Planning a trip to Alaska and wondering what shoes you actually need? You’re in the right place.
We’ve spent years working and filming all over Alaska for shows like Deadliest Catch, Bering Sea Gold, and Alaska: The Last Frontier, giving us plenty of time to test footwear in just about every condition the state can throw at you.
In Alaska, people love to say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” It sounds like a joke until you experience it yourself. One minute you’re standing in sunshine, the next you’re getting blasted with sideways rain, mud, sleet, or hail. The wrong shoes can ruin your entire day fast.
The best shoes for Alaska depend entirely on the kind of trip you’re taking. What works for a cruise passenger is completely different from what you’d want for hiking, fishing, wildlife photography, or chasing the northern lights in the middle of winter.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best shoes for every type of Alaska trip, what locals actually wear, and the biggest footwear mistakes visitors make.
Table of contents
- Quick Picks: Best Shoes for Alaska
- Best Shoes for Alaska Comparison Table
- What Kind of Shoes Do You Actually Need in Alaska?
- The Shoe Most Alaskans Actually Wear
- Best Shoes for Alaska Cruises
- Best Hiking Shoes for Alaska
- What Shoes Should You Wear in Alaska During Summer?
- Best Winter Boots for Alaska
- Wool Socks Matter More Than You Think
- What Shoes NOT to Bring to Alaska
- Final Thoughts
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we actually use or trust.
Quick Picks: Best Shoes for Alaska
Short on time? These are our quick picks for the best shoes for Alaska based on different types of trips, weather, and activities.
Best Overall Shoe for Alaska
Xtratuf Boots — The unofficial footwear of Alaska. Waterproof, durable, and instant bush credibility.
Best Hiking Shoe
Salomon Quest 4 GTX — Designed for long hikes and tough terrain with excellent grip, stability, ankle support, and all-day comfort.
Best Shoes for Summer in Alaska?
Columbia Landroamer Trailrider — Versatile, comfortable, and built for Alaska’s wet and unpredictable conditions.
Best for Alaska Cruises
Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX — Famous for “out-of-the-box comfort,” making them perfect for excursions and travelers without time to break in hiking boots.
Best Winter Boot
Baffin Impact Boots — Overkill for most travelers, but essential for extended time in snow, ice, and subzero temperatures.
Best Shoes for Alaska Comparison Table
Not sure which option is right for your trip? Here’s a quick breakdown of the best Alaska shoes by activity, season, and travel style.
| Shoe | Best For | Season | Waterproof | Comfort Level | Activity Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtratuf Boots | Fishing, rainy weather, everyday Alaska wear | Spring–Fall | Yes | Medium | Low–Moderate |
| Salomon Quest 4 GTX | Hiking and rugged terrain | Spring–Fall | Yes | High | Moderate–High |
| Columbia Landroamer Trailrider | Walking, sightseeing, light hiking | Spring–Fall | Water-resistant | Very High | Low–Moderate |
| Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX | Day hikes and excursions | Spring–Fall | Yes | Very High | Low–Moderate |
| Baffin Impact Boots | Extreme cold | Winter | Yes | Medium | Low–Moderate |
What Kind of Shoes Do You Actually Need in Alaska?
This is where a lot of people overthink things. If you’re visiting Alaska for the first time, you probably don’t need hardcore mountaineering shoes or expensive insulated boots. Or maybe you do, let’s talk it out.
For most Alaska trips, the real priorities are: waterproofing, comfort, traction, and versatility.
Alaska is wet. Even when it’s not actively raining, trails are muddy, docks are slick, grass is damp, and weather changes fast. Shoes that work great in Arizona or Southern California can become miserable pretty quickly up here.
If you’re taking an Alaska cruise in the summer, you’ll probably spend most of your time walking around towns, hopping on excursions, and dealing with occasional rain. A comfortable waterproof hiking shoe or trail running shoe is perfect for this.
If you’re planning to do serious hiking, you’ll want something with better ankle support, solid grip, and enough durability to handle mud, rocks, roots, and uneven terrain. Alaska is big, and its trails are big and they can get rough fast.
For winter trips, northern lights photography, or extended time outdoors in snow, regular hiking shoes aren’t enough. Once your feet get cold in Alaska, your whole day goes downhill in a hurry. That’s where insulated winter boots become essential.
And then there’s Xtratufs. Honestly, at some point during your Alaska trip, you’ll probably wonder why everyone is wearing rubber fishing boots. Then it rains sideways for six hours and suddenly it all makes sense.
The good news is you usually don’t need a huge collection of footwear. Most travelers can get away with one good waterproof shoe plus a heavier winter boot if they’re visiting during the colder months.
