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Buying guide

Best walking boots with Vibram soles

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Meindl Burma Pro MFS GTX: Vibram Multigriff sole

    The listing names a Vibram Multigriff sole, a deep-lugged outsole used on many mountain boots.

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  • Best value

    Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Ws: Vibram sole, nubuck

    Vibram is listed as the sole material, under a nubuck leather upper.

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  • Most features

    Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX: Vibram Biometric, 585 g

    Listed as a high-top boot, so the cuff sits well above the ankle bones.

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Vibram makes soles for many boot brands, and the name on its own tells you less than you might think. What matters is the compound and the sole design: Multigriff, XS Trek, Endurance Pro and the rest are tuned differently for grip, wear and stiffness. A walker on wet British rock and grass wants a sole that grips when damp; a long-distance walker wants one that lasts. This guide includes only boots whose Amazon listing actually names a Vibram sole, and it quotes the sole exactly as listed so you can look up the compound. It then compares the upper, the lining and the cut. Resoling is a common question with Vibram boots: none of these seven listings states that the boot can be resoled, so ask the maker or a cobbler before you count on it.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Meindl

Meindl Burma Pro MFS GTX: Vibram Multigriff sole

Meindl's Burma Pro MFS is a leather Gore-Tex walking boot with a leather lining and a Vibram Multigriff sole, made in Germany. A traditional boot for hard, wet hill walking.

In its favour

  • The listing names a Vibram Multigriff sole, a deep-lugged outsole used on many mountain boots.
  • Leather upper and leather lining are both stated, behind a Gore-Tex membrane.
  • The country of origin is listed as Germany.

Good to know

  • The listing gives 2.49 kg without saying whether that is per pair, so weight is hard to judge.
  • No B rating or crampon fit is stated, so check Meindl's guidance before winter use.
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Listing title: Meindl Burma Pro MFS Gore-Tex Walking Boots

No. 2 · Scarpa

Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX: Vibram Biometric, 585 g

Scarpa's Kailash Trek GTX is a high-top suede and nylon boot with a Gore-Tex ePE liner and a Vibram Biometric sole. It suits trekking and hill walking where a high cuff helps.

In its favour

  • Listed as a high-top boot, so the cuff sits well above the ankle bones.
  • A Vibram Biometric sole in XS Trek compound is named for grip on mixed hill ground.
  • Gore-Tex Standard ePE is stated and described as PFAS free.

Good to know

  • The listed weight of 585 g does not say whether it is per boot, so compare with care.
  • Suede and nylon uppers need proofing to keep shedding water in long rain.
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Listing title: Scarpa Men's Kailash Trek GTX High Rise Hiking Boots

No. 3 · Hanwag

Hanwag Banks Winter GTX: Vibram Endurance Pro

Hanwag's Banks Winter GTX is a men's nubuck leather boot with a leather lining, Gore-Tex and a Vibram Endurance Pro sole. A durable boot for cold, wet walking.

In its favour

  • A Vibram Endurance Pro outsole is named, a widely available sole for replacement work.
  • Nubuck leather upper and leather lining are both listed.
  • Listed for all seasons with Gore-Tex in the title.

Good to know

  • The listing does not say whether Hanwag offers resoling for this model, so ask before buying.
  • The listing gives 1.5 kg without saying whether that is per pair.
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Listing title: Hanwag Men's Banks Winter GTX Shoes

No. 4 · Scarpa

Scarpa Terra GTX: Vibram Energy II / XS Trek

Scarpa's Terra GTX pairs a leather upper with a PFAS-free Gore-Tex ePE liner and a Vibram Energy II sole. A classic leather boot for everyday hill and moorland walking.

In its favour

  • The listing names a Vibram Energy II sole in XS Trek compound, a known outsole for mixed hill ground.
  • Gore-Tex Standard ePE is stated and described as PFAS free, a newer membrane generation.
  • A nylon insert in the insole is listed, which adds some stiffness under foot on stony paths.

Good to know

  • The listed weight of 590 g does not say whether it is per boot, so compare with other boots carefully.
  • Listed seasons are spring and summer, so check warmth and stiffness if you walk in winter.
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Listing title: Scarpa Men's Terra GtxWalking Shoe

No. 5 · Scarpa

Scarpa SL Active: Vibram Biometric / XS Trek, Sherpa leather

Scarpa's SL Active is a men's 2.7 mm Sherpa leather boot with a Vibram Biometric sole and a part-leather lining. A long-life leather boot for walkers who prefer no membrane.

In its favour

  • The listing gives the leather thickness as 2.7 mm, thick enough to take wax and hard use.
  • A Vibram Biometric sole in XS Trek compound is named, a known outsole for hill ground.
  • The listing states the leather is PFAS free, which matters to buyers avoiding those treatments.

Good to know

  • No membrane is listed and it is rated water resistant, so it relies on waxing to keep water out.
  • Thick leather boots usually need a longer break-in than fabric boots before a long walk.
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Listing title: SCARPA Men's SL Active Hiking Boot

No. 6 · Zamberlan

Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR: Zamberlan Vibram 3D

The Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR uses a Zamberlan Vibram 3D sole, a leather upper and a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining. A heavy-duty leather boot for long, rough walks.

In its favour

  • The sole is listed as Zamberlan Vibram 3D, a Vibram sole branded for Zamberlan.
  • Gore-Tex Performance Comfort is named as the lining.
  • A leather upper and leather insole are both stated in the listing.

Good to know

  • A listed weight of 2.45 kg makes this one of the heaviest boots in the guide.
  • The listing does not explain what the RR in the model name stands for.
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Listing title: Zamberlan 1996 VIOZ Lux Gore-TEX Walking Boots - AW23

No. 7 · LOWA

Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Ws: Vibram sole, nubuck

Lowa's women's Renegade GTX Mid has a nubuck upper, a textile lining and a Vibram sole, with a removable insole. A popular mid boot for everyday hill and moor walking.

In its favour

  • Vibram is listed as the sole material, under a nubuck leather upper.
  • The listing gives a shaft height of about 12 cm, a true mid cut for ankle cover.
  • A removable insole is listed, handy if you use your own footbeds.

Good to know

  • The listing does not name the Vibram compound, unlike the Scarpa boots here.
  • The lining is listed as textile, so check the Gore-Tex version details with Lowa.
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Listing title: Lowa Women’s Renegade Gtx Mid Ws Hiking Boots

More buying guides: Walking boots

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