20 Best Tower Climbing Boots (2022 Updated)

Straight away this is not a trekking or walking boot, it is a mountaineering boot. If your looking for a soft comfy not too serious boot then look for approach shoes or a nice B3. This is not a bad thing.

The fit is excellent even in my large 48’s. Perfect for grade 2-3+ scrambles and much much more. Nicely solid and ridged that you can happily trust you weight on the edges, while still supple enough to be comfortable all day.

Accepts full C1 crampons too so perfect for winter and alpine climbing and mountaineering anywhere in the world. When choosing a boot you can fully trust these to perform, whether balancing on a v-diff to jamming the boot into a crack, this is an outstanding choice.

Great performance, warm and comfortable.

These boots are amazing! I don’t think I could design a better boot for the PNW, and I’m interested to try them out in South America for Alpamayo. They are phenomenal for the approach, with enough rocker to give a pretty natural gait but they’re plenty stiff enough for my automatic crampons on vertical ice so far.

I’ve seen a couple reviewers say that they’re a bit shorter on the calf than say the Nepal’s, so you’ll need strong calf muscles and good technique on steep ice, but I have climbed in both and didn’t notice a huge difference.

That’s just my experience though.

Exactly as I expected ! Quality in details . A bit difficult to put them on my hobbit feet though 🙂 I can only recommend them !

I used this boot for EVERYTHING. They only lasted a year, but as a Park Ranger, I put more than 1k miles on these boots. I wore them for work, play, and everything in between. Typically, I’ll go through 2-3 boots in a season (8 months).

These lasted the year, which I was (sadly) very pleased with. Lets start with the good: This is an incredibly comfortable, lightweight boot – light enough to run in from time to time. (Some people have commented on the rivets rubbing on their ankle bone – I did not have that experience) Minimal break-in period.

Breathable in the summer, warm and dry in the winter. They were super water proof, the tread on the bottom was great for grip in scree fields, the ankle support was just stiff enough without being cumbersome, and I would rate durability at an 9/10 – took me 13 months to blow them out, but again, I am hard on boots.

With the good, comes the bad: The laces didn’t last a week. I ended up swapping the laces for ariat laces and didn’t have a problem after. REI Engineers: PLEASE improve the laces on this boot. The rubber tread was so soft that it wore very fast.

It wore to a point – and lost some of its incredible grip on all surfaces – but was still functional. Not sure that is really a complaint – I will resole my next pair before I blow them out. I would not sacrifice the great grip for a more durable tread with less grip.

Overall, I REALLY loved this boot, and will be buying again.

I bought these boots in preparation for a research project in the Adirondack Mountains last summer. This involved multi-day backpacking trips, 20-30 mountain summits, and hundreds of miles of hiking.

These boots fit great from day one. On my first outing to the High Peaks, they felt as though they had already been broken in. I never had any issues with blisters or waterproofing, even after trudging through streams, mud, and rock hopping.

The grip is also amazing–I felt entirely confident scrambling up steep rock faces and other sketchy terrain. With all that being said, these boots only lasted me a season. The vents on either side of the boot separated from the midsole, which killed the waterproofing, and eventually I had a full blown hole through which I could see my socks.

I was hoping to get a little more life out of them, but I may have been a bit rougher on them than the average hiker would be in one season. At the end of the day, I decided to purchase a second pair because of how well they performed before they kicked the can.

I think they’re worth the price, even if durability could be better.

Best support while working on ladders. Paired with knee pads, hands down best on long day comfort when working at ground level tasks. The sole grip works well on all surfaces I’ve encountered so far.

I am a long time customer, and have owned several of the Linesman and Mountain extremes. Do yourself a favor and if you’re on your feet for 10-16 hours a day, you deserve these boots! My only complaint is that the sizing runs big, so beware of that.

