When trails get wet, muddy, or icy, having the right hiking shoes can mean the difference between a safe adventure and a dangerous slip. Good grip keeps you stable on rocks, roots, and steep slopes where one wrong step could ruin your day. Whether you’re crossing streams or climbing slick mountain paths, these five hiking shoes offer outstanding traction to keep you moving confidently through any slippery conditions.
1. Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX
Salomon built a reputation on creating footwear that grips like glue, and the X Ultra 4 GTX lives up to that legacy. The Contagrip outsole uses a special rubber compound that stays flexible even in cold weather, giving you solid footing on wet rocks and muddy paths.
Hikers love how the deep lugs dig into soft ground while still working great on hard surfaces. The waterproof Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry when you’re splashing through puddles or hiking in rain, which is essential for maintaining good traction throughout your journey.
2. Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof
With a name that stands for Mother-Of-All-Boots, the Moab 3 carries big expectations and delivers even bigger performance. Merrell equipped these shoes with Vibram TC5+ outsoles, a technology trusted by mountaineers worldwide for its incredible grip on slick surfaces.
The tread pattern features multi-directional lugs that bite into loose dirt and wet leaves without collecting mud between them. Many hikers choose these for stream crossings because the sticky rubber maintains contact even on slippery underwater stones, making sketchy water obstacles much safer to navigate.
3. La Sportiva Spire GTX
Born from a company famous for making climbing shoes, the Spire GTX brings rock-gripping technology to the hiking world. La Sportiva uses their Impact Brake System, which places reverse lugs on the heel to prevent sliding during steep descents on wet trails.
The sticky rubber compound was originally developed for approach shoes used by climbers, so it excels at grabbing smooth, wet rock surfaces. These shoes feel almost magnetic on slippery boulders and exposed ridge lines where other footwear would leave you feeling nervous about your next step.
4. Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX
Named after legendary ultrarunner Karl Meltzer, the Speedgoat 5 GTX proves that cushion and grip can work together beautifully. Hoka designed these with 5mm lugs that are taller than most hiking shoes, allowing them to penetrate mud and snow to find solid ground underneath.
The Vibram Megagrip outsole stays soft and tacky in various temperatures, giving you confidence on slick morning trails covered in dew. Trail runners and fast hikers appreciate how these shoes let you move quickly over technical terrain without sacrificing the security you need on unpredictable surfaces.
5. Keen Targhee III Waterproof
Keen’s signature toe bumper isn’t just for protection—it actually helps with grip by giving you more surface area when scrambling up slippery slopes. The Targhee III uses a proprietary rubber outsole with 4mm lugs arranged in a pattern that channels water away from the contact points, improving traction on wet surfaces.
These shoes have a wider footbed than most competitors, which spreads your weight out for better stability on uneven, slick terrain. Hikers carrying heavy packs especially appreciate how the extra width prevents ankle rolls on muddy trails.
