7 Best Hiking Boots For Women, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

After testing hundreds of fantastic hiking boots for women (and wrestling with some), we are proud to hail the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid as the ruler of them all!

This kick can really get down and dirty whether you are prepared or not. With its aggressive rubber lugs down under, the Renegade GTX Mid made our every step slip-free, be it on steep slopes or grassland. The shoe’s Vibram outsole also wowed us on descents, thanks to its deep, deep heel brake.

Up top, the Renegade GTX Mid’s upper elevated our hiking experience with immense comfort. Virtually not requiring a break-in period, this Lowa boot offered plushness from the off. Its no-rub liner, particularly around the collar, was a real blessing for us!

If you have wobbly ankles, you can rest assured in the Renegade GTX Mid, too. We can say this because this offering held ours magnificently. It’s true—the boot has tons of ankle support going for it!

At no more than 900 g a pair (women’s hiking boots this good usually weigh more, by the way), the Renegade GTX Mid felt lighter in real life. Yes, you’ll be striding fluidly in this gem!

Do you need something truly remarkable for days-long backpacking trips? Then write down the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX as part of your shopping list!

Categorized under premium kicks, this brawny yet gentle beast eats rocky terrain for breakfast. Our packs were heavier than usual during our tests, yet we held our ground and didn’t lose balance in the Quest 4D 3 GTX.

Equally impressive is the hiker’s Contagrip outsole. Every step felt secure on it, and the way it clung to pebbles and crumbly rocks made us instant believers. The Quest 4D 3 GTX’s dedicated heel brake also didn’t disappoint on descents. Superb!

Is the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX watertight? It fenced out wetness left and right, so that’s a yes. Rainwater tuned into beads on its waterproof upper, leaving us with dry and fresh feet after the downpour was over.

And let’s not forget the comfort level of the Quest 4D 3 GTX. After a short break-in, the boot in question made our tootsies happy in its snug confines. We, however, want to highlight the shoe’s cushy footbed in this regard for keeping our feet centered, pampered, and supported the entire time!

After going through over 300 pairs of women’s hiking boots, we’re pleased to bring you the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker as our top pick for lightness!

Weighing no more than 350 g per boot (for insight, the men’s sits at 380-ish), the Terrex Free Hiker is freeing indeed! Moving over and past rocky obstacles in this lightweight piece was speedy and quite effortless.

Engineered with Adidas’ ever-iconic Boost midsole, the Terrex Free Hiker upped our game on uneven terrain and level paths alike. The rebound and support we got out of it were nothing short of amazing. The propelling Boost midsole of this hiking boot is definitely among its highlights!

Is the Terrex Free Hiker grippy enough on more demanding terrain? If by “demanding” you mean moderately muddy or sloped and damp, then yes. While its lugs aren’t as prominent as those in backpacking boots, they still kept our footing in check where slick surfaces were involved.

Overflowing with comfiness from the off, the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker made our first few days struggle- and pain-free. We couldn’t detect any warm spots inside its pampering interior even if we tried. And blisters? We didn’t get any!

Oboz knows how to make great boots! The Sawtooth II Mid is a heavy-duty hiking boot and hasn’t shown any premature wear in the sole or the upper. I’ve worn them on numerous hikes and to work where I’m on my feet all day. The leather has broken in nicely and while the sole has roughed up a bit, it still slips pretty bad on wet surfaces.

Queenly comfort is what awaits those who’d dare don the Targhee III Waterproof Mid from KEEN.

There’s something purely magical about the Targhee III Waterproof Mid. On the outside, the boot means tough business, while on the inside, the brilliance of its comfiness stuns like the northern star! There’s just a combination of solidness and suppleness within its confines that we’d rather experience than explain!

And with the boot’s semi-stiff construction comes amazing supportiveness. Yes, the Targhee III Waterproof Mid is by no means a pushover in this area, as it successfully carried us across tricky terrain without getting our ankles injured. Our arches came out of it all pain-free, too!

Traction-wise, the KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid delivered in aces. Its saw-like lug design proved mighty useful on both dry land and wet terrain. We also scrambled on it, and the ground beneath us submitted with no qualms.

As grounded as it looks, the Targhee III Waterproof Mid shocked us (in a positive way) with its lightness. It’s about 400 g per kick, which is lighter than the men’s variant by approximately 100 g!

So, if royal comfort is what you’re after without skimping on brawny performance, get the Targhee III Waterproof Mid immediately!

Feast your budget-shoe-seeking eyes on this—the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof. Yes, this Timberland boot retails at $115 (MSRP), and it has the fantastic performance to match its mouth-watering price tag!

Super-comfy straight from the box, the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof delighted us with plush cushioning everywhere. From its snug collar that didn’t rub to its dreamy yet supportive footbed, the shoe pampered our feet for miles.

Underfoot, the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof’s contoured arch gave us amazing security and support. Even with a light pack, we safely completed our journey without a hint of pain anywhere around our arches!

With the hiker’s super-humble asking price, you’d think that its waterproofing wouldn’t be up to snuff. Well, we’re happy to report that the Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof lives up to its name—it kept our tootsies fine and dry in its watertight shell in moderate rain.

And we dare not leave out the Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof’s amazing grip. We trampled on dirt tracks, mushy soil, and wet rocks, and the boot stuck on them like glue! Downhill traversals were equally impressive, thanks to the kick’s clawing heel brake.

A mighty dependable piece of gear from Salomon—is what many will likely say once they don the Cross Hike Mid GTX. Indeed, this trail wonder from Salomon empowers hikers with its remarkably grippy outsole, all while keeping the foot snug in its plush confines. And since it comes with a Gore-Tex liner, your tootsies can stay dry in light rain and through shallow waters.