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Mountaineering boots and crampons (1 Viewer)

M

Marcus Conway - ebirder

Well-known member
I love my Meindl walking boots but they are not usable on snow and ice. I cannot attach crampons due to the flexible sole.

What sort of Mountaineering boots should I be looking at? What recommendations do people have?
 
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Slightly off what you were asking but something like this as a temp measure

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.431812

There is a video of them which you can click on to the side of it. Trouble is they are temp out of stock but on the waitlist they do send them out as soon they get them and dont charge you until then. You can send them back within 30 days if they are not up to what you want [and yes you can actually try them outside in the conditions during this time]

Have you maye a typo about the mountineering "birds"
 
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Marmot said:
Slightly off what you were asking but something like this as a temp measure

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.431812

There is a video of them which you can click on to the side of it. Trouble is they are temp out of stock but on the waitlist they do send them out as soon they get them and dont charge you until then. You can send them back within 30 days if they are not up to what you want [and yes you can actually try them outside in the conditions during this time]

Have you maye a typo about the mountineering "birds"
Click to expand...

Yep thanks, was a typo!

I am not sure it would be possible to walk up hill in this recommendation? I need the boots to go up into the mountains (and come down again) :t:
 
bitterntwisted said:
Marcus,

I've never used anything more substantial or snow-friendly than you Meindls myself, but I noticed recently that Brasher now do a crampon-compatible boot... http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6632

Lots of mountain boots reviewed and discussed here... http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/review/reviewcategory/mps/RGN/5/RCN/56/cat/Mountain-Boots/v/1/sp/

Graham
Click to expand...

Thanks Graham. I live just 5 minutes walk from Craigdon Mountain Sports (sponsors in your link). I'll pop in and ask the experts.
 
Boots and Crampons all have ratings for stiffness/flexibility, so you have to make sure the ratings are compatible. Boots range from B0 (very flexible and unsuitable for any crampon, like your Meindls) up to B3. Likewise, crampons range from C1-C3. You need at least a B1 boot to wear crampons and the crampon must have a rating equal to or lower than the boot (in other words you shouldn't use a C3 crampon with a B2 boot).

Unless you are going to be doing serious ice climbing, I would imagine that a B1 boot and C1 crampon would be suffficient for walking on hard packed/frozen snow slopes.
 
For countryside walking in flexible boots you want the microspikes.
The studded things that Marmot linked are more for hard ground like icy pavements.
 
Scarpa boots are fantastic and I've been very happy with Grivel G10 [C1] crampon with Scarpa M3 boots [B1]... in emergencies I've also used the G10 with XCR [B0] boots but its not recommended!
 
Marcus Conway - ebirder said:
Thanks. I looked at the Scarpa Manta. Looks like a good sturdy boot.
Click to expand...

I've got a pair of these. Very sturdy, good boot and B2 rating for crampon compatibility.

They're a swine to break in, though... took me a few weeks, and a whole lot of compeed blister plasters!

Admittedly, that may just have been the fit compared with my feet... though they felt right in the shop.
 
Just read this and wondered what you got?

If you're still looking, you might find something suitable here:
http://www.altberg.co.uk/Web/
located near Richmond in Yorkshire, they'll probably give you bespoke service.

I've got a pair of 'High Country Velthog' on order from them, to replace my old Helvellyn Hawkins which have lasted me about 30 years.


Another brand I'm happy with are Haglof, though I'm not sure if their 4 season boots take crampons. My light Haglof Vertigo GT went up some rocky aretes and over wet fells last summer despite being an approach shoe:
http://www.fellandmountain.co.uk/department/footwear/
 
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