We’ve all seen it. You’re hiking along your favorite trail, and a person with their dog comes toward you, and the dog has dog boots on. It’s adorable, looks comfortable, and is a fashion statement, right?

Actually, while they do look adorable and are comfortable for the canine, they aren’t strictly used by pet owners to make a fashion statement for their furry friends. Dog boots are used when hiking for several reasons that we’ll go into below.

Have there been times that you wanted to take your dog with you on a hike, but you didn’t because the weather was bad or the terrain was way too rough? If you had a pair of high-quality, skid-resistant dog boots, your pet could go along on your hike with you.

However, there are quite a few options for dog boots for hiking, and it can be challenging to choose the right pair for your canine pal. We can help with that. We’ll give you our list of the best dog boots for hiking and reviews of each so that you can decide which is the best brand for your canine friend.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Dog Boots for Hiking

1. QUMY Dog Boots Paw Protectors for Large Dogs – Best Overall

You can admire the craftsmanship after just one look at our best overall choice for the best dog boots for hiking in 2024. Unlike the discount brands, QUMY Dog Boots Paw Protectors for Large Dogs will stay on a dog’s feet. Putting on booties and taking them off can be a bit difficult to accomplish.

Not only are these easy to take on and off, but they are also perfect for dogs with arthritis. Their nonslip soles protect your dog’s feet in all weather conditions and from icy or hot pavement, thorns, and more. The only bad thing we saw about these booties was that they could cause blisters on your dog’s feet. Keep a close eye on your pet; if they seem to be in pain or struggling, take the booties off immediately.

---

2. Petilleur Breathable Dog Hiking Shoes – Best Value

For the money, the Petilleur Breathable Dog Hiking Shoes work for all weather and all terrains. You often take your dog into harsh conditions, and these shoes will easily protect their little paws. They have a Lyrica construction that allows your pet’s paws to breathe and are built to keep your dog’s feet comfortable, whether you’re out for a walk, hiking the trails, or simply taking a walk on the hot pavement in the middle of the summer season. These are an affordable option for doggie hiking shoes and will work for almost any budget.

The only drawback we saw was that some pet owners reported the shoes causing blisters, so keep a close eye on your pet. These shoes don’t always work well for smaller dogs, either.

---

3. My Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes – Premium Choice

Our premium choice goes to My Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes for their extreme durability and reflective adjustable straps. These shoes are waterproof and easy to put on and take off of your canine pal. The reflective adjustable straps make it easy to spot your dog while walking in case it gets away or you’re on the trails after dark. The shoes feature anti-slip soles for added safety. If you’re searching for a hook-and-loop closure type and something that your dog will love walking around in, these are for you.

The only drawback we saw was that they caused blisters on some dogs’ paws, and they are a handwash-only item.

---

4. Pupwe Dog Booties

Pupwe Dog Booties are made for medium to large dogs and close with an adjustable strap, making them easy to put on your canine friend and take back off again. The Pupwe boots are an excellent option for older pets that have problems with slipping and mobility.

These are water-resistant booties, but they are designed more for casual wear, like going for walks, than for hiking with a pet parent. They feature nonslip soles, which is great for any pet, especially if you have hardwood floors. There seems to be an issue with sizing, and there have been reports of them causing blisters on a pet’s feet.

---

5. Ultra Paws Durable Dog Paw Protector

The Ultra Paws Durable Dog Paw Protectors are as adorable as booties can be. They are water-resistant, which means walks on wet sidewalks won’t get your dog’s paws wet. They have great traction for walking on hardwood or linoleum floors, and they’re easy to take off and put on as well.

They have generous foam at the closure that adds comfort to the boots and helps them stay on securely. They’re also machine washable, which makes cleaning much easier than with other brands. However, they have straps that might irritate your dog’s dewclaws.

---

6. Bark Brite All Weather Reflective Neoprene Dog Boots

The Bark Brite All Weather Reflective Neoprene Dog Boots are water resistant and made of a neoprene material. However, these seem to be more like gloves for your pet than hiking boots. Since they are made of neoprene, they aren’t as durable or substantial as some of the more durable options on our list.

Since they are puncture resistant, they make great water shoes and stop rocks and pebbles from getting inside the boots. The Bark Brite boots should keep your dog safe and comfortable with their reflective strips and soft lining that can control the temperature inside the shoe. Since they aren’t as durable as most on the list, we don’t recommend them for dogs that are active most of the day.

