The 9 Best Hiking Boots for Women of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Merrell Moab 3 Mid

$130 $120 at Amazon $130 at REI $150 at Nordstrom

After wearing these sturdy boots for the first time during a four-hour hike, we can happily say they break in quickly and leave your feet feeling comfortable and supported. Even after five months, they offer plenty of traction, keep water out, and remain breathable so feet don't get too sweaty. The boots are made of the heavy-duty materials we’ve come to expect from Merrell, yet they still feel lightweight. Putting them on, you’ll immediately notice how secure your ankles and footpad feel, with plenty of arch-support for all-day hikes. We were also instantly smitten with the colorful look of Merrell's limited edition collaboration with Unlikely Hikers, which is also available in men's sizes and a low-top version.

We were pleasantly surprised that all debris and moisture either rolls right off the boots or wipes off easily, so you don’t have to worry about walking through mud, snow, or water. They were also great for both cold and warm weather hikes and were breathable enough that we didn’t notice any extra sweating in the feet. The traction is incredibly stable, and we stayed sturdy while navigating over wet and icy rocks as well as steep inclines and rough terrain without slipping. No matter what hikes you have planned, these boots are ready for them.

The Details: Size 5-12 medium and wide | 1.7 pounds per pair | Leather, mesh, rubber | Waterproof

Best All-weather

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-tex Women's

$175 at Amazon $175 at REI $175 at Backcountry

Straight out of the box, Salomon’s X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-tex Hiking Boots are comfortable enough to get you through a demanding all-day hike. The boots are so breathable, we were skeptical that they could also be waterproof, but the Gore-tex treatment proved to keep feet 100 percent dry even when fully submerged in puddles, mud, and snow. We found them to be incredibly lightweight, keeping us swift whether we were running or climbing.

These boots definitely took a beating during hikes but were easy to wipe down to get them to look good as new. Our one complaint is that there could be more traction on the soles for advanced hiking where slick surfaces and rock climbing is involved, but the grip seemed to improve the more we wore them. We would still feel confident wearing these in wet or icy conditions to keep feet supported and dry all day.

The Details: Size 5-11 | 1.6 pounds per pair | Leather, textile, rubber | Waterproof

Best Leather

Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boot

View on Amazon $210 at Backcountry $210 at Zappos

Right away, you’ll be impressed with the look and high-quality feel of these leather boots from iconic hiking brand Danner. We were impressed by how stylish, yet rugged they look, with the outer leather giving a natural, worn-in aesthetic to the boots. After five months of use, we also love that these boots have more of a lightweight feel than others. Because of this design, they don’t show a lot of additional signs of wear and tear as you rack up miles. While the ankle is a bit stiff when you first put these on, after a quick walk, they had stretched out and were soft to the touch.

From hiking through the woods to strolling on a sandy lakebed, these boots provided plenty of support around the ankles and cushion for the balls of our feet. The boot’s soles felt grippy when climbing over boulders and hiking downhill and were thick enough that we couldn’t feel any rocks or branches underfoot. Note that because the boots aren’t as breathable as those made with mesh uppers, we did feel that they caused sweating in the feet. Even with thinner socks, these boots may be most comfortable for hiking in colder weather. 

The Details: Size 5-11 wide | 2 pounds per pair | Leather, EVA | Waterproof

Most Durable

Lowa Mid Hiking Boots

$276 at Amazon $127 at REI $255 at Backcountry

Lowa’s Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boots are popular among outdoor lovers for a reason — they’re comfortable, cushiony, and provide plenty of ankle support. On long hikes over steep terrain, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them as they’re so lightweight and don’t constrict feet. They lace-up to be perfectly fitted and don’t pinch or chafe with the proper socks (but we do recommend you wear a thick pair of hiking socks with these boots to avoid blisters).  "As someone who used to replace my budget hiking shoes every year like clockwork, these Lowa hiking boots have been worth paying a little bit more for because I know they’ll last for years," says T+L editor Jackie Cucco. "I’ve hiked through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Washington with them, and they’ve been so comfortable and supportive."

We love that the boots are not only supportive on the inside, even after five months of testing, but keep feet protected on the outside as well. Hikers could stumble, trip, climb on rocks, stomp through snow, and jump into rivers while wearing these boots knowing socks and feet won’t feel a thing; they will be comfortable and protected throughout it all. The traction was great throughout various weathers and terrain, and after jumping into a river, no moisture made it through the boot. "I also love how grippy the bottoms feel; I climbed the Jackson Hole Via Ferrata in them when it started to rain, and I never felt like I was going to slip," adds Cucco. The lighter colors may show dirt fairly quickly, but a bit of soap easily gets these boots looking brand new, and they're sure to last for years.

