There are few pieces of menswear more stylish, classic and masculine than a good pair of boots.
The problem is that the most stylish options are often the least comfortable.
For instance, a refined pair of ankle boots with a pointed toe and a leather sole can look as sophisticated as a sleek pair of dress shoes, but hurt like hell after a full day of pounding the pavement.
And a rugged boot with a rounder toe and some chunky soles isn’t much better.
They can add some (much appreciated) bad-assery to casual looks, but can also be so heavy and bulky that they make short stints feel like long days on your feet.
[image: Wolf & Shepherd]
The good news is that modern technology has (finally) come to the fashion world, and in recent years a few brands have found an innovative solution to this age-old problem:
The sneaker boot hybrid.
As their name implies, sneaker boot styles combine the best parts of traditional boot types, like a rugged leather upper, with the thick rubber soles of sporty sneakers, resulting in a unique style that’s equal parts kick-ass and comfortable.
To help you find the best sneakerboots to suit your style, tastes and budget, in this post I’ll round up more than a dozen of my favorite sneaker boots, and break down what makes each one worth shelling out for.
The (Absolute) Best Men’s Sneaker Boots
Rounding Up the Most Stylish & Supportive Sh*t Kickers on the Market
At a Glance↓
You can read about our top picks below, but here’s a quick summary of our findings:
Most Stylish Sneaker Boots:
Wolf and Shepherd Crossover Hiker
Best Sneaker Boots for Work:
Wolverine Rev Ultraspring Durashocks
Best Waterproof Sneaker Boots:
Sorel Men’s Mac Hill Mid LTR Waterproof Shoe
Best Winter Sneaker Boots:
Puma X-Ray Speed Mid Winter
Best Hiking Sneaker Boots:
Columbia Men’s Flow Center Sneaker
Most Stylish Sneaker Boots ↓
Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Hiker
Rating:
Features:
✅ Full-grain Italian leather upper
✅ Removable memory foam footbed
✅ Available in 6 colors
Advantages:
Quite possibly the best-looking pair of sneaker boots on the market, Wolf & Shepherd’s Crossover Hiker combines the hearty leather upper of trench boots with a rubber, high-traction outsole that works just as well on backcountry trails as it does on city streets.
What I love about this particular hybrid style is how seamlessly it combines the style of a bad-ass boot with the comfort of a sneaker.
In the style department, they’ve got a refined toe box that makes them look more sophisticated than typical trench boots or tactical boots, and use the kind of full-grain Italian leather usually only reserved for the best boots and dress shoes.
In terms of comfort, they’ve got a removable memory foam footbed that offers sneaker-like support, and Wolf & Shepherd’s WTZ “toothGrip” outsole, which provides even more grip than regular sneakers.
The result is a versatile and thoroughly modern take on a casual style staple, and arguably one of the most versatile boots for the daily life of modern men.
Promising Review:
These shoes are amazing… Next level comfort meets very cool styling.
If you wanted, you could go for a run in these shoes, or a hike, but they’re too good looking so you’ll want to take better care of them than that. I’m going to be buying more.
– Scott M.
Best Sneaker Boots for Work ↓
Wolverine Rev Ultraspring Durashocks
Rating:
Features:
✅ BOA Fit System
✅ Dual-density footbed
✅ ASTM ASTM F2413-18 M I/75 C/75 EH Rated
Advantages:
If ever there was a place where sneaker boots were needed, it’s a job site, where protective footwear is a must, but even the most comfortable work boots can’t compare to a supportive pair of shoes.
Fortunately for guys who spend full days on their feet, Wolverine’s Ultraspring model combines a removable, dual-density PU footbed and high-rebound ETPU midsole with a composite carbon max toe that’s rated ASTM F2413-18 M I/75 C/75 EH.
In addition to support and safety, the Ultrasprings also provide a ton of stability and control thanks to the onboard BOA fit system, which uses a unique dial system to fasten the boot and provide the best possible fit.
Promising Review:
The look intrigued me and then I wore them. They are super comfortable and I can stay on my feet all day.
I work in manufacturing so literally everything I walk on is concrete and steel. The BOA system is great! Easy on, easy off. Incredible boot!
