FREE SHIPPING. NO MINIMUM ORDER. NO END DATE. "Highest Customer Satisfaction among Online Apparel Retailers" by J.D. Power and Associates
Skip to page content
Shopping Bag
Added to Your Shopping Bag
Close

Accessing Shopping Bag

Accessing Shopping Bag

Choosing Hiking Boots

On the trail, footwear is your most important piece of gear. Here's how to choose the best boots or shoes for your needs.

Play

CHANNELS: Men's , Women's

  • Stowaway Rain Jacket with Gore-Tex

    Stowaway Rain Jacket with Gore-Tex (01:28)

  • Bean's Insulated Fleece Jacket

    Bean's Insulated Fleece Jacket (01:21)

  • Pathfinder Soft-Shell Jacket

    Pathfinder Soft-Shell Jacket (01:09)

  • Super 200 Cresta Fleece

    Super 200 Cresta Fleece (01:01)

  • Cresta Hiking Boots

    Cresta Hiking Boots (01:57)

  • Bean Boots by L.L.Bean

    Bean Boots by L.L.Bean (02:19)

  • Bean's Chamois Cloth Shirt

    Bean's Chamois Cloth Shirt (01:00)

  • Katahdin Iron Works Heavyweight Sweatshirt

    Katahdin Iron Works Heavyweight Sweatshirt (01:18)

  • Katahdin Iron Works Apparel

    Katahdin Iron Works Apparel (01:33)

  • Katahdin Iron Works Nor'easter Sweatshirt

    Katahdin Iron Works Nor'easter Sweatshirt (00:54)

  • Layering for Warmth and Comfort

    Layering for Warmth and Comfort (01:55)

  • Comfort Ranges

    Comfort Ranges (01:31)

  • Ultralight 850 Down Jacket with DownTek

    Ultralight 850 Down Jacket with DownTek (01:37)

  • Baxter State Parka

    Baxter State Parka (01:29)

  • Maine Warden's 3-in-1 Parka with Gore-Tex

    Maine Warden's 3-in-1 Parka with Gore-Tex (02:00)

  • Ascent Outerwear Collection

    Ascent Outerwear Collection (01:50)

Choosing Hiking Boots

Hi. I'm Anne from L.L.Bean's footwear development department, and I'm here today to talk to you about how to choose a hiking boot. Footwear is the single-most important piece of hiking equipment you'll need. When choosing your footwear, start by identifying the type of hiking you'll be doing. The most popular types are day hiking and backpacking. A day hike might be anything from a brief morning stroll to a multiple mile trail in a national or state park.

Your footwear should be lightweight, flexible and protective, like our Trail Model Hikers. The Trail Model comes in a low-cut style and a mid-cut style that provides more ankle support. It's designed to fit comfortable right out of the box, with plenty of cushioning. On a longer or more challenging hike, you need to be prepared for changing weather and varying trail conditions, like rocks, mud and tree roots. Look for a higher-cut boot that provides extra ankle support and protection.

These Gore-Tex Cresta Hikers have been our most popular backpacking boots for years. They're expertly crafted, durable, and fully waterproof, and have an aggressively lugged Vibram outsole for reliable traction in any conditions. Backpacking boots should feel snug but comfortable. A good hiking boot will conform to your foot over time, so you'll want to break them in a bit before you take them out on a long hike.

At L.L.Bean, we have hikers to fit every activity, whether you're headed out for a walk in the park or backpacking in the mountains, choosing the right footwear is the first step toward an enjoyable hike.


Free Shipping. No minimum order, no end date, just free.
Free Shipping. No minimum order, no end date, just free.

EVERYDAY FREE SHIPPING We proudly offer free shipping and handling in the US and Canada. Free Shipping will be applied automatically to all qualifying orders — no minimum purchase, coupons or promotion codes are required.

Most packages in the contiguous US will arrive in 2 to 5 business days.* Estimated delivery times for AK, HI, APO/FPO, US possessions and Canada will be provided during checkout. Not valid for Direct to Business orders or some international locations.

EXPRESS DELIVERY If you need your order sooner, we offer an expedited two-day* service for a fee. Available to most US addresses. Add $15 per address in the contiguous US and $17 per address in AK and HI.

OVERSIZED DELIVERY CHARGES A small percentage of our large items requires oversized delivery charges; those charges are listed on the product page and are also displayed in your Shopping Bag.

*Monogramming, special services and certain items shipped directly from our suppliers may require more time. We will notify you when you place your order.