The best women's walking shoes are light, waterproof and grip on wet ground, with a footbed that supports the arch and a heel that does not slip. A GORE-TEX lining keeps rain out without making the shoe hot. ECCO women's walking shoes are built on an anatomical last with ECCO FLUIDFORM™ construction, which bonds a light sole directly to the upper, and leather from ECCO's own tanneries. Choose a low shoe for paths, parks and travel, and a mid height boot for hills and winter. Selected women's outdoor styles are in the ECCO Black Friday sale.

Walking boots should hold your heel still, leave a thumb width in front of your longest toe and not press on the sides of the foot. Try them in the afternoon with the socks you will walk in, laced firmly. Walk downhill or down stairs: your toes should not touch the end. ECCO outdoor boots are built on an anatomical last with a roomy toe box, so most people take their usual ECCO size, and the fit note on each product page says if a style runs narrow or wide. A boot that fits properly needs no breaking in beyond a few short walks.

It depends on the ground. Walking shoes are lighter, cooler and faster on paths, pavements and dry trails, and they double as everyday shoes. Boots give ankle support and keep water out on rough, wet or muddy ground and in snow. For most people in the UK, a low GORE-TEX walking shoe covers nine months of the year and a mid height boot covers winter and hills. ECCO makes both on the same light ECCO FLUIDFORM™ sole with the same GORE-TEX lining, so the choice comes down to height. Selected styles of both are in the Black Friday sale.