Top 7 men's climbing boots & gloves
Simply no piece of gear will be more critical to summiting high peaks than shoes. A great mountaineering shoe fills a great number of roles: this must offer support whilst carrying heavy loads, hold confidently over slick rock and roll and snow, keep the ft warm when the mercury dips, and allow with regard to the attachment of crampons and skis. But the majority of importantly, it must infuse trust and confidence.
Our own selection of the best climbing boots of 2019 includes both extremely cold boots and alpine boots for the highest mountains of the concrete world, and 4-season technical alpine boots that provide comfort to your feet during fast driving and light boots for less technical and lower elevation routes. We hope that our review will help you better understand the climbing boots and gloves before buying.
Mammut Magic High GTX Boot - Men's
Forget about the treeline—the Mammut Men's Magic High GTX Boot will take you above the clouds. This crampon-compatible alpine boot offers the support and weather protection needed for ascents into the alpine, all in a lightweight and comfortable package.
Base Fit 2.0 technology provides greater heel support for a more precise feel, less fatigue, and reduced blistering. Gore-Tex keeps your foot dry without suffocating it, while the EVA and PU midsole cushions your step as you cross jagged terrain and provides rebound to propel you forward. Memory foam at the instep, shin, and ankles eases strain and fatigue at common pressure points and returns to its original shape after being subjected to heavy loads.
- Lightweight, yet supportive alpine boot
- Fully crampon compatible for technical ascents
- Gore-Tex provides breathable waterproofing
- Base Fit 2.0 for greater heel support and reduced friction
- 3-zone lacing ensures a snug, secure fit
- EVA and PU midsole for lightweight cushioning and rebound
- Durable Vibram Maton sole provides rugged traction
- Item #MAM00TG
La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX Mountaineering Boot - Men's
The La Sportiva Men's Nepal Cube GTX Mountaineering Boot isn't just for the high-minded alpine adventurers amongst us. New this season, the Nepal Cube takes a lighter approach to versatile warmth in a mountaineering boot than its older sibling, the Nepal Evo GTX. While both boots use Gore-Tex to guarantee your foot's dry ride, the Cube loses a full four ounces without taking away any warmth or capability. Whether you're summiting the Grand (Teton, that is), performing telecom magic in the middle of winter, or trekking high and low over many miles, this leather boot gives you a dry and flexible ride.
Rugged Idro-Perwanger leather gets shot full of 3.2mm silicone to create a robustly water-resistant and flexible outer. An air-injected rubber rand creates a durable connection between the top and bottom of this technical boot. Laces tease your toes and weave their way up the boot through locking D rings to help the boot keep a firm grip on your foot. The Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort lining does more than guarantee waterproof and breathable kicking; it adds heat to your hoofers so hiking across snow-covered flats doesn't turn your toes into icicles. In addition, the 4mm Carbon Tech honeycomb footbed uses air to further insulate your foot without adding weight to keep you high-stepping for hours on end.
This tongue lets fresh air refresh your ankles while giving you the option to customize the boot fit with a removable piece. The 3D Flex tech improves your stability over contorted terrain. The graded polyurethane midsole starts at a whopping 2mm thick in the heel and tapers into a whisper of plastic by the time it reaches your toes. The Impact Brake System turns hard-wearing Vibram into directionally opposed lugs to give your footsteps traction on the way up and the way down.
- Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort lining, guaranteed waterproof and breathable
- Idro-Perwanger ROughout Leather, 3.2mm silicone impregnated
- Air-injected rubber rand
- Locking D-ring and lace loop
- Adjustable, variable-fit tongue
- 3D Flex technology
- Carbon-tech honeycomb EVA footbed, 4mm
- Graded PU midsole, 2mm @ heel
- Impact Brake System directionally opposed lugs
- Vibram sole, replaceable
- Item #LSP000A
La Sportiva Trango Tower GTX Mountaineering Boot - Men's
A far cry from the bulky alpine boots of yesteryear, the La Sportiva Men's Trango Tower GTX Mountaineering Boot offers ultralight warmth and support to help you scale towering peaks in remarkable comfort—relatively speaking, at least. After all, if you don't suffer a little, then the mountain wasn't big enough.
Gore-Tex Performance Comfort keeps your foot dry when you get caught off-guard by a freak snowstorm in the middle of summer but still breathes well to keep you from overheating at lower altitudes. The rugged upper with Honey-Comb reinforcements withstands the roughest punishment the mountain can dish out. PU in the midsole offers support and cushioning when moving over rocky terrain, and EVA inserts decrease weight while still absorbing impacts and providing excellent rebound. Rounding it out is a Vibram One outsole for reliable traction on precarious ridgelines and the durability needed to withstand season after season in the high alpine. This sole is also equipped with an Impact Brake System for better control on descents.
