Mountaineering Boots

Featured review by 2wheelsteel

Classic leather mountaineering boot that is still made, but hard to acquire if you live in USA. Will refine review upon arrival and some trail time. auvieuxcampeur.fr/chaussures-super-guide.html

I contacted Pelle Line, in NJ, in May 2020. They were nice BUT they wanted $845. So I declined and continued my quest. I contacted Paraboot directly—NO REPLY. I even got a contact at Paraboot, Pierre Colin, from Thierry Hoo at alaville-alamontagne.com in France that sells the SG's (but does not ship to USA). In the end the only current viable source for SG's is Au Vieux Campeur. My last boots (La Sportiva Makalu) were size 42; they lasted 25 years. I ordered size 43, as the recommendation from Au Vieux Campeur was to order one size up and they did not have size 42.

Read more: Galibier Super Guide reviews (29)

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 EBART

Was warm for a June summit of Mt. Rainier. Felt light on my feet and never had an issue with blisters or wetness.

After considering plastic vs. leather and insulated vs. non-insulated I centered in on these boots for my June 2012 trip to Mt. Rainier. I used a Camp front bail type crampon and never had it fail me. The boot was light enough for the all day trek to Camp Muir and warm enough that night when we left for the summit. Coming down it was hot and the snow was soft enough that you plunged two feet down with each step. I never had water come in the boot. The ankle cuff was just snug enough to keep out loose snow that got behind the gaiter.  The Perwanger leather did get a little wet but never came into the boot, thank you GTX.

Read more: Scarpa Mont Blanc GTX reviews (3)

Featured review by Rob Keith

Fantastic for what it is built to do.

I just got back from a 5-day excursion in Northern Ontario. These were the only boots/shoes I brought. When not needed for more trying climbs/hikes, the boot was real easy to adjust loosely around the foot to be worn like a pair of slippers. The fit was right on the money with my measurements. Also, the boots stayed warm in temps that hovered in the negative teens F. Only in a few instances were my toes cold, very rarely. Snowshoeing in these boots was a dream. Longest hike was just under 13 miles and only slight shin bruising after the day occurred.

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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.

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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.

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Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

Good for three-season mountaineering from trail head to summit. Now you don't need approach shoes any more. Light is fast and fast is safer.

Review The weight and stiffness of mountaineering boots make them something I put on with reluctance and only when absolutely needed. For instance, to avoid wearing the big boots I hiked to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier in Gore-Tex trail runners before donning the big boots to finish the trip. Conventional mountaineering boots are big, clunky and too stiff for trail hiking, making approach shoes a must. Salomon has created a boot with the edging rigidity to work with crampons, the flexibility to take on approach hikes, and the lightness to get you to the top faster.

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