The main difference between mountain boots and hiking boots is the outsole pattern or design. Moreover, mountaineering boots feature a rather taller and stiff build due to added protection from injury or abrasions. On the other hand, hiking boots are available in varying lengths (mid, high, and low) that provide safety from rocky and muddy pathways.
There are many more differences between hiking and mountain boots, so let’s find out!
Comparison Between Mountain Boots vs Hiking Boots
| Features | Mountain Boots | Hiking Boots |
|---|---|---|
| Material used | Rubber, plastic, kevlar, leather, and synthetic fabrics | Nubuck leather or suede or synthetic mix |
| Price | Expensive | Reasonably priced |
| Weight | Heavy-duty build and heavyweight | Lightweight design |
| Insulation | Comfy and warm with added insulation | Usually not insulated |
| Build | Stiff design, High shaft, and less flexibility, stiff outsole | Flexible interior and varying length, bouncy to the stiff outsole |
| Best for | To be used on crampons and feature toe and heel welts, best for alpine | Not best to be used on crampons but best for abrasive and muddy terrain |
| Traction and grip | Excellent traction grip and traction on the abrasive ground with deeper lugs | Good traction for all-terrain and thick-set outsole |
Hiking Boots Pros and Cons
- Affordable in price
- Gore-Tex waterproofing for ultimate dry feet
- Lightweight build
- Flexible and comfortable for ascending
- Solid toe box from injury protection
- Not best for crampons
- Leather boots may need a break-in
Mountain Boots Pros and Cons
- Warm and cozy due to insulation
- Offer ideal feet safety from injury and impact
- Best traction and griping slippery terrain
- Protection from injury and added stability
- Offer great ankle support
- Expensive
- Not best waterproof
- Feel stiff under feet
Hiking Boots Reviews
Mountain Boots Reviews
Detailed Comparison of Mountain Boots and Hiking Boots
1. Weight
One of the significant differences between mountain boots vs hiking is their weight.
Mountaineering boots are rather heavy due to the weight, added protection, thick outsoles, and material choice.
Not to mention they provide more safety than hiking boots.
On the other hand, hiking boots are lighter than mountain boots, and you can find them in minimal low-ankle cuts that further minimize the weight.
However, both boots feel somewhat heavier on the feet for hiking on abrasive and rugged cliffs.
For instance, I found this KEEN Women’s Targhee 3 Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boot lightweight for my feet with just 1.75 pounds of weight, whereas this Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GTX – Men’s was heavy for its 3.09 pounds of weight on continuous mountaineering.
2. Price
Hiking boots vs. mountaineering boots have a lot of factors to talk about. For instance, hiking boots cost far less than mountain boots.
Due to added safety, mountain boots feature more material and protection, so they are usually expensive.
In contrast, hiking boots are inexpensive and can be found in a flexible price bracket.
Such As this Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot is available for only $195.66, whereas this La Sportiva Aequilibrium Top GTX Mountaineering Boot – Men’s Black/Yellow, 43.5 has an extravagant price of $498.95, which is a pretty noticeable price difference.
3. Build, Material, and Design
Due to their build, mountain boots are best for hiking on abrasive cliffs and snowy mountains. They are built to be used with crampons, but hiking boots do not offer this design.
However, you can use the strap-on crampon, but it’s not as bright as a dedicated mountain boot is.
Moreover, mountaineering boots usually feature robust and durable rubber, plastic, kevlar, leather, and synthetic fabrics material for uppers, etc.
Whereas hiking boots usually come in leather, Nubuck, synthetic, or textile mix that is durable for wear and tear, abrasive, or injury.
For example, this Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II Suede Waterproof Boot, Breathable with High-Traction Grip hiking boots as a ruler design that works for abrasive and smooth terrain and on the flip side, this Crampons Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Boots Shoes Women Men Kids Anti Slip 19 Stainless Steel Spikes Safe boot as robust design that offers the best performance on snowy pathways.
4. Insulation and Interior
Mountaineering boots vs hiking boots come with another difference: insulation.
Generally, hiking boots are not well-insulated, whereas mountaineering boots are best for keeping feet warm and cozy.
They offer more ideal insulation than hiking boots, though some hiking boots are also well-insulated!
For example, in mountaineering vs. hiking boots, this ROCKY MTN Stalker Pro Waterproof 800G Insulated Mountain Boot has the best insulation level to provide warmth and coziness to the feet. In contrast, Oboz Men’s Bridger 10″ Insulated B-Dry Waterproof Hiking Boot is available in 400, 200, and 100 grams of insulation which is far less than mountain boots.
5. Traction and Grip
Traction and grip is the ultimate factor that tells the clear difference between hiking vs mountaineering boots.
Mountaineering boots are more robust in terms of traction and grip thanks to the deeper lug, an efficient stiffer outsole that penetrates well into the snow or cliff. In contrast, hiking boots may not be that smart for traction and have flexibility in build.
Note that hiking boots offer non-skid outsole, and most hiking boots are best for all-terrain performance, including smooth and uneven abrasive ground. But when you compare, mountaineering boots have ideal traction.
6. Best for
Mountaineering boots are usually stiffer and therefore, they are not efficient for hiking on grass or mud.
On the other hand, hiking boots are available in a range of build and flexible design that is incredibly best for rocky, grassy, uneven abrasive, and muddy terrain with must easy.
Not to mention that hiking boots are reliable to keep feet warm with a waterproofing factor, whereas mountaineering boots may not win in this category.
Additionally, due to crampons, mountain boots have stiffness as a highlighted parameter, whereas hiking boots are adaptive for feet and don’t feel stiff.
Mountain boots have ankle support and protection, while hiking boots are less bulky and have ranged in ankle support.
For instance, this I found this Salomon Outline Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots for Men best to keep my feet dry while the softer interior and grip helped in hiking. In contrast, this Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction for Winter Trail Hiking & Ice Mountaineering boot has a stiff design and less waterproofing. However, both boots are reliable for traction on their dedicated terrains.
In short, you got to look at the places you are going to to decide whether you should use mountaineering boots or hiking boots.
Check Other Relevant Comparisons
- Hiking Boots vs Work boots
- Hiking Shoes vs Boots
- Hiking Boots vs Sneakers
- Hiking Boots vs Trail Runners Shoes
- Snow Boots vs Hiking Boots
- Hunting Boots vs Hiking Boots
- Trekking Boots vs Hiking Boots
- Hiking Boots vs Combat Boots
- Hiking Boots vs Backpacking Boots
- Wading Boots vs Hiking Boots
- Hiking Boots vs Walking Boots
