You would think that searching for something as simple as waterproof wide-fitting hiking boots would result in plenty of options. The shops are full of boots but once you specify your criteria the choice quickly narrows.
My criteria was simple:
- Waterproof (ie GORE-TEX® or similar)
- Wide-fitting hiking boots
- Medium or high cut (for sturdy ankle support in alpine environments)
I searched high and low. There was not much advice online, and in the local hiking shops the huge choice on display was quickly narrowed down once I said what I was looking for. It’s definitely worth going to a reputable hiking store where they have people who can give you advice based on experience, rather than the general high street stores which are focussed more on sales.
After much research the conclusion was a choice of these brands for waterproof wide-fitting hiking boots:
- Salomon: I went with model Quest Prime GTX which are fantastic. Very comfortable width-wise and they’ve been easy to wear in. Sturdy as well as lightweight. They have Contagrip soles which is their equivalent of Vibram.
- Update October 2022: after purchasing my 2nd pair of Salomons (after many years) for a particularly tough trek in Pakistan I’m happy to report that they stood up to the test – waterproof, comfy and sturdy enough to survive 2 weeks of glacier walking. Compare this to Trevor’s new Asolo boots – while they provided him with great ankle support, the stitching fell apart after a week! Luckily some of the porters on the trek were also good cobblers 🙂
- Vasque: having used a pair of Vasque boots for the last 5 years I can vouch for their comfort and robustness, plus the Vibram soles are good grip. This time I tried model Breeze III GTXÂ but unfortunately did not feel as roomy as the Salomons
- Keen: American brand which is commonly known for wide-fitting boots, but I couldn’t find any to suit. I already have a pair of lower cut hiking shoes (Targhee II) which are a bit clunky but basically ok
- Possibly Merrell, as these come up in internet searches for wide-fitting hiking boots but I didn’t find any available locally that met all of my criteria
There are probably other brands out there that also offer waterproof wide-fitting boots, especially American brands which do seem to cater more for wide feet compared with the European brands.
Other brands we’ve heard of that offer a wide-fit option are Zamberlan, Lowa, Oboz, One Planet and Hoka One One.
Another idea for women is to try men’s boots, which can be a wider fit.
For good advice on hiking equipment, see the hiking stores we recommend.
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Happy travels!
Emma
