Love the outdoors, but need new shoes to tackle the trails? Here are my top picks for the best women’s hiking shoes and boots.
Love to hike?
Me too!
And over the years, I’ve found that one thing can make or break a hiking trip.
Your shoes.
Bad shoes can make your hike painful. They can even ruin your trip.
Sadly, if you don’t live near a major outdoors store (like REI), women’s hiking boots can be tricky to find in stores, and shopping online without recommendations can be frustrating.
This collection of my favorite women’s hiking shoes and boots will give you a place to start when you’re ready to shop.
This isn’t just a collection of reviews from other sites– I’ve worn all of these shoes!
Want more gear ideas? Check out my favorite camping gear for women!
What Makes the Best Women’s Hiking Shoe?
Keep in mind that everyone’s feet are different, so my favorite shoes and boots might not work perfectly for you.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop.
- Look for a wide toe box, especially if you’ll be hiking downhill often. If your shoes touch your toes, it can cause rubbing or blistering when you hike downhill.
- If you tend to twist your ankle (or have badly sprained an ankle in the past), look for a mid-rise boot for extra ankle support.
- Flexible shoes are great (and they’re my preference), but if you’re carrying a heavy backpacking pack a rigid-bottom shoe will provide more support for your legs and back.
- If you’re hiking over rocky terrain or rock scrambling, make sure to buy a shoe with excellent traction so that you don’t slide around on the trail.
- If you’re planning on hiking on ice and snow, you might want to invest in a pair of crampons. For the best fit, crampons should be worn with mountaineering boots, not standard hiking boots.
Best Women's Hiking Shoes + Boots
KEEN Women's Clearwater CNX Sandal
I take these Keen Clearwater sandals with me on almost every hiking or camping trip.
Why?
They're comfortable, have excellent grip, and fit easily inside a hiking day pack.
They're my favorite campground shoes, are perfect for giving your feet a break from hiking boots at the end of a long backpacking day, and (even though they aren't quick-drying) I use them as water shoes when hiking through streams.
Plus, these Keen sandals are well-made-- I've been using mine for several years and they're still in great shape!
Merrell Women's Vapor Glove 3 Trail Runner
If you love barefoot-style shoes, you'll love these more stylish versions of the barefoot toe-shoes.
I have two pairs of these quirky sneakers, and wear mine running in the park (and on a treadmill) and they're perfect for hiking over easy terrain.
These Merrell Vapor Glove shoes double as a casual shoe, and are perfect if you go out for dinner after a hike!
Keep in mind that these are warm weather shoes. When the ground is cold you'll feel it straight through the shoe!
KEEN Women's Terradora Leather Hiking Shoe
If you asked me what hiking boot you should buy, and I didn't know anything about your feet, I'd tell you to start with Keen boots.
Keen makes good-quality, comfortable, reasonably priced hiking boots.
Their shoes and boots tend to have wide toe boxes, lots of cushioning, and a fairly low built-in arch support. (If you prefer a boot with a high-arch, I'd recommend starting with a boot from Merrell.)
I own the Keen Terradora, and like that it's less clunky than a more heavy-duty hiking boot. I also like that it comes in a leather finish for under $150 (that's rare!).
Keep in mind that these boots have a somewhat narrower toe-box than other Keens I own.
These boots are also extremely flexible, so they fit more like a hightop sneaker than a hiking boot.
KEEN Women's Targhee II Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
The Keen Targhee boot is a classic hiking boot with a wide toe-box and excellent tread.
Just like the Keen Terradora, these shoes are comfortable, well-made, and have a relatively low built-in arch support.
My husband wears the men's version of these shoes, and they've been a reliable boot for all kinds of different terrain.
These boots are sturdier than the Terradora boot with a more rigid shoe-bottom, and they work well even with a moderately heavy backpack.
Inov-8 Womens Roclite G 370 Waterproof Hiking Boots
If you want a classic-style hiking boot, choose one of the Keen boots listed above. If you prefer a more minimalist-style shoe, try these Inov-8 Roclite boots.
These boots are sturdier than a barefoot shoe (they aren't zero-drop, but they're close), so they'll protect your foot more than the Merrell Vapor Glove. At the same time, they're lightweight, have exceptional grip, and a wide toe-box.
Keep in mind that, as with barefoot shoes, you'll be able to feel the ground beneath your feet. That can be a good thing if you're used to it, but it can make your feet tired at first.
These shoes are my absolute favorite hiking boots. I keep trying to switch to a more traditional-style boot, but time and again, I come back to my Inov-8 Roclites.
Don't Forget Hiking Socks!
FEIDEER Women's Hiking Walking Socks
Need hiking socks to go with your new boots?
These Feideer hiking socks are my current favorite hiking socks!
They're affordable, thick, and comfortable.
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