Top 10 Navy SEAL Hiking Boots

Check out our list of the Top 10 Navy SEAL hiking boots and you make the decision which is best for your feet. Many of our athletes and Special Forces candidates want to know exactly what exactly is the best footwear that the Navy SEAL uses in training and overseas.

What is working out in the field vs what is not?

What combat boots effectively keep the feet dry in all situations?

What carried us through brought terrains?

Sometimes in the morning, we would be in dive booties and later that afternoon in 8-inch specialized boots hiking in the jungle.

Training demands equipment are harsh as Navy SEALs train rigorously and work in unforgiving terrain. The boots must be able to keep up with the stringent requirements of stability, comfort, and versatility.

…knowing what Navy SEALs look for in their boots is a better question than asking what we wear during missions.

Our website is veteran-owned and reader-supported. When you buy through our links we may receive a commission that helps keep our business open. If you click on any link we may get a commission from Amazon.com which helps keep gas in the truck and the lights turned on. So if you want to help a disabled veteran – click the link and buy toilet paper in bulk.

You need to make sure that the boots you want to buy have the following characteristics:

Breathable materials
Premium quality shock absorption unit
Padded soles
Vents
Waterproof
Superior ankle support
Oil and slip-resistant soles

Tall vs Short Boots

The difference between wearing a 6-inch or an 8-inch boot is significant. Your comfort level will be different in both boots.

6-Inch Boots

Shorter boots are lighter in most instances, and they feel natural to the feet.

Even though these shoes are shorter, they offer excellent ankle support.

6-inch boots are stable for hiking or running through rough terrain. These boots endure the long-distance just fine.

Moreover…

Running is easier in a 6-inch boot. This will not be the case if the build of the boot makes it heavier than an 8-inch boot.

Because they are shorter, 6-inch boots are more supple and flexible. Navy SEALs often have to move quickly.

8-Inch Boots

These boots are generally heavier, but they offer more stability.

These boots are the best choice when you are carrying something heavy.

8-inch boots are your friends when you have to cut through thick undergrowth or hiking under severe weather.

You will experience excellent ankle support.

This is something you need because ruck marching with an ankle sprain is not a problem you want to have.

Wear 8-inch boots…

…if your activity requires you to keep a slow and steady pace under harsh conditions.

If you still need to know more, check out this list of Navy SEALs hiking boots and footwear that we’ve prepared for you and your questions.

So what brand lightweight hiking boots do Navy SEALs wear?

Check out the list below and see our favorites.

Our site is veteran-owned and is reader-supported. When you buy through our links we may receive a commission that helps keep our business open.

#10 UNDER ARMOUR MICRO G VALSETZ:

These boots are very lightweight, well-drained, provide ankle protection and great traction, and are considered high-performance water shoes.

The Under Armour Valsetz is similar to the old New Balance Abyss Boot and would be more of use for ship boarding, beach recon work, oil rig demolition, etc.

That is why it is ranked #10 as it is more of a water boot than a hiking boot.

You can hike in this lightweight boot but you would not want to go into rugged mountain terrain long distances with a real heavy pack unless I had to. New Balance does have a beefier boot that I own and train in. It is a great boot for ruck march training in hilly terrain.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

Question: What is a good way to protect your toes and feet from getting blisters during hiking?

Put this on your toes and feet and add a good pair of socks and you will be good to go.

We know guys who have used this cream and gone through GORUCK and Spartan Races with no blisters at all.

You can pick up a tube or Trail Toes for about $13 and this is cheap insurance to protect your feet. My buddy got blisters on his toes and I let him borrow a little bit. I bailed him out and he bought me beers later so it was a good deal for both of us.

Check price at Amazon.com

#9 Palladium Pampa Hi Canvas Boot

The Palladium hiking boot also falls into the ship boarding, beach recon hiking boot also.

But if you had to hike a few miles on the beach and jungle, I would carry these.

I personally wore a similar 1980s version of the Palladium Pampa Hi Canvas Boot for dive work and knocking around the base and occasional jungle patrol.

Good for their use – but I would not load up a 100-pound pack and hike through rocky terrain with these boots.

I also don’t set these down as they are a hot commodity and may sprout legs and runoff.

Check price at Amazon.com

Question: What is the best boot for a GORUCK event or just a ruck march?

Answer: We like New Balance, Lowa Zephyr, Rocky C4T as these boots have been used by our athletes on ruck march events recently in the past few years. We have seen many athletes wearing a lot of different shoes and clothing at GORUCK.

Some of the guys that do them will often wear just a good pair of trail running shoes with excellent wool socks.

#8 SALOMON QUEST 4D

It is noted that many of the Special Forces guys like to wear Asolo and Salomon Boots.

