I can't stop spotting these La Sportiva outdoor hiking sneakers everywhere

NBC News

01-04-2025

There is something inherently wrong about wearing hiking sneakers in the city. I'm not hiking through rugged marshlands, clogging up the soles of my sneakers with thick layers of mud and dirt. I'm more likely to commute to work via the subway and fire off emails and Slack messages. Wearing Salomons to walk your dog around the corner is like wearing ballet flats to do some construction work. Hiking sneakers are meant for hiking, but that hasn't stopped them from becoming incredibly popular in recent years.
I like it when a sneaker's original purpose completely folds onto itself, becoming something new and more interesting. The fun and frankly bizarre colors of the Salomon XT6 have propelled it from an obscure French hiking brand to an international sneaker sensation. But a new sneaker has caught my eye in recent months: the La Sportiva TX3. It's also been designed for hiking, but that hasn't stopped people from slowly lacing them up to hit the city streets, like they did with their Salomons.
Below, I've highlighted some of my favorite hiking shoes and the brands you need to look out for to upgrade your shoe collection.
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How I picked my favorite hiking shoes
The La Sportiva has a slim profile, and the heel isn't quite as chunky as the Salomon XT6 sneakers, but they have that outdoorsy look that I have been drawn to. I've also seen other brands produce stylish and functional hiking sneakers: Keen has a similar low-profile sneaker called the Jasper and Hoka created the Tor Summit. This large shoe borrows design elements from classic hiking boots.
I spotted the La Sportiva in a small lookbook for the Aaron Levine brand. A model sits slouched on a chair with the La Sportiva TX3 unlaced. The shoes' vibrant color and low profile caught my eye. Sometimes you're drawn to a shoe's simplicity or design, and sometimes you just like how it's styled — this time, it was a bit of all three. I immediately had to do a deep dive to try and find the shoe. I scoured the internet and eventually landed on the La Sportiva site. But I also spotted other La Sportiva hiking sneakers in the streets and on Instagram in the last few months.
My favorite hiking sneakers of 2025
Sneaker culture is constantly shifting; the ebb and flow is impossible to predict, but when I notice a shoe style bubbling up, I can't ignore it. Here's a breakdown of all the brands making some of my favorite hiking sneakers, including the classic Salomon XT6 and the La Sportiva TX3.
It's easy to be dismissive of these shoes. They look funky with its aptly named spicy orange colorway and bizarre lacing system. But the same could be said for other hiking sneakers. The TX3 has a mesh upper, which is great for warmer months, thanks to its breathability. It also has an ortho-lite insole for comfort, a vibram outsole for traction, and a 'climbing zone' toe for added grip if you decide to take these shoes on the trail. I also think these are incredibly easy to style; you can pair them with hiking pants, shorts or denim.
Salomon XT6
The Salomon XT6 is one of the first major shoes to break out of the outdoors gorpcore (short for 'good ol' raisins and peanuts') trend. As people started zipping up Arcteryx jackets, they also started drifting towards the Salomon's classic design and vibrant color options. I've owned a pair of XT6s for about two years. They are incredibly comfortable and easy to wear. They have even kept my feet dry during torrential downpours. The XT6 is also incredibly lightweight and has EVA cushioning for added cushioning and comfort. Salomon also updates the XT6 line every few months with new color options.
The TX4 EVO has a leather upper, Vibram outsole and a wide forefoot fit for more comfort around the toe box of the shoe. I also love the yellow and tropical blue laces, which can quickly add color to any outfit you decide to slap together with these on. You can also resole the TX4 EVO at La Sportiva-approved cobblers. La Sportiva has such interesting design elements that make the shoe stand out in a sea of more basic designs: it's a bit rugged but also functional and unique.
Don't be surprised to see more of the Keen Jasper shoe over the next few months. It comes in six color options, but I like the simplicity of the Mink option, with its beige outer, black sole and red multi-colored laces. The Jasper has a contour fit that easily fits the shape of your foot for added comfort. Keen's iconic toe bumper at the front of the shoe is meant to protect your feet from debris or rocks as you hit the trail.
If you're a fan of Hoka's and want to dip your toe into the hiking sneaker trend, the Tor Summit is your best bet. It borrows from Hoka's classic design language with the thick rubber sole but also nods to classic hiking boots. The Tor has a luxe nubuck leather upper, a rubber mudguard, zig-zag stitching, and metal eyelet hardware, according to the brand.
Merrell's Moab 2 Mesa Eco model has webbing, breathable mesh lining and a mesh footbed cover. It has classic Moab hiking boot elements but with a more sneaker-forward design. Merrell designed the Moab 2 Mesa for all terrains, and they still have hiking elements that offer grip, shock stability and durability. I was personally drawn to the classic alloy/ graphite color option but Merrell has four other colorways to choose from.
Tarvas Easy Hiker
The Tarvas Easy Hiker is a pricier model, but it has everything you would want in a hybrid hiking sneaker: a simplistic and stylish design with functional hiking elements. The Easy Hiker has a water-repellent full-grain leather upper, natural rubber Vibram sole and Tarvas' signature mudguard, which wraps around the entire shoe for added weather protection, according to the brand.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am an editor at NBC Select who writes and edits stories on various topics including tech, fitness, home and more. I have covered major shopping holidays and other events for over five years. For this article, I rounded up my favorite hiking shoes and sneakers from NBC Select favorite brands.