I have 4 pairs of Kenetrek boots and they absolutely crush all the other brands. Feet feel great at the end of every shift. Thanks for a great product

Bellville mens boots run larger than what you are ordering be sure to order 1 size smaller and even up to 1- 1/2 sizes smaller than what you need! They are also wide i need xw and can wear regular cant believe it! A woman said the women size run narrow so if you are a woman with wide feet you should order mens boot converted to your size minus 1 size smaller for a perfect fit! I know my Bellvilles guys they are good boots so i am trying to help the company, bought 5 prs at the army surplus and darn it out grew them yes at age 45 my feet grew from 15w to 16 xw.

good boots better than Danner or master Bates. Bates are good but cheaper quality Danner soles are vibram ketterfelt and wear out too fast. Vibram fire and ice are the tough ones!!! i dont lioke most people but if you are shopping here you must be cool great prices and selection!.

Unfortunately, another thumbs down for the Karakorum. I bought these to replace my Glaciers, which are the best boots I’ve ever had. Sadly, Sportiva no longer makes the Glaciers for ladies and the Karakorums just don’t compare.

I didn’t expect my feet to stay completely dry, as these are not a fully waterproof boot – however, I also didn’t expect my left foot to consistently get wet walking through dewy grass! The right boot is fine and I temporarily fixed the problem by putting shoe-goo around the the lower eyelets on the left boot.

Sportiva was no help, simply said it’s not a gore-tex boot so they make no guarantees for water resistance. I’m sure MEC would’ve been more helpful but I live 900km from the nearest store and would’ve had no work boots if I mailed them back.

Go with another boot, and if you’re looking to unload a pair of womens size 9 Glaciers please post them on the gear swap!.

I really liked the comfort of these boots but the quality of them wasn’t very good in the stitching. The back of boot on the upper end all of the stitches came out where the fabric attaches to the leather.

Then the stitches in the side started to come apart. They were a very comfortable boot until these things happened. So comfortable I decided to give La Sportiva a second try and bought a different style.

I bought the Makalu model and use them for work everyday as an electrician. The Makalu are the best. Wouldn’t waste my money on the Karakorum.

I purchased these boots less than a year ago because my boyfriend had a very similar boot (the glacier) which was also made by La Sportiva and lasted him over 5 years. It would seem that in the past 5 years quality went downhill.

I bought this boot thinking that for the price and what I heard from reviews, it would be durable and waterproof. My feet got wet and I wore the heels out so quickly because of the ultra thin (albeit comfy) liner they use.

Recently, after less than 50 days use, the thread disintegrated around the heels and opened up. Needless to say I sent them back and am once again in the market for a good boot that will last. MEC gave me a full refund, no questions asked.

My advice, if you are doing anything other than fair weather hiking (and not much of it) save your money for something that lasts.

overall I would rate this as decent snake boots. + appears to be legit tough snake boots + nice and high on the calf. + They are waterproof + They are not hot and sweaty (average temp while I was working 60-70f, so they may be, i just havent experienced it.

) + Comfortable out of the box. + although high lace, they are flexible and I can actually move well – even though I ordered wide boots I could still barely slide my foot in the boot. – There was a hard nodule on my left boot that was causing a lot of pain.

i took a lighter and melted it down – The quick tie eyelets around the ankle are more a hassle than useful. If not for the quick tie lace rings I would highly recommend to a friend. I may lace them in such a way to bypass them in the future.

I am satisfied with my purchase.

These are the second pair of Rocky snake boots I’ve purchased. Nice boots. The first set has performed well the last two years. They are actually still in decent shape I just wanted new ones. No idea if they actually stop rattlesnakes fangs.

The new ones were sent with a small half inch cut on the top of the toe portion on one boot. It looks like someone tried repairing it by using glue to smooth it out. Still very noticable but I doubt it affects the use of the boot.

I let Rocky know when I registered the boots and also told them I was ok with the cut since I needed to use the boots and couldn”t send them back immediately. No response from them about that at all.

Aside from the cut, they are good boots and break in was minimal.

Worn only 2 times Don’t know if water proof or not- haven’t been n wet conditions yet I prefer leather over rubber because I live n the south and leather breathes better than rubber Got these to early season deer hunting and spring turkey season Snakes r very active here during these times of the year here.

