Best Women’s Hiking Boots (Reviews) for Overpronation
Too much or not enough pronation will translate into overpronation. Pronation refers to the regular part of the walking motion, as your foot goes inwards and the arch becomes compressed. We need pronation for shock absorbency and send forces up and down the legs.
If you’re overpronating, your foot goes inwards too much, causing the arch’s flattening. Your hip and knee become misaligned, and your bones lose the proper functions.
Overpronation doesn’t make hiking less possible, but you have to look for boots that will give you the support, alignment, and comfort you need when hiking. The hiking boots should provide excellent stability and motion control with superior support and shock absorbency.
Top Women’s Hiking Boots for Overpronation
1. Scarpa Mistral Gore-Tex Women’s Walking Boots
There are many good things to notice about Scarpa Mistral Gore-Tex Women’s Walking Boots, and the boots are dependable for all hikers, especially for those with overpronation.
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The toe box is generous, so the toes don’t get cramped nor get bruised from impact while hiking. The heel cup is well contoured and secures the heel in place for superior stability. With the toes comfortable and heel secured, you only need arch support for comfortable hiking. The padded collar and tongue will ensure the ankle, whereas the EVA midsole will create the padded support you need. The midsole’s bottom layer is reliable for shock absorbency. The top of the EVA is more padded for improved comfort, which counts so much for overpronators.
The midsole has a rib structure, will ensure support and flexibility too. The boots are waterproof and breathable since they’re made with Gore-Tex. The membrane will block water from getting inside the shoes but help moisture escape again.
The Vibram outsole gives you traction and grip on various tracks, and the boots will work for the overpronators anytime.
2. Salomon Women’s X Alp Mid Leather Gtx Hiking Boot
The Salomon Women’s X Alp Mid Leather Gtx Hiking Boot will catch your attention on shelves as the coral red accents make a lovely contrast with the black upper body.
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However, looks have nothing to do with these boots’ rugged build and reliability for people with overpronation. They present several features that matter for support and comfort, allowing you to try both the basic and the more technical hikes.
The boots have a well-contoured heel that provides a secure fit for the heel. The heel stays in place while hiking without affecting the stability. At the same time, the reinforced heel cup is balanced with the roomy and rubberized toe cap. The toes are comfortable and protected throughout hiking. The padded collar and tongue give the ankle the support you need, and the lacing system with metal speed hooks and self-locking eyelets allows the best fit.
The contoured Orhtolite EVA footbed gives the soft support you need, especially for underfoot. The molded EVA midsole will absorb the shock from hiking and ensure support. The 3d Advanced Chassis (placed between the midsole and outsole) will provide energy, motion control for superior responsive performance. Stability, traction, and grip are also excellent as the boots come with high-traction ContaGrip sole made with tough rubber.
These features would be useless if the upper body and overall build wouldn’t be appropriate for hiking. The boots are made with synthetic and leather, feeling soft right from the beginning. The split suede leather is waterproof, and so it is manufactured. The textile inside the boots is also water-resistant. The fabric lining dries out fast and takes abrasion from intense wear. The profile of the shoes could be more feminine, but looks aren’t essential when you’re hiking and dealing with overpronation too.
3. Danner #31284 Women’S Boots | Caprine Evo Chocolate/Taupe
Versatility and durability are the selling points for Danner #31284 Women’S Boots | Caprine Evo Chocolate/Taupe, but the boots come with great features that ease out hiking when you’re overpronating.
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The boots are made with superior leather and nylon panels, so they’re comfortable and fit like a glove sooner than expected. The heel cup is very well defined and reinforced, providing a secure fit for the heel. Three layers of different density make the superior padding and support inside the boots. The whole footbed was made with open-cell polyurethane for improved ventilation and heat dissipation. The Danner Plyolite midsole creates comfort without adding weight but also works for effective shock absorption.
The collar and tongue are only lightly padded for creating a pleasant feel and support for the ankle. The metal hooks feel sturdy, and you may easily control the fit with the lacing system.
The outsole was specially made for Caprine and featured low profile lugs for more extensive surface contact and Megagrip for impressive traction on all surfaces. The clean looks are attractive, and the boots are worth every single penny.
How should you choose hiking boots for overpronation?
When your feet are overpronating, you need boots that ensure superior motion control and stability. If grippy soles are relatively easy to spot, some other features will make the hiking boots reliable for your foot condition.
Rigid midsole
Nine times out of ten, the midsole is made with EVA foam, and it’s placed right between the outer sole and the inner sole of the boot.
The midsole is essential for padding the foot but also for absorbing the shock. Ideally, the boots should come with rigid yet padded midsoles that support and improve your comfort while hiking.
Hiking is a strenuous activity, and you will eventually run over rocks, rugged and sharp surfaces that may aggravate the pain caused by the overpronation. Some midsoles come with gel or air pockets, which will create even more padding.
Strong heel cup
Heel cups made of full-grain leather or stiff rubber/plastic will make the back of the boots more rigid when the boot keeps your heel secured and firmly, the risk of inward rolling motion decreases. You may check the heel counter by pressing it down with the thumb. If you’re able to squash the heel cup, it’s not rigid enough to provide stability any overpronator needs.
Keep in mind that it’s only the heel area that should feel snug. You want your foot to feel comfortable without any hot points in any other part of the boots.
Medial posts
The medial posts are dense areas of foam in the midsole of the boots. They’re placed for improving the arch support and even the heel support. They’re an excellent feature for overpronators with flat feet, as they support the weak arches to take the impact of hiking.
Straight-lasted shape
You should check the shape of the boots. When the sole’s inner edge is a bit curved, the shoes may not be supportive enough for stopping your foot roll too far inwards.
Straight-lasted boots with more symmetry, stiff build, and better motion control make the better choice.
FAQs
Q: Which material is better for overpronators?
A: The boots’ upper body can be made of various materials, but it’s the heel area that you should double-check. Even if some synthetic materials are rigid enough for the heel’s secure grip, it’s the full-grain leather that is the toughest. Moreover, full-grain leather will remain supportive and impervious to abrasion, roots, elements, and water even after intense wear.
Q: How can you tell if you have overpronation?
A: It’s not as difficult as you think, and you only need to check the wear pattern on the soles of your current hiking boots. Overpronation leads to intense wear on the inside edge of your soles. You may also double check by placing the shoes on a flat surface. If you’re overpronating, you will notice an inward tilt.
Q: Should you still hike if you’re overpronating?
A: As long as you’re wearing the proper pair of hiking boots and don’t have other foot/leg conditions, you shouldn’t avoid hiking. Over pronation isn’t a foot problem per se, but rather a common problem that makes the selection process of hiking boots more challenging.
