Mountain Boots vs Hiking Boots - What's the difference?

[@cedricfarquharson5842]

I don't understand why hardly anyone ever mentions the biggest problem with walking boots if used in the mountains and that is the rounded off heel at the back which many of them have. Great for walking but death inducing when descending a steep wet slope. I'm sure many people will say "yeah right, walking boots for walking and mountain boots for walking, it's not rocket science" But, so many unsuitable hiking boots are advertised for mountain use.

[@TakeTheHighground]

This is a very solid point, let me pin that to the top of the comments.

[@infra_Gray]

My dad kept insisting I need a stiff boot for our upcoming hike, but he couldn't explain why. Meanwhile, I have a boot made by a barefoot company (vivo forest escapes). It's not stiff, and it's very comfy for long treks. So thank you for articulating this. Luckily we aren't doing anything technical. Just a long walk in the woods.

[@TakeTheHighground]

You’re very welcome, and I hope you have a great hike!

[@jonastknotts3504]

Oh yeh for sure,, Yep this was a very much needed Video. Thank you.

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you, appreciate you watching!

[@eluno151]

As always: very informative video, thank you!

[@absolutelyndumz]

great video my bro, appreciate it! and thanks for sharing new knowledge to me 🔥

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you for watching!

[@pepperspray4144]

Excellent job of explaining what is needed for the different types of terrain, my girlfriend thinks highly of you 😢. Great video.

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you very much, appreciate it!

[@michaelfrymus]

I have always used stiffer boots for hiking, like backpacking boots. They provide more stability and prevent ankle rolls. I'm fairly thin, but I do carry a big bag full of camera gear no matter how easy or challenging the hike, so I do have some weight on me at all times. I never bothered with even trying on lighter or more flexible boots. I felt as though it wouldn't be as comfy as you'd feel the rocks below your feet. But, I thought that less stiff boots would be easier for climbing. But, you said there opposite. So I guess that's good in my case, if that's true. I am looking at a second pair of boots that's a bit stiffer overall. It's a light mountain boot as some would call it. But I'd probably use it on all of my hikes, steep or not. Might be overkill on some hikes, not sure

[@TakeTheHighground]

Hi Michael, I guess “stiff” is a matter of definition. I’m also pretty much a person that wears stiff boots a lot. I have my hiking boots mainly for hunting and stuff like that. However, I had to learn that there are some additional drawbacks to super stiff boots because the sole is so stiff you often can’t roll off your feet. That means your heel and, subsequently, your knees must absorb quite a bit of the force that would initially be dampened by rolling your foot. You might not notice this directly, but in the long run, it’s definitely a factor. I made another video looking at boots and different stiffness especially in mountain boots and also show some shoes that try to combine the best of all worlds (thinking about an ankle high approach shoe like the Scarpa Mescalito Mid in your situation). Might wanna check this video out and also have a look at the Mescalito. Mountain Boots - the right choice kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJikiJSui7OfntE

[@jmichos]

I agree with you. Heavier pack, stiffer and higher boot.

[@alexdev743]

Great video man! I would like to ask for your boot recommendation for me. Recently I have done a hiking trip in Südtirol, which included some exposed sections, but nothing too extreme. I realised, that I would like to advance in this hobby and probably pass basic mountaineering course. Where I live - the closest mountains are Tatras and I also plan to learn "hiking" on glaciers in Alps. For warm weather I have Keen Circadia Mid. Which boots would you recommend for lower altitude winter mountaineering(Tatras) and summer glaciers in Alps? Or these are 2 different pairs of boots?

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you! So, it’s always difficult to choose a boot for someone else without knowing their exact circumstances (e.g. how cold are your feet, which crampons do you intend to wear, etc.). But for summer Alpinism and winter hiking (AND since you already have the lightweight Circadian) I would likely go with something more robust like the Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro / La Sportiva Nepal Evo or Cube. I have the Scarpa, my wife the La Sportiva, choose the one that fits your foot. The Scarpa is well enough isolated to do anything in winter (I had -45 Celsius bivouacs with it), it’s technical enough to do 80-90% percent of the normal summit routes in the alps, super sturdy, you can use full-auto crampons (which will compensate for the a little higher weight compared to e.g. something like the Scarpa Ribelle which will be too cold for winter), and it’s breathable enough to not get you wet feet in the summer. Hope this helps.

[@alexdev743]

@@TakeTheHighground I see, thank you so much for the detailed answer 😊

[@sdemosi]

Cool. I have the Zodiac Tech boots also and they are great mountain boots. The only thing I'd say about them is Scarpa are known for not making cushioned boots so someone used to wearing a softer A/B style boot will really notice how stiff and firm the Scarpa boots are. It takes some time to get used to such boots and it's also necessary to buy high quality cushioned socks such as Darntough or Smartwool merino mountain socks which reduce the impact on your feet. I've found 2 German boot brands Hanwag and Meindl to be more cushioned than Scarpa. Hanwag have wide, standard and narrow fit boots. Meindl does a "comfort fit" wide toe box mountain boot range with an orthotic cork and gel footbed. It's as good as many custom ones. So if you have wide feet that need more cushion then perhaps check these out over the Zodiac. In the Zodiac's favour it is light and roomy enough in the toebox for such a technical boot. It delivers a lot of protection and grip per gramme which is useful on a long day's trek. It also has that great little built in gaiter which has stopped me getting crud in my boots. Particularly helpful as the Zodiacs not the tallest. They're among the best

[@TakeTheHighground]

Those are excellent points. I know Meindl and Hanwag quite well, tbh I wasn’t entirely sure if they are even on the US market. I always wore Meindl for hunting and training dogs. Of course, these were much less technical than my mountaineering boots. I haven’t looked at the lineup of them recently, but I felt that their range is more geared towards hiking/hunting/timber work and that towards the more technical boots, it thins out a bit. I know they have a boot for semi-auto crampons, but I think the classic alpine brands have a bit more variety in the technical section of their lineup. But you're right, they are super comfy.

