Invernos vs. Koflach

Hello:

I am currently looking at getting a pair of plastic boots. I'll be in Santiago, Chile for the next 6 months and will be doing some mountaineering (mostly non-technical) around Santiago and probably an attempt at Aconcagua at the end. I've looked at the Scarpa Invernos and they seem like a good boot except for that they might not be warm enough with the standard liner for Aconcagua and high altitude. I've also looked at the Koflach Arctis Expes and Degres as warmer options.

If anyone has experience with the standard and HA Inverno liners with regard to high altitude I would appreciate any comments/input.

Also, if I end up going with the Arctis Expes or Degres do you think they will be too warm for summer/low altitude mountaineering? I appreciate all input.

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The Koflach Arctis will be the warmest option for you; the Degre not as much. The Scarpa Inverno is an excellent boot as well; very strong shell - they'll last forever. Compared to Koflach, the Scarpa is much stiffer. The standard liner that comes with the Arctis is good to go for high altitude; the Inverno stock liner is wool/loden which is fine, and plenty warm - it just absorbs moisture and doesnt dry as fast - use VBL socks with that one if you're going to use it for very cold temperatures/high altitude. I know some guys who use Intuition liners in the Invernos with great success. Scarpa also makes an alveolite liner for the Inverno.

Hope that helps!

J.

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I have had my Scarpas for a number of years and used them in the Alaska Range (wore them to summit Denali) and Antarctica (on Vinson), plus a lot of warmer peaks and for ice climbing. I wore out one pair of the standard liners (all liners pack down with time), got a second pair, then decided to get the Inverno thermofit liners. The Invernos worked well on Denali, Vinson, glacier walks up various tall volcanoes and other peaks, and ice climbing. I have had them in -30 to -40 temperatures for up to a week at a time several times. Overall, I am quite happy with them. The main complaint is that they are heavy (the Koflach are lighter). Also, Scarpa (and all the other plastic boot manufacturers, including ski boot manufacturers) do note that, like all plastics, prolonged exposure to UV (so any extended high altitude usage) will cause the plastic to deteriorate. Eventually they degrade to the point of cracking. Although I haven't noticed this with the Invernos (yet!), I have had plastic ski boots crack and tear from the UV exposure (you can tell it's UV by the deterioration coming since it is the most exposed areas that show it). I often wear gaiters or overboots, which decrease the exposure. I used to use Supergators until they became hard to find and my last pair came apart.

If I were to get new boots (probably next season), I would get the Koflach, mostly because they are lighter. I would get the thermofit liners because they are both lighter than the regular ones and they are warmer. Friends who have them (Brian, your comments needed here) have a pretty strong preference for them as an all-around ice/glacier boot.

But I would question whether you really need something like this for Aconcagua. That is fairly warm as 20kft mountains go (not as warm as Kili, though, where trail runners are almost warm enough). Unless you are going up one of the glacier routes rather than the standard trail.

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I own the Invernos and have rented the koflach degree before, one other difference that has not been mentioned yet is the fit. My invernos are much narrower than the koflach boots, especially in the arch section. I really liked both boots and have used them on altitudes between 10,000-14,000 feet. good luck!

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