Best hiking shoes for women – TOP 5

No significant changes in this bi-monthly update on best hiking shoes for women – the Keen Voyageur is still undisputed at the very top rated at a close-to-perfect 96 /100.

Our featured testers of women’s hiking shoes

Our team here at Sole Labz is on a mission to provide it’s readers with the facts and information that will make your decisions easy.

To do that, we use a statistical method tweaked and perfected over time to rate hiking footwear. The method primarily relies on customer reviews and our featured testers, some of the most prominent names in the field like: Diane Spicer, Danny Bernstein, Britanny Rouille, Fran Reisner (just to name a few)…

We asked for their help in testing and reviewing the shoes, we paired that with what the users say in their reviews and our impressions to come up with 5 (currently) best hiking shoes for women.

But enough small talk, let us move on and present the current list and then explain why the listed shoes are the best and top rated among women hikers:

Top 5 hiking shoes for women

Picture & Rating	Model	Amazon pricing
	Keen Voyageur
	Merrell Moab Waterproof
	Adidas AX 2 Hiking Shoes
	Keen Women's Gypsum
	Keen Marshall

Some of the shoes we tested

Let’s get to the “meat” – the individual reviews of the models that tested best starting from the top – the Keen Voyageur.

Keen Voyageur Women’s Hiking Shoe

The fact sheet as provided by Keen:

• Leather
• Synthetic sole
• Heel approximately measures 2”, platform 1.25”
• Multi-directional 4mm lugs
• Compression molded dual-density foam EVA midsole
• Rubber non-marking outsole
• Patented protection for your toes

PROs – a few excerpts from positive reviews:

• These are by far the best hiking shoes for women! I’ve been slowly migrating from one tennis shoe to the next, never really finding exactly what I need. These did it for me, and I’m super happy with the buy
• This is an extremely well-made shoe. It’s very comfortable, true to size, and has enough toe box space. It’s everything I want in a light hiking shoe, and I would sincerely recommend it
• These shoes feel very firm and give me a good feeling of stability while I’m on the trail. The traction is excellent, and they support my feet in all the right ways
• They are very comfortable right out of the box. I sincerely expected that to be the case, but I thought they’ll at the very least need some break in time. Nope! I couldn’t wait to get these bad boys into the woods, and I started running down the road as soon as I got them out of the box. They were simply a dream
• I’m having a lot of troubles with heel pain, and I needed something to deal with the heel spur. These fit the role perfectly. I’m also a soccer coach, so you can imagine how much pain did every practice bring since I got these
• I’m a pretty heavy person and finding a good, comfortable shoe that can support my weight is quite a feat. These do the job like a dream. I was never so comfortable during our hiking trips, and I even got to hike some extra miles this time. Absolutely perfect!
• I use these shoes for everyday errands, and I just love them. They’re not overly bulky, and they’re very comfortable. Adidas really did a good job with these, and I’m really glad I decided to buy them after reading tons of women hiking shoes reviews

Some most relevant CONs from the reviews:

• They feel a bit stiff at first glance, but I didn’t get to try them on yet, so I’ll do an update once I do
• My feet are pretty wide, and these are definitely not made for me. They look great, and the quality is obvious, but steer clear if your feet are as wide as mine

Final ratings of this Keen

Merrel Moab women’s

A glance at the product description:

• Leather/textile
• Synthetic sole
• Heel with an air cushion
• Waterproof membrane featuring antimicrobial treatment
• Toe bumper
• OrthoLite footbed
• Vibram outsole featuring TC5+ compound

Chosen PROs from the customer reviews:

