The Hanwag Kaduro collection: hiking shoe highlights for the new season

Anyone looking for a good hiking shoe quickly faces a question that sounds simpler than it is: how much shoe do I really need? Too much ankle support restricts movement, while too little offers insufficient stability. Too much weight costs energy over the miles; too little durability can lead to discomfort.

Hanwag has deliberately translated this trade-off into a product system. The Kaduro line consists of three models: the Kaduro Light GTX (textile, low-cut), the Kaduro Low GTX (Perwanger suede leather, low-cut) and the Kaduro Mid GTX (Perwanger suede leather, mid-cut). All three share the same midsole technology and the same generation of Gore-Tex membrane. Their differences are deliberately designed.

Hanwag has been operating since 1921. Founded in Bavaria, it continues to manufacture in Europe today. In an industry where most hiking shoes are produced in Asia, this is a deliberate alternative: greater control over materials and workmanship, shorter supply chains and a shoe that is ideally resoled rather than discarded.

When buying hiking boots, most people look at the collar, leather and membrane. What happens in the midsole often remains unseen, yet it is the key element for comfort over many kilometres and durability over many years.

For the Kaduro range, Hanwag relies on its own construction: Bead Technology. It is based on e-TPU particles, or expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, developed by BASF under the Infinergy brand. These small, pea-sized beads are embedded in a PU matrix. It may sound like marketing jargon at first, but there is a solid physical reason behind it.

You can read more about the technology here

The Kaduro Mid GTX is at the heart of the new spring/summer 2026 collection and the first mid-cut model in the Kaduro family. The decision to use a higher collar is not purely aesthetic: a mid-cut boot stabilises the ankle when it rolls sideways on uneven terrain, provides more guidance through the step and helps keep gravel, dirt and splashes from entering at the sides.

At the same time, it does not completely restrict the foot. If you want to move with purpose, a mid-cut offers more support than a low-cut without feeling as restrictive as a traditional mountain boot. That makes it particularly appealing for hikers carrying heavier packs, hut-to-hut and multi-day trips, and routes with uneven ground.

• The upper is made from Perwanger suede leather. This particularly dense, robust suede has a long tradition in mountain boot construction and is considered more resistant to abrasion and weather than many standard leathers. Combined with textile inserts at flex points, it creates a material mix that works equally well on rocky trails and forest paths.
• Inside, a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane takes care of protection. "Invisible Fit" means the membrane is directly laminated to the upper rather than used as a separate inner bootie. This reduces weight and prevents folds that could cause pressure points. The membrane itself is made from ePE, or expanded polyethylene, a newer Gore-Tex generation that is PFAS-free and, according to the manufacturer, also offers greater breathability.
• A TPU protective toe cap guards against rocks and knocks in the toe area. The PU suede leather heel counter stabilises the heel. Weight comes in at around 880 g per pair (size 42/UK 8) for men, a respectable result for a leather boot with a mid-cut collar. The women’s version, the Kaduro Mid Lady GTX, weighs around 810 g per pair (size 38/UK 5).

The Kaduro Low GTX is also new for spring/summer 2026 and, in some respects, the most interesting choice in the range. As a low-cut shoe made with Perwanger suede leather, it fills a niche that is rarely addressed directly: hikers who value the durability and look of a leather shoe but do not want a higher collar.

The low-cut design gives the ankle greater freedom of movement, makes the shoe more agile on well-maintained paths and responds more quickly to changes in direction than a mid-cut. It is the choice for anyone accustomed to a low-cut shoe who does not want to give it up, while still wanting the material upgrade over a purely textile shoe.

A frank note: Perwanger suede leather needs care. If you simply want to clean your shoes after every wet outing and forget about them, the Light GTX is the better choice. But if you look after your footwear with waterproofing treatment after every major trip and a quality leather-care product now and then, you will get a shoe that stands up far more robustly to weather and mechanical wear.

The Kaduro Light GTX differs from its siblings in one key respect: the upper material. Instead of Perwanger suede leather, it uses a polyester-polyurethane fabric that is lighter and more breathable, but less robust when exposed to mechanical wear and the elements.

The low weight is a real advantage for day hikes on well-maintained trails, long-distance hiking routes or mountain paths with little loose rock: less weight on your feet means less energy expenditure over the hours.

One important point: the Light GTX is not less well constructed than the Low and Mid GTX. It is designed differently. The Bead midsole, Gore-Tex ePE membrane and durable HANWAG outsole are identical. The technological foundation is the same, but the upper is built around different priorities: lower weight and greater breathability, at the expense of abrasion resistance and the robustness of leather.