The Details: Size 5.5-12 narrow and wide | 2.13 pounds per pair | Nubuck leather, polyester, rubber | Waterproof

Best Traction

Salewa Women's Mid PTX Boot

$200 $160 at Amazon $200 at Backcountry $175 at Zappos

These durable hiking boots were some of the most comfortable we tested. Made from high-quality materials, they’re thick, sturdy, and protective for all day hikes. Surprisingly, we found that thinner socks not made for hiking were perfect to pair with these boots because they have so much padding and cushioning built in. We also liked the level of arch-support and didn’t find it to be exaggerated, but just the right amount.

The boots felt comfortable right out of the box and have held their structure beautifully after a variety of hikes through multiple terrains. In cold weather and warm weather, these boots were breathable and didn’t cause any hot spots or excessive sweating. The ankle of the boot doesn’t come up quite as high as other options, but they did still feel supportive and comfortable. The shoes are also, despite their hefty construction, unexpectedly lightweight and the traction is excellent — you almost stick to the ground. We loved that despite all of the technical features of such a rugged boot, they still look sleek and stylish and are built to last.

The Details: Size 6-11 | 1.3 pounds per pair | Mesh, TPU rubber | Waterproof

Best Waterproof

La Sportiva Hiking Boots

$209 $199 at Amazon $119 at REI $239 at Backcountry

For a pair of boots you can wear rain or shine, the La Sportiva Nucleos have you covered. The high-quality outer materials are quite thick and do need a bit of loosening up, but once they conform to your feet, they are one of the more supportive pairs of boots we tried. The boots run true to size, do not pinch or chafe at all, and are most comfortable if you pair them with a cushiony pair of hiking socks. While they are not the most breathable pair of boots, they are completely waterproof and are great for even walking through creeks and streams. Mud and dirt wipe away from the outer leather without much hassle, so you can happily wear these splashing around in the rain.

The Details: Size 37-43 regular and wide | 1.6 pounds per pair | Leather | Waterproof

Best Lightweight

Oboz Women’s Katabatic Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots

$190 at Amazon View on Obozfootwear.com

We wore the Oboz Katabatic Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots on multiple hikes including one 12-mile climb over rocks and sand and through a creek. Right out of the box, we love how lightweight and high-quality the boots felt. You can instantly see the material has waterproof capabilities due to the extremely tight woven fabric of the upper shoe. They also fit true to size and are adjustable, so you can wear them with thick hiking socks or thinner day to day socks. The boots have a well-cushioned footbed with supports that are thoughtfully placed at the ball of the foot and toward the back to cushion the heel. Throughout our various hikes, we never had any issues with blisters or chafing — even after fully stepping into a creek and walking another eight miles.

The Details: Size 5-12 | 13.4 ounces per pair | Mesh and TPU | Waterproof

Best Value

Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boot

$100 at Amazon

These Columbia boots are durable, sturdy, and supportive at a budget-friendly price. The soles are tough and durable, and we felt plenty of cushioning throughout our various hikes. There is also padding on the tongue and back so your heel and ankle feels supported. After weeks of testing, the boots show no sign of wear and tear and have only accumulated a minimal amount of dirt (though dirt does cling to the suede more than other materials). They fit true to size and have essentially no break-in period, so you can comfortably wear these right out of the box.

The Details: Size 5-12 regular and wide | 1.7 pounds per pair | Leather, suede, mesh, and rubber | Waterproof

Best for Wide Feet

La Sportiva Mid GTX Hiking Boots

$190 at Amazon $189 at Backcountry $189 at Backcountry

Our first impression of these La Sportiva boots was that they are well-made and appear to be very durable. After multiple four-mile hikes on dirt, grass, rocks, and snow, they proved to be just as high-quality as expected. Throughout our five-month tests, we loved that they gave us the confidence to step securely on challenging terrain since the sole grips the trail on rocky sections and helps stabilize feet on uneven ground. The rugged sole has a lot of grip, perfect for wet and icy weather, and the seam between the boot’s upper and sole is sealed well to keep moisture out. The boots are treated with Gore-tex, and after standing in water at the edge of a lake for five minutes, our feet were still completely dry. Despite weeks of testing, the soles still look brand new and the upper mesh area of the boot was easily cleaned with a bit of water.

We love that these boots are lightweight and comfortable, so you don’t feel like you’re being weighed down by bulky shoes. While they do run a bit wide, we actually liked the extra toe box space so you can wear heavier socks in cold weather. The shoe also features a padded tongue that helps make the upper portion of the boot even more comfortable and secure around the ankles, even while hiking up steep, rocky terrains.

The Details: Size 36-43 | 1.1 pounds per pair | Mesh, nylon, EVO | Waterproof