La Sportiva Boulder X Mid

They're a great, durable summer mountaineering and alpine hiking boot. For winter hiking I'd look at something a little more flexible, lighter, and most especially with a wider toebox (which would make it warmer). The Boulder Xs are climbing-focused and the skinny-ish forefoot and relatively unpadded forefoot are not optimized for trail walking.

I was thinking the stiffer sole of the Boulder would be an asset for off-trail mixed snow/rock scrambles. Anything specific you'd recommend as an alternative? The Scarpa Tech Ascent also caught my eye, although I'm not quite convinced it's worth the $80 premium over the Boulder X Mid. Both shoes are available in size 48, which is a plus, since several others I've looked at max out a full size smaller.

Thanks Dave for your good input on the Boulders. Any light weight boot out there that you reccomend wiht the larger toe box? I will be using thee for 3 season use: spring, winter, and early spring. The coldest I would expect to use the combo above would be 0-10 below at worst. Thanks!

Anyone any input on the Boulders or the Hyper Mid GTX? Any input would be welcomed!

I use the hyper mid gtx

Its a fine boot, probably more of a crossover between a light mountain boot and a trail runner

;)

I've found the Zamberlan Crosser Mid to be satisfactory. It's wider but not especially wide, light, and tough. LaSportiva's new Synthesis Mid is also worth investigating.

Thanks Eric. Do you use these on snow, and some ice hiking with strap on crampons? How do they do for that? This would be for light, fairly low angle ice fields.

Ive used them with microspikes

If i conditions call for real crampons, i bring out the real boots … For front pointing youll want a stiffer sole

Be a bit careful with using light approach shoes/boots for harder winter conditions … Even with overboot, remeber the soles arent usually insulated

Not saying it cant be done or its a bad idea … Just be careful

If yr winter scrambling or winter climbing theres a reason why most sponsored climbers (who do crazier things than we ever will) use proper boots

And before someone brings it up … Killian jornet uses shoes, but none of us are at his level and even he takes significant risks are the rescue of his partners who arent quite at his level shows

;)