[@sdemosi]

@@TakeTheHighground Meindl have a few mountain boots which are crampon compatible. Litepeak Pro, Antelao Pro, Jorasse, Alpin & Breithorn. They also do approach shoes. Whether there are stocked in US stores, I don't know. I live in Europe. Hanwag definitely do a range of mountaineering boots. You're right though. There's a wider selection of mountain boots from companies like Scarpa and La Sportiva and they're probably available at lower prices due to production levels and sales. It really depends what someone needs. Scarpa make much gnarlier mountain boots than the Zodiac Tech but for most wearers they are likely more boot than they need.

[@sdemosi]

@@Mountain-K2 thanks. I'd also add Lowa and Salewa to the mix of top quality European footwear brands. Both brands make everything from leisure shoes, to trail runners, to specialist alpine mountaineering boots. Lowa in particular make boots that can be repaired in many ways to extend their lifespan. Not just resoling but rand repairs, heel lining replacement and stuff like that. I was super impressed by the repair work on a friend's 4 year old Lowa camino boots that were worn for farm work and hiking. The lifespan of this daily wear boot was probably doubled. I've found the multi density PU midsoles in Lowa boots to reduce the chance of plantar fasciitis as they are relatively cushioned and don't lose their bounce over long treks. I feel good boots are an investment and they shouldn't need to be replaced quickly if they can be repaired. The most important things are to identify the correct footwear for the task at hand and then to find a shoe that fits comfortably. After that, the brand and quality are important.

[@saibot7218]

Very good and informative video

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you!

[@tonytramonti5828]

I wore some some Scarpa gtx to scramble some eggs once, was not comfortable.

[@skylightdown1]

is it easier to climb steep mountains with the stiffer mountain boots?

[@TakeTheHighground]

Hey Dood, generally, yes. It is easier to step on small rock features with stiff boots because they support the whole foot so that the weight is not only on the area where the sole touches the rock. This is even more true for anything where you have to climb with the front points of your crampons. Fabio

[@huihuiev2329]

Great video! What would you recommend for beginner hiker/mountainer ? I like the Scarpa Ribelle HD lite which is a B2 boot. Is it going to be suitable for my treks/hikes/climbs ?Thanks in advance.

[@TakeTheHighground]

The Ribelle is definitely a good boot, if you want, you could also have a look at the Zodiac Tech, that is my choice for anything from ridge climbing, mountaineering, and even long training days.

[@huihuiev2329]

@@TakeTheHighground Thanks alot man !

[@TakeTheHighground]

You’re welcome, let me know how it goes!

[@huihuiev2329]

@@TakeTheHighground I bought the Ribelle HD , tried them out and yeah they feel stiff but hey after all thats my first hiking boots so i guess I ll have to get use to walking in them ...I m thinking walking in the mountains will feel different from walking around in my backyard.Gods will and I ll be climbing some 2200 m peak in 2 weeks.Thanks for your reply , I ll message you about my adventure and the experience with my Ribelles ! Cheers !

[@TakeTheHighground]

Sounds awesome, would love to hear how it went on your climb!

[@saibot7218]

Do you know which boot would be good for climbing Kilimanjaro?

[@TakeTheHighground]

It depends on the route, I assume it’s one of the hiking routes and not one of the super technical climbs, right?

[@saibot7218]

@@TakeTheHighground I'm thinking taking the Machame route, but I'm not sure. It should not be technical from what I've heard. But I'm not an experienced hiker since I come from a small flat country. So maybe it's technical for me.

[@TakeTheHighground]

If you don’t hike a lot, then I’d definitely go with something with ankle protection. Maybe the Scarpa Rush Trek GTX would be a good choice, alternatively the Salomon Quest 4 GTX could also be nice.

[@saibot7218]

@@TakeTheHighground ok thanks. I’ve never heard about this brand scarpa. I will look for some sellers nearby and see how they fits me, because my feet are kinda wide and flat. They look very good and very light weight. Are they warm enough when you are above 3000 km height? I have also been looking at Asolo fugitive GTX and FUGITIVE GTX and Haglöfs Oxo GTX High

[@wolverinekut]

Welcome back 😁

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you! Publishing videos every Thursday.

[@dyauswinters]

What brand and model were those brown leather boots?

[@TakeTheHighground]

Hey, the brand is Meindl, Bavarian manufacturer, the model's name is "Borneo".

[@dyauswinters]

@The High Ground thanks for the reply! Great work on the reviews as well.

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@namelastname2449]

🙌🏽

[@TakeTheHighground]

👍

[@wolverinekut]

👍💯

[@TakeTheHighground]

👍