The best walking boots for women – so you can look chic from summit to street

Gorpcore meets fashion, Adidas’ Terrex Skychaser GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes are the perfect festival shoe (Glastonbury, I’m looking @ you). The GORE-TEX waterproofing keeps feet dry in wet conditions while allowing moisture to escape, crucial for hiking in rainy or muddy environments. Plus, they’re extremely grippy and cushioned, making them an ideal hiking shoe for technical trails or variable conditions.

However, it’s worth noting that they’re not the lightest shoes in this lineup. They’re heavier than minimalist trail runners, but more protective.

It's happened: another Merrell x Sweaty Betty collab. Chunky, funky and full of attitude, these hiking trainers are one of our favourites pieces from the collection. But they don't just look the part — they're super light, gorgeously comfy and grippy too.

The shoes are cushioned throughout and collar and tongue are both padded for brilliant ankle stability, while a breathable mesh upper keeps things cool. Having worn them on day-long hikes (that yes, may have ended in the pub) we can attest these are the perfect summer hiking shoe — just don't wear in very wet conditions, as they're not waterproof.

Still coveting Barbiecore? Firstly, gurl, we do not blame you, and secondly, snap up a pair of these style-forward hiking trainers to express your all-things-pink love while on the trail. (Other colours are available).

The shoes are exceptionally lightweight while being structured and supportive (particularly for our testers weak ankles). The breathable, waterproof upper is ideal for hiking — or running — on various terrain.

They're also waterproof, a huge bonus given the unpredictability of our Great British weather. Our tester lives on a hill with some wild, rocky, damp and muddy trails and they were perfect for reducing impact on her legs while jogging, plus the traction outsole kept her stable and balanced.

The only drawback? In this colourway, if you’re in dusty conditions they’re going to get absolutely filthy. Sob.

Yes, these are trail running shoes. But due to their all-conditions design and seriously extreme comfort, we couldn’t not include them. Plus they're also available with a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane, so they're as close to a techy walking boot trainers will get.

At the risk of over-hyping, Merrell has crafted a truly incredible shoe here. It's the most comfortable thing we own, and that includes mountains of loungewear. Imagine your best-fitting pair of trainers, with pillowy softness added to the soles. Yum.

High arch support and extra toe protection keeps your feet in tip-top condition as you clock up the miles, while the rocker sole pushes you forward for some serious power walking action. They're super-light and soft and flexible throughout for all-day comfort. Trust us, you will not want to take them off.

The Vibram sole gives brilliant grip and the clever X-shaped lugs fling off mud and debris effectively so there's nothing slowing you down.

The low collar (it's super padded) means these aren't suited for rocky hikes where you need ankle support, but for gentle hikes and everyday walks (and trail running, as intended) these are ideal and we wouldn't wear anything else.

We recommend taking your usual size, or if you’re between sizes and plan on wearing thin socks, size down.

Comfort and support is key with these mid hiking shoes. They’re incredibly lightweight and breathable and are fully waterproof if you’re wearing them in wet and muddy conditions. If you’re hiking at a faster pace or across uneven terrain, the midsole cushioning will help absorb impact.

Unlike some of the Konos colourways, these are less likely to show up any dirt! Bonus.

If comfort and cosiness are top of your list while staying dry, look no further than Merrell’s Siren 4 Thermo boots. They come up higher on the leg than most styles, protecting you from deep mud and splashes and offer some extra support, while the fuzzy faux sock and SOLARCORE thermal insulation keeps your feet toasty, even in the chilliest conditions.

They’re also sturdy without being too chunky or heavy to wear, according to our tester. Deep cleats in the sole give them plenty of extra gripping power on uneven terrain and the mix of materials is a cool nod to vintage hiking attire. Although unlike classic vintage boots, these babies offer a handy zipper down the inside, meaning you can lace them up nice and tight and then zip down to slip them off without getting your hands all muddy.

The Siren 4s boots are a confidence booster – water, snow and mud literally rolls off them and they’re warm AF – and they’ll have you feeling like you can take on anything, within reason.

These bad boys saw us through the Three Peaks Challenge without a single blister, and while we’d like to say that’s thanks to our hiking prowess, more likely it’s down to the seamless lining which reduces rubbing hot spots — clever eh?

The uppers are made with soft nubuck leather (leather that’s been buffed to velvety-soft but is super resistant) that’s been lined with GORE-TEX, so they’re both waterproof and flexible — no painful breaking in required.

Our ankles felt well protected even on the rockiest of scrambles and feet stayed toasty — but never sweaty — during chilly night trekking.

Available in thee colours.

Let's start as we mean to go on. Mountain Warehouse has entered a serious contender with these high performance boots from the brand's Extreme range.

You don't have to trek up a mountain to enjoy them, but it's nice to know you're properly equipped for wherever your walk takes you. With a waterproof membrane, IsoGrip (to provide stability), plus heel and toe bumpers you can conquer it all in these boots.

We get it, you're a busy gal who doesn't have time for trivial things like tying laces and breaking in walking boots. Then may we introduce you to these sleek little numbers from Columbia?

Light, nimble and with chunky trainer good looks, these have handy elastic laces that just require a pull on the toggle to tighten — and there's even a small tab you can tuck it under so the laces don't catch on anything.

