Best Mountaineering Boots 2019 - Switch Back Travel Review

No piece of gear is more critical to summiting high peaks than footwear. A great mountaineering boot fills countless roles: it must offer support while carrying heavy loads, grip confidently over slick rock and snow, keep your feet warm when the mercury dips, and allow for the attachment of crampons and skis. But most importantly, it must instill trust and confidence.

Our picks for the best mountaineering boots of 2019 cover: extreme cold/high altitude boots for the world’s tallest mountains, 4-season technical alpine boots for keeping your feet warm while moving fast and light, and lightweight mountaineering boots for less technical and lower elevation routes.

From hunting in Alaska, to kicking up glaciated volcanoes, to ice climbing in Colorado, the Lowa Weisshorn GTX is a true do-everything boot.

What we like most about the Weisshorn is its stout build: this boot is a tank and will stand up to years of abuse from boulder fields, scree slopes, and rugged alpine weather. A thick Vibram sole, rigid heel and toe welts, rubber rand, and metal eyelets on the lacing system just make the Weisshorn nearly impossible to kill.

4-Season technical alpine/light mountaineering: LOWA Alpine Pro GTX.

An attractive choice for cold outings high in the mountains when a semi-automatic crampon is sufficient. Paired with step-in hybrid crampons, it was our go-to boot on a recent climb of Bridal Veil Falls, a classic WI5+ in Telluride, Colorado.


** Photos and Text by Switchback Travel