Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum What boots in winter

Sounds like a sweet deal. Did you have to size up 1/2 or ?

Yes, I went up 1/2 size. Actually a full size because I go up 1/2 size for my winter boots.

They were OK out in the snow today. Just a little bit of pressure on top of my toes. I hope they'll loosen up a bit as I use them. Feet were warm and stayed dry during about 5 1/2 hours of hiking/climbing.

Anyone have or have tried the La Sportiva Trango Extreme EVO Light GTX (the silver ones)? They sound lighter than most boots but does that translate into a colder boot?

I have the trango extreme. I like them quite a bit. They've been warm enough for the sierra stuff I've done in winter as well as climbs in the Alps and Rockies. I tried the Nepals which were great, but overall I felt like they were too much boot for most of what I do. My impression is that the Nepals will climb ice better and be a bit stiffer and certainly warmer, but the Trango Extremes hike very well and are everything I need. Also check out the Trango Prime...very similar to the Trango Extreme.

Great, thank you. How do the Trango Extreme compare to boots like the Scarpa Summit? The Summit is a warm boot that is very stiff, which is good once the pons are on but for hiking in they are kind of heavy. The Trango Extreme would have a different fit as well as being a bit lighter. My concern with La Sportiva is the toe box. I have not tried the Extremes but the Scarpas seem to have more room for toes.

No idea on the Scarpa Summit. I've been pretty happy with Sportiva in general, but I do hear about the toe box thing. Something you may want to look into if you have wide feet.

James
Check out the Scarpa Escape. Curt and I returned the Mtn Experts & Silberhorns and we both got the Escapes. They are great with 'pons and snowshoes and they are comfortable to hike in. We summited San Jacinto on snowshoes and Baldy via the bowl with 'pons in them and had no issues at all.
Stacy

Stacy, Thanks! I have heard of those but have not seen them. They are (approx.) 3lbs 12oz as opposed to the 4lbs 10oz Summits. I have to say, the Summits are GREAT when things get steep. They kick steps well in dirt and mud too, lol. A great boot and warm. But for day trips and long approaches, something lighter would be nice. Time to invent the waterproof/snowproof trail runner that is crampon-compatible (plz don't tell anyone, somebody is bound to take that patent and run with it).

I'll check out the Escapes if I can get down there. Just curious, what changed your minds on the Lowas and Silberhorns?
J

The Lowas were just more boot than we needed right now. I was more concerned with getting an "insulated" boot than anything else. The Escapes are all leather, Goretex, and crampon compatible...they have rear welt for new-matics. We snowshoed up San Jacinto last month and cramponed up the bowl at Baldy last weekend and the boots worked very well for both.

Scarpa Escapes on Amazon

How well do the insides of the insultated goretex boots dry overnight? Since the insulation is not removable I've wondering if it just gets saturated after a couple days. I'm thinking of getting the Lowa Mtn Experts.

Brent...when overnighting do you bring an "overboot" for you AT boots? I have been wondering if there is some sort of light cover I can put my liners in to keep warm in camp...any suggestions?

Overboots might work... Sounds bulky to carry around though. This is outside my experience range but if you are heading to real cold like Alaska you might want to look at overboots. In CA, sometimes I bring down booties and wear them in my ski boot shells like a second pair of liners while around camp. That way my real liners can dry out for a while. Just don't let your liners freeze, especially if they are soaked with sweat, that's a bad deal. Bring them in the sleeping bag with you if they are dry or have a trashbag ready to wrap them in. This is yet another reason to set up camp while you still have some sun time: so you might be able to dry some things. You also run the risk of weird things happening to your feet if you don't dry them out regularly, like trenchfoot.

Ewww, NASTY!!!!

You can occasionally get by with good quality leather for an easy day climb, but for anything more than that you need double plastic or something of that level of quality to keep your toes.

After reading this and many other posts & after trying on all the boots easily available, I purchased the Lowa Mtn. Expert boots. I ordered them 1.5 sizes large, for thick sock systems etc. The comfort right out of the box was the thing that impressed me the most. They are a very stiff boot but walking around the store was a pleasure. I have worn them two days on ice & an early morning Easter ascent on Baldy. So I can't speak to the multi day issue, yet. For the Ice they were great, climbed great, no heel lift & they were warm. The hiking is where they excelled IMHO. Especially on the down hill. Normally the downhill kills me. Heavier than an approach shoe usually means shock transferred right up to my knees, but yesterday was a plush descent. Never had that experience before. I paid $350 at REI & in my opinion they were worth it. Multi-day Whitney trip in two weeks. I will report back.

Wes

AsABat -
I haven't had any problems with the Escapes getting wet, especially inside. They are not insulated, just Goretex and leather. I didn't have the Mtn. Experts long enough to test them in wet conditions. The toe box on the womens(grey)version was too tight...the mens fit great, but the color(very RED)was a little much. I agree with Wes and would suggest going up a half to a full size in the Lowas.
Stacy
ps If you don't need the insulation, Scarpa Escapes are a nice boot.

Just a public service announcement here... this is one helluva deal if you need some double boots ($224.83):

http://www.rei.com/product/781682

I'm a 10 in asics running shoes and I wear the 46 Spantiks (with liner socks + smartwool mountaineering socks + green superfeet insoles) just for reference. Its REI, so if they don't fit, returns are hassle free.

Wish I had seen those Spantiks for $225! Nothing like a straight-up 5 star, 6-7k meter, $700 boot for that price! (Way overkill for me but, at that price, so what?!)

I've been out twice now in my Sportiva Batura's. First day was 14 miles on San Gorgonio (South Fork up NE face of Jepson, over to Gorgonio and back to the truck). Not even a rub. Last weekend was the "unofficial" group hike up the Whitney MR. 3 days, 2 nights. Again, not a single problem. I went up half a size from "normal." They were comfortable on dirt trail, rock and snow. Great for edging (both on rock and snow traverses) and kicking steps. Very warm (almost too warm when temp is above freezing - at least with Smartwool Mountaineering socks (no liners) - and I/my feet run cold). The Batura's are also cut with a slightly wider toe box than "normal" for Sportiva.

Sorry for the late post on the subject (now that winter is over...).

-Brandon

Not if you and Carole head over to Nepal or Tibet.


BTW, whatever it was I was wearing over the three-day weekend impressed me. A light GoreTex boot that kept my feet warm and dry, even during the ten hour summit day.

Would love to! Some day....