Best women’s hiking boots -TOP 5

Those of you who know SoleLabz know what we are about – WE DO THE RESEARCH SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO. This guide is about providing you with information about the best hiking boots for women at any given moment.

We like to see change in the rankings, but this particular category hasn’t offered much over the past few updates – the Merrell Moab Ventilator is still undisputed, rated at 94 /100.

best_women_hiking_boot_merrell_moab_ventilator

So let’s start strong as we always do – the result of the current countdown is the following.

Model and Ratings	Model	Read More
	Merrell Moab Ventilator
	Salomon Quest 4D
	Ahnu Sugarpine
	Ahnu Montara
	Keen Targhee II

Let’s take a close look at each of these:

Women’s Merrell Moab ventilator Boot

best_women_hiking_boot_merrell_moab_ventilator

Let’s start with the basic facts from the words of the manufacturer:

Leather with mesh textile
Vibram sole
Protective toe bumper
Bellows tongue will keep the debris out
Breathable lining made of mesh keep the feet dry
M Select FRESH eliminates odors
QForm Comfort midsole will provide a stride-sequenced cushioning, making this a perfect women’s choice

Excerpts from the positive reviews of the boot:

These are the best women hiking boots you’ll find in this price range. I use them every day, for everything from walking around and working to my frequent hiking expeditions
They are so comfortable, and allow me to walk more naturally by relieving the ball of my feet of all that pressure I felt with my previous flimsy-but-fancy boots
My mom has like a trillion feet problems. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with these, so I decided to buy her a pair. The end result was amazing, she can spend more time on her feet, never stumbles while walking, and at the end of the day her feet are significantly less sore
These shoes are certainly worth the money. I bought them for my wife after she finally agreed to go hiking with me after a century of convincing her. They look very durable, but my wife says they’re extremely comfortable and light
The sole provides a perfect grip, which won’t let you down on those smooth rocks, but it’s still hard enough to not be penetrated by the pointier/sharper ones. Great buy!
These shoes feel great! And I’m not talking after the break-in period since there’s no such thing required here. My hike over the Glacier National Park took me two days, and I had no blisters to show for it. Very light and more than comfortable. Sincere recommendation
This is my fourth pair. They all have their purposes since I’m wearing them all the time. One’s for hiking, the other for running errands, third for walking the dog, and forth for mowing the yard. They fit very well, are pretty durable and comfortable, and I can remove the insole to wash it regularly. It’s a dream, plus they provide a very stable base even in the most treacherous of grounds

Critical reviews:

Nice boots, it would be great if they came in more colors options, something more feminine would be great
They do the trick but they somehow look outdated and clunky

Final Ratings

One of the best pair of hiking boots for women out there and an overall quality rating of 94/100.

Ratings_moab_mid_ventilator_women

Salomon Women’s Quest Hiking Boot

Ratings_moab_mid_vantilator_women

Our first step will be to read the manufacturer’s product specification:

Leather with textile
Rubber sole
Shaft from arch – 5.25”
Heel approximately measures 1.25”
Gusseted tongue That locks the debris out
Rubber toe rand and heel
Breathable and waterproof GTX Performance Comfort
Waterproof bootie
Controls flex and reduces ankle strain

Some of the more significant PROs the customers had to share:

Excellent pair! Roomy toe box, but the heel fits perfectly and keeps my feet stable on the ground. Grippy side gromets are probably my favorite feature though since I can have a different level of lace tension in the areas around my feet and ankles. No foot slipping whatsoever
The break-in time was literally zero for me. I’ve read tons of different women and men hiking boots reviews, and I didn’t find that to be a regular occurrence. They’re simply fantastic!
I’ve hiked for some 15 miles after I first bought them, and the elevation was around 5k ft. Not a single area of rubbing or any blisters. Simply amazing
They provided more than enough support during our ascent/descent, and all throughout scrambling up some rocky chimneys. The sole grip is fabulous, and they’re just hard enough, not to feel too much of the rocky trail underfoot
The best women hiking boots I’ve ever owned, no question about it. They’ve more than handled slippery terrains, sandy areas, and wet bogs. Rushing streams, slippery rocks and leave, no problem
Great lateral support was a big sell point for me. It felt as if my weak ankle was never severely sprained at all. Great pair and a great buy
These are really awesome. I predominantly use them for work when I’m not on the trail. My work is basically standing on concrete floors for more than 45 hours a week. They make it feel like a walk in the park. Very comfortable, warm but breathable enough to avoid sweaty feet, and no break-in period
These are some serious boots. I feel I could climb a freaking mountain in them. They can handle their share of slippery terrain let me tell you. Plus, I’ve hiked the living soul out of them, and they’re still going strong. Indestructible

