I was wondering if anyone has any info on the Meindl Lhotse GTX boots. I'm thinking of buying a pair (a replacement for a classic pair of Scarpa Mantas which i loved and wish I'd bought two pairs all those years ago!)I've tried on the Burma Pro's but thought they felt a little too flexible for my taste. I was looking at the Lhotse as a slightly stiffer alternative. Anyone got any thought or experiences?

I've had my Lhotses for about five years.  They get very rough treatment from me, with hardly ever a clean or wax.  Still 100% waterproof, still look pretty good.  The rubber rand has split in a few places (scrambling collateral damage).  A bit of glue sorts it every time.  The leather has a few nicks, scrapes and cuts, but nothing terminal and just due to close contact with sharp rocks.  I think the rubber rand will eventually perish and fall off about the time the boots need a resole, but the leather will still be fine for years to come.

In use, the sole is pretty good on rock, even wet rock, but clogs a bit with mud making it less than ideal in the wet-grass-hill scenario.  Very comfortable from the box, but after a few weeks I started to get pains in the sole of my feet and numb big toe.  Much fiddling took place, but the answer seems to have been to swap the insoles for some proper ones (Superfeet I think, but definitely something with more rigidity).  I have an unusual gait - bow legs, unbalanced back, history of back and knee trouble etc (not to mention age...), so this is a reflection of me, not the boot.

I've used the boots in winter with C1 Grivel 10 point crampons.  No problem even walking all day in them.  Note that this is not recommended as the boots are officially B0 (though some people call them B0/B1).  Talking to Meindl in Germany I was told the Lhotse will take a crampon for "short times".

The boots are at their best during hard days with a load.  On my ML assessment I was the only one with dry, blister free feet at the end of the exped.  Great boot for leading groups as you don't worry about foot placement when spotting etc.  Unlike using lighter footwear.  You know the Lhotse will just bang down, protect your foot and be stable.

Downside? Heavyish - 1910g for a pair of size 11 (my scales).  Cf Raichle MT Guide (a lighter duty model) 1500g, Raichle All Degree Lite (old B2 version) 2000g, Scarpa ZG20 (actually a 10.5 not 11) 1620, Brasher Superlites 1310g.  And expensive.

For 3 season solo walking, I now use the Raichle MT Guides as they are lighter, so I can go further, faster, but for group work especially with the less fit and novices, I still often turn to my trusty Lhotses, especially if it is a wild camping exped, because I know they will survive anything and look after my feet.

In short, they last very well, perform well and are very comfortable.  The only down side is weight - heavier than modern lightweight boots and cost.  But the best costs and the reliability means more material has to be used (hence weight).  If I were to have just one pair of boots for all weather walking, I would seriously consider the Lhotse.  though I would look at all the Meindl C level boots and also Raichle's too, as both brands seem to fit me well.

One warning - I have tried the Burma and I think the last is different to the Lhotse.  I find too little volume in the Burma.  They are definitely bendier than the Lhotse.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info.

Fantastic info Paul. Thanks so much for your input.

I've got a pair of winter boots (Salomons) for the more gnarly stuff so the crampon compatability wasn't too much of an issue but the fit is. I've got ridiculous flipper feet and usually have a few issues finding a boot that fits well. The Meindls were recommended to me for that very reason. They fit wierdo feet, bit like the Scarpa BXX fitting...(if you can find anyone who'll stock them)

Interesting point about the insoles. From many years of skiing I've found that the Superfeet and sometimes even the Comformable insoles have proved to be a really sound investment. Looks like that will be the same for the Lhotses.

I too like to climb on routes that require a bit more....enthusiasm!...so the info about stability etc is really useful. Sounds like they could be the very thing. You mention the Raichles a few times in your post. Have you been aware of any issues regarding build quality?......I was told to steer clear of them by a well known, national outdoor equipment chain!

I've not heard any rumours of poor quality on Raichles and they are a Swiss make, so I would not expect it.  I've got (mutters quietly under his breath) four pairs of Raichles: All Degree Lite (B2 lightweight mountaineering boot), Mt Guide (lightweight leather walking boot), G3 (walking shoe) and All Degree Low (very stiff (B1?) walking shoe, not generally available in the UK). 

I've used the G3s for about two years as a general town shoe (alternative to trainers type of thing) and it has been very comfortable and reliable (getting more comfortable with each use).  I've done a couple of half day to day walks in Spain with them (where a boot can often be too hot).  Occasionally I get a bit of heel slop with them, but care with the lacing seems to stop this.

