7 Best Lightweight Hiking Shoes For Women in 2022

Here’s our crème de la crème overall, and it’s none other than the Salomon OUTline GTX.

Besting over 100 pairs of women’s lightweight hikers, the OUTline GTX has a remarkably light construction. Case in point: the shoe in question reads about 300 g per shoe on the scale, making it among the lightest hikers with Gore-Tex waterproofing!

Speaking of its impermeable confines, the OUTline GTX is absolutely waterproof. Nothing got drenched within its padded interior, including our socks and tootsies. It also fenced out every bead of moisture through dewy grass and mildly murky puddles.

Tons of comfort await you in the OUTline GTX, too. It didn’t need breaking in, so we felt quite compelled to hike the extra mile in sheer plushness. Props to its soft collar and instep for not giving us blisters or hotspots!

Now, despite possessing a Gore-Tex liner, the OUTline GTX gave us more than enough breathability throughout our adventures. Under the heat of the sun (the temperature was around 85°F at the time), our feet didn’t sweat at all!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab this lightweight doozy right now, and stun your girlfriends with your daring leaps!

Do you want to see your besties in a cloud of dust as you gracefully bolt past them? If so, lose whatever you have on and sport the Salomon OUTline GTX instead!

A shoe built for speedy pursuits, this Salomon must-have weighs no more than 600 g per pair. This remarkable lightness and the shoe’s springy sole unit transformed our turtle steps into quick strides. We were even able to sprint without getting tired!

In terms of cushioning, this fast hiker didn’t disappoint. Devoid of a break-in period, the Salomon OUTline GTX comforted our feet to the nines right from the get-go. Underfoot, this queen of a hiking shoe spoiled our feet through and through. A worn-in tennis shoe or sneaker, this is, indeed!

Its brilliance in the comfort department is matched with the shoe’s relentless Gore-Tex waterproofing. It’s true—the Salomon OUTline GTX barred out wetness like an apex she-predator. If its stellar results through our water-immersion tests are anything to go by, this shoe is the real deal in the rain.

The OUTline GTX also comes with breathable confines despite being a fully waterproof hiker. Yes, you can kiss sweaty feet goodbye in this speedy gem!

Oh, Merrell Moab 2 GTX—how plush you are!

The best description we can give this amazing low-top hiker in terms of comfort is “immensely lavish!” It’s true—the Moab 2 GTX took our breath away the moment we slipped into it. From its soft-but-hugging heel to its pressure-free toe box, this spectacular gem ceased not from pampering our gentle feet. And all that comfort was available to us right on day one!

Weighing no more than 750 g a pair, the Moab 2 GTX helped us navigate in lightness and safety. Its Vibram outsole latched on to virtually every surface we came across—from perennially moist mulch to dry rocky ground. And while its heel brake is on the milder side, it managed to descend muddy slopes with us without slipping.

Speaking of negotiations, the Moab 2 GTX excelled both on rubbly trails and level terrain. Its beveled heel and rockered toe zone also made traversals on man-made surfaces relatively easy and pain-free!

The shoe also gave us a mic-drop moment when it passed our water-immersion test. Not one bead of moisture got inside the Moab 2 GTX’s resplendently comfy interior. The test lasted for 10 minutes, mind you!

"These are just badass shoes" perfectly carries the overall sentiment found in the reviews of the Aqua X Sport. Indeed, this grippy kick from Xero Shoes doesn't back down in wet environments, nor is it fazed by dryland in the heat of the sun. Its lightweight, aquatic design is also matched with tons of flexibility and comfort, making watery adventures extra exhilarating.

Is being one with nature in inclement conditions your thing? If so, be the best water-walker you can be in the Astral TR1 Junction!

The Aquaman (or should it be Aquadame?) of hikers, the TR1 Junction ebbed and flowed with us along the beach and through rushing streams and creeks. Engineered with its own aqueduct of sorts, this amphibious Astral gem shed water like a real champ with every step we made.

Weighing about 270 g per shoe, the TR1 Junction is extremely light without giving the impression of flimsiness. And because it actively ejects water as you go, the water shoe in question will never be clunky, particularly right after emerging from your go-to stream!

Fresh from the box, the TR1 Junction brought down on us heaps of comfort! Never did we encounter rubbing within its mesh upper, nor did we sustain blisters around the heel. And its collar? Richly supple!

But is the TR1 Junction as sticky as they say? We can confirm that it is! The shoe supplied us with highly convincing grip on wet pebbles, as well as on mossy roots. On boulders, it didn’t disappoint either. Incredible!

And finally, we want to boast about the TR1 Junction’s spacious toe box. So, if you’re tired of getting squished toes while traipsing through shallow waters, this is the kick for you!

If there is one lightweight hiking shoe for women that can ultimately dispel the notion that trail kicks are expensive, it should be none other than the Terrex AX3 from Adidas! It’s true: its 80-dollar MSRP makes the shoe in question quite a steal (even pre-deal)!

Matching its insanely low price is the Terrex AX3’s lightness. Yes, its lack of waterproofing and streamlined sole unit leave the shoe at a measly 600 g a pair! That said, Adidas engineers may have made its toe box a bit too narrow to our liking.

The Adidas Terrex AX3’s must-own status can also be linked to its buzzworthy comfort. Its pampering interior requires several days to loosen up fully, but past that phase, the shoe has loads of plushness to give!

“Viciously tenacious” is how we’d describe the Terrex AX3’s Continental outsole. Light climbs felt secure and organic on it, thanks to its front-facing ridges and heavy-duty low-profile lugs. Meandering down mulchy slopes was also a walk in the park with the shoe’s femme fatale of a heel brake!

The Terrex AX3 having no waterproof liner translated to breezy hikes for us. Every stride quelled our fears of ending up with sweaty feet.

Sport the ultra-comfy Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX and up your hiking game like never before. Taking inspiration from agile off-road runners, this adhesive wonder will push you forward across technical terrain with or without rain. All that goodness makes it a compelling outdoor piece to own!