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Looking for something mid-level B2 i.e. stiff enough, warm enough, but not too heavy (around the 1400-1500g mark). My first ones. I've tried a lot of things locally and bought online to try in sizes they didn't have in stock, none have really suited. Can't really take those online sizes to a shop for advice so here I am. I've been trying them with a midweight sock over a liner sock.
My feet seem to be a bit odd in that the front "ramp" down from my leg to the toe has a high volume. This hasn't been a problem for me with 3-season boots as the upper material is quite flexy and you just tie them to the volume you want.
The best I've tried is probably the La Sportiva Trango Tower in my normal size. It feels a bit narrow at the middle and generally feels foot hugging but not uncomfortable. However I wore them for a few hours sat down in my living room and my feet got a bit cold! The half size up is a little better but too long causing heel lift on the flat and sliding fore/aft on a slope, so no good.
Close 2nd is the Scarpa Charmoz in half up from my normal size. It feels less hugging overall but the upper is a bit tight towards the front 3rd, feels tighter but in a different way due to that and the inside of the Trangos being softer. The full size up feels perfect for volume, no heel lift due to the good design, but it's unfortunately too wide and long - my foot slides in all directions on a slope or when I try to pivot.
I don't want cold feet from tight boots, and nor do I want discomfort from an loose fit.
Any boot recommendations or advice? Thanks
Try experimenting with different footbeds, they can make significant difference. Also try different lace pattern
If you can get past the looks I was very impressed with the la sportiva aequillibtiam, it was a lovely fit on my foot which also fits the trango nicely. It felt like the perfect winter boot to me and was a joy to walk in despite being quite stiff. It sort of blurred the B2 category for me.
There's a leather and also fabric versions.
There is general advice to upsize on winter boots to accommodate thicker ie warmer socks, personally I have never done this nor suffered cold feet even on multi pitch ice. I do wear a lot on my legs though so keep blood flowing that way. Ymmv of course.
In shirt, take your time, don't get your heart set on a specific boot or even rating. And don't be sayed by discounts if they aren't the comfiest boots
Try experimenting with different footbeds, they can make significant difference. Also try different lace pattern
Interesting, would be great if I can make one of the 0.5/1 size up ones fit securely.
If you can get past the looks I was very impressed with the la sportiva aequillibtiam, it was a lovely fit on my foot which also fits the trango nicely. It felt like the perfect winter boot to me and was a joy to walk in despite being quite stiff. It sort of blurred the B2 category for me.
I'd seen these, thought they were pretty light and flexier than the Trango Tower which itself has been described as B1.5. A fast and light oriented model. The Trangos wear fast and these are even softer and lighter, so I wasn't keen and didn't try them.
In shirt, take your time, don’t get your heart set on a specific boot or even rating. And don’t be sayed by discounts if they aren’t the comfiest boots
Yep, I'm already past the stage of caring about what's "best" or flaws (like the Trango fast wear issue) by now. Fit is the only thing I care about.
I've got a bag of different footbeds, basic ones and fancy ones. I've also cut flat volume adjusters out of card to experiment, if that worked then I bought some proper ones. Volume is the main adjustment for me
I think we are probably coming at stiffness from opposite directions, the aequillibriam is at the upper end of what I would want for Scottish winter walks these days and I'm generally in tx5 or similar with a kahtoolah micro spike crampon. Front pointing days are long gone! But good footwork and a decent edged sole is worth it's wait in gold even on straightforward routes.
Definitely try different footbeds and maybe volume reducers under them as that can make the size difference you need. I had a pair of Sportiva Nepal Evos and the factory insoles were absolute garbage.
I'm still in Scarpa Manta M4s from donkeys years ago. Comfy but quite heavy. I have a pair of Trangos (but a lot older than the current style and not B2) which I got for summer mountain routes but they are quite narrow. I think that is a trait of Sportiva. I'm not up to date with modern stuff though.
Watching with interest, my problem is having wide feet. I agree with the comments about no longer caring what brand or what a boot looks like I’d just like to be pain free when wearing them. Im tempted by a pair of Altberg Mallerstang but they are heavier than what you’re after.
Mammut may be worth a try, I've got wide feet and a very high arch and they tend to suit me. But otherwise, just heading to a decent store with a range of manufacturers and trying a load on!
Thanks all. Well I just learnt a bit about footbeds, lacing techniques, and proper boot fit. I might now know more than the shop assistants that helped me. This page is a good intro.
