It is imperative for any hiker to always employ the right gear when going out into the wild. The right equipment can make all the difference in the world out in the great outdoors, just as much as experience and proper planning. In this respect, no other piece of equipment is as important as hiking shoes. For the most part, your shoes have to not only keep you safe and comfortable but also to protect you from rough terrain so as to avoid any sort of injury when you’re out hiking.

Having said that, let us point out that when it comes to hiking shoes for women the offer is a bit more limited than hiking shoes for men. This is because the market is relatively smaller overall, and yet constantly growing on a yearly basis. Depending on the type of hiker you are, you might want to take the time and learn as much as you can about hiking shoes before making a purchase. To help you through, we put together a list of the ten best hiking shoes for women out there, shoes that stand out for their fit, comfort, and guaranteed durability.

Best Hiking Shoes for Women – Reviews

10Jabasic Women Hiking Knit Athletic Outdoor Sneakers

Stylish, light in weight, and highly durable, the Jabasic Women Hiking Shoes are the ideal pair of outdoor sneakers that are also suitable for climbing, trekking, walking, traveling, camping and more. Featuring a soft upper made from knitted mesh, it comes crafted with a protective stabilizer on the heel and toe area. Thanks to its heavy duty rubber outsole with a skid-resistant TPR patch design, the shoe offers optimum traction and grip on all surfaces. Resistant to outer impact and shock, it comes equipped with a front lace-up system that allows you to adjust the fit according to your liking and comfort level.

9BomKinta Women’s Hiking Shoes

Available in 4 vibrant colors and designs, the BomKinta Women’s Hiking Shoes are a heavy-duty pair of trekking shoes that are great for water and land activities. Designed with a high-quality suede leather upper blended with breathable mesh, the shoe features side ports that drain out water, keeping your feet dry throughout the day. Thanks to its high end, superior rubber outsole, it also offers optimum grip, durability, flexibility and is resistant to slipping. Light in weight and easy to wear, these hiking shoes come equipped with a speed lace-up mechanism that is both convenient and very comfortable.

8Xiang Guan Women’s Outdoor Hiking Shoes

Providing you with ultimate comfort and support, the Xiang Guan Women’s Outdoor Hiking Shoes are crafted with premium quality rubber with a mesh upper that is breathable and moisture resistant. Featuring a rubber toe-cap that acts as a protective layer, the shoe also comes with a layer at the heel for safety while hiking whereas the insole is made from EVA and can be removed when necessary. Equipped with a slip-resistant outsole that is sturdy and ultra-durable, it offers optimum grip and high traction on all kinds of terrains including wet and rough. Light in weight, flexible, and fairly comfortable, these shoes are ideal for outdoor activities like camping, trekking, and hiking.

7Keen Women’s Terradora Waterproof Hiking Shoe

The Keen Women’s Terradora Waterproof Hiking Shoe is a reliable shoe made from 100% premium quality textile and synthetic material. Featuring a durable leather lining, it offers optimum breathability and comfort. Crafted to provide enhanced support, these shoes come designed with a MetatomicalĀ dual-density footbed. Including a robust synthetic sole, it features a non-marking outsole made from strong rubber. What’s more, these shoes are available in a variety of colors and are resistant to water and superficial tearing.

6Qomolangma Women’s Suede Slip-Resistant Hiking Shoes

Waterproof, slip-resistant, and ultra-durable, these outdoor trail trekking shoes from Qomolangma are known for their comfort and quality. Crafted from premium suede leather with a robust rubber sole, these shoes repel water and are resistant to outer damage and tear. Ideal for outdoor activities, they come equipped with a rubber outsole that offers optimum traction on all kinds of surfaces including rough and smooth floors. Thanks to the special TPU on the toe area, the shoe keeps your feet protected from impacts while climbing and hiking. Not just that but the midsole is designed with EVA and is light in weight and absorbs shock, while the lace-up front provides you with the perfect, snug fit.

5Adidas Women’s Rockadia W Trail Runner

Popularly known for its exceptional quality, durability and performance, the Adidas Women’s Rockadia W Trail Runner makes it to the list on account of its ingenious craftsmanship. Crafted from premium grade textiles and synthetic, these shoes feature a strong rubber outsole that provides high traction and grip on any kind of surface. At the same time, the insole is removable and well-padded to keep your feet comfortable throughout the day. Thanks to its high-quality mesh upper, it offers optimum breathability and ventilation and ensures your feet are moisture free at all times.

4Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Women’s Hiking Shoes

Uniquely crafted and designed with suede leather and mesh, the Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Women’s Hiking Shoes come in a range of different colors and patterns. Featuring a heavy-duty Vibram outsole, the upper is put together with mesh and leather layering that not only enhances the style of the shoes but also optimizes breathability. Durable, comfortable and light in weight, these shoes come with an arched shank made from nylon and offer the type of comfort only air-cushioned shoes can.

3Salomon Womens Speedcross 4 Trail Sneaker

The Salomon Women’s Speedcross 4 Trail Sneakers are a premium quality pair of hiking shoes that come in a wide assortment of fun, vibrant colors and are extremely stylish. Made from waterproof, high-quality mesh, they are resistant to dirt and dust and ultra-durable. Equipped with the latest Sensifit with Quicklace design, the shoe allows quick and easy putting on and taking off and provides a great comfortable fit. Great for wet and dry surfaces, these shoes feature a mid-feather upper design and a molded EVA footbed.

