Gear Review: Women’s Hiking Boot
One of the biggest questions backpackers and hikers face when choosing footwear is:
boots or trail runners?
If you’re carrying a decent amount of weight or are trekking through rocky terrain, boots will give you proper ankle support and protection from the elements. In addition to providing more width and stability, boots are extremely useful for when you inevitably start dragging your feet and kicking up rocks along trail.
Major critiques of boot style hiking footwear are that they can be heavy and aren’t as water durable in comparison to a hiking shoe. Trail runners are often utilized by long distance hikers, that need to walk lots of miles in a single day in order to meet their mileage goals. They often trudge right through water crossings and desire the lightweight, water durability of a hiking shoe.
However, most hikers or backpackers can greatly benefit from opting to wear a hiking boot over a trail runner.
My favorite hiking boot is the Salomon XUltra 3 Mid GTX.
The Salomon X Ultra Mid GTX has been my go to hiking boot for the last three and a half years of hiking and backpacking in all seasons in California, Utah, Arizona, and Washington. I’ve walked well over 2,000 miles, including a thru-hike of the John Muir Trail and High Sierra Trail, in three different pairs of the X Ultras. They’re a boot I trust, love, and keep buying over and over.
Features on the X Ultra that I love include:
superior grip
comfortable fit, especially for a boot
breathability
ankle support
all season flexibility
Gor-tex integration
The Salomon XUltra is the perfect hiking boot for a lot of reasons. I’ve worn 3 other styles of hiking boots in my time hiking, and I keep returning the the XUltra.
The Salomon XUltra has a superior comfort that gives it a tennis shoe feel as compared to most other boots. The shoe features contoured heel cups, and a design with women in mind. As stated on their website, “OrthoLite® sockliners combine a specific OrthoLite foam and contoured EVA heel cups to enhance heel support and cushioning”.
I’ve done long day hikes in them in rocky terrain and never get aches on the bottoms of my feet. They’re genuinely the most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn. Additionally, the break-in time of these boots was significantly shorter than most other boots I’ve worn. I’m pretty sure they were broken in on the very first hike I did in them. They’ve never given me blisters, made my toenails fall off, or made my feet ache in comparison to other boots.
The XUltra also comes with Gor-Tex technology, meaning it can withstand wet and muddy trails. When paired with a solid gaiter makes most low stream crossings are doable in the boot.
Another reason boots are a great option in comparison to trail runners is their seasonal flexibility. Most traction devices require a stiff boot, and don’t work as well if paired with a trail runner. The X Ultra’s Gore-Tex technology once again comes in handy, providing protection from snow. This makes the X Ultra’s a worthy investment, as you have a 3 to 4 season functionality.
Ultimately, the Salomon X Ultra is a versatile, functional, and comfortable option for hiking boots. If you’re looking for a new pair or are just getting your gear together, I highly recommend checking them out!
They typically retail at $165.
Have you tried the XUltra? I’d love to hear where you’ve hiked in them and how your experience was in the comments.
