Reddit mentions: The best hiking boots for women

I got [these](https://www.amazon.com/Teva-Womens-Arrowood-Waterproof-Charcoal/dp/B01N6ILF1Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1527607566&sr=8-6&keywords=teva+boots+women) a couple of months ago so I guess a bit new still for extensive comments but so far I am very very happy with them. They are light but supportive and comfortable. For me it was important that my ankle felt supported too. I think the grip is good, I haven't landed on my ass yet this season! But they are a definitely mid-way shoe rather than full blown hardcore hiking. They do have some more rugged models. Teva is a great brand, my friend has been hiking on his for a good three years now and they have lasted well.

Also check out Adidas Terrex line! Those shoes have some very solid soles and good builds too.

Since I can't make this its own thread, and it's super super specific, I'll try sharing this here!!

I'll be attending a three week group vacation-thing in Europe in May, consisting of both indoor casual and formal activities (workshops, business meetings, brewery tours, sightseeing, etc.) as well as outdoor activities (two free days of outdoors stuff, a night lantern hike, etc.). I'll be traveling to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and England, and I am absolutely overwhelmed with what to pack. This is geared for a college/about to graduate tour group! Here are my constraints:

• I don't want to look like a tourist (pretty obvious)--I've only ever been to the UK and that was for a one week sightseeing/art trip, so it was all indoors, very easy to pack!
  
• No access to washer/dryer (probably)
  
• I have to be able to carry the luggage in question. I'm a 5'3" girl who works out, and currently I have a large suitcase I can drag up/down stairs and a Patagonia Black Hole Duffle for my back. That's the limit of my packing.
  
• I have a severe sweating problem. If I get even slightly overheated, I will sweat through absolutely anything--silk, cotton, linen, you name it, I'll stain it. So, rewearing things is really challenging in the spring/summer months. So what weather should I prepare for as someone from the deep southern USA?
  
• I own zero stuff for hiking (probably), just general gym wear. But I was looking at these boots. Could I use them for both hiking and blend in wearing them around the cities? I don't want to bring a ton of shoes!
  
• What kind of bag/purse would be best to bring?
  
  I'm super super overwhelmed and terrified of not being dressed properly since I have some health problems/wear out pretty easily! Thanks for the help!!
  

I have two pairs of excellent hiking boots for moderate treks like you've described. My Danner Adrika boots are amazingly comfortable, fairly lightweight, and took nearly no break in time. I did replace the insoles with my preferred boot insole, but they are awesome. I wore them all around Colorado and New Mexico for moderate hikes. I also have the more technical Lowa Renegade GTX which I got on sale in a retired color combo, and they are a little heavier and more supportive, but still great for any hikes that may take you around water/puddles/rain.

https://www.amazon.com/Ariat-Womens-Terrain-Hiking-Boot/dp/B01FXESU9A

I bought these for a trip to Arizona and they fit great, wore well, and still look awesome.

Ariat is a great boot, and at $80 these are a really good price.

They're not trail runners, but I have this pair of Merrell hiking boots, and they're great. Very light for mid-rise hiking boots, waterproof, excellent support.

I think the fit of the shoe has more to do with blisters than the weight. I would go a size down or a size narrower if you find yourself getting blisters a lot. Your shoes should be snug, but have just enough room to wiggle your toes.

[These] (https://www.amazon.com/Ahnu-Womens-Sugarpine-Hiking-Slate/dp/B00RWPVK8W/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1498656051&sr=1-8&nodeID=679337011&psd=1&keywords=ahnu+shoes+women) boots are amazing. No break in period needed, lightweight, super comfortable, and waterproof. I love wearing them.
I also highly recommend getting some folding camping chairs if you don't already own some.

Salomon make the best boots for me. My X Ultra 3 Mid GTX is an amazing pair.

For women, my SO swears by the Merrell MOAB 2

Both were bought after careful research on here and elsewhere.

I'd call both great mid-level boots. If you're doing more extreme stuff and wading through a lot of water, you'll be wanting different styles. These are for dusty, rocky, muddy, damp trails and hills. They're not snow shoes or particularly waterproof.

I've had two surgeries to fix my peroneal brevis tendon and tighten up the rest of the ligaments and tendons in my left ankle. I found the best shoes to wear are lightweight mid height hiking boots. I absolutely love the Merrell Azura Waterproof Hiking Boot and so do my ankles. They take such a load off my ankles and feel like wearing sneakers.

I would strongly suggest getting to an ankle specialist soon and getting an MRI done. The more the peroneal tendons sublux, the greater chance of them tearing.

Have you had any injuries (even minor) to the ankle? My ankle surgery saga started with a simple little odd step I took.

Changing your socks frequently won't help much, but it will help protect your feet from blisters and "hot spots" (areas that aren't quite abraded enough to blister, but which become painful and sore enough that you don't want to walk.)

