Thread: Looking for Advice on Boots.

As you see there are many brands with happy users.

You really have to try them on because shape and fit are everything. (Plus sole style)
That means doing the rounds of bricks and mortar stores and paying their premium for your first pair.
Well worth it.

For example, Ive found the Scarpa shape is just right for my feet. Several other highly rated brands, with excellent construction and features were just no good for me .

Most of my hunting is in the scarpa terra gtx. Ive had 3 pairsand one has worn right out. I think the sole did separate, but not before both toes had worn through and been repaired with shoo goo. As you see below, its a lightweight style and doesnt have any rand protecting the toe. A rubber rand limits the boots ability to stretch to fit your foot but does protect it a lot from rocks and gravel which you get in the eastern alps tararuas and ruahines but not in the kaimanawas and kaimais. The boot on the left is another scarpa but with a rigid sole that I got to take crampons for a tahr ballot block. The fit is identical but it has more insulation and would be a lot heavier when wet. The weights are 800g for the snow boot and 560g for the Terra GTX. Thats 1600g vs 1120g for a pair and the rule of thumb is that weight carried on the foot is worth 4x what it-is on the back. The lighter boot saves the effort of carrying almost 2 kg.

The other big consideration is the sole. Really you want an actual heel, which is quite rare. Most boots are designed for “trail” like the routeburn and have a more or less flat / curved shoe-like profile. Most boots have vibram brand soles and seem to be pretty sticky after the first 5 or 10 hours use on rocky ground.

My experience of midsole delamination is that is the age of the boot since it was purchased that limits the lifespan, not the amount of miles it has walked. Your boot will fail after about 5-10 yr whether you use it or not. So get out there and thrash them !


Two scarpa boots, Terra GTX on right, showing different ankle height and rand .


A good tread pattern

Originally Posted by Bagheera

As you see there are many brands with happy users.

You really have to try them on because shape and fit are everything. (Plus sole style)
That means doing the rounds of bricks and mortar stores and paying their premium for your first pair.
Well worth it.

For example, Ive found the Scarpa shape is just right for my feet. Several other highly rated brands, with excellent construction and features were just no good for me .

Most of my hunting is in the scarpa terra gtx. Ive had 3 pairsand one has worn right out. I think the sole did separate, but not before both toes had worn through and been repaired with shoo goo. As you see below, its a lightweight style and doesnt have any rand protecting the toe. A rubber rand limits the boots ability to stretch to fit your foot but does protect it a lot from rocks and gravel which you get in the eastern alps tararuas and ruahines but not in the kaimanawas and kaimais. The boot on the left is another scarpa but with a rigid sole that I got to take crampons for a tahr ballot block. The fit is identical but it has more insulation and would be a lot heavier when wet. The weights are 800g for the snow boot and 560g for the Terra GTX. Thats 1600g vs 1120g for a pair and the rule of thumb is that weight carried on the foot is worth 4x what it-is on the back. The lighter boot saves the effort of carrying almost 2 kg.

The other big consideration is the sole. Really you want an actual heel, which is quite rare. Most boots are designed for “trail” like the routeburn and have a more or less flat / curved shoe-like profile. Most boots have vibram brand soles and seem to be pretty sticky after the first 5 or 10 hours use on rocky ground.

My experience of midsole delamination is that is the age of the boot since it was purchased that limits the lifespan, not the amount of miles it has walked. Your boot will fail after about 5-10 yr whether you use it or not. So get out there and thrash them !


Two scarpa boots, Terra GTX on right, showing different ankle height and rand .
Attachment 208626

A good tread pattern
Attachment 208627

Yep as above. Try on a bunch and see what's comfortable. My foot likes Scarpa too.