– John Schultz
Best Waterproof Sneaker Boots ↓
Sorel Men’s Mac Hill Mid LTR Waterproof Shoe
Rating:
Features:
✅ Waterproof uppers made from full-grain leather and suede
✅ Removable molded EVA footbed
✅ Available in gray, brown and black leather
Advantages:
Sorel’s Mac Hill model combines a waterproof leather and suede upper with a molded rubber heel clip and waterproof membrane, resulting in a high top sneaker boot that will keep your feet bone dry.
While these are billed as a hybrid between hiking boots and trail sneakers, they can work just as well in the city, where they’d make a pretty attractive alternative to traditional rain boots in wet weather.
Promising Review:
These boots are amazing!!!!! They are super light for a hiking boot. They actually look like a nice pair of running shoes when worn with normal jeans, which I did several days to break them in.
– Lukcoa
Best Winter Sneaker Boots ↓
Puma X-Ray Speed Mid Winter
Rating:
Features:
✅ Soft fleece lining keeps feet warm on cold days
✅ Lug sole for strong grip
✅ Lightweight construction
Advantages:
Speaking as a style-conscious Canadian, I have a love/hate relationship with winter boots.
Sure, snow boots are great at protecting my feet from nasty winter weather, which we get a lot of here, but they’re also clunky, heavy and kind of annoying to get on and off.
That’s why I appreciate Puma’s entry into the winter-ready footwear category, which combines the lightweight materials of classic sneakers with a soft fleece lining and Puma’s “SoftFoam+” sockliner, making them warm enough to get you through the colder months in style.
In addition to the lining, they also have a lugged sole with acetate “teeth” that provide a solid grip on icy surfaces, and a mid-cut height that helps them get on and off with the ease of a sneaker.
Promising Review:
Super comfortable and warm. Read another review about the shoes running big but I usually wear a 9 and bought a 9 and they fit perfect!
– Randall Dale
Best Hiking Sneaker Boots ↓
Columbia Men’s Flow Center Sneaker
Rating:
Features:
✅ TechLite lightweight midsole
✅ High-traction all-terrain grip
✅ Available in 6 colors
Advantages:
Hiking is another category with lots of boots that provide protection and stability, but often at the expense of flexibility and excess weight.
By contrast, Columbia’s Flow Center sneaker boot has earned a ton of good reviews from hikers because it strikes the perfect balance between rugged traction and lightweight design.
The upper is made from breathable synthetic material that helps keep them light, while the outsole has Columbia’s “omni-grip” traction, which is designed to provide enough grip for trail runners while being versatile enough to use in the city.
Promising Review:
I was a bit skeptical buying these last minute for my Germany trip, best decision. They are so lightweight, comfortable, adaptable to variety of environments.
Did a 10km hike then did 4 hours of rock climbing and they were performers. Very surprised and impressed.
– AlphaDelta
Best of the Rest
Above we’ve laid out our top picks for the best sneaker boots for various purposes, and explained the main reasons why they’re worth adding to your shoe collection.
But they’re hardly the only ones on the market. To give you a wider variety of options, below we’ve rounded up a few more models that might be better suited to your style, tastes and budget.
Beckett Simonon Toledo Chukka Sneakers
Rating:
Features:
✅ Flat rubber sole, like a classic gum sole
✅ Vachetta leather lining
✅ Available in 6 colors
Promising Review:
Great color, leather, style and rubber. Very comfortable.
– Denis G.
Marc Nolan Aiden Combat Boots
Rating:
Features:
✅ Calfskin Leather and Sheepskin Suede Upper
✅ Great for every day wear
✅ Available in 11 colors
Promising Review:
These look even better in person!
I thought from the look of them and the fact they were combat boots they’d be heavy and stiff.
These are surprisingly light and comfortable. Great quality show stoppers for sure.
– Dennis J.
Clark’s Gravelle Top
Features:
✅ Comes in medium or wide foot type
✅ Available in 3 colors
Johnston & Murphy Upton Chukka
Rating:
Features:
✅ Removable memory-foam insole
✅ Double-stitched leather welt
Promising Review:
I tried many different brands of chukkas and J&M was in a class of its own for style AND comfort.
