Best Hiking Shoes for Women

5 Best hiking shoes for women

The best hiking shoes for women are ones that fit well and don't cause rub points where blisters can come up. There is nothing worse than buying new shoes to discover you have a blister erupting when wearing them, half hour into a long hike. Poorly fitting shoes can also cause discomfort in other parts of your body, like the hips and the back.  So it is important to take some time when selecting a hiking shoe. Check out our blog post on How to Prevent Blisters if you happen to get any.  

But it’s hard to buy shoes online isn't it?  Out of all my purchases online I get the most nervous about buying shoes as the 'fits' vary substantially.  Even if you buy the same shoe over and over again, you can still get a pair that don't quite fit the way you remember they did.  This may not be the fault of the manufacturer either.  Your feet, as part of your body, change with the effects of aging and different life experiences like, pregnancy, menopause, weight gain, weight loss and injuries. You can go from a size 7 in your 20s to a size 8 ½ in your 40s. Yes, there is a lot to look forward to!

Time Saving Summary of Pros and Cons 

The first thing you can do, if you are planning to buy shoes online, is to research them thoroughly.  The second thing you must do is to measure your feet correctly and check the sizing charts before ordering.  However, the research, like everything else in your busy life takes time.  So, to save you time trawling the Net and reading countless, often conflicting reviews, we have researched and put together the top 5 best-selling women’s hiking shoes. Each shoe has a list of pros and cons, and the prices range from the budget types to dearer mid-range brands.  So there is something for everyone's budget. 

Below is a table summarizing the price points and the ratings of each on Amazon.com Please note this information is correct at time of writing in August 2021.  You will notice that both Merrell Shoes have the best five star ratings of 80% and both sit around the average price point of $US72.57.

The Best Hiking Shoes for Women on Amazon

#1 Merrell Women's Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe – around $US65.00

Note: - Although not advertised as waterproof reviewers have said that they walk through mud and water and that their feet remained dry and comfortable. 

• Very Sturdy
• Bigger toe box
• Thick sole means you don’t feel the sharper rocks through the shoe
• Will fit an inner sole or orthotic
• No arch support – made for flatter feet
• Wide fitting
• Lightweight – heavier than a running shoe but light weight for a hiking shoe 

#2 Jabasic Women Breathable Hiking Shoes – Around $US39.99

• Suitable for wide feet
• Nice color selection
• Price point means you can buy a couple of pairs and color coordinate to your active wardrobe
• They do run a bit small so make sure you check your feet measurements and the chart twice
• Very lightweight and super comfortable
• Suitable for inner sole – very little cushioning
• Lower quality but surprising durability considering they are cheaper 

#3 MAINCH Women's Hiking Quick Dry Water Shoes – Around $US37.99

• Cheap price – means you can have two or more pairs to match your active outfit
• With cheap price comes the cheaper quality.  But still reviewers said these were comparable in comfort and durability to more expensive brands.
• Lightweight
• Good tread for slippery rocks and tree roots
• Nice color selection
• Suitable for inner sole – very little cushioning or arch support
• Runs true to size
• Can wear without a sock
• Designed to let water flow through and then dry quickly.  Not recommended for muddy or sandy areas as you will end up with shoes full of mud or sand. 

 #4 Merrell Women's Siren Edge 3 Hiking Shoe – Around $US90

Note: This particular shoe is not waterproof but there is a waterproof style available

• Runs true to size
• Lightweight
• Very good quality
• Arch Support
• Very Sturdy
• Can be worn by Registered Nurses in their daily work 
• No 'breaking in' required, comfortable straight out of the box
• Good for those with bunions as there are no external leather straps that can cause rub points

#5 KEEN Women's Targhee 2 Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoe – Around $129.95

• Wide fitting with wide toe box so suitable for people with wider feet
• Lightweight
• Arch support
• Good grip on wet surfaces
• Best to break in before going on a longer hike
• Some reviews had quality issues reporting that shoes wore out with the tread coming away after 12 months.

Overall Washup

If you haven’t already heard of the Merrell Brand now is the time for you to take a look.  Both Merrell shoes are great value for money and come with Amazon’s 1-2 day shipping time depending on whether you are an Amazon Prime Member or not.

With thousands of reviews and an average 4.6 Star rating, people who love hiking agree that the Merrell Moab  is the best value for money.  80% of all reviewers gave these shoes a 5 Star rating. 

For price, durability, comfort and quality you can’t go past the Merrell shoes. The cheaper of the two, the Merrell Women's Moab 2 vent hiking shoe, is particularly good value at under $70.00.   The two cheapest options are lighter weight shoes and people enjoy the fashionable colors they come in.  However, you do get what you pay for.

Finally it is advisable that no matter what shoe you choose for hiking it is best to 'wear them in' before taking them on a longer hike.  Also if they do not fit when you first try them on and walk around a bit, send them straight back. That way you will be covered by the warranty.  Generally these types of shoes do not expand or shrink, the longer you wear them. 

Here is a helpful video on how to properly fit hiking boots.  Hope it helps.

 To by any of the shoes mentioned above just follow the links below. 

Get your Merrell Women's Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe from Amazon here

Get your Jabasic Women Hiking Shoes Breathable Knit Athletic Outdoor Sneakers from Amazon here

Get your MAINCH Women's Hiking Water Shoes Quick Dry Outdoor Sport Sneakers from Amazon here

Get your Merrell Women's Siren Edge 3 Hiking Shoe from Amazon here

Get your KEEN Women's Targhee 2 Low Height Waterproof Hiking Shoe from Amazon here

 Note any links in this piece of writing are to Amazon.com.  Clicking through and purchasing from these links may result in a commission being paid to LoveTheHike.com