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The best walking boots for women – so you can look chic from summit to street
Fill your boots, people!
What makes a pair of walking boots truly great? As well as being a staple in any hiking outfit, the best walking boots also ooze the trend that's going nowhere — 'gorpcore.' Not familiar? Allow us to introduce you. Gorpcore is basically function meets comfort meets fashion, aka the dream. It’s the practical dad energy behind the rise of outdoors brands like The North Face, Salomon and Arc’teryx — to name a few — in everyday wear. Chances are you’ve been sitting cosy in your sensible fleece embracing gorpcore without even knowing it.
There’s no doubt gorpcore has slowly but certainly crept its way across our entire wardrobes, and while you can don as many cargo pants as you want, there’s one item that you’ll wear again and again — the humble walking boot. (Particularly if you're also embracing the super chill TikTok trend of 'soft hiking'.) Thanks to their supreme comfort and new stylish status they’re as at home on the street as on the trail, and the best walking boots will see you through everything from intense hikes and hills to rambling weekend meanders, so it’s worth investing in a decent pair.
Best walking boots for women to shop in 2024
In a hurry? We got you. Here are the best walking boots for women available to buy now.
What type of walking boots should I buy?
Whether it’s a quick jaunt to break up your WFH day or a weekend hike in the hills (pub lunch mandatory), it’s a known fact that you always feel better after a walk. That is unless your footwear has given you blisters that resemble under-eye patches. Ouch.
To save your tootsies and score you style points, below we’ve rounded up the best walking boots for women that put comfort, durability and fashion first. But before you choose which boots to bag, there are a few things you should consider:
- Style - There are several different styles to choose from, from traditional lace-up walking boots to low-cut sneaker-style. Planning on tackling rocky, uneven terrain? Opt for boots, and make sure they have a padded collar that comes up over your ankles for protection and support. If your new footwear is destined for paths or more casual wear, you might prefer technical trainer-style walking shoes.
- Materials - Walking boots are largely made from leather or softer synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester. Leather is more traditional, generally warmer and naturally waterproof, so although may cost a little more, these hiking boots tend to be more durable and longer-lasting. They'll also mould to your foot for ultimate comfort. While some leather boots may take breaking in, with modern lightweight options this is largely a problem of the past. Synthetic boots will often be lighter, more breathable and flexible from the off, plus for many they’re the more ethical choice, but may not last as long as leather boots would.
- Waterproofing - Yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to jump in puddles as an adult, and most walking boots will welcome the challenge. Many of the leathers used in walking boots are waterproof, and those made from a single piece will naturally have fewer gaps to let water through. A lot of brands have created their own clever waterproof or water-resistant membranes, or use GORE-TEX, a waterproof yet breathable synthetic fabric.
- Protection - As well as ankle support from the collar, look for reinforced toe boxes and heel areas, supportive insoles and grippy soles for traction — a deep tread can also help remove mud so you don’t take the trail home with you
Do I need to size up when buying walking boots?
Some brands will advise whether you should size up or not, and we’ve included their advice below, plus what we found most comfortable when testing. However, there are two reasons why you might want to go up a half size when shopping for walking boots:
- Socks - A good pair of hiking socks is vital, and as they tend to be on the thick side, it’s generally recommended to take a half size up in walking boots.
- Swelling - Yeah, 'fraid so. Feet tend to swell when we’re hiking or embarking on a particularly strenuous walk, so sizing up will also help keep you comfortable.
Fit-wise, when laced up walking boots should feel snug and secure but not tight. You should be able to wiggle your toes and not feel any hotspots that might lead to blisters. Remember, some boots may take a bit of breaking in... so why not bust them out round the house first?
23 best walking boots for women to shop now
Whether you’re after techy trainers, light hikers or durable leather numbers, we’ve scoured the web, traipsed the shops and put countless products to the test to find the very best walking boots you should add to your basket…
Hattie Parish is the Health and Fitness Ecommerce Editor for Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World, covering the best gym wear, latest fitness tech and wellness launches worth investing in, plus the best deals during Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. As well as clocking up the miles in myriad running socks, pummelling her muscles with massage guns, testing out fitness mirrors and donning dry robes every other weekend, Hattie consults leading experts in the health and fitness industry to help readers make informed decisions when shopping online. Brought up by two medics, Hattie worked in health clinics before completing a BA in English at King’s College London. She qualified as a journalist in 2015 and has since written for titles such as Healthy magazine, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Red, as well as worked commercially with health and wellness clients such as Holland & Barrett, Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug. Hattie is passionate about arming readers with honest, unbiased product reviews and has a particular interest in the role of technology in our wellbeing, as well as gender-based inequalities in healthcare. When she’s not putting gym wear through its paces on the Pilates reformer or kitting out her home gym (garage) with the latest equipment, she’s attempting to make progress on her teetering pile of bedside books, cycling round South East London or sampling wellness retreats for the Women’s Health travel pages.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
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