14 best women’s hiking boots for rambling and trekking across all terrains

If you’re looking for an all-rounder boot that will carry you from season to season in the UK and further afield, the Scarpa rush TRK GTX should be on your radar. It’s pretty hard to fault. The ankle is wrapped in Scarpa’s padded autofit collar so the entire foot is supported and protected, making this boot a good option if you’re carrying a pack or tackling rocky terrain.

The rush TRK GTX is also surprisingly lightweight given how sturdy it feels, and is both breathable and flexible while also being an incredibly tough boot. We’ve taken ours on several long day hikes, including steep climbs and splashing through streams (the GORE-TEX lining means the boot is completely waterproof), and it has been able to tackle all the terrains we’ve thrown at it.

These Lowa mid boots have become our go-to for everything from dog walking and day hikes to overnight camping trips. They’re light and comfortable, and there’s little to no breaking in period – you can take these boots straight out of the box onto the trail. We were particularly impressed by the fact that these boots are 100 per cent vegan, which can be pretty tough to find in hiking boots, as even if not made from leather, boots often contain animal-derived components. The upper is fully synthetic, which makes it both lightweight and breathable, and the boot is GORE-TEX lined so you don’t need to worry about soggy feet.

Salomon is always a reliable choice when it comes to hiking boots and this year we’ve been particularly impressed with this sturdy mid-cut outpulse boot. It’s incredibly lightweight yet retains many of the features that we’d want to tackle more challenging terrain. This makes it an excellent choice for travel as it will add only minimal weight to your suitcase or backpack and yet can handle almost anything you throw at it on your adventures, from sandy trails to rocky scrambles.

For more technical trails or harsh elements you may want to opt for Salomon’s popular crosshike, but the outpulse hits a sweet spot between walking shoe and hiking boot. Your foot feels better protected and supported than it would in a walking shoe, but the outpulse is still agile and flexible with almost trainer-like comfort.

We’ve worn our Terrex AX4 hiking shoes pretty much everywhere and they haven’t let us down yet. Although there is zero wearing-in period and trainer-like comfort from toe to ankle, these boots feel sturdier than other training shoe/hiking boot hybrids and provide superior ankle support. The GORE-TEX  membrane provides complete waterproofing, while also letting feet breathe too.

Dewy fields, heavy rainfall, muddy puddles and ankle-deep creeks – we took these shoes through the lot and our feet stayed warm and dry. Throw in the Continental compound rubber outsole that offers impressive traction on all terrains, and you’ll find that these boots are perfect for all-weather hiking.

It’s not the lightest boot we’ve tried, but given the level of support and technical features it boasts, we were impressed at how little the Arc’teryx acrux TR GTX weighs. This is thanks to the micro-plated technology of the SuperFabric upper that is superlight and flexible yet incredibly durable. These boots are suitable for technical trails and we found they could handle pretty much anything we threw at them, including icy ascents and even snowy mountain terrain. The lug pattern combined with Arc’teryx’s Vibram megagrip outsole means that they’re incredibly grippy with impressive traction, and the GORE-TEX insert keeps feet dry while also allowing them to breathe in the warmer weather.

If you’re going to be scrambling up  mountains, you’d be hard pressed to find a better boot than the roclite G345 GTX. It features Inov8’s world-first graphene-grip (graphene is the strongest material on the planet) and 6mm lugs for unparalleled grip on all terrains. We really noticed just how superior the grip is on slippery climbs and rocky descents, and with GORE-TEX waterproofing the boots kept our feet completely dry in all conditions, including rain, mud, slush and even snow.

We were also impressed by the comfort of the Roclite G345 GTX. It’s incredibly light and the midsole is well-cushioned, making it a great choice for fast hiking, as well as more gentle countryside rambles. This is a brilliant boot with some impressive technology at a really reasonable price.

When it comes to cushioning, it’s not surprising Hoka’s boots are a cut above the rest. The brand is known for the supremely cushioned soles on its running shoes that help prevent injury and soften impact, and the brand has applied this technology to its hiking boots. The Anacapa boot is not quite as striking as the Hoka TenNine Hike GORE-TEX with its oversized sole, so it will likely appeal to a wider range of hikers, yet it still felt incredibly “springy” and has the sense of propelling you forward. Thanks to a Vibram megagrip sole with 5mm lugs, this boot is grippy even on very slippery surfaces and we found it allowed us to keep up a fast hiking pace along very muddy tracks and wet trails.

