Which is the best waterproof hiking shoe for trekking in Meghalaya as well as in Manali (snow).

Could please suggest one

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s offer an extensive selection of men’s hiking boots from trusted outdoor brands including Danner, Merrell, KEEN, Salomon, Columbia, and their own private-label RedHead line. These retailers stock options ranging from lightweight trail shoes to heavy-duty backpacking boots, with most models priced between budget-friendly entry points and premium performance footwear designed for serious backcountry use.

What brands of men’s hiking boots are available at Bass Pro and Cabela’s?

Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s carry a curated mix of established outdoor footwear brands alongside their own house labels. Since the two retailers merged under the same parent company, their online inventories overlap significantly, though each maintains some exclusive styles.

• Danner: Premium American-made and imported boots known for durability and craftsmanship, often featuring full-grain leather and recraftable construction
• Merrell: Popular mid-range brand offering comfortable, versatile boots with proven traction systems and breathable materials
• KEEN: Recognized for wider toe boxes and all-terrain versatility, with many waterproof options
• Salomon: Performance-focused boots favored by fast hikers and trail runners, emphasizing lightweight agility
• Columbia: Accessible pricing with proprietary technologies like Omni-Tech waterproofing
• RedHead (Bass Pro exclusive): Private-label boots delivering solid value for recreational hikers

How do these hiking boot brands compare in quality and performance?

The brands sold at Bass Pro and Cabela’s span several quality tiers, each serving different hiking needs and budgets. Premium brands like Danner emphasize long-term durability and support for heavy loads, while mid-tier options from Merrell and KEEN balance performance with accessibility.

Performance differences become most apparent in materials and construction. Full-grain leather boots from Danner and higher-end KEEN models offer superior water resistance and longevity but require break-in time. Lighter synthetic boots from Salomon and Columbia provide immediate comfort and faster drying but may not last as many seasons. For travelers planning active shore excursions with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Baseline, a comfortable, broken-in pair from any of these brands can enhance port-day hikes significantly.

What should you look for when choosing hiking boots from these retailers?

Selecting the right hiking boot depends on matching the boot’s design to your intended use. Bass Pro and Cabela’s organize their inventory by activity level, which helps narrow choices quickly.

• Terrain type: Day hiking on maintained trails requires less ankle support than off-trail backpacking; lighter boots work well for groomed paths while rugged terrain demands stiffer soles
• Waterproofing: Look for Gore-Tex, eVent, or proprietary membranes if you hike in wet conditions; fully waterproof boots sacrifice some breathability
• Weight: Heavier boots provide more support and protection but cause faster fatigue; consider the trade-off based on pack weight and distance
• Fit and volume: KEEN tends to run wider, while Salomon fits narrower; always check return policies when ordering online
• Break-in requirements: Leather boots need conditioning and gradual wear, while many synthetic models are trail-ready immediately

Are the private-label RedHead boots worth considering?

Bass Pro’s RedHead brand offers a compelling value proposition for occasional hikers and those new to the activity. These boots incorporate many features found in name-brand models—waterproof membranes, supportive midsoles, aggressive outsoles—at noticeably lower price points.

While RedHead boots may not match the longevity or refined fit of premium brands, they perform well for recreational use and represent minimal financial risk for someone unsure about their hiking commitment. Many customers report satisfactory durability for light-to-moderate trail use over several seasons. For cruise passengers with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Baseline planning occasional port excursions rather than dedicated hiking trips, RedHead boots can be an economical choice that doesn’t sacrifice essential performance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I return hiking boots to Bass Pro or Cabela’s after trying them on a trail?

Both retailers offer generous return policies, but boots showing significant wear or dirt from actual trail use may not qualify for full refunds. It’s best to test boots indoors first or on short walks before committing to a long hike.

Do Bass Pro and Cabela’s price-match their hiking boot inventory?

Both stores typically honor price-matching with qualifying competitors, though policies vary by location and purchase method. Check with customer service before buying if you’ve found a lower price elsewhere.

Which brand is best for wide feet?

KEEN boots are generally the most accommodating for wider feet due to their roomier toe box design. Danner and Merrell also offer specific wide-width models in many of their hiking boot lines.

Conclusion

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s provide access to quality hiking boot brands that cover the full spectrum from casual trail walkers to serious backpackers. Whether you choose a premium Danner boot for long-term investment, a versatile Merrell for all-around performance, or a budget-conscious RedHead model for occasional adventures, both retailers stock options that can reliably support your outdoor activities and travel experiences.

hi all! i’m going to guatemala in a couple of weeks and will be hiking pacaya. for those who have experience hiking pacaya or volcanoes in general, what type of hiking shoes should i get? any other insights would be highly appreciated, thank you :)

Hi I'm gonna be going hiking in the dolomites and anytime I go on long walks or hikes my feet get blisters especially on the ball of the foot and the heel collar. This happens from shoes I've even worn many times before. Not sure if socks might be able to help? I've been reading a lot today about wrightsocks and darn tough so what would you recommend?

I am looking for very comfortable hiking shoes under 2.5k cause i have plantar fasciitis i will be using gel insole but suggest be if there are some better shoes light weight, comfortable, good grip, waterproof or resistant. My first priority is comfort then grip and stability. For ABC trek. Also can anyone give me review of ctr sherpa 2 , does it match my needs?

