Best Quiet Shoes for Silent Sneaking

You’ve found the right spot if you are looking for the best sneaking shoes, boots, or mocassins for being quiet while walking and moving around. Silent shoes are great for survival and have been used by hunters stalking their prey and off-grid wilderness survivalists for thousands of years. There are a lot of options to consider when it comes to quiet shoes: material, design, durability, etc.

This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best silent shoes, put them to the test, and now the results are in: the overall best, a sole attachment option, and a budget option. If you want to be able to sneak quietly in any situation, one of our suggestions will keep you under the radar.

---

Contents (Jump to a Section)

---

Slip these on over your feet and sneak anywhere quietly. Whether you are closing the last couple of yards on your hunt or slipping by unnoticed in urban areas, you’ll be able to rely on the silent cushioning of these socks to reduce noise.

SneekTec’s entry stalkers are the best value for most, with 75% noise reduction. They are comfortable to wear, are forgiving in size with the stretch fleece, and most importantly: quiet!

The main drawback is that these are fleece and are not waterproof. This makes them better for fall and spring, and you may want to check out the next option to convert your winter boots into stalking shoes for colder and wet climates.

Here is how the socks measure up:

• Sizes options range 9 – 11 M
• Four-way stretch fleece (triple layer soles)
• 6 ounces (both socks)
• Made in the US

With a great price and good performance, it’s easy to see why the Silent Pursuit Stalkers Hunting Mocassins are the best.

---

SneekTec has a variety of options when it comes to quiet shoes. Being able to attach an added sole securely to any shoe or boot makes it so you don’t need to ditch your favorite boots just for the sake of being silent.

These sole attachments are easy to use and work outstandingly. Slap these on and you’ll be able to walk in multiple environments with very little noise- whether it’s urban areas or the deep woods.

Here is how the Sneekboot Pro measures up:

• Adjustable, but four size options based on your footwear size (the website will advise you which fits best)
• 1″ of recoil foam and suede padding
• Quick-release straps
• 10 ounces (per pair)
• Made in the US

If you are looking for a versatile solution that works with existing shoes and boots, you can’t go wrong with the Sneekboot Pro.

---

While Whitin markets these as minimalist water shoes, they also are excellent stalking shoes for a budget. The rubber coating is thick and protective, but flexible enough to be quiet. The rest of the ‘shoe’ breathes like a sock.

These feel like you’re wearing hospital socks on steroids, but are similar in construction to the throwback sodhoppers with the tire rubber goop soles. Instead of buffalo mocassin leather, these have breathable fabric uppers. While the old sodhoppers might have better durability, they cost well over ten times these shoes and perform similarly.

Because the shoes are breathable, they aren’t suitable for winter conditions or wet weather- so that can be a drawback. If you want a solution for those climates, you’ll need to head back up to the sole attachment.

Here are the full details:

• Men’s sizes: 4-13
• Women’s sizes: 5-14
• 7 color choices
• Waterproof material (but your feet will get wet/col/etc..)
• 9 ounces (pair of size 11, varies by size)

If you need an inexpensive option, get the Whitin Minimalist Barefoot Shoes.

---

Everything We Recommend

---

The Shoes and Boots We Compared

Our research narrowed the field down to several types and brands and types of quiet shoes, boots, and mocassins that we compared: SneekTec, StalkZone, Silent Pursuit, Anxynt, Cabela’s, Whitin, and more.

You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.

We considered a wide range of shoes and boots but quickly found that sock-style mocassins and sole attachments were performing the best.

We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have some quiet shoes that you swear by, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested equipment annually so we can try to get it in the next roundup round and see if it makes the cut and we can see if it will beat out our top picks.

---

What to Look For

The best quiet shoes have several important features to look for:

1. Value
2. Material
3. Design
4. Padding
5. Durability

When you get the right blend of these, you can find shoes, boots, or mocassins that will work perfectly to keep you quiet as you sneak around. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the shoes that truly set themselves apart.

Value: Cost vs. Benefit

The amount of money you spend on something like quiet shoes shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. There are some great but high-priced mocassins out there that may not be a great choice if you aren’t wearing them often. Follow your budget and get what makes the most sense for you.

You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to clothing. It’s better to diversify your survival focus and budget to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.

Materials Used

Materials of a shoe, boot, or mocassin can greatly affect the sound it generates when walking, running, or sneaking.

Lightweight materials are best, like leather, suede, and canvas. Soft and flexible materials with extra cushioning to dampen noise and absorb impact also work well.

