Footwear
Footwear UK: What are walking shoe categories?
Category A & A/B
The only difference between the categories A and A/B is the height of the shaft. Category A walking boots have a low shaft whereas category A/B feature a half-shaft. Category A and A/B are light and flexible walking boots that are designed for flat or hilly terrain. This can include trails in the mountains when only a daypack is worn.
Category B and B/C
Hiking boots in this category are stiffer and stronger than Category A and A/B boots. They are made for mountainous terrain where you wear a heavy backpack and hike challenging trails.
Category C
This category of hiking boots are suitable for heavy trecking in the mountains, for example, a multi-day alpine hike in the Alps. The shoes have a stiff sole that is suitable for flexible crampons. The shoes are also suitable for rock climbing. Using these shoes for a flat walk is not recommended, as the stiff sole makes normal foot motion almost impossible on flat ground.