My wife and I love to go hiking. In fact, we spent our honeymoon in Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon. But before we set foot on a trail, we went out and bought the most important gear needed for weeks of nonstop hiking; Mountain boots.
Although we would be walking the same trails, under the same conditions, the basic differences between male and female feet meant that we would not get the same boots. So what are the differences in our feet that make building men’s hiking boots and women’s hiking boots so different?
Most obviously, women’s feet are shorter and narrower than men’s. This in itself is to be expected, as (in general) women are shorter and lighter than men. However, part of this is due to the fact that there is less cartilage between the bones of a woman’s foot and her joints and ligaments are softer and more flexible. Also, a woman’s heel is proportionally narrower than a man’s. Boot makers now compensate for this by molding a tighter heel box or adding additional stiff padding to keep the heel comfortably in place and reduce slippage.
The effect of the increased flexibility of a woman’s foot resulted in two design improvements to the women’s boot. First, a more flexible woman’s foot requires more support to withstand the ongoing stress of walking. This is usually accomplished by adding a stiffer midsole support, such as an insert. The insert is generally molded into the sole to retain the traction required for all types of terrain, but is still flexible enough for a comfortable stride. The second and possibly more important difference in the midsole is the improved arch support in the women’s boot.
In general, a woman has a higher arch than a man, which needs additional support. However, due to the monthly changes in a woman’s hormone levels, specifically estrogen, the arch of her foot actually decreases, as estrogen is a soft tissue relaxant. This relaxation of an already flexible foot causes the shape of a woman’s foot to move between a relatively high arch and a flat foot. This fluctuation in arch makes it essential for the midsole of a women’s boot to have improved (stiffer) arch support.
One manufacturer (Lowa) has taken the difference in foot structure a step further, as it also creates a difference in posture. A men’s stance and gait are not as upright as a women’s, so Lowa has designed a 2-degree offset in the ankle axis of their men’s hiking boots to provide a more balanced posture. Since women naturally have a more upright posture, this offset does not exist in the ankle design of their women’s hiking boots.
Understanding the differences between men’s hiking boots and women’s hiking boots should make it easier for you to select a suitable boot. Just because a woman’s foot is naturally smaller, don’t assume that buying a smaller size men’s boot is the way to go. The best option is to try on hiking boots specifically designated as women’s hiking boots. This tells you immediately 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.