The All Degree Lites are about 2-3 years old, but have only seen 10-15 days of use as I reserve them for days I know I will need crampons.  Comfort from the box and no issues so far.  The newer B1 model might have suited me better, but I heard a lot of people complain about the B1 model, so I rushed out and got the old B2 model when I saw them going cheap and was looking for a crampon specific boot.

The Mt Guides are about a year old and have about 10 days use so far.  Very comfortable now I use a midweight sock on the right and heavyweight on my left (my left is slightly smaller).  Before that I had a hint of heel slip on the left (I bought the boots to use mid weight socks with).  Care needed with the lacing to keep the foot well planted all day.  These have proved to be a really light full leather proper walking boot.  There may be a wear issue with them as the leather has scuffed up quite a bit on a couple of days I took a group scrambling.  Only time will tell, the wear may have been due to the heavy duty use I put them to that weekend.

The All Degree Low are only a couple months old and I have only used them for one day.  I got them (very cheap) as a scrambling shoe for the summer, especially for use in Spain.

Both sets of boots have had the insoles replaced with firmer models (Superfeet green in one and some black ones I got from somewhere years ago in the other).  I did the first three days with the All Degree Lites before changing the insoles and they didn't feel they needed the change, but since it have felt a little more protected underfoot (that's the best word I can come up with to describe the feel).

I've nothing but good things to say for Raichle.  They are a wide fit, like many of the Meindls, though the heel area is more of a normal/wide than a wide.  I've got large, wide feet, but a normal heel width, so it is often tricky for me to find a good fit on boots (or shoes for that matter).

If you want me to be rude about boots, you have to get me onto the subject of Scarpas.  Don't start me on my woeful ZG20s...

Have you been aware of any issues regarding (Raichle) build quality?......I was told to steer clear of them by a well known, national outdoor equipment chain!

There have been some comments in this forum about build quality.  My wife returned a pair after less than a year with a flapping sole unit (albeit, with a lot of miles on).  I have a low mileage pair with no problems, but rarely use them as despite generaly being regarded as wide fitting, they hurt the side of my foot after 10 miles (& I have a narrow foot, work that one out).

Neil,

Have you thought that the problem might be that the boot is too wide for your narrow feet and that your foot is slopping about a bit?  That would certainly cause problems after a while, which may not be obvious when first putting the boot on.  The problem can also be due to the boot being too long.  Anything other than a close, but not tight, fit can lead to problems in use, although it may feel perfectly comfortable for ten minutes standing around at home (or in the shop).

Take the footbed out and stand on it (both with and without socks).  Do you have space around it, or do your feet fit cover the footbed?  That will give you a clue as to whether the boot fits or not, and where the problem is.  Personally, I always do this now before buying shoes or boots and I've not bought a badly fitting pair for quite a while.

I assume that this is not the case with you, but some people think they are narrow or wide when they are not.  Someone at Alt-Berg told me that they get this quite a lot.

Paul,

I think you have nailed it with your 'slopping about' comment.  I had sort of come to the same conclusion.  Just at the time I was desperate and they appeared somewhere near with Superfeet green.  Have a narrow fitting pair of Asolo's at the moment, perfect on one foot, a mm or so too short on the other - problem is compounded as I need a real size 48 as well as narrow and many manufacturers stop short of a full 48.  Alt-Berg..... had a pair made to measure, nearly crippled me.  The toe box dug into my big toes, binned them.

Neil,

How about Scarpas?  A friend of mine has narrow feet and swears by his ZG10s (which go up to 48).  I had a pair of ZG20s and swore at them, frequently, as they were just to damn narrow for me.  Though they felt fine in the shop.  Walking for an hour gave me blisters on my little toes.  Now I find them really restrictive when I put them on.  I can't think why I felt them comfortable. 

A slight warning though.  I relegated my ZG20s to motorcycle use, but the toe box has recently collapsed inwards.  This is the right foot and so nothing to do with the gear lever.  Total wear around 20-30 days, of which may be 10 were walking days.  From the outside, nothing looks amiss, but inside you can feel the lump of somthing bending down around the toe box somewhere.  Completely unwearable now (even for narrow footed people), so I might try talking to Scarpa in the hope of some sort of recompense, especially as they still look in excellent condition.