Fall, Winter, Early Spring Hiking Boots for Women

October 29, 2009 2:24 AM

Metabootfilter: I'd like your suggestions for mid-rise ladies' hiking boots for use in a cold climate. Not really expensive, but good quality. Difficulty level: Ordering by size online without my wife trying them on...

My wife is currently overseas in a third world country where such things as high quality hiking boots are not available. I will be going back there in a couple of weeks and taking many useful things for both of us in my checked luggage.

I'm looking for suggestions on high quality but not ridiculously expensive ladies' hiking boots. These would be for use in a moderately snowy climate ranging from -10C to +10C (about from now, to early April). She is a size 40.5 in European measurements for the last pair of shoes she bought, a pair of higher-end Adidas running shoes.

For myself, I have had good results ordering without test-fitting from the REI house brand boots which were made by Raichle in Switzerland (now part of Mammut.ch, I think). Can anyone offer first hand experience with the smaller and ladies' sizes of the same brand? Or other ideas?

posted by thewalrus to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)

I have a pair of Sorel boots I've worn every snowy winter for 17 years. They are comfy and WARM, although they sometimes feel a little heavy if I've been hiking for awhile.
A less expensive alternative would be Kamik. These are rated to -50*F. It looks like they are on sale for $50.
posted by Acacia at 3:11 AM on October 29, 2009

You may already know this, but a number of boots on REI's website have customer reviews that comment extensively on idiosyncrasies of size, width, etc. (Don't forget to ask your wife if her feet run wide or narrow!) I've usually managed to get within .5 of the correct size by reading reviews, and REI has a great return policy, so you could buy the two closest sizes and return whichever one doesn't fit when you get there.
posted by Bardolph at 3:18 AM on October 29, 2009

Seconding Sorels; I got a brand-new pair on eBay for significantly less than retail.
posted by transporter accident amy at 4:52 AM on October 29, 2009

I did winter hiking in Sorels for years, even managed to strap crampons on them for above treeline climbing. I've since moved on to plastic boots for higher stuff but I pull out the Sorels for snowshoeing and other hikes below treeline. They're also great to have for shoveling snow or walking to the train in a blizzard.

Be sure to size them a bit larger since she'll be wearing heavy socks.
posted by bondcliff at 6:59 AM on October 29, 2009

These Keen Targhees are my new favorites this year, and are the only hiking boots I have ever had that don't give my delicate snowflake feet blisters after a day or two. They run a little big and have lots of room in the toebox, and I haven't had a problem getting fairly thick socks comfortably in them for days hiking on top of snowpack in the early spring in Denali.

I feel like those, paired with warm socks and possibly a pair of these magical devices in situations of particular desparation keep me a lot happier than a pair of big clunky boots unless it is below the temperatures you mention, and I've done a significant amount of fall/winter hiking. I still go with the Sorrel-type boot for snowshoeing, though, just because they fit the bindings a lot better. Your wife's mileage may vary, however.
posted by charmedimsure at 9:02 AM on October 29, 2009

sorels for the win
posted by nadawi at 1:02 PM on October 29, 2009