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

[MikeW]

I'm planning to climb Aconcagua this January and I've been using the Salomon Pro Thermic leather boots with an inner shoes (so it's a double boot! ) for the last 2 years. I had them on Elbrus and my toes were toasty  even with the bad temperatures that we had.

MikeW

[Daisy]

Hi MikeW

I just invested in a pair of plastics by Scarpa with high altitude liners for Aconcagua. I really hope they'll be warm enough because I get really cold.

Ron,
Do you sell these? are they reccommended? have you had any bad feedback about them? Also, it's really really hard to get gear for girls here in Ireland, especially gloves. I ordered some mitts months ago but I'm still waiting. You can only buy gear either in big sizes or for men where I live.

[Ron]

Hey daisy,
Did you buy the scarpa alpha or the scarpa vega. Well either way. With a special high altitude liner they are oke boots for Aconcagua....i would not use them on everest.

We have specialized shops here in Holland called "womens outdoor world". To bad its difficult to find it in Irelnad. Anyway even here its difficult to get the special expedition stuff in smal woman sizes.
take a look at http://www.outdoorresearch.com/home/page/or_women
They make wonderful gear for serious outdoor woman.

[7summits]

Hi MikeW

I just invested in a pair of plastics by Scarpa with high altitude liners for Aconcagua. I really hope they'll be warm enough because I get really cold.

Ron,
Do you sell these? are they reccommended? have you had any bad feedback about them? Also, it's really really hard to get gear for girls here in Ireland, especially gloves. I ordered some mitts months ago but I'm still waiting. You can only buy gear either in big sizes or for men where I live.

Hi Daisy,

I used the Scarpa inverno/vega (same) with HA liners twice on Aconcagua, they take you to the summit without problem 
Seriously, they are heavy but warm and you will not twist an ankle on those bloody rocks and scree in the canaleta 
Do not forget to take out the liners every night and dry them out in your sleeping bag, they will be dry very soon and warmer the next morning.

[Daisy]

Thanks Ron,

I got the scarpa vega...

And thanks for the link!

Daisy

[ICAN]

I am off to Aconcagua in December, I have for the moment, Ladies Sportiva Nepal Extremes, from what I am reading above, I guess I should be looking for plastics??

As I already have the Nepals for my other climbs in and around the alps etc. I am thinking the plastics are also going to complete my gear for when I move up to colder higher climbs...