Merrell’s bravada boot is honestly one of the most comfortable we’ve ever tried thanks to its snug, trainer-like fit, support around the ankle, and air cushion technology in the heel. With 5mm lugs and Merrell’s quantum grip rubber outsole, the bravada will also take care of you over uneven or rocky terrain. It’s 100 per cent vegan and incredibly lightweight at roughly 342g per boot, yet is durable enough to tackle more challenging trails. The clever M select dry barrier membrane keeps water out and kept our feet dry on wet winter hikes, but it also lets moisture escape so our feet didn’t get sweaty when stomping along the trails in the warm early spring weather. For the price, you won’t get a better boot.

Danner’s Mountain Light boots have the feel of an old-school style hiking boot, but that’s the charm of them. Sure, they’re heavy, but they’re also beautifully made in a classic style with full-grain leather and high quality stitching. They’re a very sturdy boot, but the payoff here is that they did take a little wearing in (we wouldn’t want to do a long hike in these straight out the box) and they’re not as flexible as other leather options.

After several short walks and one long hike they’ve started to mould to the shape of our feet and we only expect this to get better mile after mile. They’re an investment, but these Danner boots will likely last you forever.

Berghaus has created a simple, sturdy and reliable boot in the explorer trek. It’s a little heavier than some of the other entry level boots on our list, but it also feels a little sturdier and the ankle is well supported. Thanks to the GORE-TEX lining, the boots are completely waterproof and our feet stayed dry even when sloshing through creeks and plodding through thick mud.

As always, the grip of the Berghaus opti-stud sole didn’t let us down even on slippery descents and the OrthoLite hike footbeds kept our feet comfortable as we racked up the miles. The lightweight suede construction also means there’s nothing to break in here – you’ll be ready to hit the trails as soon as you put the explorer treks on your feet.

It’s one of the heavier boots on our list (although still light for a leather boot), but we were impressed by the durability and versatility of this classic-style Malham boot from Altberg. After many miles of hiking on wet and boggy terrain and several small mountain ascents, these boots showed little wear and moulded perfectly to our feet for a snug yet supportive fit. The full-grain leather is soft and supple so these boots were comfortable enough to take straight out onto the trail – although we’d recommend doing a few shorter walks in these before embarking on a full day hike to avoid blisters or rubbing.

We wouldn’t usually recommend hiking with a boot that’s not fully waterproof (the Ecco exohike W is just water-repellent), but this pair has a lot going for it. It’s rare to find a leather boot that’s this comfortable right out the box and is still comfortable after the first ten miles. There’s none of the pinching, rubbing and chafing you’d expect from a fresh pair of leather boots.

It’s a snug and supportive fit and features Ecco’s phorene midsole that is designed to rebound energy to create a cushioned and almost bouncy feel when hiking. We also love the style of this boot and wear it out and about in the city just as often as on the trails. It’s not a boot that you’ll want to take on serious treks, but for light hikes, walks in the countryside and strolling around town the Ecco exohike W is a top choice.

This is a great little hiking boot for the price. It doesn’t have many of the features that more technical boots boast, but for day hikes and simple trails it’s the perfect entry-level shoe. The boots are nicely cushioned, flexible, and held up well in rainy or muddy conditions. They’re fully waterproof and the omni-grip rubber soles are grippy on slippery paths and trails, as well as rocky or gravelly surfaces.

It’s worth noting that we found that these boots could rub slightly at the top of the ankle when tied too tightly or improperly, so we’d recommend paying attention to your lacing and, as always, investing in a good pair of hiking socks.

The sneaker-style hiking boot is really having a moment right now and the vectiv exploris futurelight ecompasses this beautifully. It feels like a trainer/hiking boot hybrid with the comfort of the former and the technical features of the latter. The vectiv technology combines a 3D plate with a rocker midsole for forward propulsion, which feels a little strange at first with each step almost taking on a rolling motion, but helps power you along the trail. The futurelight membrane is waterproof yet breathable, and North Face’s grippy and high-traction SurfaceCTRL outsole along with protective toe cap make the boot suitable for rocky lowland trails and slippery or muddy terrain.