Best winter hiking boots for 2024: mountaineering footwear

The ideal mountain boot should strike a balance between walking comfort, technical performance, lifetime durability and low weight, all while keeping feet warm, dry and well-protected. Despite the archaic spelling, the Aequilibrium is well named, as it ticks all those boxes.

They’re light and streamlined yet solid and well-built, thanks to supple nubuck leather uppers with a chunky wraparound rand, rigid heel counter and burly toe cap. The flexible ankle cuff has an elasticated rear gaiter to keep out snow and grit, as does the fully gusseted tongue. A shaped 3D flex system leaves space for bony ankles. 
They’re built on a fairly close-fitting last for precision but are still comfortable enough for high-mileage days. This is aided by a slight rocker and a cutaway heel for a natural gait. 

However, the sole unit is the most innovative element. Rather than a usual midsole layer, here the outsole has been injected with PU foam. This saves weight without sacrificing cushioning. Underfoot, the lugs are extra deep and aggressively angled. The heel brake gives exceptional downhill traction, and the softer rubber compound sticks well to rock. They’ll take a semiautomatic C2 crampon, but in terms of stiffness feel more like a B1 boot. But for mixed winter terrain they’re the most versatile and capable performers here. 

The deep sole lugs and cutaway heel mean you don’t get quite as precise a fit with a crampon as with others on test. 

Sustainability 

La Sportiva produces its footwear in Italy and the vast majority of its suppliers of raw materials are in Italy too. La Sportiva is a little ambiguous about how much recycled material it uses in its products. However, it has been a bluesign partner since 2012, and half of its apparel is bluesign approved according to latest available report. La Sportiva is also a 1% For The Planet member. 

Check out the women's version here

The Crow GTX is the least expensive of Salewa’s mountain boots, but it’s just as capable as its sibling, the Rapace GTX. That boot was our ‘Best Value’ pick in last year’s test, but this one’s cheaper and lighter too. The main difference is that instead of leather uppers the Crow uses mainly fabric construction. But it’s still pretty tough, with some small suede panels and a full rand for all-round protection. 

It’s close fitting yet comfy, with a nimble and precise feel. The fit is slim through the heel, with a slightly asymmetric toe. It’s fairly low in volume, so will suit narrower feet – especially since Salewa provides an extra volume reducing insole in the box. A supple cutaway ankle cuff gives loads of flex, but the midsole is stiff enough to take a C2 crampon for use on snow and ice. The Vibram Mulaz outsole has a front climbing zone for solid contact grip for scrambling, and the lugs clear out mud well, despite not being particularly aggressive. 

Underfoot cushioning isn’t the plushest. The lower ankle cuff limits overall protection and support. And in deep winter the fabric uppers aren't as warm or durable as leather. 

Sustainability 

Salewa is a Fair Wear Foundation member with ‘Leader’ status and has held that since 2017. It’s also a bluesign partner. As of 2022, almost 80% of its water repellent apparel and equipment (excluding packs and sleeping bags) are PFC-free. It uses 100% recycled packaging, both paper and plastic, and is ‘gradually increasing the amount of recycled materials’ in its products but doesn’t state exactly how much. 

Women's version here

This is an honest and unpretentious B1 boot with an all leather upper and a high cut that prioritises ankle protection and support over flexibility. The midsole is stiff enough to wear with strap-on crampons, yet flexible enough for big hill days, making it a versatile, year-round companion.

It’s robust, stable and durable thanks to its 2.5mm nubuck leather construction, with a Gore-Tex lining and a full rubber rand. The ankle cuff and tongue are extremely well padded, ensuring high comfort levels. It has a stable but nicely cushioned feel underfoot too. Fit is generous in terms of volume, especially at the midfoot and toe. There is however a wide version of the Tibet too if you have very broad feet.

On test, our feet stayed warm, dry and comfortable. The Vibram outsole kept us well planted across a range of different terrain. The nicely undercut heel brake delivers reliable downhill traction, with blocky and widely spaced lugs that rarely clog. A generous rocker promotes a natural walking action, and the excellent dual-zone lacing system also ensures a precise fit, with no heel slip.

