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Looking to buy a pair of mountaineering/aproach boots for backpacking and intro mountaineering. Right now I'm looking at the Scarpa Cerro's, Merrell High Cascades and La Sportiva Glacier's. Anyone got any advice or experience on the subjects at hand?
I've climbed several Cascade volcanos in the Glaciers. I love this shoe. Fits me extremely well. Offers good traction on both hard pack and deeper snow. Also does well on scree (sp?) and other rocky shit. I've used this shoe with BD's basic Newmatic crampon. A fine combo. It is a flexy boot, so would may not want to use it on really steep stuff for long. Also, these boots with no insulation, so stay out of winter or winter-like conditions lest you freeze your littl' putties off. To date, these boots have held up very well and I expect many years of used out of them. I also use Down Under insoles in these which, for me, makes for a better fit.
For colder times and climes, I recently purchased a pair of La Sportiva K4 boots. These are stiff-soled puppies with Thermolite..Thinsulite...whatever insulation. Haven't tried 'em yet.
Conversely, I've never had any luck with Merell booties. My last pair (and by that, I do mean LAST) pair gave me blisters something terrible. They were very pretty, though- until I hit some rock and they scuffed up badly. Traction was so-so. Grand Traverse, yeah, I think that that's what they were called, a model no longer in production. Good riddance!
Do the Cascades still have good ankle support? they seemed kind of low.
OK, i'll bite.
For all around mtneering boot you want something that takes crampons (those hybrid bindings ones, like Grivel Newmatic). Gives enough support to the ankle and has enough rubber at the rand so the scree doesn't damage the leather.
A few good ones I would suggest getting are Garmont Tower GTX, La Sportiva Trango S, Kayland Multitraction or the similar new boot by Scarpa. Shop around and get the ones that firt yer feet best.
If planning on doing winter-stuff get something warmer (Scarpa Cumbre, Sportiva Nepal Extreme, Jannu or something like that).
I got a good deal on Tower GTX's and have been using 'em for around 3 yearsa now, climbs up to 5.6 (and I'm just braking the 5.10 barrier on climbing shoes) without any probs and can also lead WI 3''ish stuff as well (for steeper & long front-pointing sessions something like Nepal Top or Extreme or Trango Extreme would be better).
But the main point is to get boots that FIT.
What size feet?
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=29831
I saw your post earlier. Fucking A, one size too large.
I generally wear 8.5 to 9's, other wise I'd buy em.
Well, I tried. I want them to go to a good home, as they are just dust gatherers now.
Hope you find something that works and if your feet grow, PM me. :biggrin:
You can't tell me that no one else here has had any experiences with mountaineering boots.