In the Bootcamp article series, we will take a closer look at hiking boots for hillwalking – some of the most important things in your kit. Hiking boots can make the difference between a great day out on the hills and a miserable experience. So take your time when choosing a pair.
In this article, we will explore the difference between full-grain leather boots and synthetic ones, their strengths and weaknesses, and which are best suited for a day on the hills.
Material for hiking boots
Full-grain leather
Full-grain leather boots are the most “traditional” boots because they have been around for centuries. Although they don’t look as fancy and modern as their synthetic siblings, the only thing they have in common with George Mallory’s boots when he climbed Everest in 1924 is that they are made of leather.
Modern full-grain leather boots are sturdy and give good ankle support. They have functional soles suitable for all kinds of terrain and often have a waterproof membrane. Even leather boots without a membrane are resistant to water for a time because leather is water resistant by nature.
Leather/synthetic mix
A common sight in outdoor stores these days are boots that are partly made of leather and synthetic materials. The leather in these boots is usually not full-grain but rough leather. The most common are nubuck and velour. These are sanded down, making them rougher and, thus, more breathable and more flexible than full-grain leather.
In hiking boots, nubuck or velour is often used with synthetic materials to enhance the breathability and flexibility of the boots even more. The drawback: The boots lose some of their natural water resistance and are less sturdy and durable.
Purely synthetic
Purely synthetic hiking boots don’t contain any real leather. Boots that are labelled “PU leather” belong to this category too. PU is the abbreviation for polyurethane. Sometimes it is also referred to as “faux leather”. There are a lot of different synthetic materials used in modern boots today.
Often, boots are made from several different materials, depending on the requirements for the boots: for example, to make them extra breathable, extra flexible or ultralight.
Quick overview: Full-grain leather boots vs synthetic boots
| Full-grain leather boots | Synthetic boots | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy | Light |
| Durability | Superb (when cared for well) | Limited lifetime |
| Water resistance | Excellent (when waxed regularly) | Limited – even with DWR treatment |
| Breathability | Good | Very good |
| Break in time | A few walks | Little to no breaking in required when they fit well |
| Price | Expensive | Budget-friendly |
Boots made of nubuck, velour leather, or a leather/synthetic mix fall between the upper two columns.
A closer look into each category
Weight
A day on the hills is demanding and exhausting. The less weight you have to carry around, the better. That’s true not only for your backpack but also for your feet. The less weight you have on them, the less tiring it is to move around.
When it comes to weight, synthetic boots have a clear advantage over their leather siblings because synthetic materials are lighter. So for long walks or multi-day hillwalks, a lightweight synthetic boot might be better than a full-grain leather one. Keep in mind, however, that the sturdiness of leather boots has its advantages too. So it’s always a trade-off.
Best choice for hillwalking: It’s a draw. Weight should only be a concern on long-distance hikes or multi-day hillwalks.
Durability
Because they are very sturdy, full-grain leather boots have a much longer life expectancy than synthetic boots. In addition, leather is more forgiving than synthetics when it comes to abrasion (which will happen sooner rather than later when hillwalking). When leather is treated well, the boots will last for many years. The first thing needing replacement will be the sole.
Synthetic materials don’t come close to this because they are less sturdy. Depending on how often you wear them and how well you care for them, they may last a few years but will start falling apart over time, even when the sole is still in good shape.
Best choice for hillwalking: Leather boots can take more of a beating than synthetic ones, which is quite handy for hillwalkers.
Water resistance
Since leather is water-resistant by nature, it has a huge advantage in this category. Furthermore, full-grain leather is superior to nubuck and velour because it’s thicker. Full-grain leather must be treated regularly with wax to prevent the leather from drying out, becoming brittle and cracking. The wax will also add a water-repellent layer, making the boot even more water-resistant.
Compared to that, synthetic boots always need a waterproof membrane in the inner to achieve the same level of water resistance as a leather boot. Keep in mind, though, that many leather boots also come with a membrane, making them super-waterproof.
Best choice for hillwalking: Leather boots will keep your feet dry for longer than synthetic boots – probably one of the most important criteria in boggy and rainy Scotland.
Breathability
The more waterproof a fabric, the less breathable it is, and vice versa. So, the advantage of leather’s superb water resistance is countered by reduced breathability. So, although it is skin and, thus, slightly breathable, synthetic materials are the clear winner in this category.
Synthetic materials can be combined in many ways to achieve higher or lower breathability, depending on their purpose.
Best choice for hillwalking: Breathable footwear is a big plus in the warmer months. For people, who only go hillwalking in warm and fair weather conditions and choose less boggy walks, synthetic footwear is the way to go. However, sacrificing water resistance for breathability is not an option for most hillwalkers. A leather/synthetic mix is a good compromise here.
Break-in time
Long gone are the times when you needed to pee into your leather boots and walk around in them for several hours to mould the leather to your feet. However, still today, leather boots need more time to break in than synthetic boots. This is because leather is sturdier. But once it has adapted to the shape of your feet, leather boots are as comfortable as synthetic boots.
Synthetic boots shouldn’t require any break-in time at all. And, if they do, the fit is not 100% ideal for your feet because they are too small or too narrow.
My advice: Although leather boots require a few walks until they feel entirely comfortable and allow you a blister-free experience, the break-in time shouldn’t be the main requirement when choosing a pair of boots.
Price
Leather is more expensive to produce than synthetic materials. This is also shown on the price tag: Leather boots are more expensive than purely synthetic boots. However, since leather boots are sturdier and have a longer life span than synthetic boots, they are a long-term investment. So, in the long run, they might be cheaper because they need to be replaced less frequently than synthetic boots.
My advice: I know that the price tag is the first thing people look at when buying new boots. But remember, a decent pair of hillwalking boots will be a loyal companion for many years. So if you are serious about hillwalking, you may want to buy the best boots you can afford.
Conclusion: Leather vs synthetic boots
We have taken a closer look at different materials for hillwalking boots. The most common are full-grain leather, rough leather such as nubuck and velour, and synthetic materials. Leather has its advantages in the following categories:
- Durability
- Water resistance
Synthetic materials win in these categories:
- Weight
- Breathability
- Break-in time
- Price
What does that mean for hillwalking now?
Especially in Scotland, the underfoot conditions are often wet. On many hills, there are no paths, so crossing rocky sections, bashing through heather and navigating bog holes are unavoidable on most hillwalks. For these conditions, sturdy and water-resistant boots are necessary. This makes leather boots the ideal choice because they are suitable for all kinds of terrain you encounter in Scotland.
Synthetic boots have their advantages too, however: They are more comfortable to wear in the summer months because of their better breathability. So your feet won’t sweat as much in them as in leather boots. Synthetics are the ideal choice for walks that are mostly on good paths and where no difficult terrain needs to be crossed. Because they are also lighter, they perform better on longer walks, for example, long-distance trails like the West Highland Way.
The ideal scenario would be to get a pair of sturdy leather boots and a pair of synthetics. This is not feasible for most people, unfortunately. If you want an all-round boot that can handle all kinds of terrain, go for full-grain or rough leather. If you can live with the drawbacks of synthetic boots or plan only to do hillwalks on mostly good paths, then synthetics are the way to go.