How to choose the best trail shoes, hiking boots & mountaineering boots for every outdoor adventure

When you’re hiking long distances, carrying weight, navigating scree fields, or climbing snowy ridgelines, the right pair of shoes can make or break your experience. And while no single boot will work for every trip, there are a few key things to understand when choosing the best option for your adventure.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the top picks for trail shoes, hiking boots, and mountaineering boots— plus the key technical features to consider, like tread, sole stiffness, shaft height, and waterproofing. I’ll also share the exact pairs James and I use around the world for everything from dusty day-hikes to glaciated summit pushes!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase something I recommend, at no extra cost to you. I ONLY recommend gear that I personally use (or that James uses) and that we genuinely LOVE— your support helps keep this site going and the adventures rolling!

TL;DR: best hiking & mountaineering footwear ↯

🥾 best trail shoe: La Sportiva Prodigio (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best lightweight hiking boot: adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best backpacking boot: Salomon Quest 4 GTX Hiking Boots (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best lightweight mountaineering boot: La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best heavyweight mountaineering boot: Scarpa Charmoz HD (women’s) / (men’s)

Overview of outdoor footwear styles

Outdoor footwear can be broadly classified into three categories: trail shoes, hiking boots (trail boots), and mountaineering boots (alpine boots). While there’s definitely some overlap in use-case depending on personal preference, the best choice usually comes down to terrain, trip length, pack weight, and expected conditions.

Choosing the best outdoor footwear for every adventure

Sometimes the difference between trail shoes and hiking boots, or between a backpacking boot and a more robust alpine boot, is razor thin and extremely personal, so technical differences between these outdoor footwear choices— like tread depth, sole stiffness, shaft height, structure, waterproofing, and weight— can help you make the call when terrain and conditions are mixed.

To find your perfect shoe for any trip, you’ll need weigh up these technical features against the terrain (dirt trails call for widely different footwear than scree slopes, icy glaciers, or other rugged backcountry terrain), the weight of your pack, the season and expected weather conditions (wet, dry, cold, hot), and your ideal balance between comfort and performance. Here’s what you need to know about outdoor footwear:

Tread depth

The tread pattern (those rubber grooves on the base of your shoe) determines how well you’re able to grip the ground, similar to how a regular tire vs all-terrain tire perform on the road. 

• If you’re primarily hiking on packed dirt or dry gravel trails, a lighter tread with shallow lugs is usually sufficient and helps reduce weight
• If you’re expecting slick roots, mud, or loose rock, look for a hiking boot with deeper, multidirectional lugs that offer better bite
• For snow, slab, scree, or icy alpine terrain, nothing beats the grippy, stiff tread of a mountaineering boot with a Vibram sole

Sole stiffness

Sole stiffness is one of the biggest differences between these types of footwear—with massive implications for both comfort and performance.

• If you’re hiking light and fast or value ground feel, trail shoes with flexible soles allow for a natural stride but offer less protection and structure overall
• If you’re carrying a heavier pack or hiking for multiple days, stiffer-soled hiking boots provide better support and reduce fatigue, but usually at a cost to overall weight and agility
• For alpine routes, scrambling, or snow travel, mountaineering boots offer maximum stiffness—ideal for edging, climbing, or pairing with crampons, but at a significant cost to comfort on trail

🥾 THE COMFORT–PERFORMANCE TRADE-OFF

There’s always going to be a trade-off between comfort and performance when it comes to hiking footwear— the most comfortable shoe is simply NOT going to be the best for technical navigation on loose scree/talus fields, scrambling exposed ridgelines, or side-hilling on steep terrain.

You’ll need to weigh this trade-off personally for every trip: if you’ve got a long trail approach followed by a bit of easy scrambling, a lightweight hiking boot might be the ideal middle ground; if that same approach ends in a Class 5 alpine climb with a full pack, you’ll likely have to sacrifice some trail comfort in favour of the stiffness required to move confidently and safely on technical terrain. In some cases, it’s worth carrying two pairs— one for trail travel, one for the climb— but that too comes with added bulk and weight.

Like most things in the mountains, it’s about knowing what the day demands— and making peace with the trade-offs. Personally, I opt for rigid stability over trail comfort in almost all instances and I’ll upgrade to lightweight mountaineering boots sooner than the average person (12 days on AV2, for instance; they are a bit stiff on the trail but amazing on via ferrata, I’m personally willing to accept that balance).

Shaft height

Shaft height refers to how high the boot comes up your ankle, which affects both stability and mobility on the trail.

