Via ferrata footwear needs to combine seemingly contradictory features:
It has to be comfortable enough for long periods of walking, as well as provide stability for climbing. It should meet the wearer’s requirements in the mountains and for climbing iron rungs or ladders. It also needs to be made of a robust material, have a sturdy sole and offer good grip.
In addition, more difficult via ferratas demand more precise foot placement. A sole with torsion stability is all-important here (in order to provide an efficient and powerful grip grip) but a flexible upper is important too, as is flexibility in the sole, to ensure effective friction.
Generally, footwear intended for climbing has a narrower fit than trekking footwear. And via ferrata footwear often has a special step-ladder element on the sole between the ball-of-the-foot and the heel to prevent slipping on iron rungs.
Because it is impossible to always predict the weather and conditions in the mountains it is vital that all rock climbing, alpine and via ferrata footwear is constructed with a GORE-TEX® membrane to ensure sufficient waterproofing.
The HANWAG models particularly suitable for via ferrata are the Super Friction GTX, Zenit GTX AND Crack Safety GTX. Since 2007 we have been making a specialist via ferrata and rock climbing shoe, the Ferrata GTX. It’s ideal for rocky terrain, is light and stable and has a Vibram® Climbing Sole that provides extreme flexibility in the ball-of-the-foot area.