The Tibet GTX was the heaviest boot on test, so it feels clumpier and less agile than others, especially on steeper ground. There’s no women’s version either (the Lady III GTX is the closest).

Sustainability

Lowa produces its footwear in Europe and uses European-sourced leather that is sustainable and ‘free from pollutants’. Its primary leather supplier is Heinen, in Wegberg, Germany. The brand firmly focuses on longevity and durability of its products but doesn’t mention much about recycled materials.

Check out the Lowa Lady III GTX here

Mammut bills these as the lightest crampon-compatible mountaineering boots on the market. When it comes to weight, they even undercut the featherweight Arc’teryx Acrux LT. They use a similarly close-fitting, foot-hugging last and a weight-conscious construction, combining synthetic uppers with a carbon fibre midsole plate and a Vibram Litebase sole unit. This reduces the sole thickness by 50% and weight by 30%. 

However, it’s still fairly stiff, and the addition of a rear heel welt means they can be used with C2 semi-automatic crampons. The result is a very capable boot for technical terrain, with plenty of precision. Edging performance is excellent, thanks to an asymmetric toe box and a flat ‘climbing zone’ for good contact grip on small pockets and ledges. The rest of the tread delivers reasonable traction, though the lugs aren’t the deepest.

The boot also has offset lacing and an elasticated soft shell one-piece tongue, to help relieve pressure on the top of the foot. A stretchy gaiter at the heel helps to prevent snow and debris from getting in, while a Gore-Tex liner keeps feet dry. Lastly, a wraparound rand and TPU ‘exoskeleton’ adds rigidity, protection and abrasion resistance. The close fit, unusually shaped toe box and offset lacing won’t suit all. Cushioning feels a little sparse, as they’re not really for big miles. They’re also expensive. 

Sustainability 

Mammut is a Fair Wear Foundation member, and has been since 2008. It aims to phase out PFCs from ‘its entire product range’ by 2023, according to its 2019 PFC Policy. Mammut uses Leather Working Group-certified leather. It aims to reach net zero by 2030.

Check out the women's version here

With Scarpa's Ribelle Lite HD, veganism is no obstacle to alpinism. This is a technical B2-rated boot (compatible with C2 crampons) that excels on challenging mountainous terrain.

In actual fact, being vegan isn't one of the Ribelle Lite HD's defining traits, but instead an excellent bonus, thanks to this boot dripping in Scarpa ingenuity.

We found that, while bearing a reasonably stiff sole, the boot's shape allows a more natural gait than some other B2 boots. This makes the Ribelle Lite HD excellent for long and challenging mountain days.

The innovative HDry membrane, replacing the conventional Gore-Tex, sets this boot apart. Laminated directly onto the upper material, it enhances breathability while ensuring top-tier waterproofing. Consequently, the Ribelle Lite HD proves versatile for alpine use throughout the year.

Comfort is another standout feature, especially in the ankle cuff area. Its full-length lacing system enables a highly personalised fit, and the PU Tech fabric is an effective alternative to a rubber rand. The Ribelle Lite HD takes the fight to our Best in Test La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT GTX. It is an exceptional and well-rounded choice.

Sustainability

Scarpa has quite a local manufacturing and material supply, with 60% of its products being made in Italy (including the Ribelle Lite HD) and 90% of its production chain being European. Much of its hiking footwear is also resoleable, ensuring a much longer life of those products.

Check out the women's version here

With tough suede uppers, a Gore-Tex lining and a full rubber rand, the Antelao Pro offers both protection and durability. But softer mesh fabric and plenty of padding around the tongue and ankle cuff gives added flex too. 
The comfort-focused fit has plenty of volume throughout. A broad forefoot and a roomy toe box allow the toes to lay straight and splay while walking, while a pronounced rocker encourages a natural, rolling gait. It all works well – we put in plenty of miles on test, but these boots kept our feet warm, dry and comfy. 