• If you prioritise freedom of movement and are hiking with a light pack on stable terrain, a low-cut trail shoe or hiking boot is often best

• If you’re carrying more weight or hiking through rocky or uneven ground, mid or high-cut hiking boots will provide better ankle support and reduce the risk of rolling
• Mountaineering boots typically extend high above the ankle (and some even to mid-calf) to add stability, insulation, and weather protection in steep, snowy, or exposed alpine environments

Structure & support

Structure is what gives a boot its overall “feel”— how stable your foot stays over long distances, how protected it is from sharp terrain underfoot, and how well your foot moves with (rather than inside) the boot. It’s what keeps you from feeling like you’re sliding around in your own footwear when the trail disappears or the angle steepens.

• If you’re moving fast and light, trail shoes or lightweight hiking boots offer minimal structure and maximum agility— great for comfort, but less ideal for rugged terrain or heavy loads.
• If you’re carrying a heavier pack or tackling variable terrain, hiking boots with reinforced toe caps, heel cups, and firmer midsoles help stabilise your foot, absorb impact, and reduce fatigue by preventing your arch and ankles from constantly compensating
• Mountaineering boots are the most structured of all, with stiff soles, reinforced uppers, and a full rubber rand that wraps the lower boot— that extra structure locks your foot into place and gives you better control on rock, snow, and scree, but it can feel stiff and unforgiving on mellow trails

Waterproofing & breathability

Waterproofing helps keep your feet dry in rain, snow, or wet grass, while breathability allows sweat and moisture to escape— finding the right balance is key and this typically comes down to season and expected weather conditions.

• If you’re hiking in hot, dry conditions, a breathable, quick-drying shoe or lightweight hiking boot with mesh components may be the smarter choice
• If you’re hiking in consistently wet environments (like the Pacific Northwest or Patagonia), waterproof boots are worth the trade-off in breathability
• Leather mountaineering boots prioritise weather protection and warmth over airflow, so expect them to run hotter and heavier than trail shoes or hiking boots

Weight & durability

The lighter the boot, the more agile and breathable it usually is— often at the cost of long-term durability and overall support/structure.

• If your goal is speed and comfort on well-maintained trails, trail shoes or lightweight hiking boots are usually best
• If you’re carrying a heavy pack or travelling on rougher terrain, a heavier-duty boot will offer better protection and support at a (usually justifiable) cost to weight
• If you’re heading into extreme environments, mountaineering boots are much more durable and rugged, but heavier (which can lead to fatigue)— it’s worth trying to keep your boots as light as the terrain will allow

🥾 MATERIAL MATTERS: SYNTHETIC VS LEATHER

Synthetic boots are lighter, more breathable, and break in quickly— but they also break down faster, especially with hard use on rocky or rugged terrain.

Leather boots are heavier, pricier, and take longer to break in, but they’re significantly more durable. They hold their shape, resist abrasion, and with proper care, they’ll outlast most synthetics— making them a smart investment for backpacking and mountaineering, where boots tend to wear out fastest.

Our favourite trail shoes, hiking boots & mountaineering boots

Here are the exact pairs James and I currently use and recommend, based on real-world testing across dozens of trails, treks, and alpine climbs. Whether you’re after all-day comfort on the trail or confident footing in the mountains, these are our go-to picks:

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The right pair of boots will transform your hiking experience—keeping your feet supported, stable, and protected across every kind of terrain. Whether you’re moving fast on trail or climbing snow-covered ridgelines, choosing footwear that matches the demands of your adventure will always pay off in comfort and confidence. I hope this guide has helped you find your perfect outdoor boot!

TL;DR: best hiking & mountaineering footwear ↯

🥾 best trail shoe: La Sportiva Prodigio (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best lightweight hiking boot: adidas Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best backpacking boot: Salomon Quest 4 GTX Hiking Boots (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best lightweight mountaineering boot: La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX (women’s) / (men’s)
🥾 best heavyweight mountaineering boot: Scarpa Charmoz HD (women’s) / (men’s)

Explore more outdoor gear guides on brookebeyond

• How to choose the best trail shoes, hiking boots & mountaineering boots for every adventure
• How to choose the best hiking backpack for every outdoor adventure
• How to build an outdoor layering system for backcountry hiking & extreme alpine conditions
• How to choose the best tent for backpacking & mountaineering
• How to choose the best outdoor sleep system: best sleeping bags, sleeping pads & camp pillows
• How to pack food for multi-day backcountry adventures: our tips for maximising calories & minimising weight