---

7. Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots

The Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots are explicitly created for hiking and are easy to take off and put on. In fact, these boots actually look like human hiking boots designed by another company. They are extremely durable and have great air circulation due to the breathable mesh, which also stops those pesky pebbles and little rocks from sneaking their way inside your dog’s boot and hurting their feet.

They are handwash only and could hurt a dog that has dewclaws, but you can prevent this by adding doggie socks to the mix. They are more expensive than many of the boots on our list and also aren’t waterproof, which some pet parents didn’t like.

---

8. Xanday Breathable Dog Boots

Xanday Breathable Dog Boots can be a little difficult, to say the least, when it comes to finding the right size for your dog. However, once you find the right size, they fit the dog’s paws great. Make sure to measure your pet’s paws before you order for the best results. These boots are perfect for whatever the day’s weather brings, and they are breathable, so you don’t have to worry about your dog’s paws getting too hot during the summer season.

They are handwash only, and the bottoms don’t grip as well as they should, so be careful when your dog is on a slippery surface.

---

9. PG.Kinwang Dog Boots

The PG. Kinwang Dog Boots are lined with velvet and are adorable, just like a few of the other dog boots on our list. They are easy to get off and on, and the soles have excellent traction. They are made to look like the soles of a human’s hiking boot and work extremely well. They are quite affordable as well.

The only issue we have is that the boots are handwash only, and the sizing chart seems to be nonexistent. They also tend to come off too easily when you don’t want them to.

---

10. Proplums Waterproof Dog Boots

Last but not least on our list of the 10 best dog boots for hiking in 2024 is the Proplums Waterproof Dog Boots. These are attractive boots, but they are also hard to fit on your dog. They can protect your raft from being punctured by your dog’s claws and can also be used for dogs that have an injured paw since they keep out dirt and bacteria.

The Proplums boots are not our ideal choice for hiking dog boots, but they are waterproof. They are handwash only and not nearly as durable as some of the other boots on our list. They can also easily injure your dog’s paw if you get the sizing wrong.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Boots for Hiking

Now that you know our choices for the 10 best dog boots for hiking in 2024 as we see them, you might wonder why you should put dog boots on your dog for hiking or for any other reason for that matter. There are quite a few reasons, and we’ll go into a few of them below.

For Protection During Hot Weather

One of the biggest reasons to use doggie boots for hiking is that they keep your dog comfortable on those sticky hot summer days. Hock rocks and asphalt sections can injure your pet’s paws. Remember, though their paws are tougher than your feet, the pad on their paws are just as tender as the soles of your feet are.

For Protection from Sharp Objects

Just as human feet can step on sharp objects on the hiking trail, so can animal paws. Boots keep your pet from being stabbed by rocks, broken glass, sticks, or any number of sharp objects that might be littering the hiking trail you’re walking on.

For Protection from the Cold Weather

Cold weather can be just as hard on your pet as it is on you. You put on your thick socks and thermal boots in the winter, so why would you leave your pet’s feet bare? The booties can protect your pet’s paws from getting cold. It’s also essential to keep your pet from getting deicer poisoning, which could happen if it licked its paws after walking bare-pawed on a trail that had just been deiced.

To Keep Your Dog’s Paws Clean

Last but not least, doggie boots work to keep your pet’s paws clean. The last thing you want is your dog tracking mud, debris, leaves, and dirt onto your clean floors when you come home from a hike. If the dog has on doggie boots, all you have to do is take them off at the door and let your dog go. Toss the boots in the washing machine or handwash them if specified and be done with them.

Things to Consider When Purchasing Dog Boots for Hiking

Here are some features you should consider when searching for the perfect boots for your canine friend:

Conclusion

Our best overall choice goes to QUMY Dog Boots Paw Protectors for Large Dogs for their ability to stay on a dog’s feet without sliding off. For the money, the Petilleur Breathable Dog Hiking Shoes work for all weather and all terrains. Our premium choice goes to My Busy Dog Water Resistant Dog Shoes for their extreme durability and reflective adjustable straps. We hope our list of the best dog boots for hiking and the reviews of each helped you find the best dog boots for hiking for your canine friend.

---

Featured Image Credit: otsphoto, Shutterstock