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Hiking Boots

Let the path decide: light for easy trails, sturdy with a high cut for mountain paths. Open the advisor ›

Guide

Hiking Boots

The category on the label tells you how stiff the boot is: A or A/B for surfaced paths, B for mountain trails. Fit comes before everything else.

Key points

The trail decides: easy paths category A to A/B, rocky trails category B.
The rougher the ground and the heavier the pack, the higher the cut.
Leave a finger's width in front of your toes; try boots on in the afternoon.
A membrane for wet ground and snow; break new boots in on short walks.

View from below of the deeply lugged sole of a hiking boot with orange laces, the foot lifting over rocky ground against a blue sky

Buying advice

Which hiking boot suits your trail?

Five questions about your trail, ankle support and foot shape lead you to available models for women, men and kids. Each pick comes with the reason it fits.

5 questions
Terrain check
Available models only

Open the hiking boot advisor ›

Which boot for which trail?

Many Central European brands and shops grade soles from A to D.

Trail	What to expect	Your boot
Forest tracks, coastal paths, valley trails	What to expectFirm and wide, little climbing	Your bootLight category A or A/B shoe, mid cut for mud and wet roots
Rocky day routes in the Alps or the Pyrenees	What to expectNarrow, steep, loose stones	Your bootCategory B boot with a mid cut and a lugged sole
A week with a heavy pack, e.g. the Kungsleden	What to expectLong stages, heavy load	Your bootCategory B/C trekking boot with a stiff sole
Routes that need crampons	What to expectSnow, ice, glacier	Your bootNot a hiking boot: you need B1 or higher. On the letter scale, only C/D and D are fully crampon compatible.

Woman hiker in light-coloured low shoes climbing a rocky, overgrown path — On forest tracks and valley trails, a light A or A/B shoe is enough.

Two feet in yellow and black high-cut mountain boots standing on rocks at the edge of a mountain lake, mountains behind — The rougher the ground and the heavier the pack, the higher the cut.

Hiking boot types compared

Light hiking shoe (Low cut, A to A/B)
For forest tracks and day walks with a light rucksack.
- Advantage: Low weight
- Advantage: Soft sole, easy roll from heel to toe
- Drawback: Little ankle support
- Drawback: Too soft for scree and heavy loads
Example: Lowa Renegade EVO GTX LO ›
Hiking boot (Mid cut, category B)
For day hikes on rocky trails, up to the Alps.
- Advantage: Ankle support
- Advantage: Lugged sole for roots and rock
- Drawback: Heavier
- Drawback: More boot than you need on gravel tracks
Example: Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Mid GTX ›
Trekking boot (High cut, B/C)
For multi-day treks with a heavy pack and scree.
- Advantage: Stiff sole and high cuff keep you stable
- Drawback: Clumsy on flat paths
- Drawback: Not fully crampon compatible
Example: Garmont Hexagon GTX ›
Winter hiking boot (insulated)
For winter paths, snow and cold days.
- Advantage: Warm lining and membrane
- Advantage: Sole that grips on snow
- Drawback: Too warm from spring onwards
- Drawback: Ice calls for micro-spikes
Example: Hanwag Banks Snow GTX ›

What to check before you buy

Question	In short	Why
Low, mid or high cut?	In shortMid cut for most	WhyThe rougher the ground and the heavier the pack, the higher the cut.
How much toe room do I need?	In shortOne finger's width	WhyLeave about a finger's width in front of your toes, or they will hit the front on descents.
Do I need a waterproof membrane?	In shortOn wet ground, yes	WhyA membrane such as Gore-Tex keeps water out and lets sweat escape as vapour.
Leather or synthetic?	In shortLeather for scree	WhySynthetic uppers weigh less and dry fast but wear through sooner on scree. Leather dries slowly, needs breaking in and wants regular wax.

Frequently asked questions

Do hiking boots need breaking in?

Yes, leather boots above all. Wear new boots on a few short walks before a long trip. Synthetic shoes usually settle faster. A hut-to-hut week is the wrong place for boots straight out of the box.

Why do the soles of old hiking boots fall apart?

The cause is hydrolysis. The sole ages chemically, turns porous and cracked, and often comes off. It also affects boots that have barely been worn.

How should I dry and care for hiking boots?

Dry them in a well-ventilated room, never on a radiator, by a stove or in the sun: wet leather can crack. Take out the insoles, brush off the dirt and spray on proofing while the boot is still slightly damp.

Can I hike in trainers or trail running shoes?

On forest roads, yes. Once it gets steep, rocky or muddy, trainers lack grip and support. Trail running shoes suit fit, experienced walkers with strong ankles.