Best Women’s Hiking Shoes for 2026

It's not easy coming up with a short list of the best women's hiking shoes—even though I've personally tested and reviewed almost 50 pairs of hiking shoes and trail running shoes.

It's not easy coming up with a short list of the best women's hiking shoes—.

The good news is that most good brands now offer their best hiking shoes with gender-specific fits. That's a step up from the days when brands would simply take a men's hiking shoe and "shrink it and pink it."

The good news is that most good brands now offer their best hiking shoes with gender-specific fits. That's a step up from the days when brands would simply take a men's hiking shoe and "shrink it and pink it."

The bad news is that there are almost no hiking shoes made solely for women anymore. The few women-specific hiking shoes I've recommended in the past—that is, hiking shoes designed by women for women—just haven't sold enough. So brands have discontinued them (and shy away from the by-women-for-women model that I support.) Instead, most women buy the women's version of hiking shoes available for both women and men. So my recs for the best women's hiking shoes follow suit. 

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Best Hiking Shoes for Women

SALOMON X ULTRA 360 EDGE

Best Value Women's Hiking Shoe

The Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge is a great value for women who want a hiking shoe that can handle tougher trails while looking less stodgy than most hiking shoes. The X Ultra Series stands out because it provides good support at a lighter weight than most hiking shoes. Plus, it has GORE-TEX waterproofing (optional) and aggressive tread for mud, snow, and steep trails with loose footing. Not everyone loves the Salomon Quicklace (I do). I've found many women prefer the look of the X Ultra 360 Edge over the X Ultra 5 (which looks more tactical). Choose the regular Edge 360 for non-waterproof and the Edge 360 GTX for GORE-TEX waterproofing. 

For me, see my full X Ultra 360 review.  

HOKA ANACAPA 2 LOW

Best Women's Hiking Shoe with Max Cushion

The HOKA Anacapa 2 Low is one of the best women's hiking shoes for hikers who crave more cushion for pushin' down the trail. Hokas are known for their light weight and max cushion—and this is their go-to hiking shoe for day hikers. As a hiking shoe (not a trail running shoe), the Anacapa is heavier than the Hoka Speedgoat (below) with firmer, more durable cushioning and premium Vibram outsoles for excellent traction on the trail. This shoe has a standard fit and is available in either a waterproof GORE-TEX ("GTX") or non-waterproof "Breeze" for more ventilation and breathability. 

Altra Olympus 6 Hike

Best Zero Drop Hiking Shoe for Women

Altra is a popular brand with hikers, even though they'd never actually made a hiking shoe—until releasing the Olympus 5 Hike in summer 2022. And it's a doozy. The Olympus 5 Hike features the wide toe boxes, balanced cushioning (aka "zero drop"), and gender-specific fits that've been Altra's calling card. However, it also features significantly more cushioning, support, and durability than Altra trail running shoes, such as the popular Lone Peak. It's also packed with the best waterproofing (GORE-TEX) and traction (Vibram outsoles) available. These premium features makes the Altra Olympus 6 Hike one of the best women's hiking shoes for those who want a sturdier version of Altra's zero drop, foot-shaped shoes. 

ON CLOUDHORIZON

Casual Women's Hiking Shoe 

The Cloudhorizon is the best On hiking shoe that I've tested and reviewed. On's most cushioned hiking shoe is capable on the trail, even though it leans into comfort. There's more foot support than you'll find in an On trail running shoe, for example. However, it's better for light hiking and casual hikes than death marches, due to durability limitations. I've seen several women in my area in the On Cloudhorizon, which I recommend if you mostly stick to well-maintained trails. 

Learn more in my full On Cloudhorizon review. 

ADIDAS TERREX FREE HIKER 2.0

Most Comfortable Women's Hiking Shoe

The most comfortable adidas TERREX hiking shoe, the Free Hiker 2 features dreamy BOOST foam cushion for all-day comfort. This comfort-driven hiking shoe is better for light hiking, urban trail, and less taxing hikes. But its blend of plush cushioning and light stability make it as comfortable as any hiking shoe I've tested and reviewed. I've sold several Free Hikers to women who like hiking shoes that don't look or feel like hiking shoes. 

Best Trail Running Shoes for Women Hikers

The Salomon Speedcross is a good pick for women with narrow feet who want clutch traction for mud, gravel, and snow. Like the Thundercross above, the Speedcross mixes good stability and agility and gives hikers a grippy base of aggressive lugs. However, it features Salomon's narrowest fit and tread that maximizes traction in mud. If you regularly hike muddy trails, wet woods, river bottoms, or steep, gravelly trails, the Speedcross is a clutch trail running shoe—if it fits you. It has the narrowest fit of the shoes on this list (but can be found in wide sizes, too). 

Altra Lone Peak 9

Best Zero Drop Trail Runner for Women Hikers

Many female thru-hikers love the Altra Lone Peak because its lightweight mesh dries quickly and its wide, footshape toe boxes provide extra room for their toes to splay out. Lone Peaks are moderately cushioned and specifically engineered to fit female feet, including a narrower heel and mid-foot, higher instep, and longer arch. Altras are best known for their wide toe boxes and "zero drop" platforms (that position the heel and forefoot an equal distance from the ground). However, zero drop shoes aren't for everybody (see my brand review), and those wide toe boxes may be a sloppy fit for narrow feet, steep descents, or harder terrain. If you want to rely on your lower body—not your shoes—for natural cushioning and support, the Altra Lone Peak may be the best trail running shoe for your hikes. 

HOKA Speedgoat 7

Best Cushioned Trail Running Shoe

HOKA dominates the "max cushion" niche of trail running shoes with their tall stacks of midsole foam. The Speedgoat is the most popular Hoka for hikers—and top selling trail shoe in the U.S. right now. It may be a killer pick for hikers who want minumum weight and maximum cushion. And it’s also surprisingly supportive for such a cushiony shoe. With their tall stack height and pronounced rocker, Hoka’s look and feel are not for everybody. But if you want max cushion, the Speedgoat 4 may be the most comfortable trail running shoe for your hikes.

where to buy the best women's hiking shoes

I hope this curated list of the best women's hiking shoes has helped you pick out your next pair!? If not, please check out my general recommendations for the best hiking shoes or Hiking Feet's brand recommendations and hiking shoe reviews. There's a good chance that you'll find the right hiking shoe by browsing this site. 

For those of you who are ready to buy, you'll find the best women's hiking shoes and trail running shoes at outdoor specialty retailers. It's always great to support your local outdoor gear shop (versus the sporting good chains on the edge of town). For online shoppers, you'll generally find the best selection of women's hiking shoes at Backcountry (where I work) or REI.

If you're ready to pull the trigger on a new pair of women's hiking shoes, please consider purchasing them through the affiliate links in this post. That doesn't cost you anything, but it pays my bills and gives me a few dollars back for the hundreds of unpaid hours I've spent creating free and independent content to help you find the best fits for your feet and the best matches for your hikes. If this site hooked you up, please consider hooking me up, too.

Happy hiking!