is unnamed, so there's no third-party waterproof rating to check
- Check the Amazon listing: it may not stock every width
- Stack height not published
Skip it if…
…you hike mostly in hot, dry weather: a membrane slows drying and adds heat, and the breathable Moab 3 Mid does the same job cooler.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
02
Stock photoBest for wide feet, lower drop
Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Waterproof (B-DRY)
Built for
Regular and Wide for men and women at an 8 mm drop, lower than most of this list's 11-12 mm mids.
Widths sold: Men's Regular, Wide; Women's Regular, Wide
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 8
- Support & protection (20%)
- 6
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 7
- Weight (10%)
- 6
What it gets right
- Regular and Wide for both men and women
- 8 mm drop, lower than the Moab 3 Mid's 11.5 mm or the Targhee IV Mid's 12 mm
- Adaptive Cushioning midsole with an O FIT triple-density EVA insole
What it doesn't
- B-DRY is Oboz's own membrane, not GORE-TEX
- Zappos's men's page showed D - Medium only, although Oboz lists a Wide
Skip it if…
…you want a GORE-TEX membrane and a Vibram outsole: the Sawtooth X Pro Mid GTX has both, in Standard width only.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Oboz Sawtooth X Mid Waterproof (B-DRY)
03
Stock photoBest for a named, independently specced membrane
Merrell Moab 3 Mid GORE-TEX
Built for
The GORE-TEX version of the Moab 3 Mid, for hikers who want published pore-size specs instead of an unnamed in-house membrane.
Widths sold: Men's Medium, Wide; Women's Medium
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 7
- Support & protection (20%)
- 7
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 7
- Weight (10%)
- 6
What it gets right
- GORE-TEX membrane
- Men's Wide sold as a separate product
- Pigskin leather and mesh upper with a recycled mesh lining
What it doesn't
- Women's version comes in Medium only
- 11.5 mm drop, high if you prefer a flatter shoe
Skip it if…
…you're a woman with wide feet: the women's GORE-TEX version is Medium only, while the Moab 3 Mid Waterproof comes in women's Wide.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Merrell Moab 3 Mid GORE-TEX
04
Stock photoBest wide sizing for both men and women
KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof
Built for
KEEN.DRY membrane with a Wide width sold in both the men's and women's version, not just men's.
Widths sold: Men's standard, Wide; Women's standard, Wide
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 8
- Support & protection (20%)
- 6
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 6
- Weight (10%)
- 6
What it gets right
- Wide versions for both men and women
- KEEN.FUSION bonded (glue-free) construction; PFAS-free
- KEEN says its KEEN.RUGGED outsole is twice as abrasion-resistant as rubber
What it doesn't
- Upper material not stated on the checked KEEN pages
- Check the Amazon listing: it may not stock every width
- KEEN doesn't say whether its weights are per shoe or per pair
Skip it if…
…you want a GORE-TEX membrane: KEEN.DRY is KEEN's own in-house membrane.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to KEEN Targhee IV Mid Waterproof
05
Stock photoBest for fast, technical hikers
Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX
Built for
An Advanced Chassis and quickLACE lacing built for quick pace changes, with a men's E - Wide.
Widths sold: Men's D - Medium, E - Wide; Women's B - Medium
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 7
- Support & protection (20%)
- 7
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 6
- Weight (10%)
- 6.5
What it gets right
- Men's E - Wide version
- Advanced Chassis with an All Terrain Contagrip outsole
- quickLACE lacing
What it doesn't
- Men's weight, drop, stack and shaft height not published on Zappos
- Women's version comes in B - Medium only
Skip it if…
…you're a woman with wide feet: Zappos lists the women's version in B - Medium only.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX
06
Stock photoBest recraftable leather boot
Danner Mountain 600 4.5"
Built for
Full-grain leather built to be resoled and rebuilt rather than replaced, on a Vibram SPE midsole.
