Published March 25, 2024

Nothing beats the experience of putting one foot in front of the other while exploring beautiful places. And nothing wrecks that glory like achy feet or a twisted ankle. In this article, we break down our favorite women’s shoes and boots for hiking and backpacking.

If you’re wondering what differentiates hiking and backpacking footwear, welcome to the age-old debate! Traditionally, a backpacking boot would be sturdier, stiffer, and more supportive for carrying heavy loads over long distances, while a hiking boot would be lighter and flexier for more dynamic movement with lighter loads. Here’s the thing though—you don’t have to follow the traditional hiking shoe rules. Our Gearhead® Experts certainly don’t.

Choosing hiking footwear ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some hikers love the stability offered by an ankle-wrapping boot. Others prefer the lightweight and quick-paced feel of a trail running shoe. Our Gearhead team collectively hiked over 2,000 miles in a 3-month span, and they did all those miles in both types of shoes. For 2024, these are the women’s shoes and boots we’re most excited to lace up and take to the trails.

Looking for one boot for just about everything? Look no further. Lowa updated their Renegade mid height shoe with a new Monowrap frame—that means both lighter weight and better stability. Supple leather gives you that fits-like-a-glove feel, and a women’s specific last helps this pair feel just-right right out of the box. With a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane and Climate Control System for air flow, this boot stays dry when wet weather hits and cool when the temperature soars. While it’s not the stiffest boot out there (meaning it gets a bit less stable when your load’s at its heaviest), it’s our favorite for bigger day hikes and pack-laden weekend jaunts into the backcountry.

Hailing from the Responsible Collection, Merrell’s updated Speed Solo boot offers technical performance constructed from eco-friendly materials. Its mesh lining, webbing, and laces are made with 100% recycled materials, while the Vibram soles contain 30% recycled rubber. In addition to reusing discarded materials, this shoe’s BLOOM midsole utilizes algae biomass, which captures carbon, reduces GHG emissions, and keeps waterways clean. Combine the green details with a foot-protecting rock plate, proprietary waterproof membrane, and sneaker-like comfort and you see why this colorful, functional boot gets our seal of approval.

As much as we love shaving grams for backpacking, some trips require some extra pack poundage. Salomon's ultralight Quest 4 boot is our pick when the load is heavy and the mileage hefty. Designed for multi-day wear in tricky alpine terrain, this boot wraps your foot and ankle in a snug, stable leather and rubber hug. A sticky Contragrip rubber outsole keeps your strides steady no matter how slick rocky the trail, and an Ortholite liner and EVA midsole combo keep your dogs bark-free from sunup to sundown.

Danner’s been in the boot game a long time, so it’s no surprise that this legendary brand has once again innovated the hiking boot. The Mountain 600 has all the features we want in a hiking boot for cold or wet trail conditions: durable waterproof uppers (ultralight, abrasion-resistant suede), a comfortable fit (minimal seaming reduces hot spots during break-in), and confidence-inducing soles for slippery terrain (mega-grippy Vibram Fuga rubber). Where this boot changes the game is its midsole. Danner teamed up with Vibram to engineer a unique polymer blend of synthetic natural rubber and EVA foam. The result is the comfort and cush you want for a day on the trail that’s extra durable and lighter than ever.

This mid-height boot from Salomon gives us everything we want for a peak-bagging day hike. A reverse camber sole helps our strides push ever upwards to the summit, and plush EVA midsoles make jogging on the downhill extra easy for our joints. GORE-TEX weatherproofing ensures our feet stay dry in case of downpours, snow melt, and stream crossings, while a mid-height cuff gives our ankles a little extra support when terrain starts to vary. An added bonus for this shoe is its ease in transitioning from trail to table at the brunch spot thanks to simple neutral colors and a modern running shoe look.

We love the places we hike, and this shoe loves them, too. When designing this mid-height boot, Oboz sourced recycled and responsible materials to get you out there with less impact. The lining, laces, and closure are made from 100% recycled materials; the sole includes 20% recycled rubber; and the ISA LITE nubuck leather is LWG certified.

Ever wondered what the ultralight thru hikers are wearing when tackling the PCT or AT? If you guessed backpacking boots, guess again. A favorite among the many-milers is Altra’s Lone Peak 8. This neutral shoe’s cushy midsole gives our feet the support they need for putting in big miles. And like the Lone Peaks that came before it, the 8 has a round toe box to let toes splay comfortably. Where the 8 differs from its predecessors is a sturdier ripstop mesh upper, which gives us confidence about durability when we’re days away from the nearest trailhead.

We’ve long been fans of this nimble, spirited trail runner for daily miles and long trail runs. After taking it out on day hikes and backpacking trips, we can easily say we love it for those trail days, too. With a plush, shock-absorbing EVA sole, we can take off the brakes on descents. Meanwhile, a 4mm drop keeps a spring in our step, and while previous versions of the speed goat were notoriously narrow, the updated shoe’s stretchier upper gives our toes space to wiggle. (It’s also available in a wide width to ensure a great fit for more feet.) Although the Speedgoat doesn’t have much ankle support like our top hiking boot, it’s low trail weight and overall comfort give us plenty of confidence for long trips hiking in the backcountry.

Mountain travel is deeply ingrained in La Sportiva’s DNA, so we expect any of their hiking shoes to hold up to the biggest, most technical hikes. The Spire combines the best features of an approach shoe with elements of a trail runner, offering reliably grippy tread with a quick, nimble stride. That means it’s our go-to when we're up against burly hiking objectives. Vented soles enhance breathability underfoot, and mesh uppers let hot feet feel the breeze on warmer days. TPU toe and heel caps give us added protection where we need it, and compression molded midsoles give us just enough cush to keep pushing for the summit.

