Hiking – it’s hardly the most stylish of pastimes. Even a properly handsome bloke like David Gandy isn’t going to look his best covered in sweat and mud, halfway up Scafell Pike, squatting behind a boulder, trying to take a tactical pee while several sheep stare on. But if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it in the best hiking boots around.

How did clothing from an outdoorsy hobby become one of the most unlikely fashion trends? Think about it: rain jackets, in; fleece, in; technical backpacks, in; and hiking boots, most definitely, in. The latter in particular has rambled off the slope and onto the street in a similar way that sneakers sprinted off the sports field and into the wardrobes of the everyman.

Of course, we’re not talking about the sort of clunkers your old geography teacher might have recommended for a field trip. Examples that slot seamlessly into an existing rotation place form slightly ahead of function, but can still hold their own in harsh conditions.

The Best Hiking Boots for Men

The best hiking boots from men come from brands like The North Face, Merrell, Sorel, and Keen. If you’re looking for boots you can transition from the mountains into the streets, keep on reading.

Fracap

When Antonio Cappello handcrafted his first pair of boots back in 1908, unbeknownst to him, he was starting a family trade that would still be going strong more than a century later. Every pair of Fracap boots is thoughtfully handmade at the family’s factory in Tuscany using only the finest locally sourced vegetable-tanned leather.

Having kept pace with the modern world, today the firm allows shoppers to completely customize their own pair of boots online, right down to the laces and D-rings. When it comes to the best hiking boots, why not buy from the best?