Women need to purchase hiking boots that are specially designed for them. Women’s hiking boots are noticeably different from men’s for several reasons.

Most obviously, a women’s foot is typically shorter and narrower than a men’s. This in itself is expected, since (in general) women are shorter and lighter than men. However, part of this is also due to the fact that a woman’s foot has less cartilage between the bones of a her foot, and her joints and ligaments are softer and more flexible. A woman’s heel is also proportionally narrower than a man’s. Boot manufacturers now compensate for this by either molding a tighter heel box, and/or using additional padding to hold the heel more snugly in place, reducing sliding.

Since a woman’s foot is more flexible than a man’s, women’s hiking boots include two significant design improvements. First, the more flexible woman’s foot requires more support to withstand the continuous stress of hiking. This is generally accomplished by the addition of stiffer mid sole support, such as an insert. The insert is usually molded into the sole of the boot to retain traction and remain flexible enough for a comfortable stride. The second, and possibly more important difference is the enhanced arch support in mid-sole of the woman’s hiking boot.

In general, a woman has a higher arch than a man, which requires additional support. However, due to the monthly changes in a woman’s hormone levels, specifically estrogen, the arch of her foot actually decreases (estrogen being a soft tissue relaxant). This relaxation of an already flexible foot causes the shape of a woman’s foot to cycle between a relatively high arch and a flat foot. This fluctuation in the arch makes it critical for the mid sole of a woman’s boot to have a more enhanced (ie: stiffer) arch support.

Although most manufacturers boot designs are based on a woman’s foot structure, Lowa has (literally) taken the design of their ladies hiking boots one step further. The differences in a woman’s foot also creates a difference in her posture. A man’s stance and stride is not as upright as a woman’s so Lowa has designed a 2 degree offset into the ankle shaft of their men’s hiking boots, to provide a more balanced stance. Women have a naturally more upright stance, so the 2 degree offset does not exist in the ankle design of their women’s hiking boots.

Understanding that there are significant differences between men’s and women’s hiking boots it should be much easier for you to select a proper fitting boot. A woman’s naturally smaller foot should not make you assume that purchasing a smaller sized man’s boot is the way to go. Your best option is to try on hiking boots that are specifically designated as women’s hiking boots. This will immediately tell you that the manufacturer understands the differences between a man’s foot and a woman’s foot, and has designed their boots to address those differences to insure the most comfortable fit possible. All you need to do is find the one that fits you best.