We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Activity + Adventure Camping + Hiking The Best Hiking Shoes for Women of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Enjoy the views blister-free with these tested and approved hiking shoes for women. By Maggie Slepian Maggie Slepian Maggie Slepian is a full-time writer in the outdoor world with a decade of gear-testing experience Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 13, 2024 Comments In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Others We Liked Our Testing Process Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber For everything from casual strolls to long backpacking trips with a full pack, the right pair of hiking shoes can help you stay comfortable for longer days on the trail. While hiking shoes may not provide as much ankle support as hiking boots, they are generally more lightweight, making them a perfect choice for light or flat hikes. The best hiking shoes will feel supportive without being constricting, have durable uppers that won’t rip or develop holes, and a deeply lugged outsole that provides secure footing on both wet and dry trails. All of these pairs of women’s hiking shoes were tested on real-world hikes by our team of expert testers. Each shoe was tested over the course of multiple hikes, with detailed notes and feedback given on a variety of categories including durability, comfort, break-in period, and quality of materials and construction. We found plenty of excellent hiking shoes throughout our weeks of testing, but the eight below really stood out for support, quality, comfort, and design. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Hoka Anacapa 2 Freedom Hiking Shoes at REI Jump to Review Most Versatile: KEEN Women’s Zionic Waterproof Hiking Shoe at REI Jump to Review Most Supportive: Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 at Amazon $140 Jump to Review Best Value: Merrell Speed Eco at Amazon $107 Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Vasque Re:connect HERE Lightweight Shoe at Backcountry $96 Jump to Review Most Comfortable: HOKA Speedgoat 5 GTX Shoes at REI $170 Jump to Review Most Durable: Zamberlan 335 Circe Low GTX at REI $168 Jump to Review Best Overall Hoka Anacapa 2 Freedom Hiking Shoes PHOTO: REI View on REI $155 at Backcountry $124 at Zappos Why We Love It Between the traction, durability, and retro-chunky design, these shoes are an excellent all-around pick for a range of hikers. What to Consider These shoes didn’t breathe as well during hot summer hikes as others. Hoka’s maximalist design was introduced to the market at a time when minimalist footwear was all the rage. Since then, their plush midsoles and cushioned uppers have taken the hiking and running world by storm. The shoe had an immediately comfortable fit that felt perfectly true to size and we didn't find any rips, tears, or worn-out outsoles after our weeks of tests. We appreciated the high level of cushioning and padding, lending plenty of support during our test hikes. These also offered plenty of arch support and a snug heel cup. Since these are a taller shoe without ankle support, we recommend easier trails while you get used to the height. And while they were very comfortable, we did find our feet got a little sweaty during the hottest hikes, so make sure you wear a good pair of moisture-wicking socks. The Details: Size 5-11 | Nubuk, EVA, and rubber | 1 pound 4.8 ounces PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber Most Versatile KEEN Women’s Zionic Waterproof Hiking Shoe PHOTO: REI View on REI View on Keenfootwear.com Why We Love It These are fairly lightweight and flexible for a fully waterproof model. What to Consider The heel counter can feel a bit stiff depending on your foot shape. Throughout the testing period, we went both hiking and running in these Keen shoes and felt comfortable and chafe-free the entire time. We wore them straight out of the box and didn’t notice any need for a break-in period, which is partially due to the lighter materials and squishier foam midsole than more classic Keen shoes, which tend to be heavier. Perhaps the biggest perk to these shoes was the comfort during both trail running and hiking, making them a terrific option for trails where you want to hike the steep sections but run the downhills. We noted their hiking boot-like features with the flexibility and comfort of a trail running shoe, along with the breathability and traction needed for higher efforts on tougher trails. The only downside was a slightly stiff heel counter, and people who have achilles issues might notice some pressure. The Details: Size 6-11 | Polyester, mesh, EVA, and rubber | 1 pound 7 ounces | Waterproof PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Nicole Oswald PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Nicole Oswald PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Nicole Oswald PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Nicole Oswald Most Supportive Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 PHOTO: Merrell $140 $126 at Amazon $140 at REI $140 at Zappos Why We Love It The rockered design helps forward movement on the trail. What to Consider These required several hikes before they felt fully broken in. Merrell’s updated Moab Speed 2 modernized their classic look with fun colorways and chunky styling that we appreciate for wearing around town. These have excellent support through the midsole, and a durable, reinforced upper for protection against rocks and toe stubs. Merrell uses Vibram rubber for their outsole, with