These are a lot beefier and you can carry a large pack in rugged rocky terrain without worrying about turning your ankle.

I used a similar boot to this when I went through a climbing school while I was in the Navy. This is beefy boot but it will really protect your feet and ankles and give you alot of support.

Both have Gore-Tex (waterproof, breathable skin) and their boots accept orthotic insoles.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

A question was asked this week:

“What are the most popular boots in the SEAL team?”.

During the 1970s and 80s, it’s probably the Altama jungle boot. Nowadays it’s mostly the Bates 922.

Question: What about Salomon shoes vs Merrill shoes?

Answer: Both are good so you’ll just have to find out which one fits your feet and needs the best.

#7 BLACKHAWK TRIDENT ULTRALITE

The 6″ Trident UltraLite Boot is constructed of rugged 600 denier ballistic nylon with leather reinforcements for a secure, breathable fit.

The Blackhawk Trident Ultralights have a mid-shaft design wraps around the ankle, while a phylon midsole and aggressive outsole provide unparalleled cushioning and traction. The Trident UltraLite Boot is light but tough.

From a 30-year veteran SEAL: “I used the Blackhawk Desert Warrior boot in the summer and Merrell Moab Polar in the winter. I used these on 3 deployments to Afghanistan and had no issues with them tearing up or getting frozen.

Both carry a fully loaded ruck well.”

Check price at Amazon.com

Question: What kind of socks do Navy SEALs wear?

We get issued these thick dive socks. But you can also pick up a specialty hiking or diving sock in the supply gear locker also.

Guys wear these on operations, long hikes, inside a dive boogie as cushioning…they get used a lot. We also wore those same socks in BUD/S training.

Check price at Amazon.com

#6 OAKLEY SI6

I like the Oakley SI boot a lot and have observed it being worn occasionally by guys training out in the field.

Lightweight, drains well.. and oh yeah.. it looks good.

If you are not out training on a mission you can still wear these into town with a pair of shorts. Oakley puts together a great product.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

The key is…

to have a boot that will stand up to a lot of abuse. But you may wear a beefier lugged boot if you are hiking long distances with a load vs if you were in an urban assault for a quick hit and run mission.

#5 NIKE SFB

This is reportedly the new boot that is being tested out at BUD/S right now.

I observed a pair being worn by the sentry at BUD/S last fall.

Lighter than the Bates 922 but not sure how good they will hold upcoming in and out of the surf and being ground down by sand.

Only time will tell over varied conditions if these hold up as well day in day out.

Check price at Amazon.com

#4 LOWA ZEPHYR

The Lowa brand is great as it has a wide selection from desert to mountains to lightweight.

The Elite Desert is tough, breathable, and lightweight but has been discontinued.

So for now, we would go with the Lowa Zephyr boot.

This high-performance boot is used by the British Army under the harshest conditions.

I personally own a pair of these and have used these to ruck long distances with a load and for odd jobs around the house.

They are super comfortable and of good value as they will last a long time. If you need to clean them, just take out the water hose and spray them down.

You can read the SGPT Gear Review for the Lowa Zephyr here

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

#3 DANNER ACADIA

These were standard issues in the 1980s for the SEAL Teams and are excellent for long-range hiking and harsh conditions.

I was issued a pair that was all black, but others were brown leather with a tan gore-tex liner. We would wear these Danner Acadia boots during a lot of different training scenarios. You may be rappelling out of a helicopter and these boots would be great.

Later in the afternoon you may be going skydiving and they would be really good for that also. Most times you would see other operators use them to go to the shooting range or on a training mission that had some ruck hiking.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

But be really careful with these boots…

…as I once got these too close to a fire to dry them out and the whole toe box caved in and really messed up my feet trying to hike out of the mountains. I try to take better care of my boots now and let them dry indoors with a fan.

Question: I am trying to pick out a pair of boots, what kinds of terrain do Navy SEALs train in?

Answer: The SEALs train in the ocean, mountains, desert, jungle, and swamps so they use several different boots for varied terrain.

#2 BATES DURASHOCK

These have been used at BUD/S for a decade-plus and have been a go-to boot in the Teams.

It is not the lightest or most hi-tech but will always get the job done.

These boots have been worn by thousands of BUD/S candidates and hundreds of Team Guys over the years.

The Bates Durashock is an all-around workhorse for about any situation.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

#1 VASQUE JUXT

The Vasque Juxt was used on the mission to destroy Osama Bin-Laden.

It’s known to be very lightweight and low with no ankle protection.

