The verdict as of Oct 21, 2026. For a beginner's first hiking boots, choose by width and size: #1 is the Merrell Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX (¥23,100) and #2 the Caravan C1_02S (¥20,900). Three things keep you from a bad pick: width, a waterproof mid-cut and the sole. On a ¥20,000 limit, the Caravan C1_DL MID (¥18,920) comes into play.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
A first pair goes wrong over fit more often than over weight or price. A boot that is too narrow strains the foot, and one that is too wide lets the foot slide. That's why I rank a beginner's first pair by width and size options first.
Key points
- The Merrell Moab 3 is #1: it comes in medium and wide. The wide is about 480 g at ¥24,200, only 10 g and ¥1,100 more
- The Caravan C1_02S spans sizes 22.5 to 30.0 cm, so small and large feet can both pick the same model
- For a first pair, take your measured foot length plus about 1 cm as a guide, and try boots on in your hiking socks (as explained by Sirio)
For a beginner's hiking boots, ask if they fit before you ask if they're light
A first pair of hiking boots costs about ¥20,000. If they don't fit when you try them on, you can't take that pair up a mountain.
From waterproof mid-cut boots (the kind that cover the ankle), I lined up 4 that a beginner can choose easily. Numbers are from each official page as shown around Oct 13, 2026, and prices include tax.
How I chose
First I looked at width (the "E" rating) and the range of sizes. The E rating is the code for foot width, as in "3E": the more Es and the bigger the number, the wider. Then I checked whether the waterproof membrane is GORE-TEX, and whether the sole suits where you're going.
What I wavered on was how much weight should count. The 400 g Sirio is the lightest, but it comes in only one width, 3E+. For a first pair, I put ease of fitting ahead of lightness. The ranking covers boots you can buy on Rakuten.
3 ways to avoid a bad pick
| What to check | Why |
|---|---|
| Width (E rating) and size range | Too narrow strains your foot; too wide lets it slide in the boot |
| Waterproof mid-cut | Covers the ankle; the GORE-TEX membrane keeps out rain and puddles while letting sweat escape |
| A sole that suits your route | Soles differ in stiffness between low-mountain hikes and bigger mountains like Mt. Fuji |
As a guide, take your measured foot length and add about 1 cm. With your toes in, about one index finger of room behind your heel is said to be good. Try boots on in the socks you wear on the mountain.
Beginner Trekking Shoes (Hiking Boots): 4 Picks
| Model | Weight per boot | Width / sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Merrell Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX | About 470g (27.0cm) | Medium / Wide | ¥23,100 |
| #2 Caravan C1_02S | About 590g (26.0cm) | 3E, 22.5 to 30.0 cm | ¥20,900 |
| #3 Caravan C1_DL MID | About 420g | For hiking beginners | ¥18,920 |
| #4 Sirio P.F.156-3 | About 400g (26.0cm) | 3E+ | ¥20,350 |
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merrell Moab 3 | Choose medium or wide to fit your foot; the wide costs only ¥1,100 more |
| 2 | Caravan C1_02S | Wide size range, 22.5 to 30.0 cm, but 120 g heavier than the Merrell |
| 3 | Caravan C1_DL MID | The cheapest of the 4, but only for hiking-beginner routes |
| 4 | Sirio P.F.156-3 | The lightest, but one width (3E+) only, so it suits a limited range of feet |
The Merrell's 470 g and the Caravan's 590 g were weighed at different sizes, 27.0 and 26.0 cm. I did not rank on gaps of 10 to 20 g.
#1 Merrell Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX
I'll say it with some heat. You choose medium or wide to fit your foot, and even the wide is about 480 g at ¥24,200. For a first pair, there is a way out if the first one doesn't fit.
This is the weak spot. Men's sizes start at 25.0 cm, so small feet can't choose it. Some specs changed from the July 2026 stock, so old and new versions are mixed; keep that in mind.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Merrell Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥17,954 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥23,100, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#2 Caravan C1_02S
Sizes run from 22.5 to 30.0 cm, so small and large feet can both choose it. The included half insole fills the gaps between 0.5 cm steps. Its sole class is the "middle" one, from day hikes to climbing Mt. Fuji.
