Marko Posted January 4, 2003 Posted January 4, 2003 Anyone seen or demo-ed a pair of these and have comments? The new Climbing mag has a review on 'em and they look pretty enticing. Cheers Quote
layton Posted January 4, 2003 Posted January 4, 2003 I put up a similar post regarding the Super Alpinista. They aren't available until march and I've been waiting for them to ship since november (I ordered them in august)! A friend of mine demo'd them and loved the superalpinista, said the ice 9000 were awesome to but not neccessary (too warm for most outtings). Quote
hoofmarks Posted January 5, 2003 Posted January 5, 2003 I was researching this boot earlier in the year looking for a replacement for my plastic boots. I contacted Vasque direct and they put me in contact with Jack Tackle who designed this boot. Jack is very down to earth and more than helpful in sharing information on many subjects.... The following info is from Jack on this new boot. I hope this helps - hoofmarks Hello-My name is Jack Tackle. I work for Vasque and I am responsible for developing this new mountaineering program for Vasque. I am also an experienced climber and I think I can answer some of your questions that you sent to Paul Swarts in Vasque Customer Service. 1. The boots will take Super Gaiters no problem. The rand attachments will be very secure, although I always end up gluing mine on so they don't come off. 2. I designed the new Stealth Fitzroy sole so that all brand of clip-on crampons fit well. I work with Grivel and they have the narrowest toe and heel bale dimensions-so they fit with them and BD and Charlet. Those brands represent 90% of the crampons, but others should fit too. 3.I designed the Ice 9000 to be warmer and lighter than other conventional plastic double boots. Because the shell is warmer than just 2 mm of plastic, because the inner boot is very warm, and because there is a lot of under foot insulation,i.e EVA foam midsole, carbon fiber lasting board (shank) and foam and mylar on tip of the lasting board, besides the footbed, ---- you have tremendous under foot insulation where you lose a lot of you heat. 4. The boots are so much lighter ( over two pounds per pair) than the old Vertical. They are waterproof because of the Exo- Therm composite shell and the Pebax plastic fingers- instead of leather. And, again they are much warmer and they climb very well, because they are trim and light underfoot.The Stealth rubber sole will climb rock extremely well too. Good morning-Here's some answers to your follow up questions. 1. ALL crampons will work..New matic or clip on- so both your Rambos and your G-12 newmatics are in there. 3. I always come and guide at the IME NH Ice fest in Feb., so maybe I'll see you there. Vasque is a sponsor of the Ice Fest Feb. 20-23,2003 5. The Ice 9000 and the Super Alpinista single (in the category of your Sportiva Nepal Extremes) both have a carbon lasting board/shank that is totally rigid- but, this is a molded piece, shaped like the bottom of your foot- lasted is the term- and so we designed it to have a rocker to the outsole that matches this lasting board. What this means is that it hikes and does approaches much better than your Koflachs.. 6. The Ice 9000 double by it self without attaching a gaiter, is very warm. Obviously that's subjective- You can't rate boots like sleeping bags. But, again I have climbed Denali without Super Gaiters in this type of set up.... Still, not everyone can do that. So, compared to the One sport/Millet Everest and the Sportiva Olympus Mons. here are the differences. Those boots and heavy and clunky for technical climbing. The Sportiva published weight is almost two pounds heavier, some of that's the gaiter, but not all. It has a very heavy Vibram outsole on it for example. The Millet Everest is a little lighter than the Sportiva, but both these boots are meant for high altitude snow slogs and cold. Our Ice 9000 can climb grade 6 waterfalls, hard mixed ground, hike well, is lighter and warmer, and can work in ski mountaineering bindings like the Silveretta 400/404. Hope that helps. Cheers, Jack Tackle Quote
fleblebleb Posted January 5, 2003 Posted January 5, 2003 Cool post of the day! Now that's customer service. Quote
layton Posted January 6, 2003 Posted January 6, 2003 Alaska... Yeah, multiday/week climbs in AK (for the ice 9000), but I'd bring my Nepal Tops if they were alive today. They worked good in the Ruth for a month. I'd bring the Super Alpinista if I was going to AK and had the boot by then. Quote
Marko Posted January 6, 2003 Author Posted January 6, 2003 Thanks for the excellent info, hoofmarks. Yeah, if anyone's got credibility it's Tackle! Mark Quote
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