Hanwag Gritstone II Narrow Lady GTX Review

Overview

The Gritstone II Narrow Lady GTX is Hanwag’s low-cut day-hiking shoe built specifically for narrow feet — a fit category that’s genuinely hard to find in outdoor footwear. It’s aimed at hikers who want a European-made, resoleable shoe for forest paths and well-maintained trails rather than technical alpine terrain, and who’ve struggled with standard-width shoes sliding around in the heel or forefoot.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Gender	Women’s
Last width	Narrow
Cut	Low
Upper material	Nubuck leather, textile
Lining	GORE-TEX (waterproof/breathable)
Outsole	Vibram® Ultragrip II
ABCD flex category	AB (flexible, day-hike oriented)
Weight	750 g per pair (size 5)
Made in	Croatia
Resoleable	Yes

Performance

Fit: This is really the whole reason the shoe exists. Hanwag’s Narrow last trims down the volume through the forefoot and instep compared to their standard lasts. One user review of the shoe (translated from Dutch) noted that other brands are typically too wide, but “de leest is een normale breedte en lengte” and the shoe sits comfortably high at the ankle even with orthotic insoles. If you’ve got a genuinely narrow foot and have been swimming in “standard” width hiking shoes, that’s a meaningful difference — less heel lift, less lateral slop, less blistering on longer days.

Worth flagging: forum feedback on Hanwag’s boots more broadly (the Alverstone II, a different model) suggests the brand’s lasts can run on the snug side even in “standard” width, with some hikers needing to size up or move to a wide fit. That’s not a direct data point on the Gritstone II, but it does suggest trying these on (or buying from a retailer with an easy return policy) rather than ordering blind, especially since the “Narrow” designation compounds any brand-wide tightness.

Weather protection: The GORE-TEX lining is Hanwag’s standard membrane (not the newer PFAS-free ePE version showing up in some 2025-26 Hanwag releases), but it’s the same waterproofing approach used across their line, and other Hanwag GTX models have proven waterproof in testing and performed well under normal, not-too-warm conditions. Expect solid rain and wet-grass performance, with the usual GTX trade-off of reduced breathability on hot, muggy days.

Traction and ride: The Vibram Ultragrip II outsole is designed with a heel pitch to promote comfortable roll-off and sporty versatility — this is a shoe built for a natural walking gait on maintained trail, not a stiff, aggressive lug pattern for scrambling. That tracks with its AB flex rating: flexible enough for all-day comfort on dirt and gravel, but not what you’d reach for on loose scree or off-trail terrain.

Lacing and build: The ghilly lacing system runs all the way to the toes, which is a small detail that makes a real difference — it allows extra adjustment over the ball of the foot rather than just cinching down at the ankle. The nubuck and mesh upper combo keeps weight reasonable while leather reinforcement at the heel adds some structure where the shoe takes the most abuse.

Durability: Hanwag builds these to be resoled, which is worth something if you plan to put serious mileage on them over multiple years — most sub-$150 hiking shoes are landfill-bound the moment the outsole wears out. I didn’t find long-term durability reports specific to the Gritstone II Narrow Lady, so treat that as an open question rather than a guarantee, but Hanwag’s general reputation (built on boots like the Alaska and Alverstone lines) is for tough, long-lasting construction, sometimes at the cost of a break-in period.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Genuinely narrow last — a rare fit option in a market dominated by medium-to-wide hiking shoes
• Ghilly lacing to the toe box gives precise forefoot adjustment
• GORE-TEX lining for reliable wet-weather protection
• Resoleable construction extends the usable life of the shoe
• Made in Croatia under Hanwag’s in-house manufacturing, not outsourced fast-fashion production

Cons:

• AB flex rating means it’s not suited to off-trail, scrambling, or loaded-pack backpacking use
• Standard GORE-TEX membrane rather than the newer PFAS-free version some newer Hanwag models use
• Limited independent long-term reviews specific to this exact model — most available feedback is on sibling Hanwag boots, not this shoe directly
• Narrow fit is a dealbreaker if you have an average-to-wide foot; no in-between option beyond going up a size

Who Should Buy This

This shoe makes the most sense for day hikers and casual trail walkers with a narrow foot who’ve been frustrated by heel slip or forefoot sloppiness in standard-width hiking shoes. It’s not built for backpacking with a heavy pack or technical off-trail travel — the AB flex rating and low cut put it firmly in the “maintained trail and forest path” category. If your hikes mostly involve well-graded paths, day trips, or travel where you want one versatile, waterproof shoe, this fits that brief well.

Verdict

The Gritstone II Narrow Lady GTX fills a real gap — a genuinely narrow-lasted, GORE-TEX-lined hiking shoe from a manufacturer with a solid track record on build quality and resoleability. It’s not going to replace a boot for serious backpacking, and I’d want a proper fit-check given some reports of Hanwag’s lasts running tight even before you add the “narrow” designation. For the right foot shape and the right kind of hike, though, it’s a well-built, sensible option. I’d rate it a 7/10 — solid and purpose-built, but a niche fit profile keeps it from being a universal recommendation.