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Men have been wearing boots for at least 3,000 years, so we’re going to hold our hands up here. What follows does not include calfskin ankle boots designed by Inca warriors or mankind’s original winter men’s boots, which were made by Inuit tribes and decorated with seal intestines. Sorry about that. What it does include, however, are classic 20th-century designs that do what the best boots for men have always done: they work.
Fashion rarely gets more functional than this. Whether you’re talking military stompers, steel-capped workers or rootin’-tootin’ cowboy boots, they’re all built for purpose. The fact that they look good is, in most cases, a happy coincidence.
These days, you might not work on the docks, and your feet probably only need protection from deceptively deep puddles. But if you want to look rugged and stylish at the same time, in footwear that will last longer than almost anything else in your wardrobe, these are the best boots for men to wear on their feet from great, tried and true brands.
The 15 Best Boots for Men
Traditional Northamptonshire shoemaker Grenson is more than qualified to offer the smart, functional footwear when you need to look suited and booted. The firm, founded in 1866, was among the first to adopt the famous Goodyear welting technique, but its triple welt boot proves that it’s still innovating more than 150 years later.
Launched in 2014, the triple welt gives the brand’s classic brogue boot an even chunkier sole, adding width and height to a design that was already hard-wearing and watertight. Designed to last you winter after winter, the sole of these winter boots will wear as slowly as the dapper brogue details date.
For meetings in the city, the pebble-grain leather pairs expertly with flecked wool trousers, but don’t mistake them for a strict Monday-to-Friday option. “These boots will always give a rakish look when teamed with denim jeans,” says says Mr Porter shoes buyer David Morris.
A classic variation of polo-inspired chukka men’s boots, the key difference is the casual and exceedingly comfortable crepe sole. Nathan Clark, whose grandfather founded the eponymous shoe store in 1825, first noticed the style on the feet of British troops in Myanmar in World War II. He sent sketches back home, and the design has remained virtually unchanged since 1950.
“As [footwear] staples go, this is quite possibly one of the most important pairs you’ll own,” says Sarah Ann Murray, a stylist who has dressed the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and Kit Harrington. “What’s particularly relevant about them, given the ankle height, the weight of the boot and its fabric, is that they complement all heights and builds and pretty much all trouser styles, even suit trousers.”
“Clarks offers a handsome color palette with clean lines and unfussy finishings, though you can’t go wrong with chocolate brown if you can only pick one,” says Murray. “They’re perfect weekend attire, great paired with casual trousers or smarter jeans and offer a cool alternative to luxury sneakers.”
A bona fide cultural icon, this is one of the best boots for men – famously worn by The Who’s Pete Townshend and a whole generation of skinheads – is about shit-kicking rebelliousness. It’s punk. It’s self-expression. It’s one of the ultimate best boots for men. So it’s funny that it was dreamt up by a German bloke with a dodgy foot. Dr. Klaus Maertens came up with the idea of an air-cushioned sole while recovering from a foot injury. At first, the innovation appealed mainly to elderly women and postmen, but then came the 1960s and 1970s, and with them, counterculture’s adoption of workwear styles, turning them into a stylish boot that borders on a combat boot, but is ultimately its own type entirely.
Today the 1460 boot (named after the date production began – 1 April 1960) is available in dozens of finishes, numerous collaborations, lightweight soles or – if you really want to rebel – vegan leather. “It’s one boot we all ought to own, never throw away and let that classic yellow stitching and cherry finish patina to perfection,” says Murray. “Dr. Martens bridge the gap between rebel style and hardcore functionality. But it’s their unconventionality that forms part of the appeal. Decades of nonconformists usurping the latest sneaker trend, or overpriced bourgeois luxury boots, has elevated DMs to an almost cult-like status.”
“When you want to add just a nod of inner rebel and a confident edge to your ensemble, they’re perfect for rocking with an upscale workwear look, or tapered pleated trousers and a casual jacket,” says Murray about the chunky boot.
“Then for a full off-duty model look, of course, skinny jeans, a leather jacket, check flannel shirt, or any one of the above will complete the punk roots of this boot – but you don’t have to be Joey Ramone to wear them with panache.”
Nancy Sinatra presumably approves of Timberland’s iconic style because this duck boot was made for walking. Thick treads and a cushioned ankle make for a comfortable hike, while sealed seams keep the rain from leaking through that famous wheat-yellow nubuck. But, 40 years after they were first designed, the 6-Inch is, if anything, more comfortable on the tarmac than the open countryside, still making it one of the classic best boots for men, suitable even for men with flat feet.