slightly less aggressive lugs than more technical shoes. This helps them stay flexible and not get bogged down in soft dirt or mud. They also feature a slightly more rockered shape to the sole, which helps with stride propulsion, so if you’re used to a flatter design, it might take some getting used to. We did find the sizing to run a little small, and would have felt more comfortable ordering a half-size up from our normal size. We also recommend wearing these around town for a few days before committing to a longer hike, so you feel steady and secure as you get used to the rocking. The Details: Size 5-11 | Mesh, EVA, and rubber | 1 pound 3.4 ounces PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Taylor Fox The 9 Best Hiking Shorts for Women of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Value Merrell Speed Eco PHOTO: Merrell $107 at Amazon $100 at REI $100 at Dicks Sporting Goods Why We Love It The excellent arch support and cushioning around the ankle feels secure and comfortable. What to Consider We’d love to see a few more neutral colorways. We felt fully supported during full days of wearing the Merrell Speed Ecos. They felt high end and well constructed despite being made from lighter synthetic upper materials, as well as the brand’s own rubber blend for the outsole. While the uppers don’t have the same rugged durability as Merrell’s heftier shoes, the mesh is breathable and the lack of Vibram rubber didn’t phase us during testing. We wore these hiking in Arizona during the late spring and summer, and the lightweight design and high level of breathability was greatly appreciated. The Details: Size 5-11 | Mesh, synthetic, EVA, and rubber | 1 pound 4 ounces PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Rachel Thalhuber Best Lightweight Vasque Re:connect HERE Lightweight Shoe PHOTO: Backcountry $96 at Backcountry View on Vasque.com Why We Love It These shoes prove that a hiking shoe can look great and perform well. What to Consider The tongue can be tricky to secure in the correct placement. These lightweight, flexible shoes from Vasque hit all the comfort and style marks. We felt well-supported from the mid-density EVA foam, and the mesh was both breathable and reinforced, helping prevent abrasion and holes. Our test hiker has high arches, and she felt perfectly supported, with no pain or aching after the many test hikes. We loved the styling and colors, and they felt as light and breathable as a pair of trail runners without losing support and traction. Vasque is known for their more burly, classic hiking boots, so it’s nice to see their foray into modern silhouettes and construction has been a success. The only issue we ran into was needing to adjust the tongue a few times to get the placement correct, but once set, it did not shift around. The Details: Size 6-11 | Mesh, rubber, and EVA | 1 pound 3 ounces PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Dylan Thompson The 7 Best Hiking Backpacks for Women of 2024 Most Comfortable HOKA Speedgoat 5 GTX Shoes PHOTO: Zappos $170 at REI $144 at Backcountry View on Backcountry Why We Love It The excellent underfoot support and cushioning is ideal for long hikes. What to Consider The tall stack height and bright colors might not be the look for everyone. We were in awe at how comfortable the Hoka Speedgoats felt right out of the box, thanks in part to the cloud-like midsole (there’s that Hoka maximalist design again) and the breathable knit upper. The Speedgoats come in a range of options, and we tested the waterproof model with a flexible, breathable Gore-tex membrane that kept water out while letting sweat evaporate. Like the best trail running models, these required no break in period and felt excellent right out of the box. The lugs were grippy on all of the terrain we tested them on, and we felt an inch taller wearing them, which makes sense given the 30-millimeter stack height. This update to the Speedgoat raised the heel tab for more support, and increased the durability of the lightweight upper. The Details: Size 5-11 | Mesh, EVA, and rubber | 1 pound 7 ounces | Waterproof PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Elena Garcia PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Elena Garcia PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Elena Garcia Most Durable Zamberlan 335 Circe Low GTX PHOTO: REI $168 at REI $231 at Zappos View on Zamberlanusa.com Why We Love It The upper materials are supportive and reinforced for durability. What to Consider The sizing instructions are a little confusing when ordering online. These are true hiking shoes, thus will feel stiffer and a little heavier than trail running styles, but we were impressed with how comfortable they were despite the rigid build. We didn’t need much time to break them in, and they felt plush underfoot on all of our test hikes. They’re superprotective as well, with a reinforced toe cap, Gore-tex for high levels of waterproofing, and sturdy, grippy Vibram rubber outsoles for excellent traction on wet rocks as well as steeper dry sections of trail. They have a slightly wider heel for added stability on tricky terrain, and even with the heavier materials and waterproof membrane, they felt comfortable and breathable. The sizing directions can be a bit odd (the website says to measure your foot on a piece of paper and coordinate with their metrics), but we went with our gut and ordered our normal size and they fit perfectly. The Details: Size 6-11 | Microfiber, polyurethane, and rubber | 1 pound 13 ounces | Waterproof PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Allison