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

Anyone looking for a good hiking shoe soon faces a question that sounds simpler than it is: how much shoe do I really need? Too much ankle support can restrict movement, while too little offers insufficient stability. Too much weight costs energy over the miles, while 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 carefully considered.

Hanwag has been operating since 1921, founded in Bavaria and still manufacturing 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 can ideally be resoled rather than discarded.

When buying a hiking boot, most people look at the upper, 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 its Kaduro range, Hanwag uses its own construction: Bead technology. It is based on e-TPU particles (expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, developed by BASF under the Infinergy brand name) – small, pea-sized beads embedded in a PU matrix. That may initially sound like marketing language, but there is a solid physical reason behind it.

The Kaduro Mid GTX is at the heart of the Spring/Summer 2026 additions and the first mid-cut model in the Kaduro family. The choice of a higher collar is not merely aesthetic: a mid-cut stabilises the ankle when it rolls sideways on uneven terrain, provides more guidance through the stride and also helps keep out gravel, dirt and splashes from the side.

At the same time, it does not completely restrict the foot: anyone who wants to move with purpose gets more guidance from a mid-cut than a low-cut, without feeling as confined as in a traditional high-mountain boot. This makes it particularly appealing to hikers carrying heavier packs, those on hut-to-hut and multi-day tours, and anyone tackling uneven ground.

• The upper is made from Perwanger suede leather – a suede with exceptional density and durability that has a long tradition in mountain boot making 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 just as well on rocky trails as it does on forest paths.
• The lining features a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane. "Invisible Fit" means that the membrane is bonded directly to the upper rather than inserted as a separate inner bootie. This reduces weight and prevents folds that could cause pressure points. The membrane itself is made from ePE (expanded polyethylene) – a newer generation of Gore-Tex that is PFAS-free and, according to the manufacturer, also offers greater breathability.
• A TPU protective toe cap protects against rock impacts and stumbles. 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 (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 model with Perwanger suede leather, it fills a niche that is rarely addressed directly: hikers who appreciate the durability and look of a leather shoe but do not want a higher collar.

The low-cut design offers greater freedom of movement at the ankle, makes the shoe more agile on well-maintained paths and responds faster to changes of direction than a mid-cut. It is the choice for anyone used to a low-cut shoe who does not want to give it up, while also 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 care for your shoes – applying waterproofing after every longer tour and occasionally using a quality leather-care product – you will get a shoe that stands up far more robustly to weather and mechanical stress.

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 – lighter and more breathable, but less robust when exposed to mechanical stress and the elements.

Its low weight is a real advantage for day hikes on well-maintained paths, long-distance trails or mountain paths with little loose rock: less weight on your feet means less effort over the course of the day.

It is important to understand that the Light GTX is not less well made than the Low and Mid GTX – it is designed differently. The Bead midsole, Gore-Tex ePE membrane and durable HANWAG outsole are identical. The technical foundation is the same; only the upper is built around different priorities: saving more weight and increasing breathability, at the expense of abrasion resistance and the robustness of leather.