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Introduction to Mountaineering Boots

Footwear is perhaps our single most important piece of gear while we’re in the mountains. Every season we receive questions about which boots are best for which trips. The guides of Northwest Alpine Guides and Mountain Gurus have compiled the information below to help you pick the perfect boot for your trip and ensure that your feet will stay warm, dry and comfortable on your next adventure!

What should you consider when selecting a boot?

Region and Route

  • Research whether you will be primarily climbing on snow, ice, rock, or mixed ground. Choose boots that promise best balance of precision, waterproofing and durability.
  • Research the length and character of your approach hike. Will you traveling on trails or on looser, less stable surfaces? In some cases, you may choose to bring a separate pair of light approach shoes.
  • Research the weather and climate conditions for the time of year when you will climb. Will you climb in milder summer conditions or in cold air at high altitudes, in rain, deep snow or storms?

Size

  • For your comfort, it is usually best to buy mountaineering boots one half size to one full size larger than your street shoes.
  • Your mountaineering boots should not be too large, but they should be roomy enough to accommodate warm, thick socks. Your new boots should be large enough that when you take a step, your heel can lift slightly away from the footbed without rubbing sharply against the back of the boot. Finally, a roomier fit will prevent your toes from jamming painfully into the front of your boot during long descents.
  • See our full Boot Fitting guidelines below.

Personal Preference

  • Choose a boot model and manufacturer that fit you best. Do not choose a boot based on cost, color, or other cosmetics. Ensure the boot is sized correctly to allow for heel lift and room for your toes.
  • Any style of boot can give you blisters or shin bang when first using them. We recommend always bringing moleskin, band-aids, and duct tape in case you experience this.
  • Make sure you break in your boots before your trip. Wear them on local trails to see how your toes and heels feel on uphill and downhill slopes.
  • For specialized boot fitting in Seattle, we recommend you visit the experts at Jim Mates at Custom Boot Service.

We ask that you please take the time to invest in the right type of boot for your trip. If you bring the wrong style of boot, you may not be able to participate in the climb. If your boots prove inadequate or too painful during a climb, you also may jeopardize your teammates’ success.

* Please Note: Hiking or trekking boots are not allowed on any Northwest Alpine Guides trips.

Single Mountaineering Boots

Leather, synthetic, or hybrid single mountaineering boots come in various styles ranging from heavyweight insulated models that offer better water resistance and warmth at higher altitudes, to lightweight boots designed for warmer, dryer, summer-like conditions. Single mountaineering boots can come with fully rigid soles or more flexible soles, and offer varying degrees of ankle support.

Pros: Leather, synthetic, or hybrid boots are usually lighter and more comfortable to walk in on varied terrain. Since they are lighter and more nimble, they perform better in certain terrain, such as mixed snow and rock climbing, alpine rock climbing and ice climbing. They can be less expensive, making them a good option for mid-summer climbing. Hybrid single mountaineering boots are usually warmer than leather boots and offer better protection against harsh weather conditions.

Cons: Leather, synthetic, or hybrid boots can become cold at higher altitudes, during high winds, or in wet conditions. Once wet, they usually take longer to dry. High-quality versions of these boots will be your most expensive boot options. Lighter weight, flexible shank boots can have more problems with crampons falling off or not fitting properly.

Single – heavyweight (insulated) leather, synthetic, or hybrid:

  • Mount Baker (early, mid-summer, late season) (April thru September)
  • Mount Rainier (early, mid-summer, late season) (April thru September)
  • Mountaineering Courses (early, mid-summer, late season) (April thru September)

Recommended Heavyweight Single Boots:

  • La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX
  • La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX (Mens)
  • La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX (Womens)
  • Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro GTX (Mens)
  • Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro GTX (Womens)
  • Scarpa Phantom Tech
  • Lowa Alpine Ice GTX
  • Lowa Alpine Expert GTX

Single – lightweight synthetic boots:

  • Mount Shuksan (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)
  • Mount Olympus (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)
  • Glacier Peak (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)
  • Eldorado Peak (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)
  • Sahale Peak (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)
  • Forbidden Peak (mid-summer, dry conditions) (July and August)

Recommended Lightweight Single Boots:

  • La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX
  • La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX (Womens)

** Northwest Alpine Guides does not recommend our climbers use plastic double boots (such as the Scarpa Inverno or Koflach degree) they are extremely heavy, bulky, and uncomfortable for climbers to be able to move efficiently in.

