What are the best winter/crampon compatible boots for me B1 or B2 graded?

I have a pair of Berghaus Explorer GTXs and they are great for the 2/3 seasons walking I've done so far, regularly walking the Munros of Scotland. These boots have served me superbly.

I am interested in doing some serious winter walking of the Munros especially in snow and ice so require a crampon compatible shoe. I am tempted to go for a B2 boot, such as the Manta or Kibo as it gives me greater range of use combined with my existing boots. But would I be better going for a more all purpose B1 boot such as the Scarpa SLs despite the overlap in use? (I am hoping to do an Alpine trek such as Mont Blanc next spring if that helps.)

If you have already got a good pair of boots for when the ground isn't all nice and white, then why not just get a pair for when it is?

Seriously, a good pair of B2s should be comfortable enough to walk all year round in, although you shouldn't have to! You'll appreciate a stiffer boot when wearing crampons. A stiffer boot and crampon also means you have the ability to do steeper ground, if you are suitably traine detc that is!

Yeah, for winter walking you want a B2, which will take an articulated crampon and be rigid enough for kicking steps. Most high end B2 boots will be adequate upto winter climbing grade III.

The B1 boots are fully rigid for more extreme vertical stuff, so not really the best choice for long walks and/or if your aspirations don't go beyond walking and low grade winter gully/ridge climbing.

The Manta or similar would be a good choice for winter Munro baggin and winter walking. That type of boot could also be worn in Autumn and spring for mountain routes and on low/med grade Alps routes in summer.

Sorry to correct you Paul I think you meant to say B3 here "B1 boots are fully rigid for more extreme vertical stuff". B1 aren't fully rigid having a little flex and more so than B2, B3 are completely rigid and good for ice climbing etc.

A B2 boot should be fine to walk in and will take a 12-point crampon (C2) which is good for walking and mountaineering, you could instead use a 10- point crampon (C1) for walking but they aren't designed for steeper stuff. I would recommend B2 boots if you have a good pair of 3-season boots.

I have a pair of Meindl Matterhorn GTX (B2) and they were excellent in the Alps this summer. I found them great for easy rock climbs and scrambles and snow from plodding to front pointing. They are also lighter than my Borneos(B0) so your feet don't get tired by long days.

I tired on Mantas but they don't fit my feet so it comes down to fit in the end on boot choice.

Thanks guys for the help - it'll be B2 graded boots for sure - I was worried over their comfort, but you have allayed my fears.

 Do you have experience with and therefore any recommendations beyond the Scarapa Mantas and Berghaus Kibos? I have tried the Manatas and am not completely sure of the fit - I have Berghaus boots currently and they are a superb fit.

Any recommendations from Raichle or Meindl - I prefer lightweight and prefer clip in crampons.

Some boots are designed more towards a shorter wider foot and others more towards a longer thinner foot. I think maybe Scarpa boots fit a shorter wider foot better (I'm only saying that because I have short wide feet and fit into Scarpa boots). Maybe look at La Sportiva, Salomon or Meindl boots.

B2 boots will be more rigid, so not generally as comfortable as more fexible walking boots, but a flexible boot will not easily kick steps in snowice and will not give you a secure platform when walking up snow slopes of moderate/steep angle. B2 boot uppers are usually constructed more towards winter and mountaineering use anyway, so in B2 boots your less likely to get wet feet from prelonged contact with slushy snow.

I've just tried on loads of boots this afternoon so many I've got blisters on my fingers from the laces!!!

The favourites are the Asolo Peaks (£170) and La Sportiva Trango Extreme Evo Light (£215). The La Sportiva are my favourites due to their light weight and more technical features such as clip crampons front and back.

However, they are insulated and quite expensive!

I see La Sportiva do a Trango S Evo, which is in the same price range as the Peaks and even lighter. I am presuming the fit is the same as the Trang Extremes.

Would Trango S Evo be more suited to mostly Scottish Winter Munro bagging and the occasional Alpine climb - or are they more all year round?

Or am I better getting the Trango Extremes? The money is less important than getting the best boot for my uses.

Could I use the Trango extremes through a Scottish year?

The thing with insulation is people feel the cold differently, I didn't get cold toes in the alps this summer and my boots (Meindl Matterhorns, I highly recommend them, approx. 690g for size 8) are only lightly insulated (if at all) where as some others wore Leather B3 insulated boots and still got cold toes. I did however wear warm mountaineering sock so these might have kept my feet warm.

I haven't done much Scottish winter but what I'm told/read it can be a lot colder then the alps in summer sometimes.

When I was looking for a crampon compatible shoe I looked at both the Trango S Evo and the Trango Extreme. In the end I went for the Trango Extreme because they were quite a lot stiffer than the Trango S Evo. In retrospect I wonder whether I should have gone for the  Trango S Evo, because they are a lot lighter. I do a lot of my other walking in trail runners and thus find the Trango Extremes quite heavy. I have worn them in summer and haven't found them too hot. Not tried them in winter yet, since I tend to wear skiing boots then.

For winter use I'd probably go for the Trango Extremes, but you may prefer a lighter boot like the Trango S Evo, buy it a big bigger so you can wear thicker socks and still wiggle your toes. 

Thanks guys, I think it is narrowed down to the Trangos. Unfortunately not found anywhere to try on the Trango S Evo's. I'm still to try on the Charmoz when avilable in the correct size - but don't think it'll change my mind.

I presume the fit is pretty similar.

Final questions, I think:

1. is the sole on the Extreme Evo Lights the same or stiffer than the s Evo's? There is no such info provided on the La Sportiva website.

2. Do either take the Grivel crampomatic fit crampons? Or, would you go for the Newmatics?

1. From the look of the Extreme Evo Lights I would presume that their sole is similar to that of the Extreme Evos and therefore stiffer than that of the S Evo.

2. I use grivel G12s with Newmatic binding on my Extreme Evos. They should take the crampomatic as well. The S Evos don't have a front welt so won't take the crampomatic. 

I would ditto what PeteB says about being wary of buying insulated boots, certainly you would limit the use you could get out of them, especially now that winters are warming up and they would be overkill for alps in summer, but not necesserily unusable. I would also not advocate buying a larger size to fit thicker sock, as you don't want any slack when kicking steps in the snow or you may get heal rub or bruised toes.

The La Sportiva Trango Extreme Evo Light you mention above are a fully rigid boot for alps/winter climbing I believe and as such would not be ideal for just long winter walking. I would look at the Meindl Matterhorns or La Sportiva Trango Evo S as mentioned above or Scarpa Manta (or Cerre Torro or whatever it's called, the next one above the Manta).

If you prefer the front and rear clip in crampon, then you will have to go for something more rigid, but it doesn't have to be fully rigid I don't think, as long as you buy an articulated crampon (rather than a fully rigid crampon), that will flex a bit with the boot. 

Hi Guys,

I am now very confused and have some folk advising againts the Trango Extreme Evos as they are too warm and stiff, yet others saying that the Trango S Evos are not suitable for winter and cold and are 3 season boots.

I want a boot to handle

Primarily, walking/scrambling in the Scottish winter and be warm and comfortable enough on 20Km + walks.

Secondly, the boot has to be suitable for some Alpine walking in winter, but most importantly to do Monte Blanc in June/July as well as the Eiger Glacier?

Are the Trango Extreme Evos too stiff for long walk?

OR

Are the Trango S Evos to cold for the Apls and Scottish winter?