April 8, 2025

5 Best Alpine Hiking Shoes for 2025

Jory, hikingfeet.com

The best alpine hiking shoes shed some weight off traditional trekking boots while still providing excellent support and traction. Plus, you want reliable and breathable waterproofing to navigate snow and summer thunderstorms when you're hiking at high elevations. Are you lucky enough to live near big mountains? Do you have a bucket list trip coming up to the Alps, Dolomites, Rockies, or Andes? I've personally tested and reviewed most of the best-selling hiking shoes made for mountain environments. Based on my first-hand experience and my experience as an outdoor industry professional, my pro picks for the best alpine hiking shoes are the Scarpa Rush 2, La Sportiva Spire, Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite, Scarpa Rush Trail, and LOWA Delago. Not surprising, each of these brands is based in or near the Alps. 

Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc in the French Alps

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5 Best Alpine Hiking Shoes


Scarpa Rush 2 GTX

Lightweight Alpine Hiking Shoe

Main Benefits:

  • Impressive blend of weight savings & support
  • weighs less than 2 pounds
     
  • GORE-TEX waterproofing
  • mountain traction
  • standard fit (size up)

Anchoring Scarpa's Rush series for fast-and-light hikers, the Rush 2 GTX hiking shoe is one of the best all-around hiking shoes. It's moderately stiff underfoot for good support and stability while still weighing a few ounces less than the average hiking shoe. The Presa rubber scores points with me on rocky trails by providing no-slip grip. The Rush 2 is the rare hiking shoe that's strong enough for alpine hiking yet light enough for fast hikers with light packs. The Scarpa Rush 2 GTX has been my primary hiking shoe since 2023. I test a ton of shoes, but this is the one I keep coming back to for personal use when I'm not reviewing other shoes for this website. If you're looking for a lighter alpine hiking shoe, the Scarpa 2 GTX is a great place to start. 

See my full Rush 2 review

Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$188.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$188.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush Trail Running Shoe - Women's
Scarpa Rush Trail Running Shoe - Women's
$158.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$188.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Scarpa Rush GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$188.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush 2 Pro GTX Shoe - Women's
Scarpa Rush 2 Pro GTX Shoe - Women's
$178.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush 2 Pro GTX Shoe - Men's
Scarpa Rush 2 Pro GTX Shoe - Men's
$178.95
Backcountry.com

La Sportiva Spire GTX

Athletic Alpine Hiking Shoe

Main Benefits:

  • balance of stability and agility 
  • weight savings
  • breathable GORE-TEX Surround waterproofing 
  • Vibram rubber for wet and dry traction 

La Sportiva's Spire GTX is a premium hiking shoe that can pull off tough, alpine trails. Sturdier than the Scarpa Rush above, it balances stability with agility but offers serious hikers a bit more backbone. It's also packed with the most breathable GORE-TEX waterproofing—GORE-TEX Surround— and Vibram XS Trek outsoles with the Impact Brake System sole for great grip on rock and steeper terrain. I've sold the Spire for years and personally tested and reviewed it in 2025. Fit-wise, the Spire doesn't run as small or narrow as other Sportivas, but you'll still want to size up. The Spire GTX is one of the best alpine hiking shoes for men and women who want something a little more athletic than traditional trekking shoes. 

See my full Spire GTX review

La Sportiva Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
La Sportiva Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$190.00
Backcountry.com
La Sportiva Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
La Sportiva Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$190.00
Backcountry.com
Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$209.00
$146.30
Backcountry.com
Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Spire GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$209.00
$146.30
Backcountry.com

Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX

Traditional Alpine Hiking Shoe

Main Benefits:

  • made for alpine hiking
  • climbing laces and rand for rock scrambling
  • GORE-TEX
  • good fit for narrow feet

Made for the Italian Dolomites and Alps, the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite is a true alpine hiking shoe. It's lighter than the regular MTN Trainer but still pretty burly with plenty of backbone for tough mountain trails. I've hiked famous trails in the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite, including Acadia National Park and Carrauntoohil, Ireland's tallest peak—it's a shoe I reserve for tough trails that require great grip on rocks. Its design mixes elements of hiking shoes and approach shoes for better rock scrambling. Its GORE-TEX waterproofing adds weather protection for summers at altitude and Pamoca rubber outsoles that grip rock and dig into soft and loose sediment for well-rounded mountain traction. The Mountain Trainer Lite runs wide by Salewa standards but still runs snug by American standards (size up). This is an obvious pick for one of the best alpine hiking shoes for men and women.  

