The Best Women’s Hiking Boots For Plantar Fasciitis
1. Timberland Women’s White Ledge Mid Ankle Boot
Our no.1 choice within the category is the Timberland Women’s White Ledge Mid Ankle Boot, as it ticks most boxes.
See reviews and pricing on Amazon
- The boots are made with premium waterproof leather uppers.
- They present seam-sealed waterproof build
- They provide arch support, cushioned collar, and padded footbed
- They’re comfortable and solid
- Some think that the boots run small
- The soles are a tad stiff
The “plantar fascia” tissue, placed at the bottom of your foot, connects your toes with your heels. When climbing on rocks, for example, your ligament is stretched abnormally over and over again. A boot with no cushioning will not take care of this, and, in time, a so call “policeman heel” may appear.
Hiking isn’t the best activity to try for people with plantar fasciitis as it’ rather painful. People who love hiking should look for specific footwear features so that hiking is enjoyable and pain-free. Plantar fasciitis is rather challenging to address, so the solution comes from finding the proper pair of boots.
Like good arch support, particular features, enough padding, large and cushioned heel, and removable insole, are fundamental in hiking boots for plantar fasciitis. The selection process is tricky, but you have a good chance of finding what you need without trial and error.
Even though there are many hiking boots on the market, using the right insoles and the right boots seems to be the key to a successful hike.
Made of premium waterproof leather, the footwear comes with a rubber sole and a moisture-transferring lining. It will keep your feet comfortable, dry, and moisture-free for a long hike even in the summer. The leather gets softer in time, and the boots are waterproof for more reliability in wet conditions. The build is seam-sealed, which improves the waterproof abilities for the footwear.
Extra comfort comes from the padded collar and tongue, while the dual-density EVA footbed will add to the air circulation. The shock-absorbing padding and rubber lug outsoles for adequate traction, and the tongue are entirely gusseted for keeping debris out and better comfort.
The external heel covering gives more rear foot protection, keeping your heel in place while hiking. The combination D-ring and speed hook lacing will provide you with the possibility to find how tight or loose to tie the laces, for utmost comfort.
Despite the rugged look, the boots are lightweight and don’t need much time to break-in.
Regardless of the minor flaws, the boots are comfortable and protective for feet with plantar fasciitis, which counts the most.
2. Oboz Women’s Sapphire Mid B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Boot.
Women hikers looking to combine both comforts and looks in their hiking boots should take a leap of faith with the Oboz Women’s Sapphire Mid B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Boot.
See reviews and pricing on Amazon
- The boots come with asymmetric padded collar and good ankle support.
- They’re comfortable and provide stability.
- The boots are breathable and waterproof.
- They look nice but are challenging.
- The boots feel a tad stiff at first.
- It may be requested to break in the footwear
The boots will catch your attention with the cute and flattering looks, but they will not disappoint on comfort for feet with plantar fasciitis. The O Fit insole is a fundamental feature of the boots, providing the padding one with plantar fasciitis needs for hiking. The insole is made to conform to one’s foot, for the best comfort, feel, and less painful hiking. A high-density EVA contoured arch will provide arch support, and the EVA deep heel cup will complete support and stability. Rebound and shock absorbency aren’t skipped thanks to the EVA pods.
The Swiftcurrent midsole helps with comfort while hiking, reducing impact and shock on your feet. It’s a padded EVA midsole with TPU chassis and ESS plate in the forefoot, reducing the risk of bruising, without affecting flexibility.
The upper part of the boots is made with waterproof nubuck leather, and the asymmetrical collar snugs the ankles in a comfortable and snug fit. Waterproofness doesn’t sacrifice breathability, as the boots come with B-Dry technology. Moisture will escape from the footwear, but wet elements won’t get inside either.
Traction, grip, and stability are provided through a Swiftcurrent outsole with deep lugs. The grip is aggressive, even on slippery surfaces. The molded map of the Swiftcurrent Mountain from Glacier National Park on the soles is really impressive, sealing the deal for some women.
