layton Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 I may be doing most of my climbing in approach shoes or boots this summer so I wanna know what shoes climb the best (edging, smearing, thin crack, wide crack...) I've always swapped into my rock shoes and used my Boulders for the approach and up to 5.6 climbing. I hear the Montrail D9 is good too. Boulders, Trango series, scrapa cerro torre, fenrey light, solomon pro rock, 5.10 series, vasque super alpinista, etc... It's hard to shop around in bellingham. Quote
Greg_W Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 The one I've got my eye on is the GArmont Vetta. It's a 3/4 high top which I like for longer approaches with some 'shwacking. The Garmont Dragontail is a lowtop version and looks nice too. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 I got a set of free boulders and paid for the five tennies mountain masters. I prefer the 5.10 mountain master low top version 95% of the time. They offer more cushioning for bouncing through boulderfields. They cant climb a thin crack for shit though they smear good and work in chimneys. Less pain for the toe heel.... Boulders got trashed pretty fast and I think the 5.10s have held up to more abuse in the hills. The boulders technically climb better though.... Quote
layton Posted July 2, 2003 Author Posted July 2, 2003 I wonder about the "new" version of the boulders. The sticky dot rubber seems much less sticky and more friable. Also harder to resole. Climbing Mag gave the Montrail D9's the best overall. Anyone tried em? MEC has them, and the boulders. I may have to make the pilgramage (after the 4th of course). Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 I dont know if mine are new or old version...... Quote
Dru Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 i see some spaniard just climbed a 20m long 14b barefoot (info courtesy www.8a.nu) so you should be able to do much easier climbing, which is basically hiking in comparison with 14B , barefoot Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 I have the old ones so my comments dont matter. If it was at index it would get a 5.11d rating hehe. Quote
PaulB Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 Greg_W said: The one I've got my eye on is the GArmont Vetta. It's a 3/4 high top which I like for longer approaches with some 'shwacking. The Garmont Dragontail is a lowtop version and looks nice too. The Dragontail is the low version of the Ferrata, and is newmatic crampon compatible. The Vetta doesn't have the heel welt, and I suspect it is a bit softer than the Dragontail 5.10 has also brought back the Tennies, which everyone seemed to have a few years ago. Quote
Rodchester Posted July 2, 2003 Posted July 2, 2003 I prefer the 5.10 mountain master low top version 95% of the time. They offer more cushioning for bouncing through boulderfields. They cant climb a thin crack for shit though they smear good and work in chimneys. Less pain for the toe heel.... Me too.... Mountain Masters have done me right thus far....and lasted in part because I only wear them on climbs. Wear them around town and the sticky rubber will liley wear fast. Quote
Flying_Ned Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 I just looked at the D9 today at Alpine Experience in Olympia. I know Climbing recommended them, but they seem like a carbon of the old boulders, which I really liked. I think with approach shoes you have to make a critical decision: primarily for the trail and talus or on the vertical. Heavy (Dragontail) or light (D9). Seems they're either built up from a boot chasis or a running shoe platform. Quote
Alpinfox Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 michael_layton said: I wonder about the "new" version of the boulders. The sticky dot rubber seems much less sticky and more friable. Also harder to resole. Climbing Mag gave the Montrail D9's the best overall. Anyone tried em? MEC has them, and the boulders. I may have to make the pilgramage (after the 4th of course). I think the montails are "D7" not "D9". Second Ascent (Seattle) has them. I have a pair of them and they climb pretty well. I've climbed some easy 5.10s in em and used them on Da Toof a coupla weeks ago. They are the first "approach" shoe I've ever owned though, so I don't have anything to compare them to except running shoes. They look a bit dorky in my opinion, but I just bust out my EBs when I wanna look fly. Quote
Kevin_Ristau Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 I have the Scarpa Zodiacs and the La Sportiva Superfly's. The Zodiacs are great - comfortable, bomber, and will climb 5.6 - not great for cracks though. They are large and heavy, great for scrambling and they take a lot of abuse. Also newmatic crampon compatible. Scarpa has a new version out this year, it is in the Climbing review. The superfly's were cheap, MEC was blowing them out for $40 CDN a little while ago. They are very light and pack down quite small, but also only climb up to about 5.6. They do not edge at all, being very soft, which also rules out skipping through the boulder fields on the descent. They are the ticket though when you do not want to feel the weight of your approach shoes clipped to your harness. Go with a beefier shoe that will last, the lighter/better climbing shoes are not going to make you a star anyway. Quote
erik Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 IM GETTIN THE GARMONT FERRETA'S TODAY I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW THEY WORK AFTER THE WEEKEND... ALL 5.10 SHOES SUCK!!! ALL OF THEM!!! Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 erik said: IM GETTIN THE GARMONT FERRETA'S TODAY I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW THEY WORK AFTER THE WEEKEND... ALL 5.10 SHOES SUCK!!! ALL OF THEM!!! I have 6 pairs of 5.10 shoes that totally rock. You're the one that sucks. Quote
erik Posted July 3, 2003 Posted July 3, 2003 prolly so i walk with a limp and shit...makes the shoes roll out on the outside of the foot. and i drag my toes when i climb.... Quote
Kevin_Ristau Posted July 4, 2003 Posted July 4, 2003 I am assuming you are looking for some ankle support and a sole. Check out the La Sportiva Mega and the Mega Dru. They are board lasted, high topped climbing shoes that are relatively stiff and supportive. The Dru has a lugged vibram sole. I climb in Kaukulators, which are an earlier version. They are stiff, but they climb very well. Plus, they for offwidth! Quote
erik Posted July 6, 2003 Posted July 6, 2003 layton i used the garmont ferrattas this weekend and i would say they are great! for a stiffer boot they smear well and you can walk a long time in them with minimal foot pain. cheap too! Quote
snoboy Posted July 7, 2003 Posted July 7, 2003 Check out the Kayland Spider K(evlar). It looks like a rock shoe you can walk in basically. I haven't tried it out, though a friend has a pair and likes them. Quote
dr._jay Posted July 11, 2003 Posted July 11, 2003 garmont vettas kick ass! they're basically a hightop version of the sticky weekenders. i took them out of the box and straight up stuart and they worked great. i wore them the whole time except for the gendarme and they climbed very well, and were almost as light as matt's air zooms and super comfortable. they cost a bit much if you pay retail, but man were my feet happy. until the end, that is, when i made them slog over long's pass--man does that ever suck. Quote
lummox Posted July 11, 2003 Posted July 11, 2003 i gots some montrails d-whatever. they kina clunky compared to running shoes but they climb okay. pretty much right on for the odd 5th class move among a bunch of 3rd and 4th scrambling. they much moe comfortable with different inserts. Quote
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