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Every year, around October, someone writes me asking which boot to buy before the real cold arrives. And the question is almost always poorly framed: it’s not “which boot is the best”, it’s “which boot do I need for what I’m going to do”. I wear a very different boot when I go out in October with leaves on the ground than when I head out in January with compacted snow under my boots. And it’s not a whim: different conditions demand different footwear.
The five things that really matter when choosing a boot
Before you focus on brand or price, there are five factors that determine whether a boot will work for you: the cut (low, mid or high ankle – higher gives more ankle support but less freedom of movement); the outer material (leather, more durable and abrasion‑resistant, versus synthetic, lighter but less long‑lasting); waterproofness (a GORE‑TEX‑type membrane makes the difference between staying dry or not, especially on wet grass or snow); sole stiffness (more flexible for fast, comfortable walking, stiffer if you need precision on technical terrain); and thermal insulation, which most people forget but decides whether a boot is suitable in October or falls short in January.
Why the same boot doesn’t work in October as in January
In autumn, with mild temperatures and mostly dry terrain or occasional moisture, what you need is waterproofness and good grip, not extra insulation, which would only overheat the foot. In winter, with snow and ice, thermal insulation is no longer optional; a boot without a specific thermal lining gets cold below a certain temperature, no matter how waterproof it is. The sole requirements change: in autumn you look for grip on mud and wet rock, in winter you need a rubber compound designed specifically for ice (not every “grippy” sole works the same on ice). If you’re using snowshoes, the boot must have a standard lace/loop compatible with strap bindings; technical mountaineering boots with crampon fittings don’t always work well with snowshoe bindings meant for regular footwear.
The two I use, each for its season
For autumn and most trail routes with mild temperatures, I stick with the Ducan III High GTX that I already covered in the previous article: waterproof, comfortable on long days, and without more support than you need on a regular trail. As soon as the route gets technical or snow appears, I switch to the Kento Tour High GTX, and the difference is noticeable from the first step.
If you’re unsure whether your weekend route calls for an autumn or winter boot, tell me the date and terrain and I’ll tell you which one I’d take.