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Best Women’s Hiking Boots | Hiking Boots and Shoes for Women 2019 – Popular Mechanics

Sep 15th, 2019

Theres never a wrong time to go hiking, and almost every outing will be made better with a good pair of boots on your feet. Luckily, there is no shortage of great hiking boots and shoes to choose fromand some are pretty affordable. To find the best options, we tested a ton of them. Read quick reviews of our favorites below, or scroll deeper to read buying advice along with more in-depth reviews of these and other top-performing options.

Best Overall

La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX

Comfortable, sturdy and less than 2 pounds, these boots go where you do.

Best for Day Hiking

Danner Mountain 600

The Danner Mountain 600 are supportive without being restrictive.

Best for Backpacking

Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX

The Salomon Quest 4D 3 are fully featured for multi-day trips.

Best Waterproof Boots

Oboz Sapphire Mid Waterproof

The B-DRY membranekeeps water out of the Oboz Sapphire.

Best Value

Columbia Newton Ridge Amped

The Columbia Newton Ridge are solid waterproof boots at a great price.

If you picture something bulky, heavy, and leather when someone mentions hiking boots, weve got good news: Most boots today dont fit that mold. Brands often combine leather uppers with synthetic linings or coatings, which shave weight and typically add waterproofing. But the major trend is lightweight and low-profile hiking boots and shoes.

They say a pound on your foot is like three pounds on your back, so hence the lighter movement, says Austin Borg, a gear expert at Vermont-based Outdoor Gear Exchange. Some hikers even turn to trail-running shoes when speed is the top priority. Trail runners and hiking shoes offer greater flexibility, but tall and mid-height boots deliver the best protection and ankle stability.

Before you start shopping, you should have some idea of what features you need. For example, waterproof hiking boots are a good idea if you anticipate crossing creeks and streams regularly or live in a moisture-rich climate where trails can take days or weeks to dry out after storms. If wintertime hiking or snowshoeing is in your future, be sure to select boots that are not only waterproof but also insulated to protect against the elements. Keep in mind that although waterproof technology is improving, it still limits breathability.

Leather or suede uppers are often treated with a waterproof coating and combined with additional lining for even more moisture protection. Gore-Tex and eVent are popular waterproofing fabrics, but some brands like Oboz have their own propriety materials. These fabrics are also used in synthetic boots, which are lighter and dont require time to break in like leather boots would. However, leather boots are usually more durable and easier to care for than synthetic ones.

Beyond these features, the right fit comes down to personal preference. Remember youll likely be using them with hiking socks (and possibly with a fully loaded pack) so consider those factors too when comparing options. Leather will stretch slightly over time, but you dont want your toes touching the front of any boot. This is especially important if you will be hiking on trails with elevation. Our favorite trick? Lace up and then walk up and down a flight of stairs. If the boots feel too tight during this simple test, they wont feel any better on the trail.

To determine the best womens hiking boots, we evaluated the cost, weight, traction, breathability, support, general comfort, and style of each pair. In total, we hiked more than 115 miles on dirt, grass, gravel, and paved trails. We went out on sunny days in dry conditions and after rain storms when paths were muddy and slick. We trodded through streams, climbed hills, navigated technical terrain, and caught more than one spiderweb to the face. After all that, these are the hiking boots that proved themselves and have us looking for more excuses to explore the outdoors.

Height: High | Weight: 1 lb. 10.9 oz. | Upper: Leather and synthetic | Waterproof: Yes

Nucleo High GTX

$199.00

backcountry.com

When you arent quite sure where your adventures will take you, its not a bad idea to have La Sportivas Nucleo High on your feet. The boots might look intimidating for first-time buyers, but they fit beautifully, striking a good balance of support and cushion without adding too much bulk or weight. The grippy Vibram sole is designed with what La Sportiva calls the Impact Brake System, which it says increases traction by 20 percent while reducing impact on your body. The large toe cap and Gore-Tex Surround waterproof lining protect you from rugged and wet conditions. Our one minor complaint? The laces slipped off the top hooks when our tester tied the boots looser than they were designed to be.

Height: Mid | Weight: 1 lb. 14 oz. | Upper: Suede | Waterproof: Yes

Mountain 600

$179.95

rei.com

Some hiking boots can feel overkill for day hiking, but not the Danner Mountain 600. They have enough features to tackle a range of trail conditions but arent overbuilt with more support or grip than you need for shorter, generally less technical distances. These boots felt like they were hugging our feet, and the ankle support was stiff without being restrictive. The Vibram MegaGrip Fuga soles gripped rocky and muddy trails very well, and even though the boots are one of the heavier pairs in our test, they didnt feel sluggish thanks to the rubberized EVA midsole that made them feel springy with good rebound. Like with many boots, the waterproof upper sacrifices some breathability, so our feet got hot while hiking. These tend to fit a big large, so Danner recommends ordering a half size smaller than you normally wear.

Height: High | Weight: 2 lb. 5 oz. | Upper: Nubuck leather | Waterproof: Yes

Quest 4D 3 GTX

$230.00

rei.com

The Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX, which we found ran slightly large, are designed for technical terrain and long days of hiking. The supportive ankle and two midsole components in the 4D Advanced Chassis let us glide over rocks and streams with no issue, and the soles deep lugs delivered plenty of traction. The large toe cap, OrthoLite insole, and excellent fit (for our testers) added comfort, and the Gore-Tex lining and mudguard protect you from whatever you might cross on your trek. All these features add cost and weight, but make this our top choice for rugged adventuring.

