Hiking and trail walking are two great ways for women to get exercise while enjoying nature and the great outdoors. If you are considering taking up hiking for exercise, or even just for pleasure, the first thing you will need is comfortable walking boots. There is literally a hoard of womens walking boots you can choose from, but there are a few things to keep in mind when picking out that new pair of trail walking shoes.

• Weight: Your shoes may be draining more energy and stamina than you think, as a matter of fact, seasoned hikers even have a saying for this: “a pound on your feet equals five on your back.” You are basically going to want lightweight hiking boots because carrying weight on your feet takes up to 6 times more energy than carrying the same amount of weight on your back. You most likely won’t get as far with a heavy shoe as you would had you gone for that lighter pair.

• Comfort: A lot of the time when ladies are looking for womens walking boots they end up with a nice snug pair, but this is a mistake. For optimal comfort on your hikes/walks there should be a 1/2 inch gap between your longest toe and the end of your shoe and if you have one foot larger than the other, go up one size for that foot. Also, boots that are too stiff could leave you with painful blisters and should be avoided.

• Waterproof: Early morning hikes can be refreshing, but with dew, or perhaps rain, very wet causing a number of issues including breeding fungus (I know gross). When you think waterproof it doesn’t necessarily go hand in hand with hot like some people believe, this can be a comfortable option. There are several waterproof hiking boots for women that won’t leave your feet scorching, including breathable vented options.

Taking into consideration comfort, weight and keeping your feet dry could be the difference between an enjoyable hike and a miserable, wet-footed, blistery and exhausting trip of doom. These considerations are important, especially for someone trying this type of exercise for the first time, having a bad experience could turn you off to hiking completely and it really should be enjoyable. Now that you know the most important aspects of choosing comfortable boots for your healthy, hiking pleasure, why not get started today?