If you are an old "oldtimer" plastic boots were not made yet - back then we called one-piece leather boots with a inside-stitch sole (sole did not stick out from the boot) a mountaineering boot. They had steel shank innersoles and were stiff as boards! These boots usually weighted 5-7 pounds. You learned to walk flat-footed. Could not go very fast, but when you were loaded up withh 30+ pounds of climbing gear and all the heavy stuff of yesteryear, you never went very fast anyway. Ah-- the good old days!