How do I find hiking boots for size 11 and size 12 narrow feet?
Your site is absolutely the best thing out there! i am already knotting my shoes as you suggest, and WHOA….what a difference!
Yep, I’m a guy, and my grandfather left me with astonishing narrow feet for a man- 10.5 AA-AA for mens sizes, 11.5aa for women’s. So I NEVER buy mens walking/hiking shoes (not boots- that world is beyond my pay grade) for my self, always women’s. The problem is finding a decent and narrow woman’s trail hiking/walking shoe in 11.5 AA. Yep, New Balance makes them, but the fit isn’t quite right…any other suggestions?So much appreciated!
Thanks,
Ted
Thanks, Ted, for your question. I seem to be getting a lot of emails from women (and now men!) with size 11 and 12 narrow feet having a tough time finding hiking boots!
There is a lot of dialogue on this page from readers and me about long, narrow hiking boots.
Hiking Boots in Size 11 and 12 Narrow
Here are some hiking boots that seem to work for a few people that come in sizes 11 and 12, however, only New Balance makes AA width:
- Arc’teryx Bora Mix GTX hiking boots
- New Balance 1569 – sounds like you may have tried these
Also, you should consider boots from brands that run narrow (Salomon, Vasque, Scarpa…the European brands tend to run narrow), but may not be AA. A boot that runs narrow, plus my boot lacing technique, and the sock liner/outer sock combo may be enough to manage your AA foot.
Check out this article: Are Men’s Hiking Boots Different from Women’s Hiking Boots?
Hope all of this helps! Thanks for reading the website and be sure to sign up for the free email newsletter and enter the monthly free gear giveaways.
Happy trails!
This comment was emailed in from Dea: I have spent excited hours here reading about women’s narrow hiking boots in size 12–13. I did online searches for local & online stores; Zappos, Summit Hut, REI, public lands, Legend footwear, sportsman’s warehouse, Amazon, Sierra trading post. None carry narrow sized women’s hiking boots in 12–13, in any of the brands mentioned. Especially interested in Asolo & Lowa.
Please, Where do I go?
My reply:
Thanks for reaching out. I understand your frustration! I’ve received numerous emails and comments on the website over the years with this exact issue.
With the closure of so many brick and mortar stores, we are at the mercy of what these online retailers choose to carry. Some other readers of my site have found luck buying men’s boots. So your 12-13 women’s would be 10-11 men’s. Asolo runs narrower than Lowa.
Best of luck and happy trails!
I am in the same boat as everyone else here! Women’s 12-12.5 narrow. I tried a Merrill men’s 12, (European 46.5? Weird sizing) medium width. Length is good,but my food slid all over the place. I added in thick insoles and laced them until I thought the string would break, but I’m still sliding. I sometimes buy women’s shoes from Alegria, but with them, I’m between their 42 and 43 to be comfortable. This is all soooo frustrating! I have a pair of suede casual laced boots from hush puppies in a twelve that fit me very well. I wish they and/or Alegria would make reliable, narrow hiking boots! What a GREAT conversation! We need a FB group! Title it “Women with Big Feet and Little Choice?”
I am also in search of a 12 to 12 ½ AA light, comfortable hiking boot. My heel is narrow and I have extremely flat feet. I might as well be asking for the money. Any guidance/direction would be greatly appreciate. TIA
I am also a 12 to 12 ½ AA. My heel is extremely narrow. Would like to find a comfortable, light hiking boot. I know that is asking too much. If I had money, I would make a boot/shoe as the demand for this size and width is out there, but I am just a peon!
Omg, I thought I was the only woman on the planet with size 12 AA feet, I am NOT alone!
Excellent info, thanks for sharing Kendra! I love my Asolos.
Hi. I’m 12AA. I wear Asolo brand men’s boots size 10.5. These are my go-to. Width isn’t perfect but it’s a helluva lot better than anything else I’ve tried. Saloman’s women’s boots are long for true size but stop at 11. My Asolo styles are Neutron and Fugitive (from REI). The Flame is also good. Sizing is consistent across styles.
Ahh, my people!
I wear an 11.5 to 12 Narrow and have also had a tough time finding hiking boots! I have tried out the Saucony Peregrine ISO for a trail shoe. It runs a bit narrow and comes in 11.5. but I need more ankle support! I had The New Balance Boot, but it never fit well. Hoping for more ideas here!!
Good luck!
Found myself here seeking the same thing, especially since hiking boots usually require sizing up! Size 11.5 foot with a wide toebox and a narrow heel. Mens are much to wide in the heel. I have no idea why shoe companies don’t make boots in our size. It’s beyond frustrating!
I need a minimum 12 in ladies boots. There was not one option in a GIANT outdoor store, so I go online… come to find out most companies do not make a 12 in women’s boots. What gives?? I agree, boot companies need to get with it.
I’m looking for something cute in a women’s size 13 medium width. I can’t find anything. any ideas??
Hi Joyce,
I totally agree. I wish I were a shoe manufacturer! There seems to be HUGE demand for longer sizes AND narrow widths!
Good luck with your search.
Hiking Lady
Wake up shoe manufacters. I wear a size 13 narrow shoe…Can’t find much and we will need more large sizes like this as women are tall and getting taller with bigger feet!! More $$ in your pockets so come on …make em for us tall people!
Also Saucony now makes 1 good running shoe in a 12 AA. It’s not a hiking boot but it’s a quality comfortable shoe that can be good for day hikes, maybe even trail running.
Another woman 12AA here
People try to put me in mens boots which are waaay too wide. Extra sock is worse, because the narrowness is particularly in the heel. You can put inserts above the heel, but that’s just not adequate for long days.
I have a couple of the New Balance hikers but IMO they are poor quality
I did find 12AA in Drew. One is leather and a medium quality (ok for short days, not suitable for long backpacks). The other is too hot for anything but winter. Keep looking. As the population is taller, there are more of us. Meanwhile, I’m paying up for custom but it’s a 2 year wait list.
I’m a women’s size 12 AA or N and cannot find any boots that work even after checking the referrals you all listed. Does anyone else have any suggestions?? My old New Balances are on their last leg.
Lowa Renegade III out of stock as of September 4, 2016
New Balance discontinuted the AA trail hiking shoe….I am leaving for New Zealand and Austraiia in December.
What a bummer for our narrow feet.
I even gave them “Hiking Lady’s” web site to tell them we are here and we do hike!
The Hi-Tec Keswick Waterproof Walking Boots feature a suede and mesh upper, to allow your foot to move more freely than with other synthetic fabrics.
I guess I’m not alone! I wear a 12 AA/AAA, and have not had luck in finding hiking boots. There was a time that New Balance offered a 12 or 13 AA, but I haven’t seen any styles in those sizes lately. Even so, the last NB hiking shoes/boots that I bought in 12AA were too wide…after adding a different insole!
Years ago, I bought a pair of NB GoreTex in a 12AA that are just a tad too tight (probably should have bought the 13AA while they still made them!), but I keep them because nothing else even comes close to fitting. Any suggestions?
Ted, I’m sick and tired of the same problem. I am a women’s 11.5 narrow (actually triple a, but a narrow would help), so if you find anything, let us know! All I can say is I have my eye on custom made boots when I win the lottery — in the mean time, I checked out men’s narrow, and I see that’s a medium in women’s, so no luck for either of us. Good luck!