- Stay warm while tackling towering peaks in this alpine boot
- Gore-Tex membrane for breathable waterproofing
- Upper is extremely abrasion-resistant
- 3D Flex ankle for longitudinal lock-out and lateral flex
- PU midsole offers to cushion and support
- EVA inserts decrease weight
- TPU insert for rear crampon compatibility
- Vibram One sole is extremely grippy and durable
- Item #LSP00CW
La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX Mountaineering Boot - Men's
Winner of the Gear Institute's Best New Gear award at the Outdoor Retailers Summer 2013 show, the all-new, incredibly light La Sportiva Men's Trango Cube GTX Mountaineering Boot makes your extreme high-altitude pursuits heavenly. The Gore-Tex insert ensures that water won't slip into the boot and tank your toes midway towards the apex of Gannett Peak, and part of the tongue comes out when you need more room for your foot. The direct-inject lacing system and an exclusive Vibram sole lighten your load so you can pack an extra chocolate bar (or 6) to celebrate the summit.
Put together without seams, the uppers blend waterproof QB3 and FlexTec 2 fabrics to keep external water away from your toes. A rugged Vibram rubber rand protects your toes, wards off the water, and rounds out this stable shoe when the trail takes a new twist on technical. The direct-inject Thermo-Tech TPU lacing system keeps seams at bay for extended durability while shaving off nearly 1/3 of the weight of traditional riveted lacing systems. Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining guarantees a waterproof, breathable climate-controlled environment for your foot whether you're learning to self-arrest on ice or starting out well below the snow line.
A low-profile 4mm graded nylon insole puts a skinny pillow under your heel and has a barely-there feel by the time it reaches your toes. A combination of materials creates a stable platform for hiking without taking away underfoot cushioning. Opposing lugs of the Impact Brake System offer traction for the trek up and trip down. ONE, an exclusive sole made by Vibram for La Sportiva, keeps the weight off and the silhouette on the down-low. The TPU heel insert allows the Trango to take a hybrid crampon for quick changes to accommodate the hyper-variable environment.
- Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining, guaranteed waterproof and breathable
- QB3 waterproof fabric and FlexTex 2 fabric upper
- Vibram rubber rand
- Adjustable, variable fit tongue
- 3D Flex technology
- Thermo-Tech injection TPU lacing system, PU eyelets
- 4mm graded nylon insole
- EVA midsole in central zone and heel
- PU midsole in toe and heel
- Impact Brake System directionally opposed lugs
- La Sportiva "ONE" by Vibram (exclusive)
- TPU insert for rear crampon attachment
- Item #LSP000C
La Sportiva Syborg Glove - Men's
Your heavily insulated, waterproof gloves may be nice for the ski down, but they're going to cook your hands on the up track. Slip your hands in the La Sportiva Syborg Gloves when you need something light and breathable on the skin up. Their stretch polyester fleece fabric is insulating and breathable, while their reinforced leather palm ensures a stout grip on your poles and ensure that they withstand some abuse.
- Stretch polyester fleece
- Polyamide, polyurethane blend
- Reinforced leather palm
- Item #LSP007J
Rab Blizzard Glove - Men's
From snowy ski runs to early morning ice climbs, the Rab Blizzard Glove delivers warmth, dexterity, and reliable grip. A waterproof insert ensures that your hands stay dry when they encounter wet snow, while lofty synthetic insulation provides reliable warmth when you're out all day. The Blizzard is pre-curved for a natural fit that leaves you free to deal with ropes and tools, with a leather palm for excellent grip when wielding ski pole or ice ax.
- Technical snow gloves for skiing, snowboarding, or ice climbing
- Waterproof construction keeps your hands dry in harsh weather
- Synthetic insulation offers reliable warmth in wet conditions
- Pre-curved shape provides full dexterity on ice routes
- Grippy palms assist with tool use or adjusting bindings
- Drawcord closure keeps snow from getting inside
- Item #RAB00I6
Asolo Piz GV Mountaineering Boot - Men's
The Asolo Men's Piz GV Mountaineering Boot might be a classic boot, but it's packed with modern technologies for harder treks. It has Gore-Tex Performance Comfort for reliable waterproofing and the enhanced breathability required for highly active endeavors, and the Schoeller softshell upper stretches breathe and wicks moisture for even better comfort when you're on the move. Asolo reinforced the upper with suede leather to resist abrasion and bead moisture off the surface. Underfoot, the Piz GV features a dual-density midsole to attenuate shock and absorb impact with soft cushioning, and the Vibram Mulaz sole provides traction with sharp lugs angled for the ascent and descent. The Piz GV is compatible with semi-automatic crampons.
- Classic mountaineering boot for hard trekking
- Gore-Tex gives reliable waterproof, breathable protection
- Schoeller softshell upper with suede leather reinforcements
- Dual-density midsole absorbs impact with soft cushioning
- Vibram Mulaz sole with semi-automatic crampon compatibility
- Item #ASO003X
Climbing involves long days of hiking, you need to carry heavy things and use your legs dynamically. Accordingly, shoes are the first line of support in your boot. Many shoes are created with high-quality insoles that offer not only support and comfort but also a little extra warmth.
Good shoes should support your feet in the most difficult routes. We wish you good luck with the purchase of climbing shoes and gloves that are perfect for you.