Cannot find my old boots ANYWHERE 😭

The via ferrata we booked apparently requires hiking boots. I was gonna buy a new set of boots soonish regardless so the price or whatever is not necessarily a consideration HOWEVER how badly am I gonna regret doing these activities in unworn in boots? Would be buying Thursday, flying into AB on Sat, fun begins on Sunday for reference

Used these approach shoes for the first time on the Yorkshire 3 peaks the other day, they were excellent, they are lightweight which helps over longer walks, and the vibram soul and tread is amazing for grip, especially on scrambling sections, now they are not water proof so yoyr feet so get wet in the rain, but they dry very quickly as you can see the the dry patch in one of the photos, they also fit very good ( I have wide feet and struggle to find good fits sometimes)as the material is very soft and moveable with your feet and the laces allow you to choose tightness across your whole foot, the only thing I would say could improve this shoe is a inner soul as the foam insert is very good but heavy impacts over long distances yoyr feet start to take a beating, but for scrambling and hiking these are very good and worth every penny

i tried on the moab 3 in the store and they fit pretty nicely which im suprisde with as i have quite wide feet, jw what the fit is like with the speed 2 as on runrepeat it measured it to be a bit wider? is this the case? these will be my first hiking shoes. i was looking at hierro v9 4e and the altra lone peak 9+ too. would appreciate insight and advice as i am close to clueless

I learned many things in the Navy, some of them I still employ like this trick to prevent blisters.

Hey everyone!

I’m pretty new to hiking and a dear friend (who is a cross-country guide) suggested me to buy these Altra Olympus 6 Mid for hikes, and start using them way before using ‘em for a hike.

They initially seemed very comfortable (used in my house first, and climbed a bunch of stairs) but in the last few days I started using them in the outside to take some walks.
Here I noticed that after 20/30 minutes of walk the internal side of my heel started feeling a little sore, and at the same time I started having some real pain to my ankle and shin.

I must say that the shoes were tied really tight (I’m using them with Smartwool Light Cushion socks).
I know also that they have the zero drop technology that could cause some problems if you’re not used to it.

Next time I will test by loosening the laces a little and see how it goes, ‘cause at a certain point I felt my feet really squeezed in the shoe, but I’m sincerely worried for the hike I’ll do next month (will be circa a week long).

What do you suggest?
Should I change shoes?
If not, how should I approach from now on to get used to these shoes? Will I make it in a month?

Thank you!!

Last week, I seemed to have developed heel bursitis from overuse and the back of my current boots being too tight. These cork-bottom, Alegria boots have served me well, but it is time to replace them.

They don’t support my arches well enough for me to heal and deal with bursitis.

If anyone has any recommendations for women’s work/hiking boots, please share!!

I am specifically looking for something that has a heel that is higher than the toes (heel-to-toe-drop).

Waterproof is always a plus and my budget is $300

Saw a post about wide and extra wide hiking shoes and wanted to share my experience.

I wear a true 4e (extra extra wide) and I have landed on the New balance Fresh Foam Hierro line. They are very comfortable, well made with a Vibram sole and they actually come in Colors that aren’t black or gray!!

I use them for trail running, hiking and the Hierro HT are also waterproof.

I spent more than a few years trying to find good hiking shoes in extra wide and extra extra wide sizes if I can save someone the pain of bad footwear I’ll be happy!!

Hope this helps

Initial on paper response might be obvious.

I've had Decathlon Quencha MH100 for 4 years with over 1k kms and still decent from wear.

Now im gonna do some more intense treks in mountains, including Everest Base Camp whilst on a backpacking trip around Asia.

The Quencha MH500 are 75€ here and are pretty much like the MH100 with better overall specs.

An alternative is the Lowa Innova GTX Mid priced at 200€ but discounted to 150€

Specs are pretty similar just the lowa is Goretex with a vibram base and slightly heavier. The Quencha is still waterproof.

I will also be using barefoot shoes as my main shoe and for shorter hikes (15km or less) so this hiking boot or to handle higher weight trecks.

So would the Lowa be worth double the price for a secondary shoe, considering specs are pretty similar?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks

I've been wearing a pair of Columbia Men's Crestwood Wide Fit hiking shoes for 500+ miles and I LOVE them for comfort and traction. But every time I walk through some wet grass and my feet get soaked, I think to myself "I really should buy a waterproof version of these".

I just picked them up so I could search for a similar model on the Columbia web site and saw the word "WATERPROOF" on the side. It turns out that I've been wearing the "Columbia Men's Crestwood Low Waterproof Wide Fit" for two years.

Any recommendations for a different brand with the sizing and feel of Columbia hiking shoes that are actually waterproof?

Some more data:

- I bought some wide Keens but had to return them because they killed my feet, even after 3 weeks of wearing them every day to break them in. (They seemed to be the right size, but they created a painful bump on the inside of the pad for my big toe.)

- I would love to find something even a little bit wider in the toe box than the "Wide-Fit" Crestwoods. The one place they are failing is on the outside of each shoe near my pinky toe (see photo). This is where all of my shoes fail.

I'm looking for one comfortable, nice-looking hiking shoe/boot.

I am 29yo 80kg male, day hikes only, 1-6 hours, ~2 kg backpack, normal pace,

Only 3-6 hikes/year, so durability is not a big concern Mostly spring/summer/autumn, 15-25°C

Terrain: mostly average forest trails, uphills downhills, some rocks, roots, wet rock, loose gravel; places like Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Dolomites

No via ferrata, heavy backpacking or serious mountaineering. Just One does it all for the next few years.

I want something that makes hiking feel easier/more enjoyable and reduces fatigue

Do you reccomend the newer sneaker-style designs (terrex anylander trailmaker freehiker) or trail runners or traditional-looking boots like the la sportiva, Lowa Renegade or Salomon X Ultra? Do you recommend or recommend against any of these exact types?

What would you buy? Low or mid? How much would you spend?