Koflach Arctis Expe

Summary

Easy to walk in.

I take a size 10.5 in my summer hiking boots and the 11's with Smartwool mountain socks fit great.
I bought these boots for camping because you can take the inner boot with you in the sleeping bag and they are sturdy also for hiking in the White Mountains.

The weight of the boots don't bother me but I found that the inner boot rubs below the calves so I wrap them. I'm guessing it's because I have skinny legs. I have used them three times, once camping in about negative 10 degrees and my feet did feel the cold slightly. The other two times was hiking in the white mountains, about 0 degerees and recently hiking Mount Osceola and it was about 10 degrees.

Crampon use is easy, once you've done it a few times.

1. They are back in business in 2011.
2. Guru Dane Burns wrote:
   Wet or cold this boot will do both with ease. Still light by modern standards but unchanged for a few years now. Still one of the best all around endurance ice boots available. Alaska alpine ice or the big faces in the Alps ... this one will do both better than the modern stuff.
   
   
3. They dry much easier then Baturas when wet (my own experience!!!).
4. They are flexible to walk in. Use them on your approach skis.
5. Compare them with the Baruntse?
6. They are warm.

I purchased these 30 cm monsters in Japan (where I live and climb), mainly because there was no other boot that would fit my feet. The shop owner threw in an extra pair of liners 'cause customers for this particular size range are evidently far and few between. The extra set is one size down and fits with single socks and possibly from an older model i.e. velcro, no laces.

Have used the boots for three seasons. Here's what I've learned about them:

1. Super warm. I've used the smaller liners 90% of the time, even in -18 to -20c temperatures. Have started using the lace ups only because the smaller ones have begun to rip apart near the velcro wings and sewing by hand has proven ineffective. The lace ups require double socks, are too warm and end up getting very wet inside (the moisture from using the smaller liners with one pair of socks for a week one time was tolerable, though my partners may not have thought so).

2. Super rigid, so great for front-pointing vertical ice and rock. They fit my feet perfectly so there's no problem with slippage.

3. On the other hand, the rigidity rapidly brings on Koflacitis to my shins if there's any extended walking involved, basically every time I use them. Flat snow or rock is ok, but any uphill walking turns me into a duck. Likewise, descents are particularly uncomfortable and scary, as I either have to take the punishment or allow the boots to throw me off balance as I step down. Experiments with lacing don't seem to help.

4. The shells started peeling after 2 seasons. Paper thin sheets @ 3x4 cm. Not so big and not cracks, but it does cause me some concern.

If it weren't for the discomfort caused from walking I would consider these boots again as I'm satisfied otherwise, but I'll be looking closely at the latest single construction synthetics for next season.

I have had these boots for 8 years. Climbed around the Cascades, up Rainer, in Canada and they are hands down, the most comfortable and reliable. I have never had any foot problems, i.e. blisters. They are flexible and easy to walk in, whether glacier scree or pavement, they walk about as easy as any hiking boot.

They are a cold weather boot though. On Rainer my feet were hot and sweaty, even in 10 F weather. Awesome for ice climbing. I use a rigid frame crampon and they make front pointing a breeze. A couple of things that are irritating are that the black rubber toe welt started separating early from the yellow plastic and the top edge of the liners where the black inner lining meets the silver plastic edge wore through. So now the foam insulation sticks out, but who cares, its under the gaiters.

Overall a superb boot, bummer that Koflach isn't importing boots anymore.

I thoroughly enjoyed these boots for the three+ years that I had them. They were incredibly warm even in the coldest temps. I've used them trekking up through talus, on snowfields and glaciers, and on vertical ice.

Which leads me to the end of my boots. I was climbing a pitch of vertical ice and one of my boots cracked on the top front over the toes. Luckily, I wasn't on an expedition.

In their defense, they still kept my feet dry after I stepped into a creek on the descent!

These boots rock! People may whine about them being heavy compared to leathers, but it simply isn't a factor. I haven't noticed them being heavier than leathers once they're on my feet. I've ice climbed in them several times now and they frontpoint better than my La Sportiva Nepals. As for walking around they have enough of a rocker sole to be comfortable. Plus, when winter camping you cannot beat the removable liners. No cold feet again!

Perfect for high altitude, alveolite liners keep my feet warm to the top of aconcagua (22,837 feet)

hard lowers offer extreme warmth and soft uppers walk really well. My favorite boot of all time. :)