Things users complained about:

The left sole was unglued when they first arrived. I contacted user support, and I’m waiting for the new pair to get here any day now
The arch support on these is far too firm for my taste and feet shape, it starts to hurt within an hour of any serious hike. I had to get the insole they came with out and replace it with a Dr. Scholl’s gel insole
Not for small women, especially for those who don’t hike that much, like in my case. They’re simply to bulky and heavy for an all day hike…

Category and Overall Ratings

Ratings_salomon_women_top_rated_quest_gtx

Ahnu Women’s Sugarpine Hiking Boots

review_ahnu-sugarpine_women_boots

First in order is the company’s product specification:

Synthetic
NA
Imported
Rubber sole
5.5” shaft from arch, 1” heel
Numentum technology
Waterproof construction
Gusseted tongue
TPU clip for heel stability
EVA dual-density
Rubber toe protector
Self-cleaning lugs
Vibram outsole
Vibrant color scheme

That certainly is a massive amount of potentially favorable info. All it has to do now is pass the scrutiny of our fellow customers and testers.

some of the upsides they shared about the boot:

Undoubtedly the best woman hiking boots I’ve ever worn. My feet are flat and very hard to find a perfect fit for. I don’t even know anymore how many pair of boots I’ve given away due to pain and poor fit. Ahnu’s feet like a glove and they simply feel wonderful
They’re very sturdy and can take a lot of abuse. I’ve used them all over, most recently during my hike through Yellowstone National Park, and I forgot the meaning of the word blister. They’re also very easy to clean by brushing or simply hosing them off
The colors are incredible! I was the envy of my entire hiking group. But they’re not just looks, no sir! The quality is outstanding, and you can jus see they were made to last and withstand some pretty inhospitable conditions
Fabulous boots! Everything went smoothly from the moment I’ve placed the order up until they got here. Just make sure you order a half size larger pair so you can wear it with some thick hiking socks
Incredibly lightweight and without making any sacrifices in the durability department. Plus, I feel like they’re propelling me through every single of my steps due to the way they’re constructed
I haven’t got much hiking experience, so my husband bought me these hoping they’ll provide enough support to my flimsy ankles. Needless to say, they play their part perfectly. They’re so comfortable I’ve started using them as my winter boots also
I feel in love with them from the moment I put them on for the first time. They have a dazzling color contrast, and they fit perfectly with a pair of thick socks on. Very roomy, comfortable, yet they provide enough support even in the most treacherous of terrains
They’re very flexible, and I can just feel the way they bend alongside my feet. Somehow they also manage to have a very sturdy sole, making all those pointy rocks feel like you’re walking on feathers almost

And the down-sides:

These shoes are perfect as far as length is concerned, but the width was my main problem. I have considerably wide feet, and even after I loosened the laces I could feel they were in a pinch
My ankles are pretty bony, and these boots used to rub on them from time to time. Nothing major, but is stacks up after longer hikes

Overall Quality Rating

Ratings_ahnu_sugarpine_women_boot

Women’s AHNU Montara Boots

review_ahnu-montara_women__hiking_boots

Here are some basic product information:

Leather
Imported
Synthetic sole
Shaft from arch – 5.25”
Heel approximately measures 1.25”
Padded collar featuring patented eVent breathability tech.
Waterproof and breathable
Rubber toe protector

some of the pros from reviews:

