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The deep padding of the footbed and the flexible outer material makes the Dropline GTX probably the most comfortable hiking shoes I've ever worn. They've tackled mile upon mile of woodland, dirt trails and loose gravel -- along with city-center asphalt and paving -- and they never fail to feel supportive. They're also light, grippy and waterproof thanks to their Gore-Tex lining.

They're an exceptional shoe for everything from Sunday afternoon wanders through the park to weekends away in the hills. 

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The Timberland Solar Ridge boots have a stand-out style that I love. With the mix of traditional leather upper with the splashes of vivid yellow and rubber accents, they look like a futuristic take on the classic hiking boot. Their style makes them comfortable to wear around town, but the sturdy sole, waterproof build and supportive ankle mean they're well-suited to tackle much more rugged terrain.

Better yet, they include recycled plastic, responsibly sourced rubber and natural sugar cane in their production so they're an environmentally friendly choice too. 

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The Facet 60 OutDry combine lightweight materials with mid-ankle support that makes them feel more like sneakers than traditional hiking boots. They're comfortable to wear all day, have a waterproof lining to keep the rain out and have an aesthetic that's as much at home queueing at a street food market as it is heading into the hills. 

This is a great do-it-all traveling shoe that will work equally well on city explorations and countryside trails. 

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I love Inov-8's existing boots, which infuse the wonder-material graphene into the sole (seen below) but its most recent RocFly G390 boots take that further and put graphene in the footbed as well. Why? Well Inov-8 reckons it keeps the foam soft and supportive for longer, meaning these boots will feel just as good after 50 miles as they did after 5. 

I found them comfortable, with great ankle support and robust grip that gave me confidence for fast-paced walking on hillside trails in any conditions. The Roclite Pro (seen below) are the more burly ones in the range so it's those you should look towards for more mountainous conditions. 

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Like the Roclite 345s above, these boots are infused with graphene for added durability, are lined with Gore-Tex for waterproofing and are comfortable right out of the box. However, the Pro G 400s have a thicker, stiffer sole, more support around the ankle and a ceramic coating on the upper material that makes them much more suited to tougher terrain. 

This waterproof hiking boot is still surprisingly lightweight though, and I had no problem wearing them on all-day hikes on forest trails and muddy hill tracks. The deep lugs on the sole help them dig into loose terrain to keep you stable on rugged terrain, and I certainly felt confident that my feet weren't going to slip out from under me. 

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Athletic Propulsion Labs is better known for its sports and athletics footwear, and while the TechLoom Defenders do look like a pair of basketball sneakers, they're built for a life off the court. Featuring sturdier, grippier soles, a waterproof design and a higher, more supportive ankle that'll keep you upright on difficult terrain. 

While I wouldn't wear them on an alpine expedition, they're comfortable on all-day treks across the city and the beach and won't struggle with riverside weekend walks either. It's worth noting though that they're sized quite small -- I'm usually a UK 10 but I found the 11s were a better fit -- so go for the size above when ordering.

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These boots get their name, Duality, from the two sets of insoles that come in the box. One is softer and designed more for comfortable city or gentle trail hikes. The other set is stiffer and more supportive, allowing you tackle more demanding terrain. The idea is that you don't need to carry two sets of boots on a long, mixed hike, but instead can simply swap the insoles as needed. 

It's a neat idea that I can see working well. I tested them mostly with the softer footbed which I found comfortable, but still stiff enough to offer support on uneven terrain. They're fully waterproof too thanks to the Gore-Tex lining and are made from recycled materials and algae-based foam in the midsoles that reduces water use in production. 

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True to the company name, these boots innovate through their use of graphene -- the atom-thick "miracle material" that's stronger than steel and lighter than carbon fiber. Here, it's been infused in the hiking boot sole which Inov-8 reckons makes it more durable and grippier. In my testing I certainly found the boots to be extremely capable on mixed walks, handling muddy trails, loose rocky terrain or wet asphalt with ease. 

It's an exceptionally lightweight hiking boot too, making it as comfortable to wear as sneakers, right out of the box with no break-in required. You can walk all day in this hiking footwear without feeling weighed down, so they're definitely a hiking boot to consider if you plan on tackling long trails. While they have a waterproof Gore-Tex lining, they don't have the same ruggedness required for more mountainous and rough terrain, so if that's on the agenda then consider their more burly hiking boot siblings below.

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La Sportiva's Ultra Raptor II boots are sturdy and supportive while still feeling soft and light enough to remain comfortable on a full day hiking through the hills. The sole is grippy on loose gravel, wet grass and muddy trails while the waterproof GoreTex lining means they'll keep the worst of the rain at bay too.

I've found them to be great all-round hikers that I've loved having in the back of the car ready to tackle wherever I end up that day, from easy hikes around a gentle forest footpath to more strenuous, off-road hill climbs with a backpack full of photography gear. 

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I love the look of these adventure shoes, with their deep lugs protruding from the footbed and the white-brown-blue color combination on my test pair. They look great with jeans and are ideal for those urban exploration days when you know you'll end up at the bar with your friends. The sole -- as I found with others in the On range -- is exceptionally supportive and provides a rocking motion as you walk which seems to actively propel you forward making them great for faster hikes.

What I don't like is the elastic lacing that comes with them which seemed too loose for me and resulted in my foot slipping out, particularly when I walked with more pace. I replaced it with a set of regular laces for just a few dollars which I found made these boots feel much more secure and comfortable all round. 

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With a tough outer fabric and more sturdy, grippy soles, the Trail shoes are better equipped for a life in the hills than the slipper-soft Allbirds Mizzle (seen below). But their merino wool lining and comfortable footbed makes them incredibly comfortable to wear, even on longer trail runs (or fast hikes, in my case). They're great on woodland trails and lakeside pathways but are just as good on city streets.  

They're made with eco-conscious materials including merino wool, eucalyptus fiber, natural rubber, sugarcane and castor bean oil, while the shoelaces are made from recycled plastic bottles. 

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The Allbirds Mizzle shoes are among the softest things I've had the pleasure of putting on my feet. This is thanks to their merino wool construction, which has the added benefit of making this lightweight boot an eco-friendly choice. The soft, spongy sole means these aren't shoes for tackling mountains, or even woodland trails, but they're a delightful walking boot for urban exploration, hopping between cafes and museums. 

This hiking boot option is water-resistant, so an impromptu rain shower won't slow you down, while the incredible light weight of the shoes mean you'll be forgiven for thinking you've accidentally gone out in your slippers. 

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Danner's Jag Quilt boots are lined with a Primaloft insulation making them snug for cold-weather hikes. As a landscape photographer I loved having the support to hike to my destination but with the warmth to keep my toes warm while I stand still for ages waiting for my shot. The sole offers good grip on mixed terrain while the outer material is supportive enough for covering longer distances while remaining light and comfortable enough to throw on for quick trips to the shops.

I love the retro styling, reminiscent of the '80s and early '90s, with the brown and teal color scheme on my test model. It makes them suitable for pairing with jeans and wearing to the pub. 

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Although designed primarily for trail running, these light and comfortable shoes can make for great quick hikes both in town and further afield. I loved the comfort from the deep footbed and the grippy trail-running sole meant I felt stable and sure-footed on asphalt and gravel as well as grass, dirt tracks and lakeside trails.