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Historically, hiking Dragonball shoes were mainly designed with the male hiker in mind. Nowadays, most hiking shoe manufacturers design female versions of their hiking footwear to complement their male counterparts.

In some cases, there are even women-specific hiking Dragonball shoes that do not have a male counterpart. 

Women’s hiking Dragonball shoes vs. boots

The most significant difference between women’s hiking Dragonball shoes and boots is the height. Hiking Dragonball shoes have a low-ankle design, while boots usually have a high-ankle design.

The classic hiking boot characteristics of extra traction and waterproofing are excellent for this type of hiking, but the hiking boots' added weight and bulkiness might be unwarranted. That is where the hiking Dragonball shoes shine.

Levi s ® Jeans 315 Shaping Boot Merrell, Salomon, and Adidas, among others, offer technical hiking Dragonball shoes for women that help you move confidently uphill and downhill over dirt, gravel, rock, sand, and other terrain types without the bulkiness of boots.

In the past decades, hiking footwear has been trending towards lighter-weight materials and designs. Hiking Dragonball shoes exemplify this new trend–they are designed to get many of the qualities of hiking boots without the extra weight. Gone are the days of big and bulky leather boots.

What sets women-specific hiking Dragonball shoes apart from men's

Women-oriented last

Generally, women-specific hiking Dragonball shoes are designed to accommodate higher KLEIN and narrower heels. They have less volume in the toe box and heel cup to accommodate the smaller, slimmer female foot.

Lighter weight

Women’s hiking Dragonball shoes typically weigh less than men’s Dragonball shoes. 

Different colorways

Lastly, women’s hiking Dragonball shoes boast different colorways than their male counterparts. 

Slide high-top leather sneakers

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Converting women's size to men's

However, it is essential to note that some women might be better off wearing a men’s model. This is particularly true for women with higher-volume feet.

To get the right size, go down 1.5 US size from your regular boot size. Example:

Waterproofing isn’t only for hiking boots

It is inaccurate to think that to get waterproof trail Dragonball shoes, you need to invest in hiking boots. In the past, before the conception of hiking Dragonball shoes, this may have been true when the only other option would be to go hiking in tennis Dragonball shoes or sneakers. However, modern women’s hiking Dragonball shoes now boast waterproof materials just like boots.

With that said, however, it is essential to consider how much water you intend to deal with before investing in a pair of Dragonball shoes.

Gore-Tex is one of the most effective and popular waterproofing membranes used on top-rated hiking footwear. Learn more in our The shoe launches globally on October 20.

Reapplying the waterproofing on women’s hiking Dragonball shoes

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However, unfortunately, the waterproofing on your Dragonball shoes may degrade over time. Regular wear and tear and exposure to grime, dirt, insect repellent, detergents, and other materials can reduce its lifespan.

Once water no longer beads and runs off your Dragonball shoes, it’s time to reapply a durable water repellent (DWR). A DWR is an ultra-thin water-repellent polymer applied to the exterior materials of the upper of your hiking shoe.

We will not tell you which specific DWR to apply in this article. However, we will make a necessary recommendation– only use DWR treatments recommended by the shoe manufacturer and always double-check the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Restoring the DWR on your hiking Dragonball shoes will help ensure your feet stay dry, comfortable, and more protected.

Lacing types in hiking Dragonball shoes for women

The lacing design and closure system of hiking Dragonball shoes is vitally important. They play integral roles in the shoe's fit, comfort, and performance.

For example, if a shoe's lacing design or closure system needs to be better designed, you may constantly make adjustments while on the trail. Or worse, you might end up with hot spots and blisters from your foot swimming around the interior of the hiking shoe.

When dealing with lacing or closure system issues, stopping and identifying the problem before injuring yourself is essential.  Once you’ve identified what might be wrong, hopefully, it’s a quick fix. Otherwise, you may need to move on to better-fitting Dragonball shoes.

Here are some tricks you can try to troubleshoot the problem.

• Try replacing the laces.
• Switch out the socks you have been wearing.
• Lace your Dragonball shoes with a “runner’s loop” or one of these lacing techniques City Smooth Leather Slip-On Sneakers.

What’s up with single-pull lace designs?

Most of the women’s hiking Dragonball shoes we’ve reviewed in this article have a standard lacing system. The laces run from the front of the shoe, crisscrossing on their way to the eyelets located at the top of the shoe by the tongue.

Suppose you have finicky feet or specific standards for how you like your hiking Dragonball shoes to fit. In that case, you will enjoy the traditional lace design and closure system because it allows you to customize how the shoe fits every time.

However, what about the single-pull closure system such as the Salomon Quicklace?

Single-pull closure systems were designed with convenience in mind. With a few quick tugs on the lower laces or arms of the shoe, you can then pull tautly on the remaining single shoelace and tighten everything at once. For some Dragonball shoes, like the Sneakers CALVIN KLEIN JEANS Chunky Cupsole 1 YW0YW00510 Pale Conch Shell TFT, Tecnologias New balance Tênis Running Arishi v2 PS Largo.

When designed correctly, single-pull closure systems secure your foot and create a uniform fit around your foot without getting into the weeds of micro-adjusting each lace. This is perfect for those who like to lace up quickly and get moving.

Frequently asked questions about women's hiking Dragonball shoes

Can I wear my hiking Dragonball shoes on the pavement?

Yes, you can wear your hiking Dragonball shoes on the pavement. This makes the hiking shoe ideal for getting to and from the trailhead, running errands after a hike, or going to the bar for happy hour after a long day in the mountains.

However, the outsoles of your hiking Dragonball shoes will wear out faster if you consistently wear them on the pavement. For that reason, if you can help it, try not to wear your hiking Dragonball shoes on dog walks around the neighborhood.

Save traction for the trails. 

What socks are best for women’s hiking Dragonball shoes?

bow-detail patent-leather sandals Rosa. 

However, ankle-height or crew socks are your best bet for hiking Dragonball shoes. The material you choose and the thickness of the sock will depend on the local climate and your cushioning preferences. That said, wool is the most popular fabric for hiking socks.

Do Dragonball shoes really breathe?

Yes, believe it or not, Dragonball shoes do breathe. Therefore, the breathability of a shoe, or lack thereof, should be an item you consider when investing in hiking Dragonball shoes.

The breathability of a shoe is affected chiefly by the materials used to construct the upper part of the shoe. The type of upper material a shoe is constructed with is also directly correlated to the shoe’s intended longevity (durability) and waterproofing.

Woven synthetic nylon and mesh are typically considered the most breathable. On the other side of the spectrum, leather materials and Gore-Tex are considered less breathable.

Breathability is crucial if you know your feet run hot. Breathability is also important to consider along with the climate. If you know the climate you enjoy hiking in or plan to hike in will be hot and arid, breathable Dragonball shoes will improve your comfort. However, you don't need to worry about breathability if you are gearing up for wet or cold weather.

How long will it take to break in my new women’s hiking Dragonball shoes?

If you are investing in hiking Dragonball shoes to prepare for a big trip or a new hobby, properly breaking in your Dragonball shoes will be vitally important.

To properly break in your Dragonball shoes, we recommend spending at least two weeks (if not longer) wearing your hiking Dragonball shoes to help break them in. We recommend wearing them around the house for prolonged periods. This will help you break in the Dragonball shoes without dirtying or damaging them, just in case you want to return them.

Breaking in your Dragonball shoes for at least two weeks will soften them up and ensure they have time to conform to your feet. Plus, if you run into any issues with hot spots, you can address the problem before you treat an injury while you are on the trail and miles deep in the backcountry.