The North Face Summit Breithorn Futurelight Boots review: lightweight and protective on rock, snow and ice

The North Face Summit Breithorn Futurelight Boots: first impressions 

The North Face Summit Breithorn Futurelight Boots are lightweight mountaineering boots that are capable of providing protection for winter hiking, alpine climbing and glacier trekking.

These winter hiking boots may not be as heavy or rugged-looking as some, but the stiff sole and Vibram technology makes for reliable footing whether you're edging along a rocky scramble or kicking into snow. If the snow gets deep enough that you need additional traction, they're compatible with a C2 crampon thanks to a heel bail.

For warmth, we've found these boots to be mostly adequate for winter conditions, but not the warmest winter boots out there. For that reason, we think they're great for high alpine trekking in milder conditions, and your feet are protected from wet and damp thanks to a breathable waterproof Futurelight membrane. There's also plenty of protection for your feet and toes thanks to a well-reinforced upper.

The fit and toe box will undoubtedly be too narrow for some and the lacing system doesn't necessarily get as secure a fit as we'd like, but the Lycra collar helps keep debris out and we've been impressed by the out-of-the-box comfort and versatility of these light but technical boots.

The North Face Summit Breithorn Futurelight Boots: in the field

I got these boots for a glacier trek on the Glacier du Géant in the Alps last year where it was snowy enough that I ended up wearing them with snowshoes. This year, I've been wearing them to summit some winter Munros – those are Scotland's highest peaks – in winter conditions where I've got to test out their winter and crampon capability.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort 

I always go up a half size in hiking boots, and though I was worried about the narrow toe box with these, the UK 4 fit my 3.5 feet perfectly. They look really narrow, but it's not an issue for my feet and I find that once I've got my hiking socks on and they're laced up, they have a secure fit. That said, the lacing system around the ankles doesn't quite deliver the lockdown fit I'd expect and I quite often discover my laces have come undone on the trail, but obviously laces are replaceable.

The first time I wore these was to trek across the Glacier du Géant in the Alps. Ordinarily, I'd want to break boots in for that type of excursion, but it was a whirlwind press trip and the boots were waiting for me at my hotel when I arrived. Luckily, they were and still are totally comfortable on first wear with no rubbing anywhere.

Protection and breathability

These boots are very light, but there's nothing watered down about them. The soles are super stiff so they've been great for taking on rocky sections of Munro summits, and the narrower fit makes it easier to wedge my toe into small spaces in the rock. Because the upper needs to withstand a crampon it's got plenty of reinforcements for my toes.

In Scottish winters, protection against moisture is probably the most important feature and I've found the Futurelight bootie to be ample even when I've spent a full day wading around in the snow.

They're definitely not the warmest winter boots on the market and on a recent winter trek my toes were the only thing that got a bit nippy, though keeping moving was enough to not let that ruin my day. I haven't had any issues with breathability, but I've only worn these in cold conditions and I don't have the sweatiest feet, however I have had good experiences with Futurelight's breathability in other products.

Grip and stability

Even though I've tended to wear these boots with traction devices, I spent plenty of time wearing them in the snow without crampons recently up in Glencoe and traction just wasn't an issue. The Vibram soles do what they always do and I'd trust these in most conditions.

A stiff sole doesn't make for the most intuitive gait, but it's necessary for winter and crampons. I haven't had issues with foot fatigue or stability in these boots, but again, I've mostly been climbing in snow, not just trekking along a steady trail.

The North Face Summit Breithorn Futurelight Boots: the bottom line

I'm impressed enough by the comfort and technical capabilities of these boots that I'm thinking of bringing them along for a Himalayan trek later this year. I love that they're light and comfortable but still deliver a lot of protection in winter conditions. Their light weight also makes them a good choice for adventure travel. If you're looking for something a little warmer that fits a broader foot, the Scarpa Manta Tech GTX come at a similar price point.

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