2KEEN Women’s Targhee II Hiking Shoe

Another great pair of hiking shoes from the popular brand Keen is the Women’s Targhee II Shoes. Designed with a premium grade nubuck leather, the shoe is resistant to water and outer impact. Crafted with a unique design, it features a heavy-duty rubber sole and 4mm multi-directional lugs. Thanks to its latest inclusion of Cleansport NXT, the shoe also helps control natural odor to an impressive standard. Including a removable footbed and an EVA midsole, these shoes come with an S3 heel support system that helps prevent injuries to the ankles. Equipped with a water-resistant inner lining, these hiking shoes will keep your feet free from moisture and dry throughout the day.

1Merrell Siren Edge Waterproof Shoes

Crafted with an all-athletic style and pattern, the Merrell Siren Edge Waterproof Shoes feature seamless upper overlays with a vibrant colored webbing and ghillie laces. Featuring a strong, durable Vibram sole, the shoes include a premium quality mesh lining that helps provide optimum breathability. The arch shank is made with molded nylon, while the heel is crafted with air cushioning to help absorb outer impact and collision. Unlike most shoes of its kind, this particular shoe comes with a bellows tongue which ensures all dirt and debris are kept out at all times. Thanks to its M-Select FIT.ECO contoured footbed with odor control, the shoe also helps to provide support and keeps your feet fresh and comfortable throughout the day.

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Hiking Shoes Buying Guide

Although designed to meet the same general purpose, hiking shoes can differ ever so slightly in their design, construction, comprising materials, and inbuilt features. Given the sheer variety available out there, you are advised to take the time and learn as much as you possibly can about the characteristics that best describe a quality hiking shoe before committing to a purchase. You do that by first figuring out what type of hiking shoes are most popular and what exactly makes them stand out in the first place.

Types Of Hiking Shoes

  • Hiking Shoes – These are by far the most common hiking shoes out there as they are not just inexpensive but also rather comfortable. They are equipped with flexible midsoles and are more or less perfect for day hiking on account of their construction. At the same time, they also make great journey shoes due to how comfortable they are. Designed to provide a decent airflow and decent flexibility, they are very widespread nowadays and understandably so.
  • Day Hiking Boots – As the name suggests, these shoes are aimed at people who enjoy taking day hikes and who require a fair bit of protection while doing it. Due to their mid to high cut design, they are able to handle rough terrain as efficiently and as safely as possible. Given how they’re built, they can also accommodate big loads like heavy backpacks and packaged tents without causing any unnecessary stress to the wearer.
  • Backpacking Boots – Speaking of backpacks, there are also plenty of backpacking shoes to choose from, shoes that are mostly designed to carry heavy loads without causing any additional stress to whoever wears them. You can expect most of these shoes to have a high cut that usually wraps above the ankles for added support. Durable and highly supportive, these shoes boast stiff midsoles and are perfect for off-trail hiking.

Features To Look For

  • Quality Synthetics – You definitely want a pair of hiking shoes to be made of quality materials, and seeing how many of these shoes are made from synthetic materials, then you want those synthetics to be top-notch. You see, many of these shoes are made using polyester, nylon, and a great deal of synthetic leather for added strength. As a result, these shoes are light in weight, breathable, and reasonably comfortable by most standards.
  • Waterproof Construction – Although you might not be inclined to hike through running water, there is an off chance that you might step into puddles and/or streams when you’re out hiking, which is why you want a pair of shoes that’s waterproof to some extent. It just so happens that many hiking shoes are equipped with waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex or eVent to keep the feet dry in wet weather conditions. Even though this sometimes reduces the breathability of the shoes, it is guaranteed to keep water out at all times.
  • Leather Build – If you have the chance to get yourself a pair of hiking boots made of either full-grain leather, split-grain leather, or nubuck leather, then go for it. For starters, full-grain leathers deliver a great abrasion resistance and offer excellent durability. Split-grain leather, on the other hand, is usually built into the shoe along with nylon to decrease weight without sacrificing strength or flexibility. With nubuck leather, you get a much higher durability standard, albeit at the cost of a more rigid build.
  • Insulation – The matter of insulation should not be disregarded when it comes to hiking shoes, especially if you live in a particularly cold climate. While synthetic hiking shoes offer a great deal of warmth, they aren’t as durable as leather-based hiking shoes. Nonetheless, you should definitely look for a pair of shoes that can protect you from the cold weather outside because the middle of the forest is the last place in which you want to experience frostbite.

The Midsole

It is very important for a pair of hiking shoes to boast a reliable midsole, the type that protects your feet from shock when hiking across rough terrain. While stiff shoes don’t sound that appealing, it only takes a sharp rock to completely ruin your hiking experience, thus the reason why many of these hiking shoes are rigid by design. We should point out that EVA midsoles are rather common on account of their cushioning and lightweight build. On the other hand, you have polyurethane midsoles which enjoy increased durability and rigidity.

Internal SupportĀ 

Last but not least, you need to keep an eye out for a pair of hiking shoes that offers reasonable internal support. This can come in the shape of thick inserts called ‘shanks’ or in the form of plates. With shanks, you get a load-bearing outsole as well, the type that can cover the entire midsole or at least half of it. When it comes to plates, these thin inserts are usually placed between the midsole and the outsole and are tasked with protecting the feet from getting bruised or cut in any way while hiking across dangerous terrain.