This is the weak spot. At about 590 g per boot, it is heavier than #1. It comes in 3E only, so check by trying on whether the width suits a narrow foot.
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 IchibaMore in the Caravan C1_02S review.
#3 Caravan C1_DL MID
About 420 g at ¥18,920, the cheapest of the 4 boots. Caravan's own description is "ideal for hiking entry", and it suits people starting out on well-kept hiking paths.
This is the weak spot. Its stated uses do not include climbing Mt. Fuji. If you plan hut stays or bigger mountains, it drops to #2.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Caravan C1_DL MID
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥13,244 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥18,920, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten Ichiba#4 Sirio P.F.156-3
About 400 g per boot, and ¥20,350. A GORE-TEX mid-cut at this price. For people with wide feet, it's the pair to pick on weight (pair 1).
This is the weak spot. It comes in one width only, 3E+, and the sole is marked as not resoleable. Only people whose feet fit it can choose it.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Sirio P.F.156-3
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥18,200 (as of 10/20). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥20,350, 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 IchibaCan a beginner buy hiking boots for ¥20,000 or less?
Of the 4 pairs, only the Caravan C1_DL MID (¥18,920) costs ¥20,000 or less. The Sirio (¥20,350) and the Caravan C1_02S (¥20,900) are just over, and the Merrell is ¥23,100. Check that the width fits before you shop on price alone.
What should I do with new hiking boots before a hike?
Sirio's official guidance says to break new boots in before you go up a mountain. Try not just flat ground but stairs and slopes, up and down. If something is wrong, talk to the shop where you bought them.
Wearing them over several separate days, as long as you can, also shows how the fit changes with your condition. Decide on socks first, too, and you'll hesitate less. See the hiking sock rankings for how to choose.
Who is it for?
If you worry about width, take #1, the Merrell. If you're thinking of Mt. Fuji or hut stays, take #2, the Caravan C1_02S. If you want to start with hiking on low mountains, #3 suits. If you have wider feet and weigh lightness heavily, #4.
The ranking of 6 boots is in the hiking boot rankings.
FAQ
Can a beginner buy hiking boots for ¥20,000 or less?
Among waterproof mid-cuts, the Caravan C1_DL MID at ¥18,920 is the only one of the 4 pairs. The other 3 cost ¥20,350 to ¥23,100.
What hiking boots should a beginner buy?
Waterproof mid-cut boots in the right width and size. Here I put the Merrell Moab 3, which comes in medium and wide, at #1.
How do I choose a hiking boot size?
As a guide, take your measured foot length and add about 1 cm. With your toes in, you should have about one index finger of room behind your heel. Try boots on in the socks you wear on the mountain.
Should a beginner's trekking shoes be low-cut or mid-cut?
If your ankles worry you, choose a mid-cut. All four pairs in this article are waterproof mid-cuts. If you only walk groomed paths, low-cut trekking shoes are an option too.
Should a beginner's trekking shoes change between low mountains and high mountains?
They do. For day hikes on low mountains, see the comparison by weight and price; for high mountains like the Northern Alps, see the comparison by shank stiffness and weight. To choose by ankle coverage, high-cut trekking shoes is a good place to start.
Do beginners need hiking boots?
On groomed walking paths alone, some people walk in ordinary shoes. For low mountains with rock or wet trails, waterproof boots that cover the ankle are the better fit.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Sirio official: suggestions (boot size, width and fitting)
- Sirio official: choosing boots for your purpose
- Merrell official online store: Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX (men's)
- Merrell official online store: Moab 3 Synthetic Mid GORE-TEX Wide [men's]
- Caravan official online shop: C1_02S
- Caravan official online store: C1_DL MID
- Caravan official: how to choose hiking boots
- Kojitusanso GsMALL: Sirio P.F.156-3 (the sales page opened from Sirio's official "purchase" link)
