Women's Hiking boots

Hiking boots are one of the most important pieces of gear for a successful trip. Their key job is to give your ankle and the sole of your foot the right level of support for the task at hand. We stock boots for every level, from day hikes to conquering the high fells. The lighter the load you carry, the more flexible a boot you can choose. Backpacking trips, especially over difficult terrain, call for fairly stiff and sturdy footwear. When you test these boots on a hard surface — in the shop, for example — they feel pronouncedly stiff, but once you’re out on the trail carrying a pack, they turn out to be exactly right for the situation. Many dog walkers even do all their walks in solid hiking boots.

A last that suits women’s anatomy

For quality manufacturers it goes without saying that women’s and men’s hiking boots have a shape precisely suited to their wearers. In women’s boots, the difference in width between the heel and the forefoot is greater than in men’s boots. Another common difference in women’s hiking boots is that the collar is better padded on the heel side and sometimes cut deeper: the widest point of a woman’s calf muscle usually sits lower than on men.

Tips for choosing and caring for women’s hiking boots

Read our blogs Breaking in new hiking boots and Hiking boot care guide.

Waterproof or membrane-free?

The vast majority of hiking boots sold in Finland come with a waterproof membrane. The popularity of Gore-Tex footwear owes a lot to our wet terrain, where rubber boots used to be standard kit for the hiker. A hiking boot keeps your feet dry and also gives you the support you need when you’re walking, perhaps already a little tired, with a heavy load over rocky ground. For some hikers the right choice is a membrane-free boot, so we’ve added those to our range too.

How sturdy a boot should you choose?

Hiking boots often come with a stiffness rating — this tells you how sturdy and stiff the boot is. Class A and A/B boots suit day hikes and light trekking, while class B, B/C and C boots are for more demanding terrain and carrying a heavy pack. Some manufacturers use their own stiffness rating, but we aim to state the suitable conditions of use for every boot. Stiffness refers both to ankle support and to the torsional and flexural rigidity of the sole. Thanks to clever lacing systems, even stiff boots can be tightened over the instep and left looser at the collar, which improves comfort on steep terrain, for example.

Care extends the life of your boots

Caring for your hiking boots keeps them in shape. Especially if you spend a lot of time in bogs, it’s worth rinsing your boots with clean water after pretty much every use: this stops acidic bog water from doing its damage. It’s also a good idea to wipe or brush away loose mud and dust from the surface of the boots. The leather and textile materials in your hiking boots are treated to be water-repellent. This not only protects against water but also helps keep the material breathable: once a material is soaked through, water vapour can no longer escape. The surface treatment wears off gradually with use. You’ll notice this when you step into a puddle: on a new or freshly treated boot the water beads nicely, whereas a worn treatment lets the water soak into the outer material. Leather-surfaced boots are also worth waxing once or twice a year. Wax keeps the leather in good condition and stops it from drying out. Meindl and Nikwax make excellent boot care products for keeping the surface of your boots in good shape. Always make sure the product you use suits your footwear: care products suitable for Gore-Tex footwear mention Gore-Tex specifically. The products in our range are reliable and simple to use. Look after your boots — your feet will thank you!

If your hiking boots go unused for a while, the midsole material can sometimes develop a hard surface. You can safely tackle this surface with a wire brush: just brush the tread pattern so that you break the surface a touch. Boots like to be used: regular use, even light, keeps the midsole of a hiking boot serviceable. Remember to store your hiking boots in a dark, cool place, and never on top of underfloor heating.

Hiking boots and hiking socks — a perfect pair

A hiking boot’s best friend is a hiking sock. We recommend wearing thin liner socks with medium-weight hiking socks over them. This way the socks rub against each other, which reduces skin chafing enormously. On longer hikes, changing the liner sock alone gets you a long way, while the actual hiking sock easily handles several days of use without getting too dirty. The material of your hiking socks affects how warm your feet stay. In winter conditions it’s worth going for a high wool content, while in summer synthetic fibres rule.

Although Meindl footwear, for example, most often feels great straight out of the box, we always recommend walking a few laps in new boots before setting off on your first trip. This gets the boots starting to mould to your feet and makes sure they don’t cause blisters.

Favourite brands and models

Meindl is a true classic, with a history stretching all the way back to the 1600s
Hanwag competes for the top spot among European hiking boot brands
Lowa is a favourite for many
Lundhags makes robust hiking boots to its own unique recipe

Order women’s hiking boots now from a Finnish specialist store — delivered to your door if you like, and our range includes wide-fit women’s hiking boots too!