It was a last minute buy as I slowly realized my husband had in mind a bit more arduous “vacation” than I originally thought. They practically didn’t need any break-in time, which even an inexperienced “hiker” like me would expect from boots such as these. They’re very comfortable, and they brought me to the West Spanish Peek’s summit without a single blister
There should be a hall of fame for shoes with a special place reserved for the likes of these. They’re awesome and overall a pair of boots you can really trust. Plus, they look super cute
I’ve bought mine for caving purposes. Cave crawling is quite an adventure, and it requires good footwear more than everything and these held up perfectly. We crawled, walked over some seriously sharp formations, swam, and I was thanking my lucky star I’ve finally found an adequate pair of boots. Highest recommendation
Incredibly lightweight ad comfortable. They even felt much lighter after being soaked in water and mud. Wet bogs never felt like a small obstacle to tackle, but with these shoes it was like walking through a park almost
I’ve read a lot of men hiking boots reviews since I didn’t really believe they made women’s versions that were quite as adequate. Boy did these prove me wrong. I’ve done my 28 mile hike in them, and they proved to be just what I’ve expected, all the hiking boots I’ve read about in one. They’re completely waterproof, offer great ankle support, awesome traction, and they look very stylish to boot (pun intended)
I’m a mail carrier, and I walk all day long through various terrains (yards, hills…). I just love these boots and trust me, I have tried my fair share. Super lightweight, very comfortable, and great for those “heavy rain” days
Good footwear can make or break your hike, we all know that and finding the right pair proved to be quite a task. These babies are what I came up with after weeks of online research, and not only the reviews were true, they didn’t do them justice enough. That’s how great they are

Some of the stuff the users didn’t like:

The soles on these boots are a bit harder than I would prefer
They are too narrow for my feet, so they were causing me some considerable discomfort
My feet are very sensitive, so I had to buy some additional cushion inserts. Other than that, they’re a pretty good feminine alternative to your average hiking boots for men

Overall Ratings of the Montara Ahnu

Ratings_ahnu_montara_women_boot

Woman’s Targhee II Hiking Boots

review_women_boot_keen_targhee

Here’s some starting information for the users to scrutinize:

Leather
Rubber sole
US made or imported
Shaft from arch – 4.50”
Heel approximately measures 1.50”
Platform approximately measures 1”
KEEN.DRY breathable waterproof membrane
Removable EVA dual density foam footbed
ESS shank torsion stability
EVA foam midsole that’s compression-molded
Waterproof leather

the most significant PROs in customer and tester reviews:

I admire these shoes. Yes, it goes that far. I wore them during my trip to Grand Teton, and they proved to be more than admiration worthy. Turns out I wore an extra pair of sneaks for nothing
The best woman hiking boots I’ve ever had the privilege of owning. They look lovely and feminine while retaining all of the qualities the more rugged looking men’s boots have
They’re so comfortable it feels I only take them off when it’s bedtime. I started using them just for hiking, but they quickly became my shoes for everything. They’re very comfortable ad provide more than enough support for my frail ankles. I’ve even tackled some of the terrains I couldn’t possibly imagine I would in my old hiking boots. Wholehearted recommendation
They are 100% waterproof while remaining surprisingly breathable. It’s usually one thing or the other, but these have it all. My feet don’t get sweaty in them, and that’s truly a blessing
The sole provides good traction, which I had the opportunity to see for myself while hiking o ice last winter. The grip is excellent, plus the toe protection is one of the best I’ve ever seen. And I’m a notorious toe stubber
These are perfect! I trekked in Continental Costa Rica with them, and they kept water away like champs. The only time my feet got wet was when I was crossing the river, and the water was over the top of the boots
I didn’t have a blister since I got these. Enough said

And some less than pleasant experiences:

The laces are quite rigid, so they tend to come undone unless I double knot them
I found them to be a bit constricting in the ankle area. My ankles are thicker than average, so there’s a warning if yours are as well

Ratings and the final score of the Targhee