Winter mountaineering boots are usually classified as B2 or B3, with B1 boots more suited to low-angled ‘winter walking’.
Your boots play a big role in your safety and comfort when hiking and mountaineering in winter. If they don’t provide enough support, grip and protection, you risk at least cold, sore feet and at worst, a twisted ankle or a big fall. To help you find the right footwear, manufacturers adopted the ‘B’ system of boot grading. This post gives you an overview of this system and the design features of modern winter mountaineering boots. For a taste of winter hiking and mountaineering in the British Isles, check out the post Winter hill walking on Britain’s frozen summits.
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What is mountaineering? Although people have slightly different definitions, most guides and instructors would agree that even basic winter mountain hikes might require some mountaineering. So that means climbing slippery slopes in crampons, wearing a helmet and using an ice axe!
Mountaineering boot features
As we said earlier, your choice of footwear is massively important. There are many great winter mountaineering boots on the market nowadays, and they almost all share the same basic features:
- Waterproof and abrasion-resistant uppers
- Good ankle mobility
- Supportive (ie: stiff) midsole
- Crampon attachment points at the heel, and possibly toe (see below)
- User-friendly and secure lacing
- Tough, grippy sole
- Squared-off heel and sole edges for secure footwork
- Warm, wicking lining
The midsole is the hidden ‘chassis’ of the boot. It controls the boots shape and flex pattern, and is made from nylon, fibreglass and/or carbon fibre. The last is the precisely-shaped model foot around which each boot is made. Manufacturers create lasts to reflect different end users, for example a running last, climbing last, etc.
Questions to ask yourself when choosing boots for winter mountaineering ✅
- Is the weight about right?
- Do my toes have enough room?
- Is the heel hold good?
- Are my crampons compatible?
- How will they feel walking?
- How will they feel climbing?
- How protective are the uppers?
- Are they warm enough?
- What’s my budget?
Although these features are common among manufacturers, they vary depending on the design of boot. For example, some winter mountaineering boots have full grain leather uppers, while others use mostly synthetic materials. Nevertheless, boot stiffness is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a winter boot, hence the B grading system. Read on to find out how it works.
💡Resoling is possible with most mountaineering boots. This is more sustainable, especially if the uppers are still in good condition.
The ‘B’ system
The B grading system is not very scientific, but it is used by most big manufacturers to ensure crampon and boot compatibility. At the lower end of the scale are very flexible, lightweight boots and at the other are fully rigid, highly protective ones. The chart below shows which boot type is compatible with which crampon type. Learn more in the post Crampon types and fitting advice. Below, we will look at each of the categories in more detail.
| C1 crampon | C2 crampon | C3 crampon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| B0 boot | No ❌ | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| B1 boot | Yes ✅ | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| B2 boot | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | No ❌ |
| B3 boot | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ |
B0 boots
B0 boots are too flexible to take any sort of crampon – even a strap on one. These very lightweight summer hiking boots could, however, take an instep crampon or microspikes for snow patches or short sections of icy path.
B1 boots
B1 boots, on the other hand, have a stiffer upper and midsole that can support a strap-on C1 walking crampon. These are sometimes called ‘4 season’ boots. They are good for winter mountain walking, but only on low-angled snow and ice.
B2 mountaineering boots
However, boots classified as ‘B2’ will be stiff enough for basic winter mountaineering skills. That is, they will hold an edge well, kick steps and front point with crampons. But they keep a little bit of flex at the toe to reduce the ‘clumpy’ feeling found in rigid boots. In turn, this means they cannot reliably hold a C3 rigid crampon, and are not suited to long periods of steep climbing.
⚠️ B2-rated mountaineering boots vary a lot in stiffness, as well as fit, warmth and protection. It is vital, therefore, to do your research and try them on before buying. Also, larger sizes (approx 10 or 45 upwards) can be slightly more flexible than smaller sizes, due to more leverage.
There is a wide range of B2 mountaineering boots, ranging from ultra lightweight, low cut boots with minimal insulation, to higher-cut, well insulated models. Their fit is often more generous and less ‘technical’ compared to dedicated B3 climbing boots. They are compatible with C2 (ie ‘semi-automatic’) crampons, in addition to C1 strap-on crampons. The iconic Scarpa Manta Tech GTX is a good example, which is used as a hire boot by our favourite local gear shop Cairngorm Mountain Sports.
B3 mountaineering boots
Lastly, B3 boots have fully rigid midsoles, allowing them to securely hold a C3 automatic crampon (as well as C1 and C2 crampons). Modern B3 mountaineering boots are almost universally warm, protective, waterproof and lightweight. Integrated gaiters are an increasingly common trend, and some designs use BOA systems to replace laces. Because they are all designed to perform well on steep terrain, they tend to be closer fitting, with noticeably curved soles and slim profiles to aid climbing. One exception is those designed for high altitude use. These often have a more generous fit to allow for multiple layers of socks (or even a separate inner boot). Because of their stiffness, B3 rated boots also usually have a well rockered sole, a higher cut, good ankle flexibility and complex lacing options.
So, you can see that there’s a lot of R and D involved in winter mountaineering footwear. And your choice of B2 or B3 boot will depend on many factors, including how well it fits and how often you are on steep terrain. You can find more gear recommendations in the post What to wear for winter mountaineering. And if you’re looking for quality instruction in the basics of winter mountain travel, then check out my skills courses below (based in the Cairngorms, Scotland).
Ice axes, crampons and famous scenery
