As of Oct 21, 2026, the verdict: pick trekking shoes for snow-free summer high mountains by shank stiffness and weight. #1 is the The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT (551 g, ¥27,951), and #2 the Caravan Grand King GK88 (682 g, ¥29,700), described as built for Northern Alps ridge walks. Three things decide it: shank stiffness, weight per shoe and destination. If you want to include Mt. Fuji, the ¥20,900 Caravan C1_02S comes in.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
For high-mountain boots, weight alone doesn't decide it. When the sole resists bending, you can stand on small footholds more easily.The Brighthorn has a fiberglass shank and still weighs 551 g. I hike in Japan and abroad, and on ridge walks a difference in boot weight is felt with every step. So I put the one that combines lightness and a shank first.
Key points
- The #1 Brighthorn weighs 551 g, 131 g lighter than the #2 GK88 (682 g). A 131 g difference per shoe means lifting 1,310 kg over 10,000 steps
- The #2 Caravan GK88 is a boot Caravan describes as “for 3,000 m-class Northern Alps ridge walks and heavy-load climbs with hut or tent stays.” Width 3E
- For Mt. Fuji, the Caravan C1_02S (590 g, ¥20,900). In Caravan's classes, its sole is “medium,” for day hikes through Mt. Fuji climbs
Alpine Trekking Shoes Can Go From 682 g to 551 g
On alpine ridge walks, boots tend to be thought of as heavy and stiff. Yet The North Face's Brighthorn weighs 551 g per shoe and has a fiberglass shank.
This article compares boots for snow-free summer mountains, for ridge walks with hut or tent stays. Snow mountains and winter are out of scope. Numbers come from each official page, and prices include tax.
How I chose
First I looked at each boot's stated destination. Caravan recommends a stiff sole for heavy loads, ridge walks and rocky ridges. Next came weight per shoe, and last price.
What gave me pause was whether to rank the GK88 first. It's the only one that plainly says “3,000 m-class Northern Alps ridge walks.” But it's 131 g heavier, and no figure shows its shank stiffness. I chose the Brighthorn, where both lightness and a shank can be read from the numbers and the description. The ranking is made among what you can buy on Rakuten.
Alpine trekking shoes: the 3 pairs at a glance
| Model | Weight per boot | Shank and sole | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT | about 551 g (9 in) | Fiberglass shank, Vibram | ¥27,951 |
| #2 Caravan Grand King GK88 | about 682 g (26.0 cm) | Vibram XS TREK | ¥29,700 |
| #3 Caravan C1_02S | About 590g (26.0cm) | Caravan Trek Sole | ¥20,900 |
| Not ranked: mont-bell Alpine Cruiser 800 | 574g (25.5cm) | ― | ¥26,800 |
Measured sizes differ, so I didn't rank on gaps of a few dozen grams.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT | The lightest of the three, with a shank, but I couldn't find a width listed |
| 2 | Caravan Grand King GK88 | Stated for Northern Alps ridge walks, in 3E, but 131 g heavier than #1 |
| 3 | Caravan C1_02S | The cheapest, good up to Mt. Fuji. Not for heavy ridge-walk loads |
#1 The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT
I'll say it with heat. The North Face describes it as “a lightweight alpine boot for ridge walks, three-season, compatible with semi-one-touch crampons.” The sole is a Vibram Litebase Mont, the shank fiberglass, and it weighs 551 g per shoe.
The weak spot: I couldn't find a width listed, and sizes are US 7 to 11, not Japan's 0.5 cm steps. The list price is ¥39,930, and ¥27,951 is the current sale price.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥21,980 (as of 10/21). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥27,951, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#2 Caravan Grand King GK88
¥29,700, width 3E. A high-cut with a Vibram XS TREK sole. Caravan states the destination plainly: “3,000 m-class Northern Alps ridge walks and heavy-load climbs with hut or tent stays.”
The weak spot: at 682 g it's the heaviest of the three, and the sole is described as a “soft-ish mid-frame.” It's a pair for heavy-load days, if you want a width that fits Japanese feet.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Caravan Grand King GK88
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥27,510 (as of 10/20). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#3 Caravan C1_02S
About 590 g per shoe for ¥20,900. In Caravan's classes, its sole is “medium,” for day hikes, low mountains and Mt. Fuji. GORE-TEX waterproof, in sizes from 22.5 to 30.0 cm.
The weak spot: the sole isn't the “stiff” kind for heavy ridge walks or rocky ridges. It's the entry to summer high mountains, a boot up to Mt. Fuji. Details are in the C1_02S review.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Caravan C1_02S
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥14,630 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥20,900, and change daily. The surest way to try boots is in the evening, when feet swell, wearing your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the shop's return and exchange terms before buying.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNot ranked: mont-bell Alpine Cruiser 800
574 g per shoe (25.5 cm), ¥26,800. It's a boot bought at mont-bell's official online shop, and I found no Rakuten listing, so it isn't ranked.
For alpine trips, a “stiff” sole or a “medium” one?
Caravan divides sole stiffness into three. “Stiff” is for heavy-load climbs, ridge walks and rocky ridges. “Medium” is for day hikes, low mountains and Mt. Fuji.
With hut stays in the Northern Alps, your load is lighter. If you carry heavy loads on tent-stay days, you can choose a stiff sole. For how to compare high-cuts, see high-cut trekking shoes.
Which mountain suits which pair?
For lightness on summer ridge walks, #1, the Brighthorn. For hut or tent stays in the Northern Alps, #2, the GK88. For up to Mt. Fuji, #3, the C1_02S. To start on low mountains, see low-mountain trekking shoes for a comparison.
When there's snow, the gear changes, not just the boots. For winter traction, see my comparison in the chain spikes and light crampons article.
FAQ
How many grams per shoe counts as light for alpine trekking shoes?
The three pairs here run 551 to 682 g per shoe. That's heavier than the 420 g or so of low-mountain shoes, and in return the shank and sole are sturdier.
Which hiking boots should you wear in the Northern Alps?
For snow-free ridge walks, a high-cut or an alpine boot with a shank. Here the 551 g Brighthorn is #1 and the GK88, with its destination spelled out, is #2.
Which trekking shoes suit Mt. Fuji?
Caravan says Mt. Fuji calls for mid- to high-cut with a sole that isn't too soft, about medium. In this article, the ¥20,900 C1_02S fits that.
Can you buy alpine trekking shoes for under ¥20,000?
None of the 3 pairs cost under ¥20,000. The cheapest, the C1_02S, is ¥20,900.
