Rent or buy?
- Rent if you have a one-time, guided trip planned
- Buy if you have multiple trips or long training season
Choose based on your activity
Long approaches: insulated boots for warmth and broken-in comfort
Hiking, scrambling: lighter, three-season boots are versatile and lower-cost
After you buy your boots
- Consider adding insoles for comfort and support
- Break them in before your summit attempt
- Find crampons that fit: either strap on, semi-automatic or hybrid
- Clean between outings
- Reapply water repellent when moisture absorbs instead of beads
Read full article: How to Choose Mountaineering Boots