HELP me choose boots!! ADVICE PLEASE!

[Siggy Chaloupka]

Hi guys,

Im now looking for a pair of boots. Situation is, I'm doing some general mountaineering/iceclimbing in New Zealand, and I've already eyed a good pair of stiff technical mountaineering boots.

Now im looking to get a pair of boots, for lighter, more moderate mountaineering and heavy pack carrying approaches/via ferrata and scrambling with a little more flex.
Ive eyed a few:

– Zamberlan Expert Plus.
– Zamberlan Pelmo Plus GT.
– La Sportiva Karakorum.
– La Sportiva Makalu
– La Sportiva Glacier

I hate synthetic boots, and was looking for a leather boot with crampon compatibility.
I have a thing for Italian boots oncepiece leather upper boots, even all my soccer boots are italian made.

I was let down with some Mammuts/Raichles that we stocked in the store where i work….soles debonding on the Mt Crest and Mt Trail boots, so…i'm not really keen. Also boots with multiple fabric/leather panels, have been returned to us for repair as it seems basically the more seams on a boot, the more stress concentrations and the more that can go wrong.

Vent your thoughts PLEASE.

[slavenya slavenya]

Well,

Everybody in this forum will strongly advice you to take light runners or some.

But if you really want boot, there are couple of boots that you should look into:
Lowa Banff Pro
http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/ShowBoot.cfm?StockNum=2104954649&Category=2&Type=M
And
Asolo TPS 535 LTH V
http://www.asolo.com/eng/prod_list.php?area=2&catid=5

I have Lowa and they heavy but close to perfect for my purpose.

[Roger Caffin]

Assuming you want these to take step-in crampons … then the rules are Comfort, Comfort and Comfort.

Cheers

[Siggy Chaloupka]

yeh, I already have a pair of Salomon Elios GTX's, compfey as anything.

Its a lighter weight classic mountaineering shoe im after.

I have tried on the ASOLO, gun boot that! nice and wide fit. Lowes are a little hard to find in Australia though!

[Siggy Chaloupka]

Yeh, Grivels, because I can get them cheap at the moment through work.

Do you have any suggestions Roger? ur a pretty thorough bloke when it does come to reviewing and suggesting gear.
(you inspired me to get a tunnel tent!)

Cheers mate.

[Rod Lawlor]

Siggy, are you planning on putting crampons on these? And are they for use on snow, or just on rock/tracks?

[Dave Myers]

I love my Inov8 Roclite 288 boots. They are the most comfortable boot I have ever owned and are very light and flexible. They were made for mountain running. If they are a bit too light for what you are wanting you might try the Roclite 390 which I have heard a lot of great things about.

[Siggy Chaloupka]

Hi guys,

Yeh i am looking for a crampon compatible boot.
I am going to NZ for a Snow survival course and also a Mountaineering/Ice-Mixed climbing course.
I have eyed some really stiff soled boots, for the climbing side, but want a more traditional mountaineering boot for less technical work, and also to a point, trekking to and fro such areas.

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Siggy

I don't have any step-ins, just rather old ones with straps. Heavy boots are out of my comfort zone :-)

I do know people use the simple strap-ons with solid GTX joggers – Mont Blanc has been climbed that way, and I think Mt Cook has been too.

Cheers

[Nick Gatel]

I abandoned my Lowa Banff boots a couple years ago.

But they are the best leather boot I have ever owned. Hand made in Germany with one piece leather.

Hmm… how can a hand made leather boot from Germany cost the same as the other major brands that now make their boots in China?

Edit: I abandoned them for trail runners. But they are still in my gear closet.

[Siggy Chaloupka]

Hey guys,

I have heard a tonne about Lowa boots recently. Does anyone know where u can get them in Australia?
If not….should i take the gamble and order some online?

I typically fit a 42 boot for normal hiking, this includes ASOLOS and La Sportivas and Zamberlans and Mammut/Raichles.

would it be an idea to order a pair of Lowa boots online? Of course i guess for alpine conditions i would have to go up a half size to 42.5 for the thicker socks.

What are your thoughts?

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