Finding The Right Fit: Women's Hiking Boots

In the past, if a woman wanted to find a good pair of hiking boots she would have to go to an outdoor clothing store and try to find a pair of men's hiking boots that would fit her normally more slender foot and smaller shoe size. Today, there are about as many varieties of women's hiking boots as there are for men, from simple day hiking boots right up to the most rugged mountaineering boots on the market. Finding the right pair of women's hiking boots is important for the health of the feet and legs of the hiker, as well as for her endurance on each hiking trip.

Types

There are women's hiking boots that are made for different hiking conditions, since there are some hikes that only last a few hours through mild terrain, while others are weeks long and cross glacial passes. Each condition, both in terrain and weather, requires a different type of women's hiking boot for the health, endurance and safety of the woman.

Day hiking boots for women are designed to be lightweight and flexible. Although they provide more support than a hiking shoe, which tends to be only a little more stable than tennis shoes and bend with a person's foot, they are still very flexible which makes them move in a natural way, increasing endurance. This type of women's hiking boot is usually not waterproof, although there are ways to waterproof the boot after it is bought if needed.

A sturdier women's hiking boot is one that is made specifically for backpacking, so that it holds up well and gives more support to the foot while carrying heavier loads for longer distances. This type of women's hiking boot has a stiffer feel since the sole of the boot is thicker and does not bend as naturally with the foot. It also requires more breaking in time so that the woman does not get blisters on her foot on the trip. This type of boot does give solid support for the foot and ankle while walking over rough terrain and are also great boots for trips that cover several days and even up to a week. They also provide more choices in waterproof boots so that the hiker can choose the type of water resistant or water proofed material, depending on her needs. Waterproof boots will keep the foot dry even when submerged in water which water resistant is only good for splattering of water, such as smaller puddles or mild rain.