How to Choose Mountaineering Boots
Choose based on your activity:
Insulated boots are warm and comfortable after breaking in; ideal for long approaches.
Three-season boots are light and versatile for hiking and scrambling; they have a lower price point than the others.
Plastic mountaineering boots are durable, rigid, waterproof but bulky and heavy; commonly found as rentals
Do you plan to do much hiking in your boots?
Three-season boots: lightest option for alternative activities like hiking and scrambling.
Insulated boots: not as light, but light enough to work for approach hikes.
Plastic boots: exclusively designed for mountaineering.
Crampon types
Find a good-fitting mountaineering boots first. Then, find crampons to fit your boots. Your crampon compatibility choices are strap on, semi-automatic and hybrid.
