Boot Selection

Boot selection is a bit of a contentious topic within the Club:  boots are probably the single most important item of clothing you will use out hillwalking, even more so for winter mountaineering and walking.  Keeping the feet warm and dry is critical to physical ability and morale – support to the sole of the foot and the ankle are exceptionally important on rocky ground and, in winter, you can’t kick steps or wear crampons on soft soled boots/shoes.  Blistered feet make for miserable days out and wet feet are more liable to be cold, blistered and sore.  A member of a walking/climbing party with badly blistered and cold wet feet in Winter compromises everybody’s safety.  We have turned people away from trips in the past because of unsuitable footwear and we will do it again – it isn’t fair on everyone else.

However, boots are also probably the single most expensive purchase you’ll make for your hill walking gear and, when money is tight, is probably the first to be ‘cut back’ on.

There are options:  you can hire winter and 3-season hillwalking boots at Tiso OE if you don’t want to buy some yet.  Or maybe borrow some suitable footwear off a friend.

It’s all very well us telling you that you need ‘suitable footwear’ for Scottish hillwalking but, what does that really mean?

For most of the year, a pair of 3-season boots is adequate for hillwalking in Spring, Summer and Autumn, and for LOW-LEVEL walks in Winter.  However, as soon as Winter hillwalking and mountaineering is on the cards, these are no longer safe.  To wear crampons and kick steps, you need boots with at least a B2 rating – this means supportive, warm and a stiff sole that you cannot bend with your hands.  All boots should rated for suitability for winter use:  if they don’t have a ‘B’ rating marked on the label, they are probably B0 and are NOT for use in the hills in Winter.  Wearing these in Winter in the Scottish mountains puts you and – more importantly – the other people in your group at risk. 

3-season leather boots

3-season fabric boots (these Asolo Flame GTX are currently available for around £100 if you look around)

So, a pair of 3-season boots will be waterproof (very important in Scotland!), with a good grippy sole and a high supportive ankle (ie, NOT a shoe!).  They can be fabric or leather or a mix of both but if they don’t look like much the ones in the pictures above, you’re in trouble!  For a decent pair of 3-season boots, you are looking at from £90 upwards with sale prices.  Anything less than this is very unlikely to be suitable, and most boots will be a lot more expensive.  “Trekking” boots are generally not designed for hillwalking so be very careful if you are offered these – always ask if they are 3-season and are suitable for Scottish hillwalking, and if the sales assistant doesn’t know, leave them alone.  Always get boots in the sales or at a discount – never pay full price for any outdoor kit!  And try to get them from proper outdoor shops like Tiso, Cotswold Outdoor, Nevis Sport, etc.

4-season Winter boots generally come as either thick leather (La Sportiva Nepals, Scarpa Mantas, etc), modern fabric boots (usually with a Goretex liner, or similar) and plastic double boots (eg, Scarpa Omegas or Vegas, Asolo, Kofflack).  They usually have insulation to keep your feet warm and a stiff sole which you can hardly bend at all with your hands – this means they will be stiff enough to kick steps and take a crampon.  The stiff sole also supports your calves when front-pointing on crampons. It is normally recommended that if you have a pair of these all singing all dancing boots that you use approach shoes on the walk in due to the fact that you will most likely be tired out quicker and in a bit more pain due to the lack of flex in the boots

Thick Leather, B3 La Sportiva Nepals (compulsory for mountain guides!)

Classic Scarpa Vega Double Plastic Boots

Winter boots are expensive, no doubt:  anything from £180 upwards new for something like a pair of Scarpa Mantas in the sales.  You can get some bargains on eBay if you know what you’re looking for, especially plastic boots and you can pick up a pair of indestructible Scarpa Vegas for about £25-£30.  However, winter boots (and especially plastics) can be very rigid and it is sometimes a bit like walking in ski-boots.  So, always try out something similar so you can gauge the fit and comfort before you buy.  Again, Tiso will hire out winter boots and many people just do this all winter rather than buy them.

Scarpa Mantas – Possibly the most popular 4-season boot.

So, please don’t pitch up with crap boots, trainers or walking shoes or we’ll send you home again – especially in Winter. 

If you’re worried about footwear and want some advice, feel free to ask some of the more experienced Club members.