They r comfortable and lighter than rubber snake boots Wear almost as good as tennis shoes The problems I’ve had with leather is their inability to maintain their water proofness over time We’ll c w these The reason for 4 stars is only because I haven’t had enough time n them to make a true comparison Leather will give ur ankles more support than rubber too.

I don’t understand why boot manufacturers make an insulated snake boot! If u decide to give these a try – I think u will b happy w them. I am – so far!!.

So far I have only tried these out for a 3km walk around town to see how they fit so I can’t comment on performance with respect to scrambling or on slabs. My first impression is that these boots are noticeably narrow which is surprising for sportiva Mountaineer boots.

I went half a size larger then my Nepal cubes for more space in the foot box but they are only somewhat comfortable fit with thin cycling socks. I will have to try a few more walks and socks before returning them.

The limitation on thin socks I will limit these to Summer hiking since I can’t fit thicker wool socks or thicker insoles. On the positive side The Rocker design of the boot makes walking on Flats feel very natural but take some getting used to taking steps up on your toes since they are higher than the forefoot.

These are also stiffer than the trango tech’s which is what I was looking for. I definitely miss the lace lockoffs that come with the Nepals and Scarpa boots at a similar price point to help with locking in the heel.

Will update this review if the fit improves.

I bought a pair of La Sportiva Trango Tower GTX and after 6 month of use, I needed to resole them. Attached you have photos. You can make yourself a picture. Within 20 hikes the tip of the sole was worn completely off.

What is written nowhere is that this boots have a very technical and soft compound sole. This sole will grip very good, but it wore off extremely fast. My tips are gone after 6 month of normal use. If you intend to use them for Hiking or trekking, be prepared to resole them within short, therefore factor in, into your purchase price, also a new soles.

I wrote directly to La Sportiva, instead going to my retailer and claim my warranty, as I thought we will find a solution and who better than the manufacturer knows its products, however La Sportiva sees this differently and shown usage is normal wear and tear ( as these are very technical Boots, designed to super grip).

I have had better experiences with other Brands. Instead of solving my problem, they sold me a new sole. Resuming: I bought a new pair of top end boots (not cheap) which did not last 6 month, I need to resole them and pay for the refitting myself.

If I would have known before that the Trango will wore off faster than a pair of cheap Trail running shoes , I would never have bought them, not even in sale. The Warranty department was well educated, but absolutely frustrating and not helpful.

After this disappointing experience I do not think that I will buy another product from La Sportiva again. If you like the boots as I did, just be aware and warned that they will not last the first season! But they look very cool.

I’ve wore it during snowy days, hiking for about 5-6 hours. These are really great boots. Bought them half a size bigger. Didn’t need breaking in them. Will definitely buy again but let’s see how long they last.

I bought half a size up to accommodate for swelling and/or thick socks for winter hiking. These are highly rated and the best deal on the web! So lucky to snag them at this price, fit is amazing, looks good (if you care about that kind of thing 😉 ) and I can’t wait to take them to the trail!.

These are excellent mountaineering boots! I bought 1. 5 sizes up in order to accommodate thick socks and allow for comfort even after the swelling that is inevitable at high altitude, and the fit is perfect.

I climbed a 5500 meter peak with them out of the box and the only hot spot was where the upper hits my shin (these are taller than my previous boots, which takes some getting used to, but overall provides excellent support).

Like any technical boots, it will definitely take some time before they feel entirely broken in, but not painful to use before then. The toe welts are an excellent fit with my Petzl crampons–there is no shift even after many hours of climbing.

I recently took these up Huascaran, so you can even make them work above 6000 meters (though above 5500 meters, your toes will be far from toasty. ). They have excellent traction without crampons, and the laces and removable inner tongue make them easy to adjust for greater or looser stiffness depending on the terrain (I even use these on glacial moraines and am able to avoid climbing with the extra weight of approach shoes).

As an aside, even though REI lists these as men’s boots, they are quite neutral and fit me better than women’s models I tried–should work equally well for men and women. Highly recommend!.

