Kindest out of the boxThe one to buy if you are short on break-in time
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid
The most forgiving first week of any boot we see on the trail; the trade is a softer sole that flexes more than it should under a heavy load.
Best overall
The boot for a full circuit with a real pack on your back
Salomon Quest 4 GTX
Mid-weight, above-ankle, Gore-Tex, ~1.3 kg/pair
4.6 on Amazon (2,061 ratings)
Stiff enough to carry weight over a pass and still comfortable on day fourteen — you pay for that in weight and in a break-in period you cannot skip.
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What you get
- Ankle support that holds up on loose moraine
- Sole stiff enough that a 12 kg pack stops hurting
- Lasts several seasons rather than one trip
What it costs you
- Heavy against a trail shoe
- Needs 40-50 km of walking before it stops rubbing
- Gore-Tex is slow to dry once it finally soaks
Do not buy this if: You are doing Poon Hill or a short lodge trek under 3,500 m with a porter carrying the load. This is more boot than that walk needs.
Treks we recommend this for
Not every route needs it. These are the ones where our guides would put it on your list.
The alternatives
Everything else we recommend in trekking boots, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Kindest out of the box
Best valueEnough boot for a teahouse trek, at a third of the price
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof
Covers every lodge trek below 5,000 m for a fraction of the money — the sole is softer and the upper wears out faster, which is fine if this is a one-trip boot.