Widths sold: Men's D - Medium; Women's (Mountain 600 4.5")
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 7
- Fit range (25%)
- 6
- Support & protection (20%)
- 7
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 9
- Weight (10%)
- 6
What it gets right
- Recraftable full-grain leather
- Vibram SPE midsole with a nylon shank
- Vibram Fuga (MegaGrip) outsole and OrthoLite footbed
What it doesn't
- Only D - Medium seen for men; no wide width confirmed
- Danner and Zappos disagree on shaft height (4.5 in vs 7 in) and upper (full-grain leather vs suede)
- Amazon search results for it also show the Mountain 600 Evo GTX, so check the model name before buying
Skip it if…
…you need a wide width: only men's D - Medium was listed, while the Mountain 600 Evo 4.5" GTX adds EE - Wide.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Danner Mountain 600 4.5"
07
Stock photoBest lightweight leather-mix mid
Danner Trail 2650 Mid GTX
Built for
A 28 oz-per-pair GORE-TEX mid at an 8 mm drop, lower and lighter than most leather boots here.
Widths sold: Men's D - Medium; Women's version sold
Published specs (tap for source)
- Problem fit (30%)
- 8
- Fit range (25%)
- 6
- Support & protection (20%)
- 7
- Durability & warranty (15%)
- 6
- Weight (10%)
- 7
What it gets right
- 28 oz per pair
- Danner Trailguard TPU shank and EXO Heel System
- Vibram 460 Megagrip outsole
What it doesn't
- Suede-and-textile upper and not recraftable, unlike Danner's Mountain 600 line
- Only D - Medium seen for men; no wide width confirmed
Skip it if…
…you need a wide width: Zappos lists men's D - Medium only and Danner's page showed no width options.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Affiliate disclosure for the link to Danner Trail 2650 Mid GTX
Fit notes for wet trails
Wide feet are common enough in this category that most of these boots are sold in a Wide option; check the product's own widths line rather than assuming, since some (like the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX) only publish a Wide for men, not women. A membrane also adds a small amount of bulk over a non-waterproof version of the same boot, so if you're between half sizes, size for the waterproof model specifically rather than reusing a non-waterproof size. Lace a waterproof boot the same way you would any other: a heel-lock wrap through the top eyelets keeps your foot from sliding forward on wet, muddy descents, which matters more on slick trails than on dry ones. Pair the boot with a wool or synthetic wicking sock rather than cotton, since a membrane that's keeping rain out can also trap sweat on a warm day, and a gaiter closes the gap at the collar that no waterproof upper can seal on its own; see the best hiking gaiters if puddles or wet brush are getting in from the top rather than through the boot itself.
Who should skip all of these
If you mostly hike hot, dry trails, a waterproof membrane is working against you: it holds in more heat and sweat than a breathable non-waterproof boot for very little upside. If your hikes involve frequent creek or river crossings deep enough to go over the boot collar, a waterproof membrane traps that water inside once it gets in, and a non-waterproof boot or trail runner will drain and dry faster instead. And if your main concern on wet trails is ankle stability rather than dryness, cross-check the width and support notes here against the best hiking boots for ankle support, since a boot built primarily for lateral stability isn't always the same pick as one built primarily to keep water out.
How we chose
Units we claim to have tested: 0
Everyone in this category says they tested it. We didn't, and we say so. Every pick is scored from the brand's published specs, width and size charts, warranty terms and cited research, against the problem this page is about. The sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
Scores are editorial judgments from that published data, not lab results. Nobody pays for placement, and a missing spec is scored neutral, never guessed. The full rubric is on How We Choose.
- Problem fit
- 30%
- Fit range
- 25%
- Support & protection
- 20%
- Durability & warranty
- 15%
- Weight
- 10%
The weights this page used for its scores.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are waterproof hiking boots worth it?
Do waterproof hiking boots run true to size?
Can waterproof hiking boots be resoled or re-waterproofed?
What's the difference between GORE-TEX and a brand's own waterproof membrane?
Do wide feet need a different waterproof boot?
Keep going
Related fixes and picks
- Waterproof vs. non-waterproof hiking bootsThe full trade-off behind this list, for hikers still deciding.
- Best hiking gaitersCloses the collar gap a waterproof upper can't seal alone.
- Merrell Moab 3 waterproof vs. non-waterproofThe Moab 3 Mid Waterproof head-to-head with its breathable sibling.
- Best hiking boots for ankle supportIf lateral stability matters as much as staying dry.
Update log
What changed
- First published.
Receipts
Sources
- 01GORE-TEX: The GORE-TEX Membrane, What It Is and How It Works (accessed Sep 2026)
- 02GORE-TEX: Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Care (accessed Sep 2026)
We don't test boots, shoes or gear, and we don't pretend to. Specs, widths and materials come from the brand's own pages (or a named retailer's listing where the brand doesn't publish them); health information comes from the research and professional bodies linked above. Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.