Sportiva Alpine boots for the frugal....

[Dane]

With ice season coming on never hurts to know a deal if you need one.

 

Sportiva Trango Prime...insulated and a water proof liner-sox...also a wider last, not totally rigid and a non sticky rubber sole. Not impressed for my feet and ended up returning them last winter. Cost $390

 

 

Sportiva Ice...insulated, not water proof, light, rigid and warm. They fit narrow feet well. Terrible lace system, imo. On sale many places on the Net from $220 to $270..with no tax or shipping from some of them.

 

 

$10 at your local cobbler might get you 4 pairs of new hooks on the Ice's cuff. Then you can ditch the funky Sportiva ankle tie/cuff system. This the second pair I have done this mod to. If the last fits your foot, and you are in need of something in this style of boot, the cuff conversion is simple. Sure makes lacing and unlacing your boots a lot easier during the day or if you end up spending the night out in them. The modified lacing seems to work pretty well for hard mixed and "warm weather" ice in the Cascades or on the Parkway. Soft, flexible ankle, so not a huge amount of support but enough to not roll an ankle at the end of the day in a nasty scree/boulder descent. Bit more support than the Prime, a bit less than the Silver colored Trango Evo (another great option, maybe the best of the bunch with Goretex, if found cheaper than $400). Some rocker in the sole so longer approaches won't kill off your feet before you get started. A rigid sole that climbs well with 'pons. A noticably sticky rubber on rock and you still get the nifty little mini gaiter to keep the major chit out of your boots