Other brands may have better or similar style, but if you want to be comfortable too, pick the J&M chukkas
– Darin
Wolf and Shepherd Crossover Mid
Rating:
Features:
✅ Full-grain Italian leather upper
✅ Rubber-coated leather mudguard
✅ Available in 5 colors
Promising Review:
Would recommend buying 10/10!! Super comfy and great looking. Many compliments.
– Kip M.
Johnston & Murphy Lug Knit Chukka
Features:
✅ Temperature-regulating polymers
✅ Lightweight EVA lug sole
Seavees Maslon Desert Boot
Rating:
Features:
✅ Memory foam footbed with airflow channels
✅ “Power grip” outsole made from natural rubber
✅ Available in 6 colors
Promising Review:
Really, really comfortable…. and they look great, too!
– David J
Sperry Commodore Plushwave Chelsea
Features:
✅ Full-grain leather and soft nubuck upper
✅ Lambskin lining
✅ Available in 2 colors
Seavees Beyond and Back Chelsea Boots
Rating:
Features:
✅ Upper made from rugged oiled leather
✅ Collab with adventure photographer Jeff Johnson
✅ Available in 2 colors
Promising Review:
These boots are the friggin best. Looks good with everything! Super comfy and a great fit.
– Clay T
North Face Men’s Larimer
Rating:
Features:
✅ OrthoLite sockliner
✅ Surface control rubber outsole
Promising Review:
Great to wear for those slushy snow days. Feet stay nice and dry and are comfy enough to wear all day.
– Dave
Adidas Terrex Swift R 2 Hiking Boot
Rating:
Features:
✅ Gore-tex membrane provides waterproofing
✅ Continental Rubber outsole for grip on wet surfaces
Promising Review:
They are super comfortable and have a great arch. I love have they hold up to dirt and water.
I have got these shoes muddy several time and have washed them off with a hose while still wearing them and didn’t get any water inside.
– Willie Toombs
Altra Lone Peak Hiker
Rating:
Features:
✅ DuraTread outsole
✅ Altra EGO midsole
Promising Review:
Most comfortable shoe I’ve ever owned. Thick tread for demanding hiking/scrambling but super light.
– Joel
The Recap ↓
Summary
Quite possibly the best-looking pair of sneaker boots on the market, Wolf & Shepherd’s Crossover Hiker combines the hearty leather upper of trench boots with a rubber, high-traction outsole that works just as well on backcountry trails as it does on city streets.
More Resources ↓
More Advice on Stylish (and Sh*t-Kicking) Men’s Boots:
- The Best Men’s Chukka and Desert Boots Available Online
- In-Depth Thursday Boots Review
- The Absolute Most Comfortable Work Boots
- The Most Stylish Casual Boots to Wear with Jeans
- The 9 Best Red Wing Boots for Men to Own
- The 21 Most Supportive Insoles for Work Boots
- The Most Comfortable Steel Toe Boots for Standing All (Damn) Day
- In Review: Johnston & Murphy’s Karnes Cap Toe Boot
- The Must-Have Boot Styles for All Men’s Wardrobes
- The Absolute Best Chelsea Boots for Men
More Advice on Stylish Men’s Shoes:
- The 33 Best Men’s Dress Shoe Brands
- The Most Stylish & Essential Types of Shoes for Men
- The Best Men’s Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
- The Best Men’s Shoes for Standing All Day
- The Absolute Best Shoes (& Shoe Colors) to Wear with Khakis
- The Most Comfortable Golf Shoes for Walking the Course
- The Most Stylish, Comfortable & Best Shoes for Male Teachers
- Our Favorite Cap Toe Oxford Dress Shoes for Men
- The (Absolute) Best Monk Strap Shoes for Men
- The Must-Have Mens Fall Shoes for When the Weather Turns
- The Best Red Bottom Dress Shoes for Men
- The Best Shoes for Men to Wear with Joggers
- The Most Stylish & Comfortable Pair of Men Dress Shoes
- The Most Stylish Shoes for Men to Wear with Jeans
- 10 of the Comfiest White Sneakers for Men
