The 6 Best Waterproof Barefoot Hiking Boots

Vivobarefoot Tracker Textile AT

Frankly, I’ve always liked the look of Vivos more than many other barefoot shoes, and that goes for Vivobarefoot hiking boots, too. They’re sleek, they’re stylish, and the whole brand is not only super focused on the science and health of natural foot function, but also sustainability. And the new Tracker Textile AT is no exception. It looks serious but without being clunky and overbuilt. 

They may require a bit of a break-in period as the uppers seemed stiff out of the box and the tongue created a few pressure points on my ankles, but in other Vivo shoes we’ve tested, that has faded with time and use. The Tracker family of boots have a different groundfeel than some of our other favorite Vivo boots like the Magna Lite. While those are light, breathable, and ultra flexible, the Tracker Textile is designed to be more robust, especially in the sole, which is less flexible than on most of the brand’s other footwear designs. On the upside, that denser sole means it’s also more protective. Which means if you don’t want to feel every single rock or deviation in the terrain, these may be a better fit for you.

I like to feel it all, so I found the soles a bit dense and inflexible. But that’s me. The traction was excellent, though on dry or wet terrain. Find a more in-depth review here.

Sustainability: The uppers and laces are made with almost entirely recycled materials, Vivo is a B-Corp, has a repair and resale platform, and is transparent with their mission and efforts.

Sizing and more: Available in sizes 4.5-11 for women and 7-15 for men. Black for women, black or green for men.

Pros

• Street smart style
• Durable sole
• Good traction
• Waterproof

Cons

• Less ground feel and flexibility than other options
• May need broken in
• Expensive

Xero Shoes Scrambler Trail Mid WP

The Scrambler Trail Mid WP is a more affordable alternative compared to the Scrambler Mid II WP we reviewed last year. This one doesn’t have the eVent membrane or Michelin sole, but honestly, we can’t tell a difference. These use Xero’s new XeroTex waterproof membrane and the soles seem just as durable and grippy.

The soles and uppers offer plenty of flexibility while still offering adequate protection from the ground up. The soles are more dense than some other Xero Shoes we’ve tested, but still move freely and are solid enough to keep us from feeling every little pebble underfoot.

Plus, they look super sleek. They come in three colors for men and women and a wide range of sizes. They’re not designed for super wide feet, but they have more wiggle room than some other barefoot shoes we test that seem to suit narrow feet better (like Vivobarefoot). Find a more in-depth review here.

Sustainability: Xero’s main focus is on making shoes that last; they come with a 5000-mile sole warranty. Plus the brand supports the Tarahumara Children’s Hospital in Mexico and is transparent about their carbon emissions. PFAS-free and vegan.

Sizing and more: Available in sizes 5-12 for women and 6.5-15 for men, including half sizes. Three colors available for each.

Pros

• Comfortable right out of the box
• Decent flexibility and groundfeel
• Several colors available
• Waterproof
• Good tread

Cons

• Less sustainably made than other options

Bahé Rediscover Grounding Boot

The Bahé Rediscover boots are a solid workhorse of a waterproof barefoot boot. They feel durable and like they’re going to stand up to plenty of seasons of abuse, are rugged, protective, have dense soles, and while they’re not as light or flexible as other barefoot boots, still offer a zero-drop sole and wide toe box for functional movement and foot-shaped comfort. Plus they’re pretty dang warm in the cold, and waterproofing is solid.

However, the main feature is that they’re grounding boots, which means you can practice earthing even with your boots on thanks to conductive material in the sole and footbed. Find a more in-depth review and explanation of grounding here.

Due to a wider footbed, heel cup and toe box, they may be better suited for those with average or wider feet, but they still functioned fine for smaller feet. They weren’t as flexible as other options, but if you’re looking for a solid pair of protective boots for the winter, you could certainly do worse than the Rediscover. Especially if you’re OK trading a bit of ground feel for an extra sturdy sole.

Sustainability: Outsole made of 65% natural rubber, Insole EVOCO’s FATES Bio-foam with 72% bio-content, Upper 100% recycled nylon ripstop /polyester mesh, recycled polyester laces, rubber heel and toe reinforcements. PFAS-free and vegan.

Sizing and more: Available in sizes 5-14 for women and 4-13 for men, four neutrals available.

Pros

• Grounding/earthing capabilities
• Extra wide toe box
• Good traction
• Waterproof

Cons

• Less flexibility and ground feel than other options

Lems Boulder Summit

If there’s a barefoot boot that’s as stellar a performer on trail as it is stylish on the sidewalk, it’s the Lems Boulder Summit Waterproof. In fact, the OG Lem’s boot, which we tested a while back, instantly became our favorite fall boot for it’s lightweight comfort and flexibility (is it a boot or a slipper with laces?!). The Summit is a bit different, though.

This one has more aggressive tread and a higher stack height, which means it lost some flexibility and groundfeel, but we still rank it high for functionality and comfort. That said, we’ll call this one more of a minimalist boot than a barefoot boot. Mostly because the sole isn’t as flexible as we’d like and the toe box could be bigger. That said, after testing it for everything from hiking in the snow to snowshoeing to wandering around town, this is Josh’s go-to boot for cold weather adventure travel and cool, wet weather adventures.

Sustainability: Boots are PFAS-free and the Nitro color, which is made of durable Nylon, is vegan.

Sizing and more: Available in sizes 6.5-12 for women and 5-15 for men. Vegan option only available in one color: Nitro (grey).

Pros

• Available in a wide range of sizes
• Functional
• Street smart style
• Waterproof

Cons

• Only available in one color
• Not as flexible in the sole, no groundfeel

Feelgrounds Patrol Winter

While the Feelgrounds Patrol Winter may have been designed less as a purpose-built hiking boot and more of a sleek shoe that could seamlessly transition from trail to tavern, we did some light hiking in these in cold weather (including in snow) and are big fans of not only how surprisingly flexible the soles are, but how warm they kept our feet to at least freezing. In fact, they may be the most flexible with the softest sole of all the boots on this list.

Plus, they’re waterproof (and include a tongue gusset) and look just as stylish on-trail as off. They’re lined with a soft fleece for extra warmth, come with a vegan felt insole, and are nice and light, which means they’re supremely packable. (There’s also an unlined Patrol Lite for milder weather.) The tread isn’t as aggressive as other options listed here, but for an around-town shoe that’s also perfectly capable on easy hikes, leisurely cycles, and more, I can’t get enough.

Sustainability: While most of the boot isn’t made of particularly sustainable materials, the lining and laces are, and the whole boot is vegan and PFAS-free.

Sizing and more: These are unisex boots and come in 6 classic neutrals in women’s size 5 – men’s 15.

Pros

• Excellent groundfeel for a boot
• Super flexible sole
• Comfortable right out of the box
• Stylish

Cons

• Tread not as aggressive for hiking