Many people ask themselves every year how to choose mountain boots. For this reason, we thought writing a guide to buy the best hiking boots underlining the various types of boots on the market was an excellent idea. We want to underline the most suitable for mountainous areas.
Table of Contents
Features of a good pair of Hiking Boots
The characteristics you should consider before choosing hiking or mountain shoes are:
- Weight
- Waterproofness
- Stability and protection
- Cargo support
When walking at high altitudes, having waterproof hiking boots with you would always be helpful because they offer excellent protection. However, the support and the weight depend on the experience you will face. Therefore, hiking shoes are divided into classes (A, B, C, and D) and subclasses (1,2,3, etc.).
A1 is the simplest and lightest shoe, while the D2 is the heaviest and most technical shoe. Therefore, the hiking shoes suggested for our excursions and offering the best quality/price ratio are class B and C. Let’s start our guide on choosing hiking boots!
Class A – The best hiking boots
Hiking boots are class A and simply sneakers, offering a little more protection for the foot than normal running shoes. They have thicker soles and extra padding to protect your feet from rough terrain. Trail running and hiking shoes are considered Class A. Sandals with good soles are also considered in this class.
This shoe can only be used when the trails are well-maintained and on soft ground. Class A hiking shoes are not recommended for hiking in the Alps. This shoe has a structure that offers good support during the excursion, and the cut barely reaches the ankle bones. They are used as approach shoes in mountaineering to avoid wearing Class D mountain boots until needed.
These Class A shoes are only suitable for summer and day trips when the sun is high and ideal. Between subclasses 1 and 3, there are small differences. These shoes are ideal both for everyday life and for some out-of-town outings.
When walking outside the usual paths, it is good to have a Vibram sole, which helps with the grip, and a Gor-Tex membrane, which makes the shoe water repellent and the material the waterproof mountain boots are made.
These lightweight hiking boots are regarded as approach shoes. They are very light but also strong and do their job well. Hiking in the Alps is only good on the best summer days. Trail running is becoming very popular in Europe.
Many people do this activity, and you may find people running in this type of shoe, even over 3,000 meters. Of course, some prefer to hike in these shoes, but they are only mountain experts.
Class B – Medium-weight boots
The typical medium-weight or Class B mountain boots are used for hiking. These shoes, including a large screen, are designed for rugged trails and off-piste excursions in the high mountains. Support is better than Class A boots, which help protect the ankle on multi-day hikes.
The sole and construction are less flexible than the A-Class but not completely rigid. The cut reaches and covers the ankle effectively. These types of hiking boots are good enough for all types of excursions.
When evaluating the various subclasses, choose the best boots. These hiking shoes are the starting point for a hut-to-hut hike. The ground must be soft enough and not very rough. These shoes resemble running shoes, but the ankle is more protected. We suggest these shoes for a 1/5 difficulty excursion, which is very easy.
These boots are good enough for most of the hiking in the mountain. They have a Gor-Tex membrane, and the sole is hard enough to cushion the impact with the stones we will find along the way.
In addition, they offer good protection all over the foot and an excellent Vibram sole. Every hiking beginner tackling the mountain should have this boot to keep costs down and have good foot protection.
Class C – Heavy off-trail boots
As the name suggests, these boots are designed and built for rough terrain. They have features like toe protection and sturdy soles, providing excellent shock absorption. Internal membranes often feature Gor-Tex or other multipurpose materials.
Some variants are also compatible with mountaineering crampons. However, the construction of these boots is more robust and must be ” broken in ” before wearing them on a bumpy trail in the mountains.
Wear them enough to fit snugly and securely to the feet’ contour to prevent foot and ankle injuries. The construction of these boots is intended to provide maximum support and shock absorption while remaining water-resistant and breathable. As they are heavier and stiffer than usual shoes, you need to spend some time with them to get used to them.
These hiking boots are lighter than a Class D but still quite technical, and for many, they are the best mountaineering boots. They are specially designed for via traverses. For hiking, they are suitable and comfortable.
It is excellent for the most difficult treks (4/5 and 5/5) above 3,000 meters and where excellent grip is required. Perhaps they are excessive for day trips or straightforward hiking, but once you have ” made the foot, “they are comfortable and protective, and you will use them in many situations.
They are hiking boots suitable for all environments where crampons are not required. If you’re having trouble with your ankles and need great support, these are the perfect boots. The high cut offers the best protection for the ankle.
Class D – The best mountain boots
You need these boots to climb the great mountains of Europe and those of other regions. Often, they are used in conjunction with mountain crampons and generally have special attachment points at the top and rear of the sole to secure the crampons.
The best mountain boots’ soles are stiff and usually very warm because they are intended to be used in winter, the cold season, and the high mountains.
These boots are ideal for ice climbing but are uncomfortable for long hikes. This is why Class A boots are generally used during mountain expeditions to get closer to the climb. In addition, mountaineering boots have additional insulation to protect against low temperatures.
These boots are usually classified as both hiking and mountaineering boots. They are specially designed for mountaineering and the most difficult weather conditions imaginable.
These mountaineering boots generally also offer the possibility of mounting semi-automatic crampons. They are quite warm and suitable for 4,000 meters peaks.
How to choose the best hiking boots
As we have seen so far, just like in the case of sneakers, each type of boot is suitable for a type of hiking. So, are you a casual hiker, or do you spend more time in the mountains than at home?
Knowing the various types of boots is essential to decide the product that best suits your needs. Remember, you will also need ideal footwear in addition to a shoe that suits your activities.
Finally, never put on your new boxed footwear to tackle the mountains immediately. Classes B and C, which we recommend to most users, must be tested and ” run in ” before embarking on a long excursion.
During the test, you should realize that they are not the most suitable shoes for your needs, request a return, and buy another pair.
Factors to consider to choose a good pair of hiking boots
Let’s see below the five essential factors to choosing good hiking boots.
- Boot Height: The height of the hiking boots can be medium or high. The choice will depend on the terrain you plan to walk on. A medium boot is more comfortable than a high one, but the ankle is more protected with the second.
- Type of sole: Optimal grip and non-slip are required for any terrain and sport mode. The type of sole is the most important part of hiking boots. Vibram is the best-known technology, but other types, such as Contragrip used only in Salomon brand boots. Both provide excellent grip on different surfaces, resistance to temperature changes, and long life.
- The presence or absence of the membrane: Gore-Tex is the membrane type. This technology provides long-lasting waterproofing and high breathability. Many others, such as Inner Plus, are patented by the Trango World brand, IsoTex by the Regatta brand, or OlanTex by the Olang brand.
- Material and weight: Depending on the material used, the weight varies. Leather hiking boots are generally heavier and less breathable. With new synthetic materials, weight is reduced, and breathability increases. However, many boots combine synthetic materials with leather.
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