The Best Sneaker Boots for Men

Searching for that hard-to-find blend of California cool and rugged style in your sneaker boots? SeaVees delivers the goods with the Maslon Desert Boots, which blend a handsome leather upper with the brand’s breezy-yet-grippy sneaker sole.

The simple two-eyelet design calls to mind classic chukka boots, but the contrasting white sole is an eye-catching, modern touch.

When you want to step up your sneaker game a touch, away from low-cut canvas sneakers, consider the classy Maslon Desert Boots.

Plenty of the best boot brands on the market are trying their hand at the more lightweight sneaker boot. And yet, given the technology built into each pair, it makes perfect sense that one of the foremost running shoe brands would also try its hand at the innovative style.

The Anacapa Breeze Mid is a streamlined, sleek and impossibly cool set of stylish sneaker boots, boasting engineered air mesh fabric for breathability and a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole. HOKA recommends wearing these for hiking and journeys off the grid, and we certainly agree.

Technical innovation rests at the core of plenty of hard-working Wolverine work boots, and when that’s translated into an equally hard-wearing set of sneaker boots fit for the toughest jobs, that’s all the better.

Wolverine threw everything but the kitchen sink into these rugged work sneakers, from the tough CarbonMax safety toe to the use of extreme cushioning via Wolverine DuraShocks technology. It’s all of the dependability of a set of leather Wolverine work boots, delivered handily in a pair of surprisingly lightweight yet strong sneaker boots.

The days of lacing up clunky hiking boots are far behind in the rearview mirror – the comfort and lightweight feel of the best sneaker boots is the way to go right now, and Salomon put plenty of design innovation into what it calls a “fully charged hiking shoe.”

They’ve used the brand’s proprietary Fuze Foam compound in the midsole for energy return and support, while Gore-Tex throughout the sneaker boot delivers abrasion resistance and weather-ready performance. Lace these up the next time you hit the trail, no questions asked.

Place your trust in one of the world’s premier bootmakers when it comes time to find a pair of the best sneaker boots: Timberland, with its history and knack for making rugged lace-up boots, won’t steer you wrong.

The Davis Square Chukka Boots incorporate much of the brand’s famed bootmaking technology, from the Ortholite insoles to Defender Repellent Technology and reinforced materials like Cordura for added toughness. Yet, they’ll keep you light on your feet while pairing perfectly with picks like tan chinos and a white Oxford shirt for high-low style.

OluKai makes plenty of beach-ready, vacation-approved sandals, but when you want something more sturdy and dependable for back home, its Molina Leather Boots could prove just the ticket.

The seven-eyelet lacing system offers coverage and support, while the moc toe design offers an added touch of reinforcement and style points. These also use premium leather, and the entire offering rests above a grippy rubber outsole.

While you’ll certainly find sneaker boots on the market that look more like chukka boots, you’ll also find some of the world’s largest footwear brands going ultra-futuristic with their own hybrid editions of the style.

One glance at the SFB Leather Boots is enough to prove that point handily. The injected Phylon midsole offers plenty of cushion and support, while the weather-ready leather upper turns these into boots you truly can wear out in the field (or perhaps to a music festival’s muddy grounds this spring and summer). 

Trade in your sturdy Sorel winter boots for a pair of light-on-your-feet sneaker boots, the kind that still retain many of the same touches as classically rugged Sorel boots.

There’s the rich leather upper, designed to break in nicely over time, complete with a foam midsole and molded rubber outsole for traction and rebound on slick streets this spring (and beyond). Plus, the pigskin collar provides support, as does the ankle-height shaft.

That’s right: Red Wing, makers of some of the finest heritage-quality work boots on the market (including the famed Iron Ranger) is lightening things up with sneaker boots, too.

Discarded plastic bottles make up the lightweight, breathable upper, which rests easily atop a chunky, recycled rubber Vibram outsole for supreme comfort. The best part about these sneaker boots is the fact that they’re practically work site-ready, thanks to the aluminum safety toe. They’re an ideal work shoe alternative when you want to stay light and fresh on your feet in warmer weather.

You might find yourself pleasantly surprised by the number of heritage boot brands offering lighter options in the form of sporty, functional sneaker boots – add Danner to that list.

The Pacific Northwest boot brand makes some of the hardest-working leather boots and hikers around, and the Danner Jag carries on that lineage handsomely. They’re an homage to 1980s Danner hiking boots, designed this time around with an EVA midsole and lightweight materials for a smooth ride underfoot – no matter how rough the trail gets out there.