Weather conditions in Alaska can change incredibly fast, especially in coastal regions. We always recommend checking the latest forecasts from NOAA Weather Service before heading out on hikes, boat tours, or remote excursions.
The Shoe Most Alaskans Actually Wear
If it isn’t raining in Alaska, it probably just finished raining. Or it’s snowing. Or the snow is melting into ankle-deep mud.
Between wet docks, muddy trails, endless coastline, and constant drizzle, Alaska destroys normal shoes pretty quickly. That’s why almost everyone up here owns a pair of Xtratufs.
Xtratufs are basically the unofficial footwear of Alaska. Xtratufs are to Alaska what cowboy boots are to Texas — completely baked into the culture.
You’ll see them everywhere: commercial fishermen, bush pilots, deckhands, photographers, bartenders, tourists, and people grabbing groceries in Anchorage.
And honestly, once you spend a few days in Alaska, it starts to make sense.
They’re fully waterproof, surprisingly comfortable, easy to clean, and built for nasty conditions. There are insulated versions for winter, low-cut slip-ons for everyday wear, and enough colors and patterns now that they’ve somehow become fashionable too.
Are they perfect hiking boots? Not really. But I love my Xtratufs, they’re great for general Alaska travel, rain, fishing, and everything in between.
Plus, they instantly give you a little bush credibility.
If you’re only bringing one pair of weather-ready boots to Alaska, Xtratufs are one of the safest bets you can make. Check current prices and styles here.
Pro Tip: Save luggage space and buy your Xtratufs in Alaska and wear them home.
Best Shoes for Alaska Cruises
Picking the right shoes for an Alaska cruise is a little different than packing for a hardcore Alaska adventure. Most cruise passengers aren’t trekking through the wilderness for eight hours a day, but you will spend a surprising amount of time on your feet.
Between walking slippery cruise decks, exploring port towns, hopping on excursions, and dealing with Alaska’s constantly changing weather, you want something comfortable, waterproof, and versatile.
By all means, bring your flimsy sandals and fresh Jordan sneakers — just leave them on the ship once you hit port.
For most Alaska cruises, a waterproof hiking shoe or trail runner is the sweet spot. You want enough traction for wet conditions, enough comfort for long walking days, and enough support for light hikes or excursions without hauling around heavy mountaineering boots.
That’s why we like the Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX for most cruise travelers.
They’re famous for their “out-of-the-box comfort,” which matters a lot if you don’t hike regularly or don’t have time to break in a serious pair of boots before your trip. They’re lightweight, waterproof, comfortable enough for all-day wear, and capable enough for most cruise excursions you’re realistically going to do.
Could you survive an Alaska cruise in regular sneakers? Probably. But once it starts raining sideways in Ketchikan or you’re walking on slick docks in Seward, you’ll wish you had something better.
If your Alaska trip is mostly cruise ports, sightseeing, wildlife tours, and light excursions, the Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX hits a really nice balance between comfort, weather protection, and practicality.
Check current prices and styles here.
Best Hiking Shoes for Alaska
If you’re planning to do any real hiking in Alaska, your footwear matters a lot more than it does in most places.
And if you’re doing serious hikes in places like:
- Denali National Park and Preserve
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
- Chugach State Park around Anchorage
good hiking shoes stop being a luxury and start becoming gear.
Alaska trails are rough. Even popular hikes can turn into mud pits, slippery roots, loose rock, creek crossings, or snowfields depending on the season and weather. A trail that starts sunny and dry can turn cold, wet, and miserable in a hurry.
For most people, we recommend the Salomon Quest 4 GTX.
Production bought me a pair while filming Life Below Zero years ago, and I still use them today hiking trails around Oregon in my off time. They’ve held up incredibly well, and more importantly, they’re comfortable enough to wear all day without destroying your feet.
They’re waterproof, supportive, and built for rough terrain without feeling overly stiff or heavy. They’re especially great if you’re carrying camera gear, a backpack, or planning longer hikes where ankle support actually matters.
Could you hike Alaska in lightweight trail runners? Sure. Plenty of people do. But once the trail turns muddy or the weather changes, you’ll appreciate having something more capable pretty quickly.
Your gym sneakers aren’t going to cut it. If your Alaska trip includes serious hiking, the Salomon Quest 4 GTX is one of the best all-around hiking shoes you can bring.
Check current prices and styles here.
Trail conditions can vary dramatically depending on the park and time of year. Before hiking, we recommend checking current alerts and trail updates through the National Park Service Alaska Region
What Shoes Should You Wear in Alaska During Summer?
A lot of people picture Alaska summers as warm and sunny 24/7, but that’s only half true.
Even in the middle of July, you will still run into cold rain, muddy trails, slick docks, and weather that changes fast depending on where you are. That’s why summer footwear in Alaska is less about heat and more about staying dry and comfortable.