Like many of the best shoes for hiking, Salomon’s X Ultra 4 is a little bit trail runner, a little bit hiking shoe—in other words, a combo we can’t get enough of. This waterproof shoe features a substantial heal-toe drop, which is a huge win for reducing calf fatigue, and deep-lugged rubber soles keep our foot falls confident when the terrain gets technical. We love the Quicklace system for rapid trailside adjustments.

The Timp is a fan favorite for many reasons. This is a truly neutral trail runner with a 0mm heel to toe drop, which is made to promote a more natural hiking and running gait. We love this shoe’s rounded toe box—it makes room for inevitable swollen feet without adding any unnecessary length to catch on roots or rocks. Complete with a breathable mesh upper and grippy Vibram soles, this shoe is a solid choice for anyone seeking a lightweight, neutral trail runner with maximum cush.

Looking for a low-profile hiking/backpacking shoe that’s also low impact on the planet? Turn your gaze upon the Anacapa 2. This waterproof low top shoe is made from a blend of recycled and organic materials. The uppers combine nubuck leather with recycled polyester, and the sock liner is soybean based. Extra cushy EVA midsoles keep a spring in our step (even when we’re on mile 10), and Vibram outsoles ensure our footing no matter how sandy or slick the path gets.

A hiking shoe that fits well and supports your feet can make the difference between smiling on mile ten versus complaining every step of the way. We’ll choose the smiles every time. The following footwear are the one’s we’re most excited about in 2024:

• Best Supportive Backpacking Boot: Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Boot
• Best Day Hiking Boot: Merrell Speed Solo Mid Boot
• Best Hiking Shoe: HOKA Speedgoat 5 Trail Running Shoe
• Best Ultralight Backpacking Shoe: Altra Lone Peak 8 Trail Running Shoe

If you’re still on the hunt for hiking footwear, you can check out our full selection of women’s hiking & backpacking boots and shoes. You can also reach out to our Gearhead® Experts—they’re available by phone, chat, and IRL at our stores to help you lace up the perfect hiking shoes for all your trail adventures.

There are tons of boots and shoes and trail runners on the market, so how do we pick favorites? Here are the factors that we weigh when choosing hiking footwear.

How much support (both around the ankle and underfoot) you need in a hiking shoe depends both on your foot and your intended usage. If you are carrying heavier loads, traveling longer distances, or exploring less predictable terrain, a stiffer, more supportive shoe will offer better stability and potentially prevent foot fatigue. Boots are generally the stiffest and trail runners are the most flexible, with hiking shoes falling in the middle. However, each individual model will vary within this range. When deciding how much stability you want underfoot, consider your feet and ankles: if you’ve had ankle injuries in the past, you may benefit from hiking shoes with more support.

The weight of a shoe will impact your energy levels over the course of a lengthy hike. After all, your shoe is essentially a weight attached to your foot. It’s subtle, but each step with a heavier shoe takes more energy than a step with a lighter one. For this reason, we seek out boots and shoes that are light for their intended use. Features like rock plates and materials like leather can increase poundage, but these features also enhance comfort and durability. Each pair of hiking shoes on this list has a weight per pair we’re willing to hike in based on the included features.

When tackling steeper, more varied terrain, you’ll want shoes with the best grip. Look for outsoles with a sticky rubber in a well-spaced lug pattern. The increased surface area of a lug sole gives your feet better traction, especially when the terrain is loose, slippery, or technical. For flat hikes on hard packed trails, a less aggressive ridged sole is appropriate.

Waterproof hiking shoes are extremely common these days—9 of our 12 picks feature GORE-TEX or another waterproof membrane—but this feature isn’t for everyone.

Waterproof membranes keep feet dry when encountering snow, puddles, swamps, and rain on the trail. Wet feet are less comfortable for obvious reasons (does anybody like squelching socks?), but they can also ruin more than your day. Damp feet are more likely to blister (ouch), and if they stay wet for too long, they can lead to serious health complications like trench foot (extra ouch). Waterproofing can also enhance a shoe’s warmth. So if you’re winter hiking or exploring notoriously damp trails like those found in the Pacific Northwest, you’ll want a pair that’s waterproof.

Waterproof footwear is less useful in drier and warmer environments. The membrane that keeps water out makes a shoe’s upper less flexible, and it also affects breathability. Membranes such as GORE-TEX boast breathability, so when your feet sweat, that perspiration has somewhere to go. However, an airy mesh upper will be more breathable than a waterproof one. For high summer temps and desert hiking, we choose a shoe that is NOT waterproof.

Q: Is it OK to wear running shoes for hiking?

A: It is more than OK to wear running shoes for hiking, as long as you choose trail runners over road running shoes. Trail running shoes have more grip, burlier midsoles, and (sometimes) rock plates. Trail runners are much lighter than traditional hiking boots and shoes, making them popular for both backpacking and day hiking.

Q: What shoes should you wear hiking?

A: Shoes for hiking come in three forms: hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes. Hiking boots have a protective cuff for your ankle, while hiking shoes and trail running shoes are lower profile. Hiking shoes and boots are heavier than trail running shoes, and both have many protective features for your feet, such as heel and toe caps, rock plates, and stiff soles. Trail running shoes are lighter, squishier underfoot, and designed for moving fast on trails.

Q: Should you size up or down for hiking shoes?

A: A hiking shoe should fit correctly, so we recommend getting the size that fits your foot best. Because your feet swell during hikes, try on new hiking shoes at the end of the day with the style of sock you intend to wear to test fit. Your heel should stay in place without squeezing or pinching, your toes should have room to wiggle and splay, and the arch of the shoe shouldn’t wrap too tightly. If your foot slides around, don’t add another pair of socks: get a smaller size. If your toes touch the ends of the toe box, get a larger size.