In this article, I will cover the best leather hiking boots. After I discussed the best leather hiking boots, I will give you a more in-depth explanation as to what is important in a leather hiking boot. Additionally, I will talk about the benefits and the downsides of leather boots for hiking.
List of the best leather hiking boots
All of the boots on this list will be leather hiking boots. However, some of them might not be all-leather, this will result in a more versatile list where everyone can find a shoe that they like.
Vasque St. Elias GTX
Price: $$ | Weight: 2.55 lb
Let’s start the list with my favourite all-leather hiking boot, the Vasque St. Elias GTX. These shoes are comfortable, waterproof and have great traction. However, the most impressive feature of these shoes is the durability.
The only “bad” thing that I can say about these shoes is that they are slightly heavier than most of the alternatives. Sure, all-leather boots tend to be heavier, but even among all-leather boots, these shoes are pretty heavy.
All things considered, these would be my number one recommendation for all-leather long distance hiking boots.
Vasque shoes are covered by a year long limited warranty. That said, there is not really a big chance that you will need the warranty.
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Durability
- Traction/grip
Cons:
- A bit heavy
These shoes are available for both men and women on amazon:
Men: Vasque Men’s St. Elias GTX
Women: Vasque Women’s St. Elias GTX
Timberland White Ledge
Price: $$ | Weight: 2.25 lb
The second leather hiking boot on the list is the Timberland White Ledge. Most of you will know timberland as a fashion brand (think about the timberland classics). However, they actually do have very good hiking boots as well.
These shoes are 100% leather and are completely waterproof. They look good, they are comfortable, they are affordable and they are very lightweight for a full-leather hiking boot. Perfect hiking boots for casual walking and occasional day hikes.
When it comes to long distance trails, I would recommend other leather hiking boots over this one. These shoes are not as durable as some of the other options on this list. Timberland does come with a warranty, but it’s limited and it only lasts one year.
Additionally, the grip of these shoes is not that great for harder trails where you really need that traction.
let’s take a look at the pros and cons summarized:
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Lightweight for an all-leather boot
Cons:
- Mediocre grip/traction
- Not very durable
Want to learn more about timberlands as a hiking boot? Feel free to check out my article on the topic: Are Timberlands good for hiking?
In case you are interested in the latest price, these shoes are available on amazon:
Men: Timberland Men’s White Ledge Boot
Women: Timberland Women’s White Ledge Boot
Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $$$ | Weight: 2.9 lb
The next hiking boot on the list is made from a combination of nubuck leather and nylon mesh. The fact that this shoe is not 100% leather is really not an issue. The Salomon Quest 4D is waterproof, comfortable, warm and has good traction.
These shoes are not as durable as the Vasque St. Elias GTX and they are pretty expensive. But except for that, there aren’t really a lot of negative things to say about these shoes.
One more thing, these shoes might not be the best choice for hiking in summer, simply because they are so warm. That said, some hikers don’t seem to have any trouble with these shoes on hot days, this really differs from hiker to hiker…
I would recommend these shoes for any hiker who isn’t on a tight budget and who won’t be using these during the summer months. The overall quality of these shoes are very good, they perform good on any type of terrain.
The Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX hiking boots are covered by a limited 2 year warranty.
I will include a quick overview of pros and cons:
Pros:
- Best overall
- Comfortable
- Waterproof
- Traction/grip
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can be too warm for summer
These shoes are available on amazon:
Men: Salomon Men’s Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots
Women: Salomon Women’s Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots
Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II
Price: $ | Weight: 2 lb
The next hiking boot is my favourite all-leather budget options. I even placed the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus 2 as my first recommendation on my other article about hiking shoes: The best cheap hiking shoes.
These shoes are very good value for money. As most all-leather hiking boots, these are completely waterproof. They are also comfortable, lightweight and provide good ankle support.
One of the only downsides of these boots is that these shoes are not as durable as one of the more expensive pairs like the Vasque St. Elias GTX. If you are planning on hiking a lot of miles in your leather hiking shoes, the Vasque St. Elias boots might be a better choice.
These shoes are even better value for money than the Timberland White Ledge, but they don’t look as good. That said, if you will only use your hiking shoes for actual hiking, looks don’t matter that much anyway.
Let’s take a look at a quick overview:
Pros:
- Lighter than most alternatives
- Completely waterproof
- Shorter breaking-in period than most alternatives
- Good arch support
Cons:
- Not made for people with wide feet
- Less durable than most alternatives
In case you are interested in the latest price, these can be found on amazon:
Men: Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II
Women: Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II
Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
Price: $$ | Weight: 2 lb
If you liked the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots, but you are looking for a lighter alternative that is also suited for hiking during summer, you might like Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots.
These boots are thinner and less stable than the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots, but they are a lot lighter. Some hikers even compared these boots to trail runners with additional ankle support. A great choice if you are looking for a lightweight leather hiking boot. I’m sure that this is the best leather hiking boot for certain hikers out there.
If you are looking for a leather boot that shares some characteristics with a trail runner, this is your best option.
Note that these shoes are not 100% leather, but a mix of leather and synthetic material.
Pros:
- Lighter than most alternatives
- Very good overall hiking boot
- Best hybrid (trail runner/hiking boot)
Cons:
- Less waterproof than all-leather alternatives
- Thinner/less stable than most alternatives
These shoes can be found on amazon:
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots
Price: $$$ | Weight: 2.6 lb
The Lowa Renegade is another great hiking boot that is made with a mix of leather and synthetic material.
They are mainly praised because they are very comfortable. However, these shoes are also completely waterproof, provide plenty of ankle support and have a great grip/traction.
The only real downside is that these boots are not extremely durable… and they do come with a pretty steep price tag. After multiple long distance trails, the most common complaint is about the delamination of the sole.
I still prefer the Vasque St. Elias GTX hiking boots over this pair. However, if you are looking for a similar alternative, these shoes are probably the best choice for you.
These shoes are also covered by a limited 1 year warranty. Note that some hikers did mention that they had some trouble with the warranty service.
Pros:
- Very comfortable
- Good grip/traction
- Waterproof
Cons:
- Mediocre durability
- Rather expensive
In case you are interested in the latest price, these shoes can be found on amazon:
Men: Lowa Renegade Men’s GTX Mid Hiking Boots
Women: Lowa Renegade Women’s GTX Mid Hiking Boots