For most travelers, a lightweight waterproof hiking shoe or trail runner is the sweet spot.
Our favorite everyday summer option is the Columbia Landroamer Trailrider.
I’ve always thought Columbia makes some of the most comfortable hiking shoes out there. Honestly, they’re comfortable almost to a fault. I liked one pair of Columbia boots so much that I brought them to Delta Junction during a January National Geographic shoot trying to convince myself they’d be warm enough for an Alaska winter. They were not.
Thankfully, this section is about summer.
For summer travel in Alaska, the Landroamer Trailrider is a really solid option. They’re lightweight, comfortable right out of the box, and versatile enough for cruise ports, sightseeing, casual hikes, restaurants, and long walking days without feeling overly technical or heavy.
If your Alaska trip is mostly this, these are the shoes you need.
The biggest mistake people make is packing for temperature instead of conditions. Alaska summer weather is less about extreme heat or cold, and more about moisture, mud, and unpredictability.
Best Winter Boots for Alaska
f you’re spending serious time outdoors during an Alaska winter, this is where lightweight hiking shoes stop being fun.
For extended time outside in deep winter conditions, we recommend the Baffin IMPACT Boots.
These things are absolute tanks. Tested at both the North and South Poles, the IMPACTs are built for long periods in snow, ice, and subzero temperatures where staying warm actually matters.
I used to wear them during winter shoots filming Life Below Zero in Alaska’s northern Interior. I remember trying to keep up with one of our cast members on a hunting trip while staying quiet and making sure I was getting the shots to tell his story, and the Baffins definitely weren’t helping me move like a ninja. They’re heavy, bulky, and kind of a pain in the ass to move around in.
But my feet were warm. And when you’re out in subzero temperatures for hours on end, not losing a toe becomes way more important than agility.
But honestly? For most travelers, they’re overkill.
If your trip mostly involves hopping in and out of the truck, walking around town, viewing the northern lights for short periods, or visiting Alaska during on the edges of winter, you can usually get away with something lighter like the Salomon Quest 4 GTX paired with a really good pair of merino wool socks.
Pro Tip: Xtratuf also makes insulated versions of their boots, which are a great middle-ground option for milder coastal Alaska winters where you still need waterproofing but don’t necessarily need full expedition boots.
Wool Socks Matter More Than You Think
Honestly? Good socks are almost as important as good shoes. Hell, they might be more important.
A quality pair of merino wool socks will keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable even if your boots aren’t perfect. Cheap cotton socks, on the other hand, can make even expensive boots feel miserable.
There’s a saying in cold-weather environments: “Cotton kills.” That might sound dramatic, but there’s truth to it. Even with waterproof shoes, your feet sweat, and cotton holds onto that moisture instead of letting it escape. Once your socks get wet and cold, your entire day goes downhill fast.
If you’re coming to Alaska, bring good socks. I personally like Minus33 because they make a bunch of great merino wool options for different conditions, but honestly there are plenty of solid wool sock brands out there.
Seriously, a good pair of shoes for Alaska is wasted on cheap socks.
This part is going to sound a little gross, but when I’m working in the Alaskan bush for weeks at a time, I don’t bring a giant bag full of socks. I bring a handful of really good merino wool socks and I wear them multiple days in a row.
Merino wool wicks moisture, dries surprisingly well, and doesn’t get nasty nearly as fast as regular cotton socks.
Pro Tip: Don’t double up your socks thinking it’ll keep you warmer. If your boots get too tight, you’ll actually reduce circulation and make your feet colder.
What Shoes NOT to Bring to Alaska
The wrong shoes can make an Alaska trip miserable surprisingly fast. Here are a few types of footwear we’d avoid bringing.
- Cheap Sneakers: They soak through almost immediately.
- Heavy Fashion Boots: They’re uncomfortable and usually not waterproof enough.
- Flip Flops as Your Main Shoe: Fine for hotels.
- Brand-New Hiking Boots: Break them in BEFORE your trip unless you want blisters.
Final Thoughts
Most people visiting Alaska don’t need extreme gear — they just need shoes that can handle wet, unpredictable conditions.
If you’re only bringing one pair, it’s hard to go wrong with waterproof hiking shoes or Xtratufs depending on your trip style. Serious hikers should invest in supportive hiking boots, and winter travelers spending long hours outside should look into insulated options like the Baffin IMPACTs.
The biggest mistake people make is packing for temperature instead of conditions. Alaska is wet, muddy, and unpredictable. Stay dry, wear good socks, and your feet will thank you.
If you’re still planning the rest of your trip, check out our full guide on: What to Pack for Alaska and The Best Time to Visit Alaska.