User Review: Alico New Guide

Alico New Guide
Above: The current New Guide, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed January 17, 2006 by Ron G.

Rating:
Materials: 3mm waxed Perwanger leather
Use: rugged backpacking, light mountaineering
Break-in Period: ongoing...
Weight: 6 lbs. for the pair
Price Paid: $180

This is one big, heavy, serious, "old school" boot... and at a bargain price from Sierra Trading Post.

The New Guide is very old-fashioned, similar in design and construction to the old Fabiano mountaineering boots, with 3mm thick waxed Perwanger leather, a double-stitched Norwegian welt and big, thick Vibram Montagna outsole. This boot should not be considered a "hiking" boot, because for most people, this heavy of a boot will be a liability. I'd call it a "light mountaineering" boot, but it's significantly heavier than more up-to-date designs in this category. However, this boot is a thing of beauty, a real classic. For those who want to do some trekking like they used to do it, here's your chance.

If you always hike trails, even rough trails, this boot will probably be overkill. If you are a weekend 3-season backpacker, these boots will also probably be overkill. But if you bushwhack up and down rocky, rugged slopes with ice, snow, mud, swollen streams, thickets, and all manner of other obstacles, toting a large load on your back, you may find the New Guide to be a great budget boot. It's very supportive and protective, and really solid.

Fit-wise, I found that the New Guide runs small and narrow (just like the old Fabiano boots). For my 10-EE feet, I wound up with size 10.5 Wide. The toe-box could be roomier, but I have big toes, so this is unlikely to be a problem for those of you with more normal feet. The boots are still a bit tight when I wear my thickest wool socks, but I'm hoping they'll loosen up over the next year or so.

My pair weigh just a hair less than 6 lbs. That's heavy! The good news is that when I climb a snowy, icy Catskill or Adirondack mountain in winter, these boots keep me warm, dry and in control at all times. My strap-on crampons fit securely and the boots fit well in my MSR Denali snowshoes. I can kick steps in frozen soil or gain leverage on slippery boulders, no problem. I may not be running up the slopes in these heavyweights, but given enough daylight, I'll be sure to get there.

On my last hike, I found that the insides of the boots got a bit moist around the welt area. I wonder if that means the welts are leaking a little? I applied some Welt Seal just in case. In any case, my feet stayed dry and warm, wrapped in the soft leather linings. Maybe the moisture was from sweat?

These boots are breaking in well and becoming more comfortable every time I take them out. They're bombproof rugged, keep me warm, dry and safe, and they certainly do look cool in a retro sort of way. The only reason I'm taking away a star is because the New Guides are technically outmoded by today's lighter mountaineering boots. But I'm happy to wear my little pieces of history.