“They are proof that function and fashion can, in fact, go hand in hand,” says celebrity stylist Alex Longmore. “They stood the test of time on the style front, are de rigueur in the wardrobes of seriously successful American rappers and are a favorite with the likes of David Beckham and his son Brooklyn.” As well as appealing across the generations, this boot also strolls between fashion tribes. Outside of hip-hop, you’ll also find them in workwear outfits, while the range of colors they’re now available in means they work with all kinds of tonal winter looks.
“The reason they are so popular is they are masculine,” says Longmore. “These legends look best worn with casual clobber.” So put your pleated trousers away and make like Kanye in some relaxed-fit jeans with a simple T-shirt and bomber jacket.
Chelsea boots were first designed by Queen Victoria’s bootmaker J. Sparkes-Hall in 1851 as an alternative form of riding boot, with an elasticated ankle that made them easy to slip on and off. The high society connection survives to this day, but such an elegant boot is tougher than it looks.
“R.M. Williams’s Chelsea boot was built for durability and comfort to withstand the demands of the Australian outback,” says Morris. “The fact that these handcrafted boots are still worn and celebrated today highlights the level of expert craftsmanship,” Morris says. “Investing in a pair of these will guarantee you lasting style and substance.” Today the silhouette may be more synonymous with menswear bloggers than Mick Dundee, but its origins should be all the proof you need that the Goodyear-welted style is as resilient as it is dignified.
Despite the Chelsea boot‘s outback credentials, resist the urge to team them with a ripped shirt and cork hat. One of the few best boots for men you can wear with a suit, the design is nevertheless more comfortable a couple of dress codes down. Ideal for getting your date-night outfit off on the right foot, wear them with slim-fit jeans or tailored trousers, some fine-gauge knitwear and either an overcoat or leather jacket, depending on the season.
These days you’ll more likely see Red Wings on the feet of creatives and baristas, but the boot brand‘s moc toe design was first made for farmers and factory workers in the mid-20th century working in muddy conditions. It comprises reassuringly sturdy uppers on a lightweight crepe sole with minimal tread underfoot to reduce the mud that would cling to the boots at the end of the working day.
What was originally made to wear with overalls today looks best with another workwear staple: denim. The round moc toe with contrasting white soles suits a look that mixes pinrolled indigo jeans, a flannel shirt, and a worker jacket altogether. If you have to clock on, you might as well look good. Swap the existing boot laces with one of these pairs for a stylish twist.
This British brand’s leather boots for men would become synonymous with motorcycle racing, flying, the world wars, and much more during its lengthy history. With ambassadors like David Beckham and Ewan McGregor, Belstaff went from strictly racing boots made to maintain a level of protection while racing (and providing comfort) to becoming a world-renown fashion brand, branching into leather jackets and other goods.
The Stormproof boot itself is a lightweight version of the famous Belstaff Trooper that takes cues from the military leather that would’ve been used for soldiers trekking in warmer climates. The lightweight EVA and rubber wedge sole provide great traction, offering foot protection in slippery conditions. Mixed with calf leather and Cordura nylon, these are some of the best boots for men; sturdy, sleek, and perfect to wear in wet weather.
Channel your inner biker with a crisp leather jacket, plain white t-shirt, and a pair of dark-washed jeans. Opt to wear either a straight leg or skinny fit so that you can tuck into the boots or roll up the hem to meet the top of the boot.
Established in 1873 in Northampton, Church’s started as a small, family-owned factory and would go on to become a bold, innovative, and award-winning shoe brand that would adorn the feet of the British Monarchy, among others, while growing into an international phenomenon after joining the Prada group in 1999. If royalty can wear them, how can they not be the best boots for men?
Their suede chukka boot was originally created using crepe-soles and suede uppers to be used by soldiers during the campaigns in North Africa during WWII. Nowadays, these ankle-cut shoes are worn as a casual boot during the warmer months.
This boot style should be reserved for casual, weekend outings. Pair them with chinos, a loose button-up or upgraded t-shirt, and a pair of brown sunglasses for a summer stroll in the city.
The 100% born-and-bred Northampton shoe brand builds their men’s boots to last — and their Stow Country boot is their most iconic design yet. Recognizable for their seven eyelet designs, these waterproof boots feature a leather lining and either a traditional leather sole or a Dainite sole for more practicality.
If you decide to invest in a pair of Tricker’s Stow Country boots, you can expect a boot that will last. Made from start to finish in their factory, each pair of boots takes about eight weeks and 260 processes to complete, with each material being able to be traced back to its source. Even his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, is an avid customer of the shoe brand.
Even though it started off as a country boot, they are now worn everywhere. Pair them with a fun pair of long boot socks, indigo denim pants and a tweed blazer for a sophisticated, old-school look.
