mountaineering shoes
Our selection of summer hiking shoes
Our Mission: comfort without compromise
Our goal is simple: to guide you with our deep technical know-how, share our passion, and engineer the perfect solution so you can fully enjoy your mountain excursions and alpine hikes.
Our curated footwear selection is specifically engineered for individuals with “challenging” feet who struggle to find a proper fit in traditional retail shops. However, it is equally designed for any hiker who simply demands absolute, hassle-free comfort on the trail.
To deliver this level of excellence, we partner exclusively with two of the most trusted, leading brands in the world of high-performance hiking boots.
SCARPA
SCARPA: Italian mastery & alpine innovation
Hailing from the undisputed global capital of mountaineering footwear—the historic Asolo-Montebelluna region of Italy—this legendary brand has spent decades engineering and refining elite boots for every mountain discipline, across both winter and summer conditions. While pushing the boundaries of technical performance and adapting to all skill levels, SCARPA has proudly remained true to its signature, flawless fit.
Mark knows the anatomy of these products inside and out. His history with the brand runs deep: he sold his very first pair of SCARPA mountaineering boots back in 1985.
HANWAG
HANWAG: A century of bavarian craftsmanship
Born in Bavaria in 1921 inside a traditional shoemaker’s workshop, HANWAG still embodies the exact same passion and expertise that master artisan Hans Wagner instilled over a century ago. The brand’s enduring legacy is built on three core pillars: uncompromising handcrafted precision, premium European materials, and a relentless commitment to a meticulously finished product.
HANWAG is uniquely celebrated for its specialized lasts, offering an extensive range of mountain boots engineered to accommodate highly diverse and “challenging” foot shapes:
Narrow Fit: Optimized heel and midfoot security for both men and women.
Wide & extra-wide Fit: Generous volume at the forefoot to allow natural splay and circulation.
Bunion fit (Hallux Valgus): An exclusive, anatomically curved internal architecture designed to eliminate friction and pressure on the big toe joint.
Bespoke special orders
If your ideal fit or specific model isn’t currently in stock, we will source it for you. We can quickly place a special order with our manufacturing partners to find the exact model that perfectly aligns with your anatomy and specific performance needs.
Timeline: Please allow approximately 5 business days for order processing and delivery to our workshop.
The Final Fit: Once your boots arrive, we will schedule your second appointment to perform the final custom molding and precise SHOELAB adjustments.
(Note: Special orders are subject to manufacturer availability.)
We take the time to fully understand your needs and wishes
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We work by appointment only…
If necessary, our SHOELAB workshop will customize your shoes: widening the forefoot, adjusting the toe box volume, and adapting the heel volume.
These services will cost between €40.00 and €100.00 per pair.
We can also create custom orthopedic insoles for mountaineering and hiking boots.
Custom insoles. Hiking and Mountaineering: €200.00 to €300.00
Approach shoes
Approach shoes: A low-cut design like a classic sneaker
Its design and the tread pattern of the outsole ensure grip and traction on walking trails, marked paths, or in the forest.
Just like running or tennis shoes, the upper does not wrap around the ankles, allowing for great freedom of movement at the ankle while walking
The upper is flexible, made of Cordura fabric and leather, with a waterproof, breathable, and abrasion-resistant inner lining, featuring rubber reinforcements on the forefoot for better toe protection when descending.
It also provides excellent support without constriction, allowing your feet to feel comfortable while remaining protected from the elements.
By definition, this remains the ideal shoe for hikes in low- and mid-mountain terrain, on marked trails, or forest paths. The use of hiking poles is recommended to increase your stability, particularly when descending.
Hiking, trekking shoes
All-terrain or trekking shoes
THE ultimate hiking boot. A higher-cut design that provides secure ankle support without restricting the ankle’s natural flexion as you roll your foot during uphill or downhill walks.
The sole is thicker and more cushioned: it is designed to stabilize the foot and ankle within the boot on uneven terrain, particularly on rocky trails or paths. The sole’s tread pattern provides excellent traction and footing control on varied terrain, while also preventing slipping on rocks or wet grass.
The high upper, designed to protect the malleoli, is made of leather with a breathable lining that wicks away sweat.
It typically weighs around 1,200 grams per shoe. The primary focus is on comfort, support, and traction, whether for a hike lasting several hours or a trek around Mont Blanc.
Climbing shoes
High-altitude mountaineering boots: Their terrain—cliffs and glaciers
Designed with highly waterproof materials, the sole is very stiff to provide the foot with the support needed for mountaineering and for attaching crampons on snowy terrain and when climbing glaciers. The boot’s weight is its main drawback: over 2,000 grams per boot. The stiffness of the sole makes approach hikes tiring.
In recent years, a new generation of mountaineering boots has emerged, constructed with new materials that reduce the boot’s weight while maintaining excellent thermal insulation and a more anatomically contoured fit for greater precision.