Foot Care

Socks

Selecting the right socks can be almost as important as your shoe choice. Some people prefer thicker socks to reduce friction or wool socks for added warmth. Experiment at home with different types of socks to see which fit you, and your boot, best. Socks must be wool or synthetic. Please do not use cotton as it collapses and loses its insulating capacity when wet.

Too tight in the boot

Some retail stores will recommend you wear liner socks, though in our experience, many people do not necessarily benefit from these. In fact, sometimes liner socks can produce blistering just as quickly as using a single-weight sock. Others may prefer to use inserts for arch or foot support.

Whichever is your preference, always remember to pack enough socks before leaving on a trip. You can get away with re-wearing the same shirts, pants, and even underwear for days in a row, but keeping clean socks available is the key to preventing damage to your feet which is vital to your success on the trip.

Blisters

Friction and moisture are two of the main causes of blisters. When you wear inappropriately heavyweight boots or socks on a trip, your feet may overheat and cause friction that results in a blister.

Some retail stores will recommend you wear liner socks to prevent blisters. However, in our experience, many people do not actually benefit from these. Liner socks can cause blistering just as quickly as using a single sock.

If you feel a hot spot or a blister beginning to form, alert your guides and stop to fix it immediately. Use moleskin, band-aids, or duct tape to prevent the area from becoming more agitated. If your feet and socks are damp change into dry pair for sleeping. Wet socks can be placed inside the tent or sleeping bag to help dry them out. Foot powder can also help keep your feet dry and friction-free during long expeditions.

If you do not check the weather before you leave on an expedition, precipitation could get trapped in your boots and your feet may become permanently dampened for the rest of the trip. Be sure to wear gaiters to avoid this problem!

Boot Fitting

A correct fit is crucial to the overall comfort and performance of a boot. New boots should be worn exclusively indoors until you are satisfied with the fit and certain that you will not need to return them. With your hiking socks on, perform the following tests to help confirm that your boots fit correctly. Because your feet swell during the day, these tests should be done in the evening hours.

With the boots fully unlaced, slide your foot all the way forward until your toes make contact with the front of the boot. In this position you should be able to comfortably slide your index finger down between the heel of your foot and the back lining of the boot. If there is room to fit two or more fingers behind your heel, the boot is too big. If force has to be applied to insert the finger, the boot is too small. In either case, the boots should be returned for an exchange of size.

If you have access to a ramp of some sort, stand in a downhill position with the boots fully laced. You should be able to wiggle your toes without jamming the front of the boot. Stand naturally and do not try to force your foot forward while performing this test.

Heel Lift

It is not uncommon to experience some heel lift when boots are new. This is due to the fact that a flex point (crease) has not been established in the forward area of the boot. Once a flex point has been established, the heel of the boot will rise with the foot and heel lift should be eliminated. Heel lift should not exceed ¼ inch in new boots. If you experience excessive heel lift, return the boots for an exchange.

Break In

There is no quick way to break in boots. Shortcuts such as using leather softeners, applying heat treatments and wetting boots to walk them dry, drastically reduce the life of your boots. The only recommended break in procedure is to wear the boots for short periods of time on flat terrain until they can be worn all day long. Once the boots can be worn all day you can venture into the mountains with them.

It is a good idea to carry moleskin during this break in period. If you feel any pain or hot spots while hiking, take off your boots and socks and apply a large sheet of moleskin around the affected area. This will prevent blisters from forming.

Please reach out to Northwest Alpine Guides with any questions. We’ll gladly help you find the right boots for you.