Best Lightweight Womens Hiking Boots
Wearing hiking boots is important when hiking; they aren’t just some type of heavy and bulky footwear. Rather, they should provide your feet with support and comfort as you walk your way up the mountain. Then again, they don’t have to be stiff and heavily built as well.
Today, we’ll take a close look at five of the best lightweight womens hiking boots that we think would be perfect for your next outdoor excursion. Aside from being lightweight, these options are also stylish and durable.
Not sure how to choose the best pair? Don’t worry; we’ll also share with you the factors you need to consider in order to select the right pair of hiking boots for you.
Women’s Hiking Boots Buying Guide
Before we share with you our top picks, allow us to give you a couple of buying tips to remember when shopping for hiking boots. After all, before anything else, you first need to figure out what pair of hiking boots really match the type of activities that you’re about to do.
Women’s feet are smaller and narrow compared to men’s. This means that there really are hiking boots designed just for women. How would you know if those pair of hiking boots are for you? Your buying decision should be based on the hardest terrain you anticipate hiking, not on fancy designs or pretty girly colors.
Below are the three important things to consider when looking at hiking boots:
Type
There are many types of footwear that you can choose from either for hiking or trekking. There are trail shoes, trail hikers, hiking boots, and all-outdoor boots. We’ll tell you the three types of hiking boots so that you’ll have an idea what fits your outdoor activities.
- Backpacking Boots
These boots are made for heavy loaders and multiday trips into the backcountry. They are usually made with stiff midsoles and high-cuts style to fully support and protect the ankle even if you carry loads over 50 pounds.
Backpacking boots are usually made of leather, which is one of the reasons why they’re heavy when worn and can cause foot fatigue.
- Day Hiking Boots
These boots are designed for high inclines and muddy tracks. These style of boots range from mid-rise to high-rise cuts and are intended for day hikes and short backpacking trips only.
Day hiking boots provide solid ankle support even when you are carrying a lightweight backpack.
- Mountain Walking or Hiking Boots
These are made for mountain and hill walking and mountaineering, hence the name. They are extremely durable and have very stiff soles to give the ankles incredible protection and support on hard rocky trails.
With that said, you can expect that these boots are taller and stiffer than hiking boots. They also provide ample insulation for a breathable experience.
Materials
When looking for hiking boots, know what the uppers, lowers, midsoles, outer soles and other parts of the boots are made out of. This is about providing your feet comfort and protection from trail hazards. Materials impact a boot’s performance, durability, and weight.
- Synthetics
These are commonly used in modern boots. They are affordable and are the lighter version of authentic leather options. However, you may notice wear and tear sooner because of stitches on the outside of the boots.
- Nubuck Leather
These are soft suede leather hiking boots that are durable and water-resistant. They are flexible to wear but may require plenty of time to break in before a deep and extended hike.
- Waterproof Membrane
You’d always see this as part of the materials used in hiking boots. The uppers of the boots are designed to be waterproof and breathable to keep the feet dry in wet conditions.
- Vegan
Surprisingly, there are vegan-friendly hiking boots as well. Clearly, no animal products are used to manufacture these boots.
- Insulated Winter Hiking Boots
Synthetic insulation is added to some mountaineering boots to keep the feet warm when hiking on glaciers and snow. They look bulky, heavy, and tall and sometimes measure 12 inches high.
Fit
Know your exact size but reserve a little space for your feet so that you can still wear socks. Your boots should feel comfortable even when you’re on long hikes or walking on uneven trails.
Best Lightweight Womens Hiking Boots
Comparison Chart
Best Lightweight
Womens Hiking Boots Reviews
Along with comfortability, the quality of the hiking boots should be up to the mark as well. From the wide range of hiking boots being sold online, we’ve rounded up five of the best lightweight womens hiking boots for you to choose from.
1. Clorts Women's Mid Hiking Boot
Clorts is one of the known established manufacturers of footwear that designs all-weather types of shoes for outdoor activities. They work jointly with international designers from the UK, Italy, and South Korea to continuously come up with new and modern styles of outdoor footwear.
Clorts Women's Mid Hiking Boot is one of their best hiking boots made especially for women. Let’s find out what makes it stand out among its counterparts.
Features
This pair of hiking boots is made with a suede leather-and-rubber sole. What this means is that whether it’s rainy or sunny, the breathable uneebtex waterproof membrane will keep your feet dry and protected from moisture, mud, and other outside elements.
The outsole on these boots is crafted using a rubber compound that provides durability and a solid grip. This ensures that you keep your balance as you hike your way up. The tongue and collar are both padded, and the insoles are designed with removable memory foam for remarkable ankle support.
While the outsole provides stability and high-performance durability, the EVA midsole offers consistent comfort. With this intelligent combination, your feet will not be as weary during or after a long day of hiking on rugged terrain.
In addition to all of those, this pair of hiking boot provides an all-day comfortability and support due to the cushioned dual-density footbed. With this creation, you can be sure to experience extra stability and comfortability at the same time even when taking on challenging terrain.
