La Sportiva Trango Prime

I've used these boots three times on day hikes and temps were 10-35 degrees with snowshoes and Microspikes. Before I used the boots Sno Seal was put on the leather and stitching, no water came through while going through ankle high streams a few times, I had snowshoes and OR gaiters, so I can't comment on the integrated gaiters.

I am a lifetime La Sportiva loyalist, however, the Trango Prime fell short on performance in my opinion.

This spring on an attempt on the Liberty Ridge, Rainier I spent three days in this light, tough, comfortable, yet stiff boot. The problems began a few short hours after beginning my approach up the snow field. To sum up the trip in two words “Wet Feet.”

I will say that conditions were untypical maritime soggy snow pack and wetter than usual. I am also aware that the EVO’s are Gore-Tex and more suited for wet(ish) conditions. Yet for the price and being described as a technical mix boot for longer approaches I assumed that these types of approaches would include snow. The Prime was wet within hours of my feet hitting snow.

I would like to preface this by stating that I am an X professional mountaineering guide who has years of experience in this type of conditions in Southeastern Alaska and I know how to keep dry…these skills were a lost cause on the Trango Prime. The Primaloft liner was impossible to dry and actually took better than 3 days to dry in my home back in Colorado.

I would run the EVO’s with a light overboot if you needed that added warmth as the Prime will do you little to no good once wet…which they will be.

I couldn't agree more with Billie Prescott - these boots are NOT waterproof. During a 5 day trip of the Bernese Oberland I had a similar experience. My toes were squelching in water after a day in deepish snow. The upper parts of the boots and my socks were fine, (so no seepage through the top - due to the GORETEX gaiters) but I had to wring out the lower ends of my socks when I arrived at the mountain hut. (Embarrassingly, I was the only one who had to do this).

I believe the materials used may be ok 'in theory' (e.g. when immersed in a bucket of water) but in the field they simply just don't work. I have never had this problem with other boots.