Boots for Aconcagua

[Arbu]

I'm climbing Aconcagua in February. Most sources seem to recommend wearing plastic boots, but I'm wondering how necessary this really is. I climbed Elbrus last summer in a pair of leather boots, Scarpa Mantas, we did most of it at night, it was absolutely freezing and very windy, but my feet were fine. So I wonder if plastic boots will really be necessary on Aconcagua. O.K. it's higher, but there's no snow, and it's at a lower latitude. So I'm wondering if I can get away without them. If I don't need them then I'd certainly rather not have to lug them all the way down the Hormones Valley.

Grateful for any advice.

[Ron]

Nowerdays there are leather boots with inner shoes (isolation)...i would recommend those b/c they are warm enough but better they are more comfortable..a plastic boot walks like a ski boot a bit and thats not very nice.
A good platic boot is the scarpa alpha b/c its very soft...otherwise look for leather boots from salomon or la sportiva for example..they have some expedition models with inner boots.
Nothing wrong with using a leather boot (as long as its warm enough) on aconcagua

[trunl]

never heard of the leather kind that you speak of, are they expensive?

[Ron]

Yes they are...more expensive generally as a plastic boot. Have to look up the prices

[trunl]

is it a big advantage?

[Ron]

Yes ...they are much more comfertable to walk on. and they fit better.

[trunl]

do u personally use them?

[Ron]

I use neighter......for techinical climps in the alps i use scarpa freney shoes and for high altitude shoes i use the la sportiva olympus mons...a whole othet kind of shoe.....millet has them  scarpa too

www.lasportiva.com

but i am planning to buy some

[trunl]

what kind is the shoe you were talking about earlier?

[Ron]

for instance http://www.sportiva.com/products/mountaineering/nuptse.html

[trunl]

thanks for the link.

[7summits]

I still firmly recommend against any non plastic/double boots on Aconcagua. Too many people had frostbitten toes due to sweaty leather boots that did not dry out during the short and cold night before summitday. You pass (short but wet) snowfields on all routes, so leather boots will always get wet, doesn't matter if there's a goretex lining, the moist will still be on and in the material and will freeze. Inner boots from plastics will dry in your sleeping bag, leathers normally won't (and are uncomfortable at night).
Take care of your toes if you like to use them again!

[Ron]

you can put the inner boots of leather shoes in your sleeping bag aswell and if the leather gets hard...so?  your plastic boot is allready that...they still will be more comfertable tha plastics.....
Plastic boots are going to be something from the past (except for a few cases) in my view also when i look at the developments made by manufacturers (witch i follow professionally)

[7000]

Which do you recommend... e.g. for Elbrus... Sportiva Nepal Tops OK? Also the 'light' version?

you can put the inner boots of leather shoes in your sleeping bag aswell and if the leather gets hard...so?  your plastic boot is allready that...they still will be more comfertable tha plastics.....
Plastic boots are going to be something from the past (except for a few cases) in my view also when i look at the developments made by manufacturers (witch i follow professionally)

[Ron]

well Nepal tops do not have inner shoes and i recommend ones with those. Certainly the nepal top isnt insulated..I suppose when you hit and run elbrus and can manage to keep the boot dry (supergaiter) then the Nepal extreme would be oke.

[trunl]

so what if u lose one or two toes. its not the end of the world.

[Ron]

OMG

[trunl]

i cant tell if u are being sarcastic. but i know i was.

[garyparker]

Anyone used or recomend Freney XT for Aconcagua - opinions welcomed.

[Ron]

the scarpa's you mean???  then nope..to cold