I think these are great boots and I wanted to love them so badly, but unfortunately they didn’t work for me. I have quite long narrow feet, and the size which fits me is on a wider side. I wore them 3 times: for a short hike to break them in, for an ice climbing session, and on a mountaineering trip.

The hike was fine except a couple of blisters, ice climbing – okayish, but mountaineering was a torture. I tied the laces as tight as possible, to the point it almost hurt, but my feet kept sliding and toes hit the front of the toe box.

Since the boots are sturdy after the 4 hours descent I almost cried. Not sure if there are narrower boots on the market, so I guess it’s just my problem. On the objective side, these are high-quality non-bulky and quite lightweight boots, 100% waterproof, and also I wore two pair of different crampons and snowshoes, and they didn’t fail.

I hope they work for you.

Ordered these before xmas as I needed a pair of winter mountaineering boots. Looked long and hard at several brands and decided the nepals were for me. Biggest thing is durability, hands down these are a solid boot to last for many years.

The performance is awesome on the steeps, edging, downhills etc. I have 5 hard long days on them so far in rain/mud/snow and can only say good things! No wet feet and I tried to get them wet! Also my feet stay warm in the alpine snow in -temps.

The grivel G12 crampons fit perfect! For sizing I went with a 44 which was on the bigger side of a 10. 5US, Im glad I did as I use the extra tongue and can fit a thin sock with a heavy wool sock and fit is bang on with bit of toe wiggle which keeps my feet in good shape! I def had some sore feet on last trip but I guess that was part of the break in and just not resting enough lol.

I highly recomend these boots if your a serious mountain adventurer!.

I bought these as an alternative to my Nepals for winter snowshoeing and cold-weather volcano ascents. They are AWESOME. The fit is similiar to my other Sportivas, the padding is warm, and they weigh less than my Nepals.

They are still stiff like winter mountaineering boots should be, but they feel a bit less stiff than others. The rubber is sticky and great on wet rock. I am considering ditching my Nepals having taken them out from October to December.

I’ve read they are good ice climbing boots, so this will make the detrmination.

I have not had a chance to put these through the ringer yet. I purchased them for general mountaineering and ice climbing about a month ago. As the season is drawing to an end, they have not seen much use.

The few uses they have gotten have been great. They break in quickly and are very lightweight for a fully welted boot. Size wise, my street shoe side/size I wear in other La Sportiva shoes fit great.

I am excited to get these on some vertical ice next season. I did find the mini-gater at the top to not be very helpful. Postholing, I still filled my boots with water. I do have rather small ankles though.

I bought these to replace my Sportiva Nepals, and I think they SLAY. These are stiff but have just a bit more flex, warm without being completely unbreathable, and significantly lighter than Nepals. I am very glad I switched- these fit my feet much better.

I also did not expect the rubber to be so sticky. VERY helpful in the Washington Cascades.

Purchased these after several boot review and seemed a good boot for ice climbing. Boa is easy to adjust and the velcro ankle cinch. quick to tighten between pitches etc. Very warm. Im size 10 mens and have the 43.

5 size. plenty of room for toes’ followed the manufacture sizing guidelines. No toe bang yet no heel lift while climbing. The area between the boa and ankle strap can cause some pain but if you keep them loose when approaching/descending its a non issue.

Very warm ! highly recommend for ice.

The G5’s are excellent. The one con is that the zipper is not waterproofed, so if walking through a stream you will get wet. That said, these are the stiffest, lightest, and most accurate front-pointing shoes on the market.

Not the warmest for ice-climbing (I always have cold feet), but super precise. The BOA systems works better than I could have imagined. I typically where a 45 in La Sprortiva Running shoes (mutant, raptors, etc.

) but 44. 5 is just a touch too big with mountaineering socks. So definitely go with street size for a tight climbing fit. Can’t sing the praises of these things enough. I’ve now used them on a dozen or so couloirs and ice climbs and they are easily the best boot I’ve used for these purposes.

