Before I went on a 46-mile hike through Utah and Arizona, I’d never backpacked.
I wouldn’t have made it without these Wirecutter-recommended hiking boots.
2024 was my year of trying new things, I’d decided, when I agreed to the trip in January, though I didn’t fully realize what I was agreeing to. When I asked my enthusiastic boyfriend where we would shower over our four-day trek, he let out a snort and stopped himself before asking if I was serious.
Of course I wasn’t, I said. But I don’t think I remembered to laugh.
Unsurprisingly, I had none of the things necessary for such a trip. While the hiking backpack and tent could be borrowed from experienced friends, the shoes could not. None of the Birkenstocks or sneakers I used to traverse subway stairs were adequate for the slot canyons and valleys of the American Southwest, where I would be crossing rivers, walking through sand flats, and even scaling the occasional boulder.
And so I consulted the Wirecutter guide to hiking boots and decided on the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex Hiking Boots, which were not just the top pick but also inoffensive enough for me to wear around the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, where I live.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that these boots are the best purchase I’ve made this year.
Our pick
These versatile boots offer trustworthy traction, top-notch cushioning, and the widest toe box of any that we tested. Though they’re best suited for longer treks with heavier packs, they are comfortable to wear on hikes of any length.
