Boots for Chimborazo

Hi everyone, 

My names Nate and I’m going to climb some volcanoes in ecuador in December, namely Chimborazo. 

My main question is whether double boots are warranted. I have rocked the cubes for 3 trips up Orizaba, rainier twice, mount Washington in the whites in winter 8 times, kelso ridge in Jan….. 

Im just having a hard time convincing myself I need doubles. I have G2SMs but the thought of an extra pound on each foot for big vert days sounds unappealing. 

What do y’all think?? Any and all opinions appreciated. I’ll be going with a fit group, whom will likely be moving fast. 

Cheers, -Nate

Ecuador all but requires you hire a guide for Chimborazo, and you’ll have a hard time finding a guide to take you up without doubles. 

Hey Dylan, we have a local guide, I guess I never considered he would force me to wear one boot or the other? They seem pretty hands off, but I could be totally off base here… also I would be surprised if the rental 20 year old doubles they provide are that much warmer than new cubes… food for thought.

Nate Williams wrote:

Hey Dylan, we have a local guide, I guess I never considered he would force me to wear one boot or the other? They seem pretty hands off, but I could be totally off base here… also I would be surprised if the rental 20 year old doubles they provide are that much warmer than new cubes… food for thought.

I've been down there twice and both times people have rented boots you had the option of doubles or singles, even though the American guiding companies said doubles only. Most opted for the Nepals. You will not have a problem with the guide with your singles down there, or at least no one did each time I've been there. 

While I haven’t climbed Chimborazo, I’ve climbed in Ecuador quite a few times. I’d definitely take the G2s for any of the bigger peaks there. The peaks are far colder than Rainier on a typical summer day in my experience. 

So, I definitely don't know what I'm talking about.  But I was at 16k (just below snowline) on Cotapaxi in July this year.  We had decent weather.  Given that experience, I wouldn't hesitate to climb Chimbo in a 3 season boot, like Salewa Crows.  

I do tend to run warm and skimp on footware though.  I climbed the Kautz on Rainier in those boots, no regrets.  I've also hiked Kilimanjaro (just short of 20k) in trail runners.  Maybe I'm just a ticking time bomb, idk.

Edit: I'm not quite sure how the seasons work in Ecuador, given its location on the equator.  So I can't speak to the difference between July and December.

I've summited similar altitude peaks in the Andes and worn Phantom 6000 doubles. I was glad I had them. I run pretty warm but it is COLD at 20k.