Overkill for easy routes on places like Rainier, but then again so much lighter than the Nepals. I would like to compare the Scapra Phantoms, but haven’t – though I know they are similar in weight and class.

Warm, and fairly good fit. I tried these, the Scarpa 6000s and a similar 6000 m boots from Asolo and Lowa before purchasing the G2 EVOs. Came down to the Scarpa 6s and the LS G2s. I got some heel lift in the G2s, but overall they felt better.

They’re very comfortable uphill, and after some adjusting of the inner and outer BOAs, they work fine on downhills. The bootie dries so fast! You’ll want to upsize with these, especially if you use a liner and sock.

I purchased this boot for extended backpacking. The boot was slightly tight on my double D, size 8 foot. I broke them in by wearing around the house, then the yard and finished with a steep, technical hike.

The boot gave way and fits really well. The soles are very grippy and stick well to granite. The rocker allows for easy walking. The stiffness kicks butt on broken rock and side hilling. The lace system allows you to lock off the bottom laces from the upper cuff laces.

I love this feature. I am very happy to own this boot, now it is up to the test of time to tell how good they really are.

Worn this boot for years. Can’t beat it. Daily hiking and climbing poles with no sore feet. Wouldn’t recommend anything else. Order one size larger. I wear an 11 and 12 is key so your toes don’t ram in the end.

I bought these boots in 2017 with the intention of only wearing them for long treks and ice climbing. I was called out for a search during my second break in weekend. I hiked seven miles to get to the search area and spent the next three days in my boots moving a lot through broken terrain.

I used them to cross country ski the Long Trail last winter. They’ve never let me down. In the time since they have been pressed into the role of working boot and get worn 16hours a day 6 days a week.

I’ve never loved a boot. I love these things beyond words. I’m getting another pair just to have a newer pair not because they’re done.

Bought these to wear to take out our puppy for potty breaks at our apartment. We just had a foot of snow and ice melt (Feb 2022) and the ground is saturated so I needed something to wear for water, mud, pee, and poop protection that will be easy to clean off.

I wear a size 10 medium in ladies (U. S. ) tennis shoes and I ordered a size 9. They fit just fine with or without socks. Not sure what a size 8 would feel like. They might be too small to get my foot and ankle past the ankle part of the shoe? They are on the heavy side, but I don’t mind that as long as they don’t leak.

Easy to get on and off but they are stiff. I’m 5’6 and 180lbs and the calf part of the shoe is not too tight. The outer sole is very think and they seem like they will hold up.

i have purchased about 6 of these boots over the past 2 to 3 years. I used to interchange them with my muck boots. I had to toss them because the heel wore out. Last year when I had to retire My mucks I used the habitat daily.

The heels wear out in a few months. I have ordered some black ones and it looks like the soul is different from the ones I have now. I hope they last I didn’t think to return them because sams club has a 90 day.

return policy. The low price sort of makes up for the poor sole. m also the outer covering of the boot in front wears out and peels. I use boots daily for landscape gardening.

I bought these boots a few weeks ago and am writing this review as a warning. The boots performed well for about a week, and then they began leaking water. In the winter snow, this is unacceptable. I can’t wear these boots now.

They were a waste of money. I’m really mad and feel like someone should return my money. It’s a bad product.

The Rocky Fort Hood Zipper Waterproof Duty Boot as uniquely labeled to identify its individual characteristics, separating the Fort Hood from any other Rocky boot. Your inquiry regarding insulation is not applicable for the ‘Fort Hood because The Fort Hood is a completely insulated boot suitable for summer as well as winter.

The Fort Hood was not my first choice. It was made after learning the Rocky selection of my choice was on back order and as I waited, in patiently I ordered The Fort Hoods. The only problem I had and have with most Rocky footwear is the cost.

I would prefer to pay two hundred dollars more for most of Rocky footwear because of the quality. The quality is beyond expectation and I ordered three pair for myself and three pair for all three of my grandsons.

I purchased two pair of a competitor with similar quality and the cost was 5 times more than Rocky Fort Hood. In addition, the Fort Hood does not need to be resoled because it is built with formidable stability with life long mortality.