Vancura PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Allison Vancura Other We Liked Oboz Sawtooth X Low Waterproof Hiking Shoe: Oboz is a trail tested brand with a range of hiking-specific shoes. We loved the traction and reliable waterproofing of this model, but they had a stiffer construction and slightly outdated style. Keen Targhee 3 Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoes: Keen’s sturdy, protective Targhee line has plenty of reinforcement around the heel collar, toe cap, and uppers. This makes them a great option for rugged trails or narrow pathways with obstacles and potential abrasion. We did find them to be a bit challenging to break in and fit a little wider than we’d like. PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Mariya Ginzburg PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Mariya Ginzburg Our Testing Process To test women’s hiking shoes, we sent our expert testers on multiple real world hikes across the country, making sure to test everything from initial fit to break in period, arch support to durability, and traction on the trail. Our testers took note on durability of the shoe, comfort, and sure-footedness on varying terrain. If the shoes were marked as water resistant or waterproof, we made sure they were put to the test in those conditions as well. Our testers wore these hiking shoes for multiple hikes for several hours each time. Our testers will all continue wearing these hiking shoes and will report back after continued testing for any additional insights. Tips for Buying Women's Hiking Shoes Look for arch support All hiking shoes — especially for people with high or flat arches — should offer good arch support. When choosing and trying them on, focus on the insole and midsole materials. Look for shoes that offer a contoured or molded insole that fits the shape of your arch, which will increase comfort and prevent fatigue on long hikes. The midsole should be made of materials like EVA foam or polyurethane, which offer both cushioning and support. If possible, test a few pairs to find one that cradles your arch without being too tight or too loose, and we definitely recommend wearing your shoes around for a few hours before heading out on any rigorous trails. Travel + Leisure / Elena Garcia Think about waterproofing Before you commit to a waterproof hiking shoe, think about the typical conditions you'll encounter on your hikes. Waterproof shoes are often made with materials like Gore-tex or other breathable membranes, and are ideal for wet or muddy environments. The best ones will keep your feet dry while allowing moisture to escape. However, fully waterproof shoes can sometimes trap heat and sweat in warmer conditions where you likely won’t need the protection anyway. For hikes in primarily dry or hot climates, shoes with quick-drying materials like mesh or lightweight synthetic might be a better option. Consider terrain and seasonality We’re big fans of hiking shoes for their flexibility and lighter weight build, and several hiking shoes on this list pull double-duty as trail running shoes. But if you’re hiking on steep, technical terrain or through deep snow, you might prefer the support of a more rugged design offered by a hiking boot. Frequently Asked Questions Is there a difference between hiking shoes and hiking boots? Yes, there is a difference between hiking shoes and hiking boots; primarily in design and intended use. Hiking shoes are typically low-cut and lighter, making them ideal for shorter hikes, well-maintained trails, or day trips where agility and comfort are key. They offer less ankle support but are more flexible and breathable.Hiking boots, on the other hand, have a higher cut around the ankle, providing better support and protection, which is especially useful on rugged or uneven terrain. Boots are generally more durable and offer better protection from the elements, making them ideal for longer, multiday hikes or when carrying heavier loads. How should my hiking shoes fit? Your hiking shoes should fit snugly, but with enough room in the toe box to prevent your toes from hitting the front during descents or sliding backward on steep uphills. There should be about a thumb's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, and the heel should feel secure without slipping. It's also important to try them on with hiking socks to get an accurate fit, as loose shoes can cause blisters. Is it okay to wear running shoes for hiking? Yes, running shoes can work for light hiking on well-maintained trails, though they lack some of the durability, traction, and support needed for tougher terrain. Hiking shoes are designed specifically to handle rough surfaces and provide better protection and stability, making them a better choice for serious hikes. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Maggie Slepian is an avid hiker, backpacker, and trail runner with more than a decade of professional gear testing experience. She has backpacked thousands of miles, and her hiking and backpacking has taken her from winter peak bagging and coastal backpacking to extended trips in the desert and high alpine. Maggie is also a professional gear tester, testing hundreds of items on the trail each year. Her gear and apparel is tested in all four seasons and in a range of environments and climates. Maggie tests upward of a dozen pairs of hiking shoes each year. The 10 Best Hiking Boot Brands of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Edited by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years. learn more