The upper is basically a knitted sock liner with reinforced caging to give structure and protect the foot — as such you'd be fine to wear a hiking sock with these but it's really not necessary (we didn't and came out blister-free). You could easily wear these all day without your feet getting sore, weighed down or tired.

That said, they're not really suited to muddy hikes but certainly hold their own on gentle trails and rock climbs. The generous heel pull is a nice touch — you can loop two fingers through with ease — and the low, flexible collar gives great foot mobility (again, great for climbs or via ferrata).

Size-wise we'd recommend taking your usual size or going a half size up if you're between sizes/wide-footed.

These bad boys means business. As you'd expect from Salomon they're technically brilliant, with impressively deep multi-directional lugs that bite the ground — the traction is truly astounding on muddy terrain — plus a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane and good arch support.

Despite their chunky looks they're light too (around 360g per shoe) with decent flex in the sole, allowing you to stay nimble as you scramble over rocks.

We were particularly impressed with the ankle support, which offers great protection but is not so high that it digs into your calves on descents — we were even able to tackle steep hill runs in these.

The quicklace pull fastening also means they're much easier to tighten when on the move compared to traditional laces, although we found tucking this in a bit of a faff.

Thanks to the cushioned sockliner and foam sole your foot feels hugged, but we did find the boots to be a little narrow in the toe, so take heed if you're a wide-footed gal.

The VEJA Fitz Roy is undoubtedly cute. Just look at her! But we're happy to say she's practical too. Designed for outdoor walks and hikes, our tester felt comfortable and supported wherever she ventured in these shoes.

They're reasonably lightweight (though you might want a different pick for a mighty trek), grippy and supportive (even with the low cut on the ankle) with water repellent fabric (to protect your feet from light rain and ground water). Oh, and given VEJA's ethos of sustainability, you can feel good while you look good.

We’ve basically been living in these since they were delivered; they are that freakin' comfortable. Designed for trails, the ankle sits slightly lower on these boots than some of the others on this list, but is still super supportive with a padded collar, while a protective toe cap, heel cushioning and contoured insole complete the comfort check-list.

The upper is crafted from soft pigskin leather and recycled mesh, while breathable GORE-TEX keeps splashes at bay. We went up just half a size and they were perfect, and didn't need breaking in either (hallelujah).

They're super light despite their chunky appearance, and take it from us when we say these babies look so much better IRL. Plus they're close enough to trainers to wear day-to-day.

Available in black, grey, olive, pale blue, dark beige and sage.

Wet and rocky terrain is no match for these hiking shoes from adidas TERREX. The soles are crafted by Continental (yes, the tyre company) which happens to know a thing or two about grip, while a breathable GORE-TEX lining keeps feet dry and comfortable.

The synthetic uppers are durable so will last many hikes, climbs and scrambles, while the reinforced toecap will protect you from loose rocks and debris. They feel sturdy and the ankle support is solid, but have the comfort of a trainer, to the point they don't need breaking in— dreamy.

Sure, these were designed for harsh condition ultra-distance races. But who’s to say we can’t take advantage of all that technical engineering for popping to the shops?

The epitome of adventure gear turned streetwear, these Salomon trainers feature shock-absorbing foam cushioning, moulded OrthoLite insoles and easy on and off one-pull tightening laces (so no faffing around with bunny ears).

They’re super lightweight, soft and breathable while offering superior grip thanks to deep lugs and a reinforced toecap for reassuring protection — even if you are just navigating janky pavements.

The Moab Speed Thermo Mid Waterproof walking boots are super padded and comfortable — they feel like a pair of Ugg boots but much sturdier. (Thankfully our days of trying to hike mountains in Uggs are long behind us.)

They're very thick and warm, making them perfect for walking in the snow — but they're also waterproof for rainy, all-terrain adventures — or just getting to the train.

However, for people with wide feet like our reviewer, they can feel a little bit slim (but unlike some walking boots, half sizes are available) so you may want to consider sizing up half a size for a roomier fit. The only downside is they're not super grippy when it's wet, so be careful on slippery rocks.

Love lightweight boots? These could be the pick for you. Not only are they easy on the eye, but they're designed to be comfortable and durable, all while offering good ankle protection. The discount is pretty attractive, too.

These babies from The North Face have the looks of a trainer but the technical features of a walking boot — so the best of both worlds. The outer membrane is waterproof yet breathable (our feet stayed dry and fresh throughout a rainy afternoon hike), the foam sole means they're super comfortable and the lugs, while not the deepest, offer decent grip and still give much more traction than your average trainer.

They're also among the lightest we tested — around 380g per shoe — and we loved the rocking heel which helps propel you on your merry way.

We got half a size up and with hiking socks they were pretty tight, so would recommend going up at least a full size. We were genuinely gutted by this because we loved these shoes so much (sob). They look great and you could wear them everyday.

Also available in blue and navy.

These walking boots are fit for a princess. No, really — they’re Kate Middleton’s faves. We don’t know whether it’s the minimal design, robust practicality or lightweight comfort that drew Kate in, but one thing’s for sure — she’s got great taste.

Waterproof thanks to the GORE-TEX lining and made from soft, full-grain leather they’re strong, abrasion-resistant and, thanks to the one-piece construction, keep out debris. One really must dash and purchase a pair.