SEAL Team Six guys wore gaiters (very lightweight) over their pants leg and top to hiking boots to keep out sand and debris.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet

Runner-Ups

Vietnam era Jungle Boots
These boots were worn in BUD/S back in the ’70s and ’80s and issued to guys in the Teams – especially those going to jungle deployment in Central and South America or the Philippines.

They are relatively lightweight and drain well and dry out quickly.

Back in the day…

…I would pull out insoles and spray water inside to clean out all of the dirt and swamp mud.

Then I’d hang them up in the drying cage and put a fan on them to dry out quicker. The worst thing you can do is leave your shoes covered with mud and seawater and then leave them in the shade with the inserts still in them.

If you want to do a quick run on the beach, these would be great for training.

#11 ALTAMA JUNGLE PX

The new Altama Boots were issued in the SEAL Teams in the 1980s to jungle deployed units. They are also issued to all SEALs deployed in Iraq. They’re lightweight and drain well.

The Altama Jungle boots are hard to beat as they are good to go.

Not high tech but don’t need to be when you can get the job done with them.

Check price at Amazon.com
Check price at Optics Planet
Check price at Sportsmans Warehouse

Question: Do you have any reviews for the LALO Tactical boots?

Answer: Yes; check out the video below for the LALO Tactical Shadow Black Ops boot.

Question: What about the Salomon Jungle Ultra vs Nike SFB? Have you tried Adidas?

Answer: Both are good lightweight boots. I would try both on and see which one fits your feet the best and then go from there.

The key is…

…that it drains quickly and will hold up to a jungle setting with lots of rain and high humidity. It is easy for your gear to begin to degrade in this situation as mold and mildew can ruin your gear quickly.

I like to wash my gear out with a pressure water hose and let it all dry in a covered drying cage with a fan.

But remember:

Be careful putting your gear (leather gloves) in the full tropical sun as it can bake your stuff and work against you to destroy.

You will also want to look at the lug pattern and make sure that it is open and wide.

If you have a close pattern that will only get filled with mud and make you slip when you need it and cover the terrain with wet roots like in a mangrove swamp, if you stop and lay up for a few hours to rest or get communications, you can then get a small stick and dig out the grooves in your boots so that it reduces weight from the excess clodded up dirt, but also to open up the tread pattern.

Sometimes…

…you don’t have anything better to do than that and so it makes for a small chore to keep your mind busy.

Most of the time I just try to walk in high grass or turn my ankles to each side while walking in the grass so that it helps scrub off the excess mud.

Or you can just stand for a moment and move the sides of your boot and scrub them on the textured grass.

#12 NRS WORKBOOT

The NRS Workboot Wet Shoes are excellent for ship boarding, water rescue, oil rig demolitions, etc.

This is an excellent water boot that offers a tight fit, warmth, stable ankle support, and traction.

It’s another commodity that rescue agencies and river professionals have taken up…

You can walk the land in this boot thanks to the shock-absorbing neoprene insoles and anti-slip lug soles.

Pair the NRS wet shoes with waterproof neoprene socks for warmth in colder weather.

This lace-up boot is reinforced with synthetic leather and rubber. This is a boot best kept close in water or the terrains surrounding water bodies.

Check price at Amazon.com

#13 Garmont T8

These boots are popular in the special forces because of their high-performance construction.

Wear Garmont tactical boots for hiking on any kind of terrain and dry weather conditions.

The boots are stable from the suede and nylon webbing construction. The backward sweeping design provides a secure fit and prevents blisters while the metallic eyelets improve ventilation to keep the feet warm during hikes.

This boot has one of the best traction I’ve experienced.

The slip-resistant rubber outsoles withstand a lot of battering.

Garmont T8’s are for missions that require speed and lightweight support. The boots are okay even when you are carrying a heavy backpack over a long distance.

Check price at Amazon.com

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that if you want the best hiking boots that the market has to offer, you must look for what the Navy SEALs wear.

More than anything else, they understand the importance of comfortable, durable, and versatile footwear.

But also, get this:

Getting your own tactical boot isn’t a matter to be taken lightly as you’ll also have to consider your needs, situation, and tasks to be able to get the perfect pair for your feet.

Getting water boots for your hiking trip definitely won’t give you a good time. So list down these considerations before getting a pair and watch yourself endure the most challenging adventures life has to offer to you minus the hassle of sore feet!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brad McLeod knows first hand about mental toughness. After passing Hell Week and Dive Pool Comp at BUD/S, he failed a math test and was kicked out of training.

A year later, he returned, graduated, and served as an operator on the Navy SEAL Teams.

Check out SEALgrinderPT Coaching to help you step up and take hold of your dreams and realize your goals.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Special Forces Boot Reviews
Navy SEAL/SOF Combat Gear
Top 10 Special Forces Backpacks