Even if the boots have a challenging build, the purple details soften their appearance, which seals the deal for many women hikers.
Regardless of the inherent flaws, the boots make a cute looking pair of boots that provide comfort, stability, and protection for women with plantar fasciitis.
3. Merrell Siren Traveller 3 Mid Waterproof
Women who like the latest models in functional footwear should look at the Merrell Siren Traveller 3 Mid Waterproof. The boots make an excellent first impression, but don’t disappoint with the features or overall performance.
See reviews and pricing on Amazon
- The boots are made for the best comfort and support for plantar fasciitis.
- The insole is contoured, and the boots have Merrell Air Cushion in the heel.
- The EVA foam midsole reduces pronation.
- The footwear is waterproof and provides effective ventilation too
- You may have to break in the boots.
- Some may want a higher cut for the hiking boots.
The boots will protect your feet from wet elements as they have a waterproof membrane which seals out water while allowing moisture to escape. It’s a full-grain leather upper that gets softer the more you wear it. It’s also a durable leather that will take tear and wear for a fair amount of time.
Protection from the elements is essential with hiking boots, and Merrell Siren Traveller 3 comes with bellows tongue, blocking debris from getting inside. The mesh lining is breathable, and the Kinetic Fit base is a contoured insole. It’s easy to remove for best fitting but provides flexible support that one with plantar fasciitis needs. The boots also come with Merrell Air Cushion in the heel, which gives stability and absorbs shocks for less-painful wear.
With comfort being essential when hiking and dealing with plantar fasciitis, it makes sense you want boots that give you that comfort. These boots also come with lightweight EVA foam midsole with zones of softer foam, which reduces pronation. Women with plantar fasciitis will feel very comfortable when wearing these boots.
Traction, grip, and stability are also checked as the boots come with Vibram TC5 and rubber sole. It takes challenging hiking while ensuring a reliable grip on the most demanding trails. It’s a sticky sole that provides traction even on wet terrain.
The boots come with classic metal hook lace closure, so you may tie the laces as tight/loose as you need.
New, modern, rugged, yet incredibly comfortable, the boots make a reliable choice for women with plantar fasciitis, without breaking the bank or sacrificing the looks.
4. Salomon Women’s X Ultra 3 MID GTX W Hiking Boots
Another option to try is the Salomon Women’s X Ultra 3 MID GTX W Hiking Boots, and Salomon boots make some of the most reliable and popular boots out there.
See reviews and pricing on Amazon
- The footwear is both comfortable and lightweight
- They provide comfort from the first wear
- The traction and grip are effective
- The support and padding are generous for women with plantar fasciitis
- Some may find the toe box too wide
- The tongue has a weird build
The footwear is created especially for women, which explains why they’re ready to wear right out of the box. They’re made of 100% synthetic, eliminates the break-in period, but the boots are tough and prepared to take a beat.
People with plantar fasciitis look for comfortable footwear, and these Salomon boots are all about comfort. They feature an Energy Cell midsole with high-performance EVA foam for reducing shock. The footwear is lightweight and supportive, making them such an excellent choice for women with plantar fasciitis.
The boots’ design and build provide stability and comfort throughout the most technical heights, keeping the heel in place and reducing the risk of slippage. The boot soles are grippy so that you won’t slip even on wet surfaces, and the traction is adequate on various terrains. The two types of rubber are placed on the sole precisely, providing grip and traction. The heel’s patterned area will bite into the trails, giving you the stability you need for moving forward.
The asymmetrical chassis is made for women’s anatomy, providing the padding you need while hiking. The boots make the right choice for the challenging hikes, and the protective mudguard around the foot’s base will protect the lateral and medial zones when on muddy trails. No debris will get inside your boots as the footwear comes with a mesh upper with anti-debris ability.
With aesthetics being important for women, we should also highlight that these boots look rather lovely, as the yellow-spotted laces make a modern mix with the yellow accents on the footwear.
No boots are perfect, but Salomon’s X Ultra 3 MID GTX manages to be very close to it, explaining its popularity.
