As of Oct 21, 2026, the verdict: pick high-cut trekking shoes by width and size. #1 is the Caravan C1_02S (590 g, ¥20,900), #2 the ridge-walk Caravan GK88 (682 g, ¥29,700), and #3 the 551 g The North Face Summit Brighthorn. Three things decide it: width, weight per shoe and destination. Only #1 costs in the ¥20,000 range.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
A high-cut covers and supports the ankle. A shoe that supports the ankle loses its point if the width doesn't fit.So I put the C1_02S first: width 3E, sizes from 22.5 to 30.0 cm, and available for ¥20,900.
Key points
- The #1 C1_02S weighs 590 g and costs ¥20,900. It's 92 g lighter than the #2 GK88 and ¥8,800 cheaper. Both are width 3E
- The C1_02S comes in 22.5 to 29.0 cm and 30.0 cm. On Caravan's site it carries both the high-cut and mid-cut tags
- The 551 g Brighthorn is the lightest of the three. No width is listed, and sizes are in US
You Can Choose High-Cut Trekking Shoes in the ¥20,000 Range
A high-cut is a shoe that rises over the ankle. Caravan's C1_02S is GORE-TEX for ¥20,900. High-cut ridge-walk boots can run close to ¥30,000, so this is the entry price.
This article compares high-cuts for snow-free months, from day hikes through hut stays to ridge walks. Numbers come from each official page, and prices include tax.
How I chose
First I looked at width and size. A shoe that supports the ankle is pointless if the foot slides around inside. Next came weight per shoe, and last destination.
What gave me pause was whether to rank the GK88, which plainly states ridge walks, first. But it weighs 682 g and costs ¥8,800 more. For most people, I judged the C1_02S to be the entry point. The ranking is made among what you can buy on Rakuten.
High-cut trekking shoes: the 3 pairs at a glance
| Model | Weight per boot | Width / sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Caravan C1_02S | About 590g (26.0cm) | 3E, 22.5 to 30.0 cm | ¥20,900 |
| #2 Caravan Grand King GK88 | about 682 g (26.0 cm) | 3E, 22.5 to 30.0 cm | ¥29,700 |
| #3 The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT | about 551 g (9 in) | not listed／US 7–11 | ¥27,951 |
| 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 | Caravan C1_02S | Width 3E with a wide size range, and the cheapest. Not for heavy ridge-walk loads |
| 2 | Caravan Grand King GK88 | Stated for ridge walks, in 3E, but 92 g heavier than #1 and ¥8,800 more |
| 3 | The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT | The lightest of the 3, but I couldn't find a width listed |
#1 Caravan C1_02S
I'll say it with heat. The width is 3E, and sizes run from 22.5 to 30.0 cm in 0.5 cm steps. The sole is “medium,” for day hikes, low mountains and Mt. Fuji, and it has GORE-TEX waterproofing. It's the only high-cut of the three in the ¥20,000 range.
The weak spot: 590 g is heavy for a #1, and in Caravan's classes heavy-load ridge walks call for a “stiff” sole. Details are in my 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 Ichiba#2 Caravan Grand King GK88
¥29,700, width 3E. A high-cut Caravan describes as built for “3,000 m-class Northern Alps ridge walks and heavy-load climbs with hut or tent stays.” The sole is a Vibram XS TREK.
The weak spot: at 682 g it's the heaviest of the 3 pairs, 92 g and ¥8,800 more than #1. It's the next boot (1 pair) for someone who has decided to start ridge walks.
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 The North Face Summit Brighthorn FUTURELIGHT
About 551 g per shoe, with a fiberglass shank. The North Face describes it as a three-season alpine boot for ridge walks, compatible with semi-one-touch crampons.
The weak spot: no width is listed, and sizes are US 7 to 11. The list price is ¥39,930, and the official store shows a sale price of ¥27,951. For how it compares on lightness, see alpine trekking shoes.
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 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.
How do high-cut and mid-cut differ?
Caravan describes a mid-cut as a balance of ease of walking and ankle hold, and a high-cut as supporting the ankle and the whole foot for rough ground. The mountains: mid-cut for day hikes, low mountains and Mt. Fuji; high-cut for heavy loads, ridge walks and rocky ridges.
On Rakuten, some mid-cut shoes carry the “high-cut” label in the listing name. If you're unsure, choose by destination and width, not by the height of the shoe. For day hikes, low-mountain trekking shoes is a useful comparison.
Who is it for?
For a wide choice of widths and sizes, #1, the C1_02S. For ridge walks or hut and tent stays, #2, the GK88. For lightness, #3, the Brighthorn. For the ranking of six mid-cuts, see the hiking boot ranking.
FAQ
Are high-cut trekking shoes right for beginners?
They cover the ankle firmly, which reassures anyone who worries. They are heavier, though, so for day hikes on low mountains only, a lighter mid-cut is also a candidate.
Can you buy high-cut trekking shoes in the ¥20,000 range?
Of the 3 pairs, the Caravan C1_02S at ¥20,900 was the only one in the ¥20,000 range, the 1. The GK88 is ¥29,700 and the Brighthorn ¥27,951.
How many grams per shoe is typical for high-cut hiking boots?
The three pairs here run 551 to 682 g per shoe, heavier than the 400-something grams of mid-cuts.
Can you use high-cut hiking boots for ridge walks?
The GK88 is a boot Caravan describes as built for Northern Alps ridge walks. The C1_02S falls in the class for day hikes through Mt. Fuji climbs.
