i need to get insulated mountaineering boots for under $250

just wanting advie if anyone has some and wheter you really can get decent ones for my price range. I am mostly just going to be doing stuff like snowfeild hiking,snowshoeing for now but eventually want a boot that can ease me into actual climbing and winter peaking

What do you want, leather or plastic? What size are your feet?

Mad Rock Alpinists are under $200, very, very warm and they have sticky soles, but....I won't vouch for how well they will hold up to a lot of use. Ask me in 10 years.

I got a closeout model for $120 plus shipping, and you really need to size them big. I went bigger by 1 whole shoe size and they fit perfect with expedition weight socks. I also had to put in a footbed which allowed a little room in the front for my duck feet.

I've got a pair of Koflach Degres that I really enjoy. Keep my feet really warm, they're hard plastic on the outside and they're plenty comfortable. I've only been using them for about a year, and not on any mountains, just for ice climbing. Seems like they would hold up well for mountaineering. They retail for just under $250, I believe.

Taz,

Where are you going with them, and what are you doing with them???

There is a HUGE difference between 20,000' in an Alaskan storm and ice climbing at Vail...

I think your conditions are pretty hard to meet.... insulated being the difficult part.

$$$$$=Toes......

Less Money======Less TOES.....

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

My dentist always would say,

You can pay me now, or you can pay me later, but your going to pay me, later will be more.

Buck up and spend the extra dime you'll be glad you did......Or you'll be unhappy with the lesser boots you bought and you'll be thinking about the ones you should have bought...and spending the money twice....

Koflach no longer makes boots, so unless you scoop some up now, too bad.

Madrock boots work for me, same size as street in my case, and I've worn them in the Cascades in the summer, and the Rockies in the winter, and they've been fine --- for me. YMMV

If you shop around you can get Asolo double boots for under $250 - got a pair at REI for $230 and worn them in Cascade winter.

The Vasque single boots can be found on eBay for under $200, heard they're similar to the Madrock as far as range of use.

Good luck.

thanks a lot everyone. I was gald to hear about the mad rock alpinists because I was taking alook at them.
cheers,
Taz

$$$$ = toes is a very accurate analogy. It will be hard to find somthing under that price range that is warm enough but more importantly will last you more then a season or two. There is a reason boots can be listed at such a price and it usually means using less quality materials.

I would also ask yourself what Avery asked you.
What are you doing with them?

You will find that usually practical use determines how much must be spent to meet your needs.

good luck.

oh yeah,
used boots are scary as over time most loose their insulating qualities and that is probably why joschmo459 on ebay is selling them at a great price.

I was never a fan of the used stuff on ebay though. most of the time you get half the life for half the price. again. Making the right purchase the first time is much better then half ass'n and learning the hard/expensive way.

Another option is to go to a gear shop and barter with them to purchase a rental pair. I did this and got a pair of Koflach Artis for $100.0 that served me well in S. America. I wouldn't take them to Alaska but they where more than sufficient in the Andes. Doing this you can at least inspect the boots to see how warm they are. And if you can get them as cheaply as I did you could replace the liners with Intuition liners.

Check out this website--they're offering
Scarpa plastic boots for $229. I've had better luck
with Scarpa fit on boots than anything, and they make high
quality boots.
northernlightstrading.com/i…;dept=10

+1 for the Mad Rock Alpinist. So far, I still have 10 toes. They're not as warm as my plastics, but that's normal for single boots. But, they're more sensitive, comfortable, and lighter.

So far they are holding up well to a diet of hard hiking and ice climbing. But, like someone else said, call me in 10 years and I'll give you a better verdict.

Taz, don't know where you live but if you get by Boulder, the Boulder Sports Recycler always has a terrific selection of used winter boots there. Call them at (303) 786-9940.
Mal

if you are expecting cold weather, go with a double boot.
if you are using them for waterfall ice, go plastic
for mountaineering in the lower 48, go with a single boot.

I have a pair of La Sportiva K4s.
curious about the Madrocks

So I am in the market for new boots while I can get them cheap before the fall/winter rush. Looking for a boot for spring and fall mountaineering and moderate ice, perhaps winter hiking...

Anybody use or try the kayland boots? Like the M11+ or Apex XT or Apex XT Winter? They look good from the pictures and have a good price.

I have tried the La Sportiva Nepals before and found them to be nice, a bit expensive though.

Just wondering how the insulation and stiffness compare. I am quite intrigued by the M11+ and Apex XT Winter.

Thanks for the input.

Are La Sportiva Trango S Evo GTX Alpines any good? This guy just listed a bunch with BIN option on ebay.

In response to the posts warning about used stuff on ebay, you guys have a point. However, I would also like to point out that there is a pretty large population of people who buy stuff and decide that they don't want it anymore for whatever reason before they even use it. Example: I got a pair of Scarpa Invernos, a plastic boot, absolutely brand new off ebay last fall for only $140, which is at least $100 cheaper than what most retailers ask for. This is also probably a good time of year to look for overstock stuff, and some outdoor stores unload their extra merchandise onto ebay so they can stock the latest model.

Somebody asked about Kayland boots, I've used the Super Treks for about 4 years now and they're the best boots I've ever owned, comfy right out of the box, good sensitivity, good rubber, and have held up well. That being said the Trek's aren't that warm, I got a little frost bite on my big toes doing the Kautz on Rainier June 14. (Steep and Cheap has some Kaylands come up for under $100 on occasion) Been eyeing those M11's over at Wilderness Exchange.

I've got a pair of Civetta's that are really warm but doubles are clunky, much prefer a good single boot if conditions allow it.

Anybody got advice on insulated over-boots like Forty Below? Seems like it might be a good solution. Use the single boots and the over-boots when it gets cold.

Another +1 for the Mad Rock Alpinist. You can purchase the boot for around $120 plus shipping from Climb Axe. My girl used her pair many times this winter snowshoeing, and ice climbing, and never complained of cold toes once. I'm still breaking mine in around the house, but will soon give them a go on the snow glaciers of RMNP. The closeout price of the boots is only going to last for a few more months, so buy now.