If you ever hiked before, you must have heard about Keen boots, and for all the right reasons.
5. KEEN Women’s Targhee II MID WP-W
The KEEN Women’s Targhee II MID WP-W could win a popularity contest, but they’re also a reliable model for women with plantar fasciitis.
See reviews and pricing on Amazon
- The boots keep the heel in place and have a large toe room.
- The boots are waterproof and comfortable
- They’re supportive and easy to break-in
- The traction and grip are efficient on most surfaces
- Some think that the footwear runs small
- The tread could be better
The 100% waterproof nubuck leather is very protective against the wet elements, blocking water from inside the boots. The more you wear the footwear, the softer the leather becomes, but it doesn’t mean that you have to break them in for a long time.
Waterproofness doesn’t affect breathability, and that’s because of the Keen technology. The ventilation inside the boots is adequate, so your feet remain dry and comfortable even during a hot summer hike. The KeenDry membrane is waterproof and breathable, for best comfort and dry wear.
The EVA foam midsole is made with compression-molding technology, and the toe box is roomy for the best comfort. The heel cup is smartly designed, keeping the heel in place and supporting the ankles. The heel lock is contoured for best comfort and support, and the hike becomes less strenuous.
The ESS shank ensures torsion stability on all terrain, and the boots make hiking on rocky trails comfortable and safe. The multi-directional lugs provide grip and traction, no matter how dry, wet, or challenging the tracks are.
Looks aren’t skipped, and the yellow Keen logo on the side of the upper part and the tongue look nice on the brown leather part.
Be that as it may, the boots make a reliable and comfortable model for women hikers, no matter if they deal with plantar fasciitis or not.
FAQs
Q: What’s the briefest definition of plantar fasciitis?
A: Plantar fasciitis is the primary cause of heel pain, and one in ten people will deal with it for once in their lives. Even if such a common condition, not many people know about it.
Typically, the pain is acute in the morning, and it becomes uncomfortable to stand up after sitting/resting for a long time. The problem is so severe that one may think he/she has a fracture!
Q: When does plantar fasciitis develop most often?
A: Even if plantar fasciitis causes aren’t exact, some situations may cause it more often than believed. High arches, very flat feet, shoes that don’t fit or are worn, different lengths for the feet, or being overweight are some of the everyday situations leading to plantar fasciitis.
Q: Do women deal with plantar fasciitis more often than men?
A: Plantar fasciitis occurs pretty often in middle-aged people (40-60 years old), and it’s twice in women as in men. Not both feet will develop plantar fasciitis, and the problem is common amongst athletes too.
Hikers and road runners may develop plantar fasciitis, so wearing the proper hiking boots is fundamental.
Q: What type of footwear is proper for people with plantar fasciitis?
A: Hiking when you have plantar fasciitis is uncomfortable, to say the least. As a matter of fact, many doctors recommend total rest so that the inflamed ligament may heal. For devoted hikers, staying at home and resting may be impossible to do.
Footwear with proper arch and ankle support, enough padding in all the right places, and removable insoles are the essential features to get in footwear for plantar fasciitis. The large and cushioned heel is also necessary, giving the support and keeping the heel in place for less strenuous hikes. Look for footwear with laces so that you get the snug fit you need for less pain.
Q: Are there any types of shoes to avoid?
A: It’s essential to wear the proper shoes, but it’s vital if you plan to hike. It would help if you stayed away from worn footwear as it no longer provides the cushion and support you need for reinforcing the muscles.
Plantar fasciitis won’t pose a threat to your life, but it’s tricky to address, so anything that can help with the pain is good.
Q: How do you know you picked the best pair of hiking boots?
A: We all have different feet, so no pair of boots will make the best for other people. If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, it can take some trial and error until you find the ideal boots for you. It would help if you always played with different socks and insoles until you get the padding and comfort you need.
Either way, you should always address the pain when hiking, looking for the best solution. Hiking isn’t recommended in the first place, so it’s up to you to find the methods and footwear for an enjoyable experience.