The Charmoz footbeds in the half sizes are the same as in the full size above, whereas in the Trangos they're the same as the full size below. All of them are about the right length for me according to the finger width gap at front test.
Onto the finger behind the heel test, the Trangos in my size and Charmoz in half a size bigger are way too tight to get anything in there. It's a hard squeeze in Trangos half a size bigger, and it's still a squeeze in Charmoz a full size bigger.
Now onto lacing them properly, somehow I've gone almost 20 years not doing this right. With correct tension in the right places before doing the top knot, the larger two boots are fine with no heel lift on the flat, up or down stairs. The Charmoz has a lace lock system which is a better alternative to the lacing technique used for greater heel tension, more convenient and also means you don't need to do the top bit up so tight thus giving more ankle mobility. Tried them with a loaded rucksack on up and down stairs, both are fine.
After all that I'm going for the Charmoz in a full size above, due to them being wider at the middle and having more volume. Feet expand when you're working hard. As a bonus, these were £70-120 cheaper than the others, quite a deal, and unlike the Trangos the tread isn't made of the hiking equivalent of Schwalbe Ultra Soft.
I think we are probably coming at stiffness from opposite directions, the aequillibriam is at the upper end of what I would want for Scottish winter walks these days and I’m generally in tx5 or similar with a kahtoolah micro spike crampon. Front pointing days are long gone!
I'm just getting started, learning with crampons first including front pointing, but for my Munros I don't expect to use that technique and will probably also get micro spikes.
Definitely try different footbeds and maybe volume reducers under them as that can make the size difference you need.
Will do if these don't work out. I do have options due to having sized up.
I’m still in Scarpa Manta M4s from donkeys years ago. Comfy but quite heavy. I have a pair of Trangos (but a lot older than the current style and not B2) which I got for summer mountain routes but they are quite narrow. I think that is a trait of Sportiva. I’m not up to date with modern stuff though.
Manta Tech is the current model, they're still heavy, over 300g more than the models I mentioned above. Damn these Italians dominating the boot market with their narrow and compact feet!
Watching with interest, my problem is having wide feet.
Take a look at Lowa, they do wide-specific variants of the Renegade and perhaps other models too.
I agree with the comments about no longer caring what brand or what a boot looks like I’d just like to be pain free when wearing them.
Yep, all those designers' efforts and list of features on the websites, all the reviews, doesn't matter, I just want it to fit.
Mammut may be worth a try, I’ve got wide feet and a very high arch and they tend to suit me. But otherwise, just heading to a decent store with a range of manufacturers and trying a load on!
I'd read about them, unfortunately their offerings are on the lighter and heavier ends. Been to all the local stores already, they carry a surprisingly small range, and at this stage in the season are out of stock of many sizes.
Scarpa's lasting used to be a little more generous, but their technical lasts these days are deliberately trimmed-back for better foot hold on steeper stuff, I don't really think of the Charmoz as being high volume, fwiw, it's more mid ime. I used to have issues with heel lift front-pointing with older Scarpa lasts. Oh and don't get too hung up on 'sizes', if it fits it fits, but you don't really want to go too long.
Mammut isn't a bad call. Another brand I'd maybe take a look at is Hanwag. The Ferrata II GTX is a really nice B2 boot with decent volume - definitely roomier than the Charmoz worn back to back - it's not quite as light as you'd like, but still pretty good for a B2. The red version is a bit garish, if they still even make it, but I think there's a black one also.
Ultimately your best call is to try a load of different brands, get the one that feels right, or close to right, and then, if needed, tweak with footbeds etc. Decent shops like Outside in Hathersage are more likely to have a good selection of brands along with staff who know what they're talking about.
Edit: I see you went for the Charmoz, nice boot.
I tried verious boots and reading reviews before falling on a pair of Salewa Ortels They are the best footwear ive ever used . Im a weird 11.5 -12 in all footwear and punted in the 12 . perfect fit the right ammount of width and perfect heal fit thanks to the cable on the head cup . These have been worn from Lakes wanderss in the wet . Cragg climbing in Scotland and Alps epics over 4000m . Not the cheapest but there are others similar in price in Salewas line up. To be fair after wearing these the first time out I bought a pair of the mountain trainer boots for local hill walking and shop use 🙂
Maybe not much use to you but I have a pair of Sportiva Nepal Evos. They have a removable inner tongue that can be velcroed in different positions to change the fit and interior volume. I have the opposite problem to you, really narrow feet but the adjustability that tongue offers is excellent and I'm surprised it's not a more common feature. I wonder if there are any other boots with that?