Breaking in boots and shoes is extremely important in you are living life on foot. Infantry soldiers are issued two pairs of boots. They are supposed to alternate boots every other day. When you first get a pair of combat boots, you soak them in water, beat them with a wooden-handled scrub brush, put on two pairs of clean, woolen, combat socks, tuck two spare pair into your belt, and go for a walk. Halfway through, you stop, take off the boots, switch socks to two dry pairs and walk back. As the boots dry, they begin to mould to your feet.

On the second day, you do this to the second pair of boots. You only need to soak and beat them once, but you need to switch boots every day so that they wear in evenly and they have a chance to air-dry out (from sweat) to avoid fungus. Pull your boot inserts out of the pair that is "resting."

https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/military-boots.html?qview=3370816

https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/military-boots.html?qview=5960165

Your foot bears weight unevenly. If you look at a barefoot footprint in wet sand, you can see that your body weight is borne on the "ball" (metatarsals) and "heel." Because of the way people walk when wearing boots (the heel strikes the ground first, then the toes) and especially when marching in cadence, military boots tend to wear worst on the back of the heel. In effect, lacing boots up above the ankle protects the ankle, but causes people to walk unnaturally. If one grows up barefooted or wearing moccasins, your natural gait will be very different, in which one points the toe when taking a step. This looks somewhat like a ballet dancer pointing her (or his) toe. The toes/metatarsals strike the ground first, and the heel later. This is similar to the way people's feet touch the ground when running--you run "on your toes," kind of.

Boots will wear more on those areas where the foot bears the majority of the body's weight, and as the boot sole wears, depressions will form inside the boot to accommodate the plantar surfaces of the foot. This is what we mean when we say boots are "worn in." Once this occurs, as long as you do not wear your boots with wet feet and wet socks, your feet should not blister. However, when on a long hump you should still rest your feet ten minutes out of every two hours, and change socks and inspect each other's feet during the rest.

Modern hiking boots usually do not require much of a break-in period, but they also are not nearly as durable as military boots. They are designed a lot like tennis shoes.

https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/9-best-light-hiking-boots-spring-2018/

Older design (1970's) mountaineering boots have a very stiff sole and a very robust way of lacing. Walking in them feels a little bit like having boards strapped to your feet.

https://www.amazon.com/Danner-Womens-Mountain-Light-Cascade/dp/B00SC8DDTC

Everybody chooses boots that suit them best. Nothing wrong with that. I chose boots that were not necessarily the best quality or the most comfortable, but for which I had good evidence to support the idea that they would not fail me 1,000 miles from home. I chose military packs for the same reason. Tough, durable, almost impossible to break.

I have had amazing luck with Columbia Womens Newton Ridge Hiking Boots. They are waterproof, comfortable, breathable, and boy do they stand up to everyday wear. I live in the rainy PNW in the states and use them for summer hiking, winter snow shoeing, and year round dog walking. I would take a pair of these any day over a pair of clunky rubber rain boots.

Take a peak here if you are interested:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006A1EWGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ry6RybHVD8MWB

If they don't have the size and color scheme combination available on amazon, the Columbia website usually has all colours in Stock.
They also have a range of other styles with the same functionality. Just depends on your preferences.

http://www.columbia.com/womens-hiking-shoes/

I never buy these for walking in the woods because they can’t handle the environment, to easy to get cold and wet.

Get yourself a good set of hiking boots

Columbia

amazon

These are great boots for different prices.

I bought the Ahnu Montara boot last year for my trip to Peru. These boots are amazing! They are insanely comfortable, super lightweight (like tennis shoe weight), and water proof. I couldn't love these more. I don't think they look clunky on my feet at all, either.

Sorry for the late reply! I wore an ivory pair (called Optic White but most definitely ivory in color) of Cole Haan Zerogrand waterproof hiker boots. They were perfect for everything that I needed for Iceland's environment while still being sort of bridal :-) : https://www.amazon.com/Cole-Haan-Womens-Zerogrand-Hikr/dp/B071WPDP67?th=1&psc=1

I love my Ahnu Sugarpine boots! I've also heard good things about the Ahnu Montara.

Boots. I love these boots, they rock. Men's shoe, women's shoe.

A water bottle or two.

Snack bars. Meat and vegan.

Okay that should get you started.

I have a pair of the Vasque hiking boots. They’re a year old or more and very easy to wear. Light. No break in. Cool.

Monolith

Merrell Moab 2. A little outside your price range, but so totally foolproof. Worth it.

That's not really a hiking boot. Plus if it's a winter boot (meaning it's insulated), it might be too hot. How about something like this?

I have these Ahnu Montana Boots and absolutely love them. They were comfortable out of the box and I hiked 15-35 km a day in these for two weeks with absolutely no pain.

Those look like Vasque Talus.

I wear a pair of Ecco Trak 6 for both work and play. This is my second pair in 20 years, so they do last a long time.
Mens: https://www.amazon.com/ECCO-Track-GTX-Plain-Toe-Boot/dp/B00743SYA4
Womens equivalent: https://www.amazon.com/ECCO-Womens-Track-25-Hiking/dp/B01MZEER59