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2. XIANG GUAN XGTOP-TEX Hiking Boots
XIANG GUAN is another outdoor sneakers brand known to many mountaineers across 77 countries worldwide. They are popular because of their hi-tech, hi-quality, comfortable, and fashionable shoe designs.
One of their well-loved hiking boots is the XIANG GUAN XGTOP-TEX Hiking Boots. Let's take a look at what makes it worth buying.
Features
When trekking or hiking, you would need something to protect your feet from the rough terrain. For this reason, this pair was designed with an EVA midsole, which is an excellent shock-absorber.
In addition, this boot also features a unique texture design that provides a strong grip and prevents slippage. This makes this boot ideal for trekking even when it is raining. This pair of boots are available in many sizes ranging from 5.5 to 11.
One look at this hiking boot and you’ll notice that its uppers look silky. This is because they are made of calfskin, which is a material that doesn’t easily deform. For your comfort, the insole is crafted using hi-poly material that is both soft and breathable.
These boots have heels and toecap rubber overlays, which are added to provide an extra layer of protection to keep your feet safe when hiking. Its high-top cut means your ankles are completely wrapped up and kept warm.
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3. Danner Women's Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boot
Named after Charles Danner, the company began small back in 1932 with only 12 employees building handcrafted boots. When World War II broke out in 1939, their business became on-demand, producing 240 pairs of boots per day.
Up to this day, this company continues to produce high-quality boots. One of their proud creations is the iconic style Danner Women's Mountain Light Cascade Hiking Boot.
Features
For style, durability, and quality, this classic pair of hiking boots are made with 100% leather. The shaft measures approximately five inches from the arch, while the heel measures about 1.25 inches.
This boot boasts dri-lex lining, which provides not only comfortability but also breathability. With this, you can rest assured that your feet stay cozy even after a long day of walking.
If you have a hard time finding your ground when hiking, you can rely on this boot to assist you both on dry and wet surfaces. It features a done-through, stitch-down construction that provides durability and underfoot stability at the same time.
The rugged Vibram Kletterlift outsole makes this pair perfect for outdoor use and for everyday wear as well. For even more awesome support and stability, this boot has shanks made of fiberglass.
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4. Manfen Women's Mid-Rise Hiking Boots
Manfen is known for creating hiking boots with great technical specifications. Their shoes may not be guaranteed waterproof and suitable for all types of hiking, but they are great for winter hiking.
Let’s take a glance at what this pair of boots can offer.
Features
This pair of boots is lightweight and stylishly designed for women to protect their feet when hiking. It boasts a HydroGuard seam-sealed with a durable internal membrane that keeps the feet dry and comfortable in all kinds of weather conditions.
These boots are made with lightweight but durable materials. These are ankle-high boots with a padded collar that offers heel and ankle protection. The EVA cupsole has an integrated composite shank to give you support and stability when the going gets though.
For breathability, this pair comes with an anti-fatigue insole. This feature reduces odor while keeping your feet dry even when the terrain is hilly, snowy, or muddy. With this, you can guarantee your comfort all day long.
These boots are designed to be suitable for many outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, trekking, backpacking, and what-have-you. These mid-rise boots secure your entire ankle and keep it safe from injury. They also feature toe caps for protection from sharp objects when in the wild.
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5. XPETI Women's Dimo Hiking Outdoor Boot
XPETI is a known shoe brand for outdoor adventures. In fact, the people behind the creation of XPETI are outdoor enthusiasts themselves. Their list of shoe collections is inspired by nature to encourage people to enjoy the beauty and wonders of nature.
One of their most loved pairs is the XPETI Dimo Women's Dimo Hiking Boots. Why is it better than high-end boots from other brands? Let’s find out.
Features
This pair of high-quality hiking boots are crafted using durable materials. Through the hands of their experts, you get hiking boots that are specially designed to be worn in all kinds of weather.
These boots are available in various sizes ranging from six to 11 M. You can choose from five different color variations including blue, coffee, red wine, black, gray.
With its integrated inserted EVA midsole, you can guarantee protection from sharp objects and other potential hazards when out in the wild. This boot is sturdy enough that it can withstand rough use as well as carrying heavy loads.
The outsole is made of rubber for great traction and protection against abrasion. In addition, the toe cap protects the feet from sharp hazards and scrapes. To keep your feet dry and comfy, this boot has a waterproof mesh upper and a hydro shield membrane.
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Verdict
There are many hiking boots that you can choose from, but you should always prioritize comfort and quality. Don’t buy them just because they look fancy and expensive. After all, women can’t afford to have blisters and injuries from wearing those pair of hiking boots because they have other types of shoes to wear after.
With that being said, Clorts Women's Mid Hiking Boot has almost all the feature that a hiker is looking for. Also, this is a good alternative to high-top boots as some find them painful and uncomfortable to wear.
The Clort’s mid-cut hiking boots are high enough to protect the ankles but low enough so as not to be restrictive. In the end, what’s important is to choose a pair that can serve its purposes and can last long especially if you hike very often.