Mostly used by men in construction and other hard-on-the-feet jobs, Carhartt boots can handle all terrains, providing protection and comfort to those who wear them. Depending on whether you’re using them as work boots, hiking boots, or just casual boots, the wedge boot (either steel toe, composite toe, or non-safety toe) is designed with oil-tanned leather and waterproof, breathable materials that keep feet dry and fresh.
If you aren’t wearing these waterproof work boots on a worksite (and thus can avoid wearing mandatory work clothing), style these boots with ruggedness in mind. Think light-wash denim, thick flannel, and a comfy winter jacket for a cold-weather look that will have you ready for sloshing around in the snow, sleet, and mud.
Founded in 1884 in Massachusetts by Charles H. Alden, this New England, family-owned shoe brand survived the Great Depression, WWII and more due to their high-quality dress shoes, as well as their venture into orthopedic and medical footwear. Luckily, they also got into the boot game.
Their Indy boot is a classic – this authentic work boot has waxed leather uppers, a full-glove leather lining, steel shank, and oil-resistant outsoles. It also features comfortable moc-toe stitching and comes in a variety of colors.
The Indy boot is versatile, you could either dress it up with nice pants, a jacket and a button-up, or you can dress it down with trousers and a comfy cardigan. You could even go rugged with denim and flannel. They tend to be a bit classier than other work boots, so when pairing them with an outfit, make sure they don’t outshine too much.
Also founded in Northampton (this area is known for making some of the best boots for men!), Crockett & Jones have continuously made a name for themselves in the boot industry — especially with their Derby boots. A Derby boot is a fully lined, high leg, and more substantial boot with variations similar to a Derby shoe, and the Brecon version from Crockett & Jones takes all of that and more. With a Dainite rubber sole and from their lasting variations 341, this boot is both stylish and durable.
Much like the desert and chukka boots, these ankle-cut derby shoes can be worn in a more casual setting. However, with the dark brown leather, you can potentially pair them with a more formal outfit, like a suit or blazer combo. As long as the colors mesh, then you will be golden.
Started in 1892 in Chicago, Florsheim has been at the forefront of trends since its inception, becoming some of the United States’ first squared-toe shoes as well as being a boot supplier during both world wars. Their retail stores also revolutionized the shoe industry by bringing shoes out of the back rooms and into stores for customers to see.
With prices that don’t break the bank, their boots are both stylish and affordable – especially their Plain Toe Gore Boot. The boot design combines modern materials with the comfort of a fully cushioned Ortholite footbed in a classic Chelsea boot design. You can choose between smooth leather or crazy horse-type leather upper, and it has a durable rubber sole to help you trek in style in any type of weather.
These boots are great for when you need a hybrid dressy casual look. Style one of the best boots for men for a date night, class reunion, or casual work event, these boots paired with dark jeans or trousers (lean towards a skinny fit) and either a button-up, cardigan, leather jacket or denim jacket, will have you looking the part.
The Italian town of Montegranaro, where shoemaking has a long history, is home to the artisan brand Velasca. This hiking boot, which is constructed of waxed suede leather, is one of their outstanding designs. Minding their carbon footprint and keeping their manufacturing in Marche region, the Resegott Hiking boot is one way to look good while trekking up a mountain or traversing the city.
The boot includes temperature-regulating construction to keep your feet warm in any and all situations and is made with 100% waterproof calfskin leather upper and suede leather insoles for maximum comfort.
If you’re hitting the trails, pair your boots with a warm sports jacket or flannel, sweatshirt and either joggers or light-wash denim. If you’re planning on wearing them in a less muddy scenario, pair them with some dark-wash denim and a leather jacket or sleek winter coat and sweater combo.
Nick’s Boots out of Spokane, Washington introduced their staple work boots back in 1964, solidifying their spot in the sustainable, durable, and American-made boot department — and their classic 6-inch work boot, the Urban Drifter, is a representation of that. Built from USA-sourced Horween leather (the legendary Horween Tannery in Chicago), the boot has leather insoles that mold to your feet and a Vibram lug rubber outsole.
These boots are best for working or playing outside and should be avoided when you need a more formal or dressy shoe. Pair these work boots with jeans and a retro t-shirt for a laid-back, casual look.
FAQs About The Best Boots for Men:
Which is the best boot in the world?
It’s hard to pinpoint the perfect boots, but this list gets pretty close. From casual boots to hiking boots to rain boots to leather boots for men, any of these pairs above would make a solid staple in your wardrobe. Ultimately, the best boots for men are the ones you feel good in, that serve you well, and last for years and years.
What are the best hiking boots for men?
The Season 3 Ultralight Hiking Boot, the Belstaff Storm Leather Boot, and the Timberland 6-inch work boot are all great options when looking for a hiking boot.
How much is a good pair of boots?
Depending on the style and brand, a good pair of boots can range from $100 to several hundreds of dollars.
