FFCS

There are climbs harder than 5.9 at Vantage and Leavenworth? I thought they were all 5.9. It's amazing where a question about a guide book will go.

If you have used boots long enough, you know how a boot is going to perform based on the intial walking around the house for a day. I guess for me using this web site is a great information source, and I appreciate it when people post on products they are happy with, even if they are just commenting on the quality of a product. Personally, I don't care to spend my time looking for posts to bash, sorry if it wasted your time. Yes, Mountain Tools in California.

Just thought I would let people know about a great product I just purchased. Just got my new Ice Masters yesterday, and they are awesome boots. Great fit, light, well built. Look forward to trying them out on some ice shortly. I looked at Kayland M11's (couldn't find them), and La Sprtiva Trango Ice Evo's (too much heel lift)originally but found these boots on sale at Mountain Gear. The staff at Mountain Gear are really helpful, and knowledgeable. They fit the boots perfectly after I faxed them a tracing of my foot. Would definately recommend these boots to anyone looking for a comfortable, light, warm boot, and for $298 can't beat the price.

K2 makes a set of boot dryers that don't use heat. They look like bean bags. Supposed to work great, no heat damage etc. I use the Peet dryer but I think it gets a little too warm. Will be buying the K2 dryers next month.

I'm quite proud of these babies

The enclosure is rated poorly because the shell didn't repel moisture as well, I think they said it was a little too form fitting as well. I own a DAS and an enclosure ( got the enclosure for free). I use the DAS as a belay parka and the enclosure as an around towner. Dirty harry's right try the patagucci outlet in Dillon, I got mine there for $140.

The cascade creags idea is good, I might have to try that. What is that foam like anyway? Can you wail at it or is it more of a delicate hooking thing? The lift is not the rocker, and I had them tight. Although, the size was wrong I think. I will be getting a larger size, and doing some kind of moldable insole. Has anyone tried the double insole or even just those new microwave insoles?

Believe me , I couldn't figure it out either. I tried these boots on in a shop, stood on the toes, and my heels slowly lifted about an inch. The size I tried was a half size small for me. I tried the evo gtx version and had this problem, so when i tried the ice evo's I thought for sure I wouldn't have any lift. Not so, I think that maybe these might not be the right boot for me, which sucks because they are awesome boots. I have heard that doing an after market insole would eliminated this problem. Who knows, would like to try the M11 on to see how it fits. I also tried on a newer Salomon boot on and had no lift.

The lift is an inch or so, when standing on the toes heels out in the open. My previous boots were Salomon Super Mountain 9 guides. The lacing system on the la sportivas has a good behind the heel lacing system, but still could not eliminate the lift. Have never tried either boots. Want to buy the right boot if I am going to spend 4 bills. These will be WI boots with occasional alpine and glacier slogging. Frieh, have your M11 been warm enough? Where did you get them?

Looking at trango ice evos or M11's. Anyone try either? Have tried trango ice evos but had a little heel lift in them. Anyone with trango ice evos have heel lift problems? If so where you able to correct them? Don't know much about M11's, read a good review of them but would like some long term reviews. Thanks

DAS parka is the way to go, hands down.

I live up at snoqualmie pass, it never got above twenty five today. It has been in the low teens at night.

Glassgow, I agree with you, the ergos are nice, I used to own a pair. I just couldn't justify owning a set when I never used them on anything harder than WI4 leads, when I am leading WI5 I like having leashes. I just never got comfortable with them, paranoid about dropping one, or sliding off a grip. If your going to go leashless, why get the dated ergos, go for the new Nomics by Petzl Charlet. Has anyone tried these beautiful looking tools?

Oh, I forgot to mention, my wife wouldn't part with her Quarks now for anything.

I could take this opportunity to make a shameless plug for my CFBP Tools (on sale in the yard sale section of this web site) but, I won't. My wife climbs with the Quarks and has climbed with grivels and black diamonds. The typical problems women have with tools is weight and grip size. The Quarks are both light and have a low volume comfortable grip. And as far as swing goes, they stick themselves into the ice, very user friendly. My suggestion is to go down to a shop that has a variety, and dry swing the different models(with gloves on etc.). You can get a pretty good feel for a tool just by doing this. Good Luck!

The EVO has 150 gram thinsulate insulation as well as a insulated insole. Check the web site. Might want to look at the ICE EVO, same boot, better lacing to lock in heel, same insulation, I tried the EVO's (non ice), foot moved everywhere, ICE EVO no movement, kick ass boot IMHO