See my full MTN Trainer Lite review

Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$179.95
Backcountry.com
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$159.95
Backcountry.com
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$159.95
Backcountry.com
Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Hiking Shoe - Men's
$179.95
$134.96
Backcountry.com

Scarpa Rush Trail GTX

New Alpine Hiking Shoe


Main Benefits:

  • stability and support
  • athletic performance
  • mountain-worthy traction & waterproofing
  • roomy fit for wider feet

Don't let its name fool you. The Scarpa Rush Trail is not a trail running shoe. It's a serious alpine hiking shoe that's stiffer and sturdier than the regular Scarpa Rush. I've backpacked several tough trails in its mid-cut version, the Rush TRK. The Rush Trail GTX feels firm, stiff, and sturdy underfoot while maintaining some agility for athletic performance. The Presa rubber outsoles are soft enough to grip rock with some deeper lugs to gain traction on steep ascents and descents—perfect for alpine terrain. It's one of the best alpine hiking shoes for men and women who want both stability and agility for their mountainous treks. 

See my related Rush TRK Mid review

Scarpa Rush Trail GTX Shoe - Men's
Scarpa Rush Trail GTX Shoe - Men's
$228.95
Backcountry.com
Scarpa Rush Trail GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Scarpa Rush Trail GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
$228.95
Backcountry.com

LOWA Delago GTX Lo

Low-cut Alpine Trekking Boot 

Main Benefits:

  • stability/support of a low-cut trekking boot 
  • rock traction for alpine terrain
  • GORE-TEX weather protection
  • standard fit

New in 2023, the LOWA Delago is a brute that's built for big mountains and unpredictable weather. The heaviest shoe on this list, this low-cut trekking boot has stiff, rigid soles to prevent foot fatigue and stabilize ankles on uneven terrain. I personally tested the Delago Lo GTX on some winter hikes in Pennsylvania last year, and I'll be wearing them this year on a Via Ferrata adventure. LOWA built this shoe for rock scrambling with approach shoe-style laces, extra rubber in the toes, and Vibram outsoles designed for rock traction. The Delago is technically a trekking boot, but its low-cut build drops its weight down to more of the mid-weight hiking boot category for better athletic performance. This rock-solid shoe rates as one of the best alpine hiking shoes for hikers who want a lot of stability and support in a low-cut package. 

See my full LOWA Delago review


Buying the Best Alpine Hiking Shoes

New Hampshire's White Mountains approach alpine hiking conditions

You won't find the best alpine hiking shoes at your average sporting goods chain store. These are serious hiking shoes that you'll need to find at outdoor specialty retailers, such as Backcountry, REI. and your local outdoor gear shop. The affiliate links above will help you find these shoes online and check available sizes and colorways.

Are you feeling any of these alpine hiking shoes? If so, please consider purchasing your new pair through the affiliate links above. That doesn't cost you anything, but the billion-dollar retailer may share a small percentage of the sale with Hiking Feet. That covers my costs and gives me a little bit back for the hundreds of hours I've spend creating free and independent content to help men and women choose the best footwear for their hikes. Thanks for your support!


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Hi, I'm Jory, and I created Hiking Feet to help recreational hikers and backpackers find the best hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes for their feet and their hikes. My professional recommendations and reviews stem from my extensive hiking experience (10,000+ miles in the past ten years) and my outdoor industry experience— where I'm a "Gearhead" and Copywriter for Backcountry, a certified brand expert, and the former footwear manager at a hiking and backpacking specialty shop. 


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