Topic
B1 and B2 boots
Stiffer boots for winter hills, scrambles and crampons, explained through the UK B and C rating system that British retailers use.
- B1 boots take
- C1 crampons
- B2 boots take
- C1 or C2 crampons
The B rating (B0 to B3) describes how stiff a boot is; the C rating (C1 to C3) describes how rigid a crampon is and how it attaches. A crampon should never be stiffer than the boot it is fitted to.
B1 boots have a stiffened sole and suit C1 strap crampons. B2 boots add a heel welt for C2 semi-automatic crampons. B3 boots are fully rigid with toe and heel welts for C3 step-in crampons.
The ratings are a convention of British makers and retailers, not a formal standard, so always check the boot maker's own crampon guidance.
Common mistakes
- Fitting a C2 or C3 crampon to a flexible B1 boot: the bar can snap or the crampon can come off.
- Assuming the same rating means the same stiffness across brands.
Guides on this topic
- Walking boot ratings B0 to B3 explainedThe UK B and C rating ladder in one table: boot flex, typical use and crampon fit for B0, B1, B2 and B3, and why ratings are a guide rather than a standard.Guide
- Which crampons fit which boots?B1 with C1, B2 with C1 or C2, B3 with all three: strap, semi-automatic and automatic crampon bindings and the boot welts they need, explained for UK walkers.Guide
- B1 vs B2 boots: what changes and who needs whichB1 and B2 walking boots compared: midsole stiffness, heel welts, C1 and C2 crampons and the kind of UK winter walking each rating is usually matched to.Comparison