Mountaineering Boots

Featured review by Andrew F.

A good general purpose mountaineering boot. After a few years, I purchased insulated high-altitude liners that substantially increase their warmth. Because they are stiff, it is very important to lace them while leaning forward to avoid shin bang. heavier and more clunky to walk in than the more recent leather mountaineering boots, but more likely to keep your toes intact in persistent sub-zero temperatures.

UPDATE: a year or two after I wrote the original review below, i purchased the insulated liners.  they make a huge difference in keeping your feet warm.  they also occupy more volume, meaning I tend not to wear them with expedition-weight socks for the most part.  i think the Inverno is only sold with insulated boot liners now. what i learned over time is that the key to avoiding 'shin bang,' a known bugaboo with these boots, is that it's best to lace the upper section of the outer boot while leaning forward, bending your knee.  that gives you enough leeway to keep your shins happy and helps them feel a little less like walking in ski boots, especially in the snow.  I also find it helps to lace them up and go for a couple of walks at home...

Read more: Scarpa Inverno reviews (17)

Reviewed by KiwiKlimber

Much more than your average boot, the Trango Cube GTX Highlander boots are great on more technical trails and rock scrambles, and perform ideally when the weather turns less than ideal.

Highlander Model Note: The Trango Cube GTX Highlanders I tested are the same as the Trango Cube GTX mountaineering boots, but in a camo pattern aimed at hunters. I tested them primarily with that use in mind. Conditions: Trekking along the ridges and valleys of the Allegheny and Appalachian mountains, these boots have seen their fair share of the woods. For approximately four months, these boots have been put to the test while hiking and hunting. Conditions have ranged from 60°F to -10°F (15.5C to -23C) and the boots have trudged through snow, ice, mud, creeks, leaf litter, up and over limestone rocks, shale, and much more.

Read more: La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX review (1)

Reviewed by Jake W

The Scarpa Zodiac Tech is a near perfect light mountain boot. Great sticky Vibram sole and a perfect fit makes for all day comfort. I’d love to see a toe welt added and the colour possibly tweaked a little. This boot would be best for glacial travel, light scrambling, non-technical peaks as well as winter hiking (both with traction devices or snowshoes).

Opening Rant I’m not sure what category these boots fit in. And I don’t say that as a negative, as you can see from the star rating and (if reading further) an otherwise glowing review. I just don’t know what they do best, probably because they do at lot of things really, really well. They are clearly taking aim at the La Sportiva Trango’s strangle hold of the “somewhere in between the approach and the mountaineering boot” market, but that is a very small niche.  You could easily get away with using them exclusively for three-season mountaineering, and even some mild winter peaks, but anything around -15°C or colder you are going to want more insulation, as well as the ability to dry out a double boot.

Read more: Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX review (1)

Featured review by Rosco

My playground resides 120KM west -- the Canadian Rockies. I spent the 3 months leading up to spring break searching for a boot. I visited every store that sold outdoor gear in Calgary and came up empty handed. My last resource was Banff National Park. This is not a place to buy gear if you are on a budget. Typically, costs in this resort town are 15-20% higher than the city. I paid $380.00 for the Makalu, $45.00 for gas on the first trip, then $45.00 again for the second trip because they put a size 10 in the box instead of an 11.

Read more: La Sportiva Makalu reviews (61)

Featured review by Nick Mesarhakis

A good all-rounder.

I've used this pair for 2,5 years extensively in the Cretan mountains on mixed rocky terrain and also in snow ascents. Salewa describes this boot for mountaineering use and for via ferrata and is crampon compatible which is kinda odd because even though it has a heel welt for use with semi-automatic crampons the boot is not insulated so my feet freeze even with a good pair of winter Primaloft socks! And I'm not a guy who gets cold easily... The color is "Night Black Kamille" and the weight is at around 660gr per boot (size 43EU) so pretty lightweight for a leather boot.

Read more: Salewa Rapace GTX reviews (6)

Featured review by Eugene Bodrero

Replaced a pair of long lived Asolo TPS 520s with these in preparation for a mountaineering climb that required crampons. I loved the Asolos but needed something with a more rigid sole.

In 1989 I bought my first "real" hiking boots. The $80 Vasque boots bragged of full-grain leather, double-stitched soles, steel shank, leather liner, and Vibram soles. They made me feel like I could go through anything. They lasted me about 10 years until one of the soles separated from the upper 7 miles up a snowy trail. When I pulled off my gaiters off for the night and saw the front sole of my boot hanging, I realized why my foot seemed to be getting so wet. The La Sportiva Krakorums have the same old-school feel without the weight.

Read more: La Sportiva Karakorum reviews (5)

Featured review by Nathan V

I have to give these boots mad props (yes I said mad props). Here's the story: I was stupid and had the brilliant idea of traversing Mt. Adams north to south but the catch was I parked my car on the south side forcing me to backpack around the mountain... Great idea right? Any way I wore these boots for the entire 11 mile trip around the west side of the mountain and although they weren't exactly comfortable, they didn't destroy my feet either. Ok, so I thought I'd be clever and not lace them up all the way so I could flex my ankle a bit more which resulted in some blisters, an easy fix.

Read more: La Sportiva Nepal EVO GTX reviews (7)

Reviewed by Jakuchu

Solid classic gets several small but innovative upgrades.

I found myself on a different continent with sudden opportunities to go up to the Mont Blanc and do some ice and mixed climbing. I had some gear with me but not my mountaineering boots. After visiting all the rental shops that were open and not finding a boot that fit me, I had to bite down and buy a new pair. It hurt, but relatively little in the feet.  Fit: The Mont Blanc Pro GTX (upgrade from the Scarpa's classic Mont Blanc GTX) is built on the NAG last. I have very narrow feet, and these were slightly wide for me.

Read more: Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro GTX review (1)

Featured review by Nick Mesarhakis

My definite winter boot. Couldn't be happier!

I needed some stiff boot for winter mountaineering and as per multiple friends' recommendations I was going to buy the trusted Nepal Evo. That was until I started digging a little more into the Nepal series... Enter the Cube! I admit, it was a gamble because there where very few reviews and no references from any fellow hiker. Cube's main selling point compared to the Evo is the carbon honeycomb insole that ups the price +160€ but adds extra warmth and reduces the weight -150gr. per boot.

Read more: La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX reviews (2)

Reviewed by Eric H

This is a very sturdy boot, made with quality materials.

This is a very sturdy boot, made with quality thick suede and metal eyelets with an adjustable lace system to hold your heal tightly in place. It runs about 1/2 to 1 full size small. Even though the sizing runs small, they are made with correct proportions for average to wide feet. I did replace the factory insoles with Superfeet inserts to add support and comfort before I went on an outing with them, so I am not able to tell you how they are with the factory insoles. They are a very serious mountaineering boot made to last, made to be waterproof, and made to be comfortable (for me after they were broken in hiking a few short hikes and then about an 8 mile hike).

Read more: Scarpa Wrangell GTX review (1)