I am glad you inquired concerning the Fort Hood because it is the one Rocky boot among the three I purchased that I replicated. I picked The Fort Hood for my grandsons and two were available in sizes desired.

I had to pick another Rocky boot for the third size needed, and I did this with apprehension. My grandson’s saw me shortly after the arrival of their Fort Hood’s, I allowed about three weeks to pass and said nothing when they presented themselves.

Both wearing their Fort Hood’s and said, “Grandpa thanks so much for these boots, then repeated this appreciative statement over and over and over again till it sank in to my skin that no other gift could match or compare to the Rocky Fort Hood.

Need I say more? Oh, in case I missed this I will conclude that among the three Rocky boots the Fort Hood’s are the primary boot for winter wear.

I bought these thinking I couldn’t beat it for the price they were. I have gone through many 5. 11 boots, bates boots, and many others. I thought I give these a try. I ordered the wide boots the same I do in any other boot.

These feel like they are narrows or regular width and feel like a vice on my foot. I sold mena clothing and dress shoes for 10+ years and know how shoes/boots fit and that some need to be broken in. I wore them around the house thinking they would get some relief….

nope. They start to feel tighter and tighter over time. Definitely the most uncomfortable boot I have ever put on my foot.

I walk 10-15 miles for my job daily. I need a boot that can be comfortable enough to do this while being dry from snow/rain. These boots meet both requirements. They are still comfortable after walking that long distance.

They do accumulate some moisture that comes off of your feet by the end of my workday, but not enough to make me uncomfortable. It’s a far cry better than having soaked boots all day long! Great boots.

I will be buying again.

I have purchased them last year and used them for a total of 5 one day trip last season. Twice the zipper split open on the top of the foot. I went on my first one day outing this season and the same thing happened expect I did not notice until taking my gaiters off and noticing a water puddle inside the boot between the boot and the liner.

It was caused by snow accumulation inside the boot from the split zipper. I was planning on using those for Denali and rainier but I can’t trust it, specifically for expedition as I don’t want to have to deal with the possibility of split zipper each time I wear them.

You can find online that a lot of users have experienced this issue. It’s unfortunate because aside from that they are very easy to put on and are comfortable. Do yourself a favor and grab something more reliable.

Scarpa would not run this under warranty claim.

I tried to purchase these shoes from another retailer in town. They told me they didn’t have my size, and that was the end of the story. I called Moosejaw and said if they had this shoe in my size, and they said they didn’t…but could get them in in about a week.

They then offered to bring in the size above and below. Awesome! To my surprise, a couple of hours later I received a call saying my shoes were in the store ready for me to try on. I ended up going with the size above the one I had originally ordered.

The shoes are good, the service was excellent! Thanks.

This is my second pair of Scarpa’s Zen Pro shoe. I am an avid long distance hiker, hiking over 2,000 miles each year. The Zen Pro shoe is built to last and I have used my first pair for about 18 months.

After putting on so many miles, the tread has started to wear in a few places, hence the decision to replace. I will continue to use the first pair for work. around the house, as they are very sturdy and well built shoes.

The only small point about these shoes is that they are not lightweight, although they are not super heavy either. That said, the weight comes in handy in terms of protection on rough, rocky surfaces.

My right big toe is slightly longer than my left so I usually order a half size up from my usual 7. 5 in boots. However my right toe hit the _top_ of the toe box in both size 8 and 8. 5. I have slightly narrow feet and both of those sizes felt perfect on my left foot with thick socks.

If it wasn’t for the toe problem I would have kept them. They would probably work well for others with narrow feet, but if you’ve had problems with big toe fit before they might not be a good bet.

And also comfortable. Sizing is a little off (.5 small) but nice width and super sturdy. Can’t wait to hit the hills. Easy to walk in and not too heavy.

This boot is awesome! Lightweight, rigid and super comfortable as the boot forms around your foot and ankle for superior support. Great for those multi-day mixed climbs and will take everything you throw at it and more.

