AdventureRun

Thanks!

Thanks for the tip. I'll buy some and play around with it.

Sorry if this has been asked before. I tried searching, but nothing useful was coming up. I have a pair of La Sportiva Barunte boots. Last time out climbing, I had a little mistep and stepped on my other foot with crampons on. It didn't puncture all the way through, but is scraped that silver lining down to the black underpart. It is still water tight, but I didn't know if I should repair it. If so, what should I use? I was thinking of some epoxy. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Thanks. I do like the idea of the radio.

I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for a good GPS receiver for mountaineering that's in the ballpark of $300. It seems the more expensive models have altimeters and compasses in them, but I don't think an electronic backup is really necessary.

I'm new to the board, so I'm just going through posts now. I absolutely love ring work and gymnastics work in general, and while I'm very new to technical climbing, I can't help but feel my ring work has helped me advance as quickly as I have. A good book and video series detailing ring work is "Building the Gymnastic Body" by Coach Sommer, who has coached many National Level gymnasts. It lays out progressions and how to progress safely and systematically on various gymnastic exercises including ring exercises and ring series. Check it out: http://gymnasticbodies.com/

I dig my BD FirstLight, but I don't understand how two grown men and gear can fit in there. My wife and I are a pretty tight fit without anything else. It does have an optional vestibule that adds an additional 22 oz that I've thought about getting for 2-man trips.

Thanks, Cale! That's a bit of a weight off my shoulders.

Dane, Cale, or anybody else, I just have one more question. I went through 3 pairs of Baruntse trying to get the right size and then away from a defective sole (major wobble). This is pair #3. The fit is great and there is no wobble. However there is somebody I'm not sure if I should be concerned about. It appears the sealant they use to seal the rubber to the boot went a little long. It's visible on the boot. Is this a defect that I should exchange, or should this boot be fine in your opinion? Here are some pics. The water in them are just from me submerging them in water to see if they are water tight. It's been a huge pain to get these things right, so I'm a little beat down. I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing by keeping them. Thanks!

Looks like the 44's are definitely the size for me. Unfortunately the 44's I got shipped to me appear to be defective. I'm not sure if the left sole is warped or if there is a cleat sticking up too high, but the boot wobbles when it's flat on the ground. Every step I take forces my foot to suppinate. On top of that, the La Sportiva insoles were missing. It'd be nice to use them as a template when cutting my Superfeet. Back to the never-ending hunt for boots! BTW, I'm taking your advice, Dane, and using the medium weight smartwool hiking sock. I had used their heavy weight mountaineering sock previously.

Excellent info, Dane. Thank you. I just ordered a pair of 44's since that will have the 43.5-44 liner/shell. I'll try them on side by side with the 44.5/45's to see which I'll keep. Honestly even with all the extra toe space in the 44.5/45's, I get very little if any heel lift, but I want to be sure since these things aren't cheap. These boots feel really good on my feet. Thanks for steering me towards them. I'm very happy with the purchase.

Thanks again for the help. I got them today, but I think I need to size down to 44 from the 44.5's that I got. I have about an inch room at the front of the liner. Too much right? Strangely I don't seem to get heel lift when I cinch everything down though. They are extremely comfortable boots compared to my AE's.

Damn. I'll return all my MH Ueli Steck gear since it's a lost cause now.

Boom. I elected a pair of Baruntse's today. Should be here by the end of the week. These will make me climb like Ueli Steck, right?

Thanks again for the replies. I appreciate the insight from folks a lot more experienced with the equipment than I am. I think I may end up getting the Baruntse's. I have a hook up to get them for under $500, so it may be too good of a deal to pass up. I just have to make sure they fit right. If they don't, I'll try the Phantom 6000's. If I end up really taking to ice climbing, I'll get a pair of single leathers for next season. I completely agree about not "breaking in" the double boots, and your body just getting used to them. I find that to be the case with a lot of things in the endurance realm, and while I'm a relatively inexperienced mountaineer, I have plenty of ultra endurance event and training experience. That's why my plan was to head the White Mountains as soon as we get a lot of snow (we are actually getting a ton this week) at least 2x/month for some sustained climbing/hiking in them with a heavily weighted pack. Once it snows around my home, I'll be out on the trails at least 1x/week here too. I'm a bit hesitant to rent boots. If it was just a regular overnight climb, I'd be fine with the idea. This is a 7-day seminar though, and if my feet aren't liking the rentals, that will be a horrible 7 days. Last time I took untested footwear out was in a 24-hour adventure race in the winter. I picked up a midfoot sprain, a pair of crutches, and weeks of inactivity for my effort after only 15 hours. I told myself I'd never do something like that again and that I'd properly test and vet gear that I use. And Dane, keep up the good work with the blog. It's a great resource to have available.