• I gave them a test run hiking across some pretty rocky areas, and it really surprised me how stable and firm my feet felt, no matter the weird angles they were under. Also, my feet never slipped once inside the shoes, and that’s more than any other pair I own can say. These are great, and giving them 5 stars is only fair
• I have plantar fasciitis and flat feet. It’s pretty self-explanatory why I dreaded buying a new pair of hiking shoes. These erased any possible doubts I might’ve had, and I think my feet actually feel much better while I’m wearing them
• These are very lightweight but offer a crazy amount of support. The comfort level is through the roof, and the soles stick to the ground like glue, no matter what your hiking terrain might be
• If you’re experiencing severe heel pain like I do or simply require some additional cushioning, this is the shoe for you. I never owned a pair of Merrells before, but I’m sure glad I got them now
• On top of all the good things I could say about these, they are also really nice looking. So, I don’t use the just for hiking, but for doing my daily tasks also. I even wore them to work a few times. Great shoes!
• Carolina Mountains are my usual hiking destination, and about 200 miles is what awaits me every year. These Merrells are simply perfect for this type of terrain, and they even exceeded my expectations after some 75 miles that I already did up until now
• These soles are just dreamy. I’ve gone with my hiking group on our usual tour, and I seemed to be sleeping far less than all the other group member, even on some pretty wet surfaces. Best hiking shoes for women, period!
• They are very nice and pretty stiff, which makes them perfect for the trail. I didn’t wear them on any pavement so far, so I’ll have to do an update once I do. They’re also pretty light, and I’ve returned from my first hike without any blisters

The CONs – a few critical reviews:

• I got them in my regular size, but they felt a little too snug for my liking, so I had to return them and take a half size larger. That was a perfect hit. The shoes themselves are pretty great, so just pay attention to the size if you’re buying them
• I think the laces should be longer. I’ve also had some problems with them constantly untying…
• Once this gets dirty it looks old even if you just had it for a month…
• The stitches started tearing after 3 months

Category and Overall rating

Adidas AX2 for women

Basic info:

• Materials – synthetic (breathable air mesh)
• 9.6 ounce in weight
• Midsole – EVA for comfort and cushioning
• Design for the specifics of women’s feet

PROs as per the users:

• I bought these about 2 years ago, and they’ve been nothing short of awesome the whole time. I’ve been using them both for hiking and as an everyday shoe, and they’re still going strong. Full recommendation
• I’m a complete wuss when it comes to pain, and I always complain about every little thing that hurts me. But these hiking shoes really left me no room for complaints. They are simply amazing, and my feet totally love them
• These are my favorite pair of shoes, alongside my KEEN sandals
• They are just the best hiking shoes for women, period! They absolutely rock! I’ve bought them especially for our Mammoth Caves trip, and they’ve proven to be even more than I expected. And I expected a lot, don’t get me wrong
• Very high-quality shoes, comfy, and supportive. I don’t think I could’ve asked for anything better
• I would sincerely recommend these shoes, for daily usage, as well as for hiking. They are just so good-looking and well made that I can use them for everything
• I especially like how big the toe box is. It provides more than enough room, which is really useful and practical when I’m going downhill
• They offer more than enough ankle and feet support, which is really important for me since I already had 3 ankle surgeries, and I’m not looking to have any more
• Very lightweight for their intended purpose, but somehow it manages to be quite sturdy and just stiff enough. I’ve been hiking over a horrendous rocky terrain, and these were the only thing that carried me through it. I never felt any sharp rock underfoot, so I’ll just add that the sole is amazing also

CONs:

• The sizing is a bit off. I understand now that I should’ve calculated in the space for a thick sock, rather than comparing them with my sandals from the same manufacturer. Had to replace them, but once the size was right, everything else fell right into place
• These are too bulky for me. It’s a good shoe, but I like them a bit leaner-looking
• The color of the ones I got is a bit different than what I saw in the pictures

Final ratings on the AX2

Keen Gypsum women’s review

Fact sheet of the Keen Gypsum for women:

• Leather
• Rubber sole
• made in the US or imported
• Heel approximately measures 1.5”, platform 1”
• DRY breathable waterproof membrane
• Zorb stabilizing strobel board
• Dri-Lex control of moisture
• ESS torsion stability shank
• TPU heel stabilizer
• Footbed is metatomically designed
• Toes cap is patented
• 0 oz of weight (368g)

Sounds great on paper like most of these do, but let’s scrutinize it through the eyes of the end user and their reviews of the Keen Gypsum.