As with most mountaineering boots, get a 1/2 size bigger than your normal shoe size.

Bought this boot directly from Mammut. I’ve quite a bit of experience in mountaineering, but only wore these in my living room. They are a work of art, light, feel warm, construction is a class act, the boas are perfect, great movement at your ankle for steep slopes, cramponable, but unfortunately, they run small and take MUCH patience to put on.

If I were to have helped in their design, I would have added a zipper to the gaiter part of the boot. As a reference, I also own a pair of Ribelle Tech 2. 0s with a high gaiter too, and these are pretty easy to put on.

I ordered the same size, 11. 5, and I spent at least 15 minutes to get these on. Once in, my feet felt snug, warm and comfortable – but what a wrestling match to get these on while not trying to tear the rear handle.

If I were at BC, I’d almost sleep with them to avoid this hassle. I needed help to get them off. I suggest you order 1/2-1 size bigger than you usually order, especially if you have wide feet like I do.

Otherwise, go for them!.

I haven’t worn the boots in the mountains yet, so this is just an initial impression. based on other Mammut boots I have, I bought size 11, although I usually wear 10. 5; the 11 are slightly roomy but not loose with medium thickness socks, so it seems like you could either size up 1/2 size or not depending on how you like your socks.

My feet seem to have a higher instep than average and Mammut fits way better for me than other brands (high volume vertically and average volume horizontally). It’s a tight slide to get them on or off, easy enough sitting in a chair, but it would be tougher outside on the trail.

I guess that’s the tradeoff for the built-in gaitor. The 2-zone boa adjuster feels great and makes customizing and micro-adjusting very easy.

Compare to most MAMMUT shoes I have tried, this one runs a bit wide. Love the fit, the warmth, the traction everything except putting them in and getting out of this shoes are super pain. I will be returning them before using.

Also go 1. 5 size up from your running shoes.

Full disclosure: I have yet to test these boots in the backcountry, and so my review should be taken with some moderate skepticism. However, I do have ten years of experience using these boots. This review is for my recent purchase of my second pair of Scarpa Inverno boots.

Scarpa Invernos, while heavy, are an extremely warm and bombproof alpine winter boot. I’ve been using them seeing 2009. When you’re going to be walking and backcountry camping in subzero temperatures, Scarpa Inverno are an excellent choice.

My old pair lasted ten years of winter backpacking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, known to have some of the worst weather in the world. I finally had to buy a new pair, and while I haven’t taken these out on their maiden hike yet, I’ve noted a few concerning changes in design.

First of all, their is no longer a fabric finger loop on the back ankle to help pull the plastic shell over the insulated inner as you put the boots on. The lack of this fingerloop is extremely inconvenient, making it much more difficult to get the shell over the inner boot.

I can’t understand why Scarpa decided to remove this rather simple and what I have to imagine is a relatively cheap feature given the exorbitant cost of these boots. Speaking of which, I was rather chagrined to find that these boots were so very expensive.

Then again, I trust my feet to these boots in subzero temperatures and so I consider them worth the money. I do recall them being cheaper ten years ago. Secondly, I would also point out that the heel cup feels narrower than my old pair.

Now, that might be the case because I gradually broke in my old inner boots, and maybe the outer shell loosened or stretched a little with use. So, I’m hoping that’s the case and the boots will gradually grow more comfortable with use.

But, right now, it may be due to a change Scarpa made in its design? The heel cup definitely feels as though it could cause me hot spots and form blisters, a problem I never had with my old pair. I may feel compelled to pre-tape, which is also something I never do with any of my boots in any season.

I don’t tend to get blister, thankfully. I bought these Scarpa Inverno boots in size 11 US. Finally, and this may just be my subjective impression here, but the rocker on this new pair feels less aggressive than my old pair.

I really loved that feature in my old Scarpa Inverno; the rocker felt as though it was helping me, propelling me forward as I walked. As I walk around the house in my new pair, it seems less so. That said, I may find that they simply take some getting used to and I’ll see they work great out in the field.

Time will tell.