"Light, versatile, but not without compromise"
04/12/13
I bought these for quick alpine trips around the pacific NW. They excel in areas where you may encounter mud, water, slush, snow, and ice all in the same day. As straight hiking boots they are capable and comfortable. As mountaineering boots they are light and just stiff enough. I haven't had a crampon pop off yet, but they have just enough flex that they are not as well suited for steep walls when compared to a heavier, hard shell boot. They also really need to be paired with gators when used in deep snow. If you want a dedicated hiking boot or a dedicated ice climbing boot, there are other better options. But if you want something that's pretty good at damn near everything, get these.
These worked really well for my Olympus and Rainier summits in the summer. They feel like a hiking boot and climb like a climbing boot. I have even use d them in my snowboard bindings on the split board and love them all the same.
These are super light, barely more than some shoes, much lighter then most boots! The ankle has great flexibility and support. In the beginning the soles are extremely stiff but will gain some flexibility over time making them a solid multi-purpose boot. I use them for heavy backpacking, not much of an ascetic when I go out, I tend to take the kitchen with me or maybe its they 3L of wine :) and light mountaineering. They lock in great with my grivel g12 new-matic crampons. They are not insulated but mine have seen plenty of snow\ice and my feet have always been just fine, but that may just be me. The footbed is minimally padded.
From the Peruvian Andes to the Himalaya Range and backpacking The Silk Road, these boots have seen it all. They don't need breaking in, but they run quite narrow, so get a size up in case you need two socks. Best thing is, they're fairly affordable, so once they break ( not anytime soon..), i'm getting another one.
These are a great hybrid between mountaineering boots and backpacking boots. They have great ankle support, are crampon compatible but the soles have just a touch of give to make trail hiking more comfortable than with super stiff soles. I bought a size higher and they fit me great but I like to hike with liners and a thick sock. They needed a bit of breaking in but for the most part my feet were happy with them out of the box. This is my first experience with La Sportiva but they seem like a great company to work with for repairs and warranty issues.
I've owned this boot for nearly 3 years and for the most part its done a great job. Unfortunately the boot has terrible insoles but the boot is incredibly waterproof. I find that the boot is often a bit cold for mountaineering, even in summer, as its uninsulated for most of Pacific Northwest Mountain volcanoes. I'd imagine for lower latitudes like California, the boot would work exceptionally well due to warmer conditions. The boot hikes well for a mountaineering boot but it's no where as comfortable as one. Bottom line, it's not a full mountaineering boot nor does it hike incredibly well. I find it tries to fit both categories but falls mediocre, but good but not incredible.
I found them to be pretty warm despite what other reviewers have said. I wouldn't attempt Rainier in em, but for the weight they are amazing. They are fairly stiff and fit my hybrid G12's like a glove. I think my feet are pretty normal width wise and I didn't have any problem with them being too narrow for me. I usually wear a size 8 or 8 1/2 and these fit great in size 42.
I've put about 200 miles in mine, from the Winds in Wyoming to remote canyons in Utah as well as hiking on the PCT, winter work, they are my go to boot. Super lightweight, I've had overbuilt sneakers that weigh more, and they climb quite well, if I didn't have a million other shoes you could use this as a 5.6-5.7 sorta shoe when you need to feel comfy. Fit socks really well, but they aren't warm and with all the material as well as Gore-tex they don't dry overnight when you need them too, I have gotten immersion foot on my big toes from these, mainly because there isn't much sole to protect from conductive heat loss there, a warmer shoe would work but I don't have one yet.
I have had these boots for years and they are great. They are light which is good but they might not be as warm as plastic boots. With a good pair of gaiters my feet and legs never get wet. They also fit crampons very easily. I use them with the Grivel G14 crampons. It has taken many years of use for me to now have to buy a new pair but they are made in Italy and have a lifetime warranty. Buy them.
I used these boots for the first time this weekend. I couldnt believe what good grip they had on the rocks I sliped once and it was probablly my fault for stepping where I shouldn't have. There water proof but I found out that only works in water that is not deeper than the boots are high..I guess there not perfact:) Stop reading and buy these boots. I price mached them down to to about 230 and it was the best money I've ever spent.
This boot was origninally marketed as a fast and light approach/hiking boot. Then remarketed as a climbing boot. I used this boot on a 12 day trip in Alaska and it basically fell apart. The angle support is way to week to support carrying a 50 plus pound pack over rough ground. It would probably be better for fast and light with a day pack or as an apporach boot. I switched over to Scarpa and having multible La Sportiva boots. Quality is way higher.
I am very impressed with these boots. I purchased them for a climb on a 14er this April. They took no time to break in, I used them right out of the box on hikes in the Northeast. When it came time to use them out West the performed perfectly. My feet stayed warm and dry and there were no pressure spots. I am very happy with this purchase and strongly suggest these boots.
$8.50 - $10.75
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