Here are a few good stories the customers had to share about this hiking shoe:

• I’ve read a bunch of different women hiking shoes reviews, and my sights were zoned in on this pair. I wasn’t wrong, let me tell you. The thing I like the most about them is how supportive they feel, and how they keep my heels from sliding around. It’s far more than my Targhee can say for itself
• These are simply great! I’ve hiked for about 20 miles in the last 3 days, and they’ve felt amazing with every step. They’re comfortable and, most importantly true to size, so they fit like a glove. They’re not light trail blazing shoes by any means, but for what they are, the comfort is superb
• I’m not a great hiker, but I bought these to do the things around my backyard, and walking my dogs around. They are very firm and supportive, but they look great also. I’m really glad I bought them, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to everybody
• Keens were one of the best men’s hiking shoes my husband owned over the years, he’s in love with the brand. So, I thought I’d give them a go two last year and I couldn’t be happier – they’re comfortable, sturdy, and very well made. Superior cushioning and comfort are a given here. I’ve been hiking over some pretty inhospitable terrain, and never did I feel underfoot anything that would bring a larger discomfort. If you intend to stay on your feet for a long time, these are your best bet
• I really like how they look. I chose a perfect color for me, and I have to commend the manufacturer on the sole amount of different, beautiful choices
• The fact that they’re waterproof really came in handy during our last hike. They offer great support for my ankles and feet, and I really like the design too
• Heavy toe protection is a blessing if you’re hiking anywhere near rocks

Not everybody was pleased with this Keen shoe – the CONs:

• There is only one thing these shoes lack in my opinion; it’s simply one extra hole for creating some firmer lacing patterns. I’ve tried them all with the current state of things, and they still feel like they could provide a much more snug feel if they had that extra hole
• There was some bunched stitching at the tongue’s edge, and it really started to hurt my foot over time. I had to replace them, but the ones I got then were great
• Just didn’t fit well, not as close as good as my previous KEENs, the Targhee
• these gave me blisters and took such a long time to wear in…

Overall ratings

Keen Marshall Women’s Hiking Shoe digest review

The manufacturer’s product specification:

• Leather
• Imported or made in USA
• Rubber sole
• PROTECT toe patented protection
• Heel with a contoured look
• Open breathable 3D mesh
• High-rebound durable PU midsole
• Moisture wicking lining
• Multi-directional 4mm lugs
• High-traction, non-marking outsole
• EVA removable footbed
• TPU shank for added stability

There is a plethora of great features listed here, but we’ll have to see how they performed in real-life hiking situations.

The positives customers shared – PROs:

• I have a pair of voyagers, and I really needed an alternative that’s going to be a bit more flexible. They were the right choice! They are fun-looking and casual, but the sole is still very grippy, which allows them to provide me with perfect stability on pretty much any kind of terrain
• My feet are very wide, and I’ve been looking everywhere for a pair of shoes that can keep me walking for at least a couple of miles. I’ve read all the women hiking shoes reviews I could possibly find, and, apparently made the right choice. They are not perfect, but I’ve been able to hike for full 5 miles wearing them, which was quite an accomplishment
• I was in need of a rugged shoe without too much bulk for doing my daily routine. I mostly hike over asphalt, but there are a lot of parts where asphalt is broken into pieces, and some of them are covered with large stones. I’ll just say they are everything I wanted them to be. I also might buy another pair in different color
• These were so comfortable right out of the box. Probably the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever wore, and by far the most good-looking ones
• These shoes are very well made, and they fit my feet perfectly. I wear them every day while walking my dog or riding a bike. So far, I am more than satisfied with them, and I really recommend them if you’re looking for a god, sturdy shoe that’s also very lightweight and looks amazing
• I expected these to require a wear-in period, but they really don’t. They were super comfortable since the first time I’ve put them on, ad keep getting better and better
• Great shoes, and if I were to tell you what I wear them for, we would be here for a looong time. Best hiking shoes for women ever!

CONs from the people that didn’t like the shoe all that much:

• They’re certainly cute, but they feel more like a tennis shoe than your average hiker
• These shoes are not made for hardcore conditions. I wore them in wet and muddy conditions at one occasion, and they didn’t do very well
• They simply don’t fit right on my foot. My feet are a bit wider, and they certainly offer me more space than any other shoe I’ve ever encountered, but it’s far from perfect
• only good for hikes that don’t call for high durability or support

Conclusions and Sole Labz ratings

If you are serious hiker, your probably need a range of footwear for different conditions and that’s one of the main fortes of the AX2 – the versatility. It’s breathable but sturdy, light but protective. It’s a beast like no other among women’s hiking shoes.

Final thoughts on the best women’s hiking shoes

As we always stress, the purpose of the Sole Labz is to do the research for you and point out things you don’t or cannot know.

With that in mind and the fact that this guide is constantly updated, you can be confident about getting any of the shoes that finds it’s way onto this list, take our word for it.

Sole Labz Team