Gear

Hi, I am off to South America next summer for 18 months travelling/backpacking/climbing etc and I am starting to get my gear together. However I am really stuck on decent boots to get, which would be suitable for a massive range of climates. I have looked at the Aku Slope GTX and the Icaro GTX as well as others, but I'm lost! Would anyone be able to offer any advice as to which boot would be better out of the Icaro and Slope, or if there are any others which would be more suitable?

Thanks a lot!

I've got a pair of lightweight goretex Teva boots I bought in a sale last year, and I've used them for walking in the central american jungle, been caving in them, been swimming in them, they've been through mud, snow, ice and sand and I'm taking them up Kili with me.... but I'm not going to recommend them to you, because the only reason I bought them was that they were a great fit and were comfy, and they were the only pair that I tried on that felt like they fit me well.

I recommend you do the same, try on as many pairs of boots as you can until you find a pair that fit you well. 

Actually I'd also recommend a lightweight gortex boot, as it will help you in so many situations, especially if you are wearing them everyday.

 If you're going to the Atacama I would recommend some sandles, not much benefit in GTX boots in a place that gets 1mm rain per year.

that souds like a fun little adventure, and how might one get to do this.

im assuming you're doing it with a group or some organised thing

Hi  I took a 6 month trip around south america some years back, and i took sandles and light weight walking boots, and a pair of trainers for slopping about in. Now i would leave the sandles and take good crocs along with the decent walking boots if you are doing a lot of hiking/walking and a pair of trainers.  Your feet will sweat in the heat and freeze in the cold weather.

Depends when you go and where, but the best bit of advise given to me was, take the best sleeping bag you can aford because it sure does get cold there. Mine was a -30 degrees bag and i was glad of it. Camping in -20 to -25 degrees up in the mountains. 

You could buy your stuff  out there at a lot cheaper price than in this country. Bit like Nepal.  Or go native and have shoes made out of old tyres like a lot of the sherpas wear. about 50p in the market.

Hope this helps.