You’ll want to avoid hard soles and heavy, stiff boots when you are picking out quiet shoes.

Shoe/Boot Design

Flexibility is key when manufacturers are designing quiet shoes, which you will notice by how mocassins are designed and where the stitching is placed. Not only do you want the soles to be flexible and conform to the ground, but the upper part of the shoe needs to conform as well.

Padding Type and Amount

Dampening your steps can be as easy as adding flexible padding to the sole, as seen in our sole pick above. Adding an inch of soft, conforming foam to the bottom of your existing shoe can greatly dampen noise but can make walking slightly more cumbersome.

This is why all of our picks aren’t just sole attachments. Padding certainly has its uses and makes for a versatile solution, but the best solution is a shoe designed from the ground up with silent walking in mind.

Durability

Walking around barefoot can help you sneak quietly, and that’s where you’ll end up if you don’t invest in a durable solution.

The drawback of being barefoot, of course, is that you’ll be relying on the durability of your feet. This isn’t ideal for hunting or survival, so you’ll want something more durable, like conventional soles or leather mocassins.

---

How to Sneak Quietly

Walking quietly is half art and half science. Biomechanics of human gait have been studied, but it also takes practice and refinement of your own to master it since everyone is slightly different.

Here are six tips on walking quietly:

1. Wear quiet shoes: Look for shoes that have soft soles and are made of lightweight materials. Avoid shoes with hard soles, metal attachments, or loud decorations.
2. Walk heel-to-toe: Try to place your heel on the ground first, then slowly roll your foot forward until your toes touch the ground. This can help distribute your weight more evenly and make your steps quieter.
3. Take shorter steps: Longer strides tend to make more noise, so try to take shorter, more controlled steps when walking.
4. Walk on the balls of your feet: Another way to distribute your weight more evenly is to walk on the balls of your feet instead of your heels. This can help reduce the impact of your steps and make them quieter.
5. Walk on carpet or grass: Walking on hard surfaces like tile or wood can amplify noise but walking on carpet or grass can help absorb sound.
6. Move slowly and deliberately: Walking quickly or rushing can make more noise, so try to move slowly and deliberately when walking quietly.

Survival Lilly (from our Survival YouTube Top 10) does a great job talking about the fox walk in the woods, which is slightly different than heel-to-toe:

---

Who Needs Quiet Shoes?

Quiet shoes have long been used for hunting, spanning back thousands of years. They were a tool used by hunters around the globe to better stalk their prey. Firearms, among other technological advancements, have given us a better range and reduced the need to sneak close.

You could consider a pair of quiet shoes as your go-to in an:

• Everyday Carry

If you plan on bow hunting for survival, you may also want to add sneaking shoes to your:

• Home Survival Kit

Besides sneaking quietly and stalking prey, quiet shoes are nice to have around for anyone. Some people choose to wear them every day for comfort and many other reasons.

Sources and References

All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best quiet shoes is useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:

Macrae, A. (1880). A Handbook of Deer Stalking. William Blackwood and Sons, London. (Source)

Krøijer, S., et al. (2019). The art of sneaking in an occupied forest. Project Muse Ruptures: University College London. Pages 157- 173. (Source)

Winter, D. (1995). Human Balance and Posture Control During Standing and Walking. Gait & Posture. Volume 3. Issue 4. Pages 193 – 214. (Source)

---

The Final Word

Being stealthy at a moment’s notice can always come in handy. Shoes won’t be able to help you accomplish this alone since you’ll need the sneaking skills to match. Whether you are stalking deer in the woods or getting by unnoticed in urban areas like a gray man– walking quietly can help you accomplish your mission.

Here are a few other reads our subscribers have also found helpful:

• Best Survival Socks for Preppers and Survivalists
• Best Survival Boots and Shoes for Preppers
• Everyday Carry List | 25 EDC Essentials

We presented quite a lot of information, but as always: if you have any questions let us know and we would be happy to help. Our research and testing found the Sneektec StalkSocks to be the best option given its value, materials, design, padding, and durability.

Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.

---

You’ve Been Missing Out

Join the 2+ million preppers that rely on our prepping advice by subscribing to TruePrepper.

• Practical guides and tips
• Useful survival giveaways
• Free, forever
• < 0.4% of people unsubscribe

Thanks for subscribing, reading, and welcome to the club.

---

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok
• X Twitter
• YouTube
• Pinterest
• Reddit

---