Footwear for Photographers by Jerónimo Saurio
Why your boots matter as much as your sensor?
How much time do you spend choosing your next subject, and how much time choosing your footwear?
Most landscape photographers invest thousands of euros in carbon tripods to achieve maximum stability, but we forget that the first support point of the camera isn’t the tripod, it’s our feet.
If your feet aren’t stable, your vision won’t be either. In author photography, boots are actually the first image stabilization system. To test the new Bestard Moncayo II, a walk in the park wasn’t enough. I went straight to the Mazarrón Mines and Tenerife, locations that look like they belong to another planet, but are physically very demanding terrains. Mazarrón is a labyrinth of loose earth that collapses, abrasive oxide slopes, and pools of acidic water. Tenerife, meanwhile, offers routes through forests, volcanic rock beaches, and high mountain terrain while exploring some of the most impressive rock formations. After weeks of expedition, these are the three key reasons why the Moncayo II have become an essential part of my gear.
Technical Specifications
The Moncayo II are classic mid-mountain trekking boots, designed to offer the perfect balance between technical robustness and comfort during long days. They are versatile footwear, ideal for mixed terrain and variable weather conditions.
1. Upper Material
2.2 mm Perwanger® Leather: Sourced from the Tyrolean Alps, it is considered the best leather in the world for mountain boots. It is extremely abrasion-resistant, water-repellent, and, unlike other leathers, maintains its shape and breathability even in extreme conditions. Protective Rubber Rand: Includes reinforced toe protection to shield the boot from rocks and abrasion in technical terrain.
2. Inner Lining (Waterproofing)
GORE-TEX Performance Comfort: This membrane ensures the boot is 100% waterproof while still allowing moisture to escape. The “Performance Comfort” level is ideal for changing climates and medium-to-high intensity activities, keeping feet dry from both external water and internal humidity.
3. Sole and Grip
Vibram® Foura: A high-performance sole known for durability. It features deep lugs that provide 360-degree traction, excellent grip on steep descents, and a braking zone at the heel. It is resistant to temperature changes and mineral wear (like that found in mining terrain).
4. Midsole and Stabilization
Bestflex 3 / Normal: A mid-stiffness construction insole. It provides the necessary stability for carrying heavy backpacks on uneven terrain, while maintaining enough flexibility to avoid fatigue on flatter sections.
5. Weight and Fit Specifications
Approximate Weight: 725 grams (per boot in UK size 8 / EU 42). A solid boot that inspires confidence without being excessively heavy. Europa Last: A standard medium-width fit that adapts well to European foot anatomy, offering toe space to prevent pressure during descents.
6. Construction Details
Lacing System: High-resistance metal hardware allows zonal adjustment (you can tighten the instep more and loosen the ankle, or vice versa). Pull Tabs: Rear pull loops for easier on/off.
Testing in Mazarrón Mines
I went to the Mazarrón Mines, a place that is visually a paradise for moody photography, but physically a nightmare for any boot that isn’t high-end. Mazarrón is not just red soil; it’s a labyrinth of unstable sediments, deep gullies, and oxide surfaces that act like sandpaper.
Here, safety isn’t a luxury, it’s the tool that allows you to focus on the viewfinder instead of the fall. Stability on “Living” Terrain. The first thing I noticed when wearing the Moncayo II was their ability to tame the ground. In the mines, the terrain is “alive”: what looks like solid rock is often a mineral crust that breaks. The Vibram Foura sole anchored perfectly on yellow and red clay slopes, giving me the confidence to set up the tripod at angles where I previously wouldn’t even dare step.
Searching for reflections, I ended up near the famous red pools with extreme pH levels. These areas have constant humidity and dense mineral mud. Thanks to Gore-Tex Performance Comfort, I was able to work just centimeters from acidic water with completely dry feet. As a landscape photographer, you know cold and wet feet kill patience. If you’re comfortable, you stay 10 minutes longer, and those 10 minutes often deliver the photo of the trip. Resistance to Mineral Abrasion.
My verdict from the mines: If your photography takes you off asphalt and into mud, rock, and uncertainty, you need a stable platform. The Bestard Moncayo II have gone from being an accessory to becoming an essential part of my photography gear.
Testing in Tenerife
If there’s one place that tests a photographer’s endurance, it’s Tenerife. In a single day, you can photograph sunrise at sea level on the rocks of Benijo, surrounded by salt spray and humidity, and end the day capturing stars at 2,300 meters altitude in Teide National Park, with sub-zero temperatures.
For this trip, the Bestard Moncayo II weren’t an option, they were a necessity. Photographing Teide means moving through “malpaís” terrain: fields of solidified lava that act like blades. There are no smooth paths here.
The Vibram Foura sole proved why it’s a mountain standard; the grip on porous volcanic rock is absolute. It allowed me to move quickly between basalt blocks searching for that unique “Roques de García” composition without worrying that a slip would end with my gear smashed against the rock.
From Anaga Salt Spray to Teide Clouds. One of the biggest enemies of footwear on the islands is the sudden change in conditions. In Anaga, the terrain is wet, with slippery mud and water-laden air. Here, the Gore-Tex membrane performed at full capacity, my feet stayed dry despite puddles and horizontal rain.
The best part came when climbing Teide. As night fell, temperatures dropped dramatically. Thanks to the thickness of the Perwanger leather and good thermal socks, I was able to endure three hours of circumpolar shooting without the cold forcing me to pack up.
In Tenerife, if your feet get cold or wet, the session ends long before the light. Support for the Heavy-Backpack Photographer. Tenerife demands hikes with significant elevation gain. Carrying a camera body, three lenses, filters, and a tripod puts serious strain on your ankles. The mid-cut design of the Moncayo II provides that extra level of security, allowing you to descend steep trails with a loaded backpack without your foot moving inside the boot.