Height: Mid | Weight: 1 lb. 12.6 oz. | Upper: Nubuck leather | Waterproof: Yes

Sapphire Mid Waterproof

$160.00

rei.com

Of all the boots we tested, the Oboz Sapphire Mid Waterproof required the most time to break in. We wore them around the house with thick socks before we even thought about heading out on the trail. But once the stiff nubuck leather loosened up, the narrow toe box felt more comfortable than when we first tried the boots on, and we especially liked the supportive, cushioned ankle. The boots felt secure on a variety of trail conditions, and when we waded in a shallow creek, the proprietary B-DRY waterproof membrane kept water from seeping in, even through the top of the laces. Our feet also stayed dry when we crossed creeks in other boots we tested, but none of those pairs were exposed to as much water.

Height: Mid | Weight: 2 lb. | Upper: Full-grain leather and suede | Waterproof: Yes

Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped

$79.95

amazon.com

The Newton Ridge Plus Amped Waterproof boots from Columbia are less than half the cost of most of the other boots we tested but still deliver great traction, moderate ankle support, and a comfortable fit with a roomy toe box. The boots are even available in wide sizes, unlike a lot of other pairs. The waterproof construction kept our feet dry when crossing streams and hiking through puddles after a thunderstorm. Between the leather and waterproof construction, you lose some breathability, but they are a great option for day hiking trips, especially in cooler weather.

Height: Low | Weight: 8.5 oz. | Upper: Mesh | Waterproof: No

Lone Peak 4

$120.00

rei.com

A popular trail-running shoe among hikers, the Altra Lone Peak 4 made us feel confident on more technical terrain thanks to impressive sole, which has strategically placed lugs to align with the foots natural anatomy and provide excellent traction. Some trail shoes have more cushioning than this pair, but we still found a slight bounce that kept us moving and enough protection from small trail debris underfoot. We didnt mind that there was no arch support, a hallmark of Altras flat, zero-drop design, but our socks got pretty wet during a misty hike one morning. For more protection, go with Altras all weather RSM version.

Height: High | Weight: 1 lb. 15.6 oz. | Upper: PU-coated leather | Waterproof: Yes

X Ultra 3 Mid GTX

$124.93

rei.com

When you lace up the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX, you feel secure enough to tackle a mountain, even if you just plan for a moderate day hike. Hey, its nice to have options. Combined with a thick EVA midsole, the grippy rubber sole kept us from feeling every rock and root on the trail, and we didnt slip once. These boots are on the stiffer side and do have a narrow toe box, but the tall height provides exceptional ankle support on uneven terrain. Plus, the moderate arch support kept our feet happy after a long day in the woods.

Height: Mid | Weight: 13.3 oz. | Upper: Synthetic | Waterproof: Yes

Toa

$170.00

rei.com

Just like Hokas running shoes, the Toa has a thick rubberized foam midsole that led to fast and fun hiking. The waterproof synthetic upper and roomy toe box added to the immediate comfort of the boots, and we didnt experience any hot spots while wearing them. The Vibram soles made us confident on steep downhills, but we did slide a couple times on dry, smooth rocks. Also, the laces had a tendency to loosen on our hikes, which meant occasional pace-killing stops to tie our boots.

Height: Mid | Weight: 13.4 oz. | Upper: Mesh | Waterproof: Yes

Cloudrock Waterproof

$230.00

rei.com

Height: Mid | Weight: 1 lb. 9 oz. | Upper: Full-grain leather | Waterproof: Yes

Ontario Mid Waterproof

$170.00

rei.com

Casual hikers will love the comfort and slim profile of the new Merrell Ontario Mid Waterproof. The Air Cushion heel and compression-molded EVA midsole absorb shock and made these boots feel slightly springy for all-day comfort. The flexible ankle design and minimal arch support means the Ontario is great for casual use or on flat, easy trails but we found it was less suited for serious hikes with heavy packs. Surprisingly, these boots have great traction, but we did notice the leather upper showed some signs of wear after just 10 miles of use.

Height: Mid | Weight: 12 oz. | Upper: Primeknit | Waterproof: No

Terrex Free Hiker Shoes

$199.95

backcountry.com

The sock-like design of the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Shoes provides a major advantage over traditional hiking boots: These shoes can breath and dont require any time to break in. After logging several miles, our feet didnt feel suffocated or hot by the water-repellent synthetic upper. The Boost midsole was comfortable yet sturdy, and there was enough grip for uneven terrain, though keep in mind there isnt as much ankle support in this shoe as you would find in a traditional boot.

Height: Low | Weight: 1 lb. 11 oz. | Upper: Suede and mesh | Waterproof: No

Moab 2 Ventilator

$99.95

backcountry.com

If you have high arches or need a shoe with a lot of support, the Moab 2 Ventilator from Merrell are for you. These hiking shoes are made with a contoured footbed and molded nylon arch shank that focuses support on the arch and ankle despite the low height. This added support will keep you upright on uneven and rocky surfaces, but we did notice a tendency for the shoes to slip on loose dirt and gravel, especially when we were moving quickly. Merrell offers these shoes in a waterproof version, but we found the regular pair dried quickly on a hot, sunny day.

Height: High | Weight: 2 lb. 9 oz. | Upper: Nubuck leather | Waterproof: Yes

Bridger 7" Insulated Waterproof

$45.83

rei.com

Yes, you can use your regular hiking boots during wintertime, but insulated pairs offer a couple features that make them a better option. We like the Bridger 7 Insulated Waterproof from Oboz, though untying the boots was cumbersome. The comfortably snug fit works best with thinner socks, which isnt a problem because the boots have 200-gram 3M Thinsulate and thermal insoles that keep the cold out while reflecting heat back toward your toes. The winterized rubber sole is designed for freezing temperatures, and the gaiter D-ring offers an easy attachment point if youll be trekking through snow and ice. The insulation and thick soles add weight, however, making this pair the heaviest we tested.

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Best Women's Hiking Boots | Hiking Boots and Shoes for Women 2019 - Popular Mechanics

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