There’s decent cushioning underfoot too, thanks to an EVA foam rubber insert in the midsole. It also has a cosy, fleece-lined cork footbed. The midsole is stiffened, and a plastic heel insert means they’re compatible with C2 crampons, ensuring snow and ice isn’t a problem. 

In all other conditions the Meindl Multigrip outsole performs decently. The lugs aren’t the most aggressive, but the boot’s wide sole unit puts plenty of rubber in contact with the ground either. It only really reaches its limits on steeper scrambles. They’re not the lightest and don’t feel particularly nimble. The broad design and blunt toe box aren’t ideal for technical terrain. There’s no women’s version either (the Meindl Litepeak Lady Pro is the closest model). 

Sustainability 

Meindl continues to produce its footwear in Europe. All the leather it uses comes from Leather Working Group Gold Standard tanneries; it recycles and reuses the rubber rand offcuts; and its in-production and post-production footwear treatment products are PFC-free.

A sleek and stylish boot with striking looks, the Acrux LT certainly grabs attention. But then, you’d expect nothing less from Arc’teryx. There’s technical ability here too though – this was the stiffest boot on test and the most competent performer on steep ground.

The 3mm carbon plate in the midsole gives minimal head-to-toe flex, which enables you to stand on the tiniest ledges with confidence. It’s great for climbing and scrambling, with a very close precision fit and a narrow toe, which also features an extended ‘climbing zone’ for edging. 

For a mountaineering boot, it’s also remarkably lightweight. This has been achieved by fusing a thinner Vibram Litebase compound outsole and PU midsole to ultralight woven polyester uppers. 

Instead of a full rubber rand, a TPU film overlay provides abrasion resistance. It’s undoubtedly innovative. And there are still plenty of winter ready features, including a Gore-Tex liner, grippy lugs, rubber toe cap, gusseted tongue and a heel welt for fitting C2 crampons. 

In many ways, this is a remarkable boot. But it’s perhaps a bit too niche to be particularly well suited to UK winter use, unless you’re tackling the most technical climbs. Their stiffness means they’re not the most forgiving underfoot. The narrow fit won’t suit all foot shapes. The fabric uppers don’t feel the toughest, nor do they offer the best protection or support. 

Sustainability 

Arc’teryx is a Fair Trade Certified partner. A portion of its product range currently carries the certification and Arc’teryx aims to increase it to 80% by 2025. Arc’teryx also sells refurbished gear, but it’s only available in the US and Canada at the moment.

The Vivobarefoot Tracker Winter SG is quite different to the other boots here. It sticks resolutely to the minimalist, barefoot-style approach, albeit with tweaks to be suitable in frigid conditions.

Does it work? We found that while for really technical routes with a lot of steep climbing, any of the others here are a better bet. They exist for a reason. But, for general winter hiking where crampons aren't needed, the Tracker Winter SG is quite impressive.

Perhaps in our bid to remove ourselves from the hardships of the natural world, we've forgotten that we ourselves evolved in it and ought to put more faith in our own design. Our feet were designed to carry our nomadic ancestors thousands of kilometres, and by offering some warmth and weather protection but very little else, these Vivobarefoot boots capitalise on that.

It's very flexible and robust, featuring a leather upper with a full rand, and metal eyelets. Warmth comes from a thermal insole and a wool/polyester blend lining. It's also highly water repellent.

We've tried a few pairs of Vivobarefoot shoes before and have always advised that you have to allow time for your feet to harden up, because you do tend to get faster foot fatigue from these minimalist hiking boots, at least initially. The brand has a lot of resources and guides on how best to adopt and wear barefoot shoes.

Sustainability 

Vivobarefoot is a certified B Corp and is very open and transparent about where it currently is (generally, better than most), and where it wants to be. The brand offers repairs and resells second hand Vivobarefoot shoes. It also uses more sustainable materials. For example, the Tracker Winter SG uses leather from 'free-roaming cattle'.

Check out the women's version here