New Sportiva "G-Tech" Ice Boots?

man.  Anyone want to sell a size 44?

akafaultline wrote:

Anyone have any idea when more sizes will be available?  

The climbing store I work out of received a full size run (doubles of each if I remember) from 41 to probably 46 plus half sizes. 

Ouray Mtn Sports has the G-Tech's in stock. Not sure which specific sizes. Just give them a call. 

Just climbed on my new pair yesterday for the first time. Very very impressive. I feel like I want to run in these boots. I'm the same size in my older G5s as I am the G-Tech. Definitely notice that the heel cup is tighter than anything else, really prevents any idea of heel lift. Once I put some nicer foot beds in them they will be really ready to go. Incredibly nimble boot and a great kick with Bladerunners. I'm a little skeptical with how far down I can push the temp rating on these. I'll test it more next week in Ouray. This boot rounds out my boot quiver quite well. Very psyched.

Brett Merlin wrote:

This boot rounds out my boot quiver quite well. Very psyched.

What's your quiver btw? I've done everything in Nepals for the past several years and every season I've wanted to buy something new. But analysis paralysis and all the big price tags have stopped me. 

Tal M wrote:

One thing to note is that I did have the Boa dial pop off while just casually walking through the woods recently. It's pretty easy to reattach if you know how (press it back in and twist the opposite direction as tightening the boa laces. You should hear/feel it pop back into place) but was definitely a bit of an annoyance.

I've been having the same experience with the boa dial. 

drew A wrote:

What's your quiver btw? I've done everything in Nepals for the past several years and every season I've wanted to buy something new. But analysis paralysis and all the big price tags have stopped me. 

Hey Drew!

I’m mainly in G5 and G-Techs now. G5 for cold-ish days in Colorado and Montana. G-Techs the rest of the time. I think the Tech will be insane for  warm spring ice missions, alpine couloir climbing, mix climbing, etc.

hope that helps! 

Anyone have any thoughts about the long term durability if using these boots mainly on ice/snow in ak? There isn’t much rock to contend with so abrasion really isn’t an issue.  Looking at getting these for my daughter. Last season she climbed in nepals - she has grown out of her nepals and needs new boots  was also hoping to have her wear these on rainier/ baker and potentially alpamayo   

thanks!! 

akafaultline wrote:

Anyone have any thoughts about the long term durability if using these boots mainly on ice/snow in ak? There isn’t much rock to contend with so abrasion really isn’t an issue.  Looking at getting these for my daughter. Last season she climbed in nepals - she has grown out of her nepals and needs new boots  was also hoping to have her wear these on rainier/ baker and potentially alpamayo   

thanks!! 

They won’t be as durable as nepals that’s for sure. Mine seem to be holding up well but it’s only their first season so who knows what’s to come. The main reason I wanted to reply was the g-techs are pretty lightweight aka colder than the nepals etc. I think they are great so far for high output (long approaches, technical climbing, etc) but I would be skeptical using them for general mountaineering where you are typically moving slower and want that extra warmth in a boot 

Finally got some climbing in these boots and is it just me or does the heel cup seem bony and anemic? Not padded well enough….

Interesting.  Been climbing in these the last 5 weeks.  Somewhere 3-4 weeks ago developed a mystery Achilles issue on my left heel.  Super tender and swollen.   Never noticed anything bothersome while climbing, but been hobbling around during the week.  Then go climb on the weekend and fine on the climb, but can’t walk when down on the ground.  

Going back to my G5’s this weekend to see if it helps.   Otherwise I love the boots. My G20+ seem welded to them, and it totally seems like cheating.  Would suck if this is a nail in the coffin for them. 

Did anyone climb in these in Ouray or Hyalite?  I am currently in trango GTX. Wondering how they would compare for warmth. I am questioning these vs g5 evo vs phantom tech. 

Did a lot of days in Cody in them this winter and found them as warm as the current Phantom Tech: less insulation is offset by the ability to pop the BOA loose when not climbing.

Aaron Moos wrote:

Did anyone climb in these in Ouray or Hyalite?  I am currently in trango GTX. Wondering how they would compare for warmth. I am questioning these vs g5 evo vs phantom tech. 

I used these quite a bit in Hyalite this past season. Haven't used the Trangos, but I found the G-Techs to feel very nearly as warm as my old Nepal Evos. Only really started to feel cold when temps got below 15ish. G5s will definitely be warmer. IMO, these feel slightly warmer than the Phantom Techs, but it's been a while since I've used those. For steeper ice and mixed stuff, the G-Techs climb like a dream. That being said, they are not as burly as a lot of other boots. I started getting decent wear on the sole (lugs partially shearing off) as early as the second week of use. 

Alex Lloyd wrote:

lugs partially shearing off

That seems very very bad... did you keep using them?? Post a photo!

Cor wrote:

Here is some firsthand information that might help folks.

I just tried them both on at the La Sportiva store in Boulder. I can agree the G5 Evos are warmer and stiffer. My feet are wide and the Techs were much less rigid. I didn't have the same experience that they fit my foot perfectly. They honestly felt kinda baggy to me and my heel never quite stuck back into the Techs like the Evos. The Techs are much lighter though at around 8oz lighter. The store manager told me the Techs are more geared for quick alpine objectives since they are lighter, and (they claim) only slightly less insulated. 

My main use case is going to be waterfall ice and CO winter ascents. So it'll be interesting to try them on again once it gets closer to season and see which one I like better then but right now I'm Def leaning toward the G5 Techs.

Jimmy Strange wrote:

Bit of a theme for LS the last decade. They win the gram-war by lightening up the outersoles. Not too big a deal if you’re always in crampons, arguably acceptable if not. They can be retro-soled in better stuff, even just the toe area. 

This is a general theme across all manufacturers, let's not forget scarpa's EVA rubber hybrid sole on the last gen phantoms. 

Scarpa went even harder on their 8000m boots. 

drew A wrote:

That seems very very bad... did you keep using them?? Post a photo!

Perhaps I made it sound worse than it actually is--only about a mm of material off of one corner of 1 or 2 lugs. I absolutely kept using them and will continue to. They climb hard mixed stuff more comfortably than any other boot I've tried, barring Rebel Ices. 

Wondering if anyone has side-by-side experience of the phantom tech to the G-tech for warmth

bearded sam wrote:

Wondering if anyone has side-by-side experience of the phantom tech to the G-tech for warmth

Phantom techs are definitely warmer, the trade off is that they weigh quite a bit more though.