Anyone owns Vasque Alpinista boots?

[Alex_Mineev]

Can not find any decent reviews on them...

[rhyang]

Dunno if this qualifies as a decent review :

 

http://www.rockandice.com/gear/130/gear.boots.1305.html

 

Tried a pair on recently from REI (since they were on sale). My feet measure 9.5, and the boots in 9.5 fit better than the 10's. Seemed too heavy for me - almost 5.5 pounds (Vasque is seriously lying about the weight). The laces were weird, just like the review warned. Finally decided that they were too narrow in the toes and too wide in the heel for me, but ymmv.

 

It also looked to me like smaller scree and whatnot could get in between the clear plastic and the synthetic upper, causing abrasion, but maybe that's not really an issue - gaiters probably would cover most of the openings.

[gearho]

I have a pair. Very stiff, good for mixed climbing with the S1 sole. It has taken a while to find the right combination of inserts to keep it from eating my feet but last time out I managed to be almost blister free. Very warm, pretty comfortable, good on ice and sticks to rock. I've done 14 mile round trip and an ice climb in them. What size are yer feet? Maybe I just sell you mine...Or pry them off my dead frozen body at the bottom of a cravasse.

 

-B

[Alex_Mineev]

I have a pair. Very stiff ... to keep it from eating my feet ... managed to be almost blister free ... Maybe I just sell you mine ... Or pry them off my dead frozen body ...

-B

 

Hmmm... Sounds like it does not have to be fun to be fun. May I should just get Freney...

[John Frieh]

I think Layton has a pair... ask him if you can pull him away from his poll.

[Alex_Mineev]

Thanks! I found couple one-year-old threads with some opinions. Would be really useful to know what people think now.

I was pretty happy with my current boots in the beginning but then changed my mind after a couple difficult climbs...

 

link 1

 

link 2

Edited November 4, 2004 by fern

[layton]

I like em just fine cuz I think they are solid, pretty light and comfy, warm, etc, and will last a while. I think the scarpa freney are pretty good too. so are the scarpa cerro torre thermos. the la sportiva trango ice has been my interim boot for 2.5 years now for everything from summer snow to -40 ice so I may not be the most reliable person to ask cuz I'll obviously wear anything.

[Alex_Mineev]

Thanks Michael,

I am going to give Alpinista a try - I can always return them to REI if something goes wrong.

In few places they say Alpinista runs large and recommend ordering one size smaller - how true is it?

[layton]

i have wide feet and measure just a few mm over a 9.5 so their size 10 fits me. that's all i know about my fit

[John Frieh]

FYI Vasque is rolling out new versions of at least the ice 9000 and super alpinista in Jan of 2005. Both will be lighter and warmer than current offerings. Would be wise to look for sales/discounts on the older models or wait for the new ones.

[Alex_Mineev]

I ordered and tried Alpinistas - too narrow in the toes area, other than that - just perfect... Returned and ordered ice 9k from mgear.

So far fedex says the package weights 10 lb. I wonder how much of it are the boots...

[Illini]

There is a reason that the Ice 9k is on sale with Mgear right now. In January a reworked model of both the ice and the alpinista is coming out which might actually be closer to their claimed weight. I would love to be able to weight a pair of these and see what they really weigh. Also they will be orange!

[Alex_Mineev]

Well, the pair of Ice9k I got weighted 7+ pounds.

Impressive boots. I was ready to forgive this extra pound+. If not the problem with the right inner boot - I’d keep them...

 

I ordered Asolo AFS 8000 from www.zappos.com

The shop has free shipping, free return shipping and they have a bunch of climbing boots.