Climbing Boots

1

1bigtree

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Anyone have any input on a good pair of climbing boots?
A good place to buy online?
Had a pair of Scarpa's that I really liked but the sole split at the toe.
The arch support(Crampon compatible)for spikes was great yet the toe was flexible for climbing... Are there any other boots "dynamic" for climbing, should I just buy two pairs.
 
I don't no. I have a pair a Carolina's and a pair of Gorgia's. I like both of them, both around a hundred dollars. But they both do not stay real tight. I too would like to no if the high dollar ones are worth it? Esp the Wescos. Look good but does the leather over stretch like some boots do? But for around a hundred, Carolina isn't bad. Although I would pay a little more just for American made next time I buy.
 
Think a good number here will agree with me here, there are a few brands that you should check out. Following the same line as what you are currently using, a mountaineering boot I found works pretty well for both removals and prunes. Brands that come to mind are Asolo, Scarpa, Garmont, La Sportiva, Vasque and know there are a few others as well. Most will run you betwee $200-350 and generally last you a good year or 2, possible more depending on use and if possible to just resole them. If gonna opt for a 2nd pair more for pruning I would check out Merrill's. There a very comfortable light hikers that I enjoyed climbing with very much but in my experience I only got on average 3 months out of a pair and wasn't worth the cost of a 2nd pair running an additional $100.
These are what I am climbing with at the moment being they discontinued the pair of Asolo's I been wearing for the past few years. Color sucks but faded out fast enough, lol. http://www.zappos.com/garmont-vetta-plus-red
I personally I have buying boots the past few years from zappos.com. They have wonderful customer support as well as knowledge staff as well free shipping helps. I have placed order 1 morning and had have the UPS guy at my door the very next day with the boots I ordered. Just amazing to me. Also it is a good idea to check out sieratradingpost.com, they generally have great deals on not only boots as well as clothing like arborwear, just have to keep checking as they update they stock quite frequently. Only other place i have used is moosejaw but believe they were priced a little higher then others though was a few years ago. Hope that all helps.
 
I was given my Labonville kevlar, steel-toed chainsaw boots by a friend. There are pretty good for spiking,if you aren't going to be all day, and appreciate the kevlar and steel toes. They are a bit big for me so I wear two socks on each foot which pads them more.

I don't like them for groundwork.

I usually wear gore-tex light hikers on the ground and pruning. Easier on the feet and the BARK. I think I'd be unintentionally wounding the tree if I pruned in the logger type boots much.

I don't worry about cutting my feet. I make sure to use good positioning and ergonomics.
 
Carolina 9 inch steel toe A1922 Made in USA. Carolina boot website. Free shipping $150. They're holding up pretty well. It took 2 busy seasons for the treads to wear down. They are lighter than red wings.
 
I like my red wings, light and comfortable but the ones I have now are pretty much worn out in less then a year. I looked at another pair but most redwings are made in china now but still have the high price tag. Going back to rocky boots, I was using them before and they were really comfortable, less then half the price and lasted about a year. It seems like if I buy $300 boots or $125 boots they all last me about a year before getting uncomfortable.
 
Boston Bull how do you like those Powermatic 500s? Is that a stupid question? I love my Asolos but those things move in on $275. fer cuh-ryin out loud! I'd hope you could kick a Volkswagen in half with them. Whiz
 
You think those are expensive look up Wescos. Worth every penny, IMO.

6 months of HARD use, climbing/bucket/running equipment/etc and they hardly show wear. I can still stand in puddles ankle deep and have dry feet.

The key is taking care of any boot. Dry tanned leather like hiking boots needs to be cleaned, and sealed with a water based sealant.

Oil tanned leather like Wescos, needs to be cleaned a LOT! And beeswax with no petroleum products in them.
 
i bought a pair of Scarpa Kailash GTX Boot a few months back and like them. I see some online for $10 right now. They are pretty light for a hiking boot and I don't know that they will last long, but they are doing well so far. Nice soft sole, sticks really well. May not be great for spikes, dunno. They also have some nice little ridges in the arch which grip the rope very nicely when footlocking. ALmost feels like cheating!

Of course, if you thrashed some Scarpas already, maybe you aren't interested in this advice!

I had a pair of heavier leather Scarpas, but their sole was so hard that it tended to tear bark way too much for the (mostly) pruning that I do on soft barked trees. They didn't tend to stick to wood very well either. So I had to put them back in reserve for actual mountain use. I bought these new ones sight unseen because Scarpa is a known brand that fits me well. That's the deal right? We all have different shaped feet, and one boot will fit someone great and another one horribly. Buy on fit and comfort instead of features is what i think.

Yeah, whatever you get, it will get thrashed working in trees. It is an expendable wear surface just like rope. Light hikers aren't made for climbing in wood non-stop, but the truth is that they stick really well and don't harm the trees whose health is the pride of my work.

of course, removals is a different deal...
good luck!
pete
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom