Yeah, I do love the craggy stuff - the Glyderau and Tryfan are favourites. I'm not really a fast and light kinda guy. I often take a full pack, tent and all on single day outings just to stay used to it and 20kg for me is fine. I like to feel my kit is bomb proof rather than stripped down. All this super light stuff is for wimps!  Metric Kate, my wife's name is Jo. I well remember the sheep you supplied to my tent.
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 Congratulations to you and Jo. And I didn't supply the sheep. In fact, I had been sheeped the night before. I just managed to sit on it the moment I got in my tent and extracted the offending ovine!
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 I have some Meindl Borneo Pro's and have just purchased a pair of G10s - off to do the winter skills in that combo this Feb. The boots I have had about 5 years but this last two years I've been in Inov8s, so going back to the boots, I'm sure I will feel like I have lumps of concrete on my feet! I am of the opinion that the B0 and B2 option is the best - more choice and more kit to buy ha Most of my walking is in Wales as it happens. I think those Trango Evo things would be a decent boot if they fit you... well, them and a pair of trail shoes. Personally I've done Grade 3 scrambles in the Inovs, once in pouring rain in Glencoe. The Trango could just sit in the car boot until you need crampons or fancy some difficult scrambling.
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 Hi Neath, I too remember that night.
Its good to hear your still out there doing it.
I know when we met you were getting your wife to start out, I take it she got the bug a bit.
Just remember you've got a long way to go to catch up with my kids.
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 My personal take on this is that walking below the snowline in winter boots - B1, B2 or B3 - is pretty un, erm, well, just not great. Anything stiff enough to have a crampon rating is generally clumpy and uncomfortable for general walking. Thing is though, it's a personal choice. Some folk love stiff boots on rocky terrain - I don't, I'd rather rely on good foot placement and have a lighter, more flexible boot or shoe - and if you're wired that way, it's not so much of an issue. It also depends on just how much winter walking you're planning on doing. Personally I'd rather live with a lighter, more flexible boot for the majority of my walking below the snowline and be slightly compromised but safe above it than the other way round.
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You see, Neath was right - we do love talking about boots!
Re Jon's points - I have worn very light boots/shoes occasionally but don't go much on wet, dirty feet. But in the right conditions, they're great and gave me a good, double day in June last year, for instance, when I finished at about 11.30 pm on a Munro grabbing sortie near Loch Lomond. But I was travelling light.
Re 'anything stiff enough to have a crampon rating is generally clumpy and uncomfortable for general walking...' I find the SLs extremely comfortable straight away, as were the very early Mantas. Virtually no breaking in for me. And when carrying heavy loads on treks, especially on rough ground, we have been very glad of them. But I do fully accept that others find flimsier footwear superior to something more robust, andas Jon said, it's a personal choice. So Neath, if you can afford two pairs, well - you may prefer that route. Whatever you end up with, I hope they work out well.
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 Re 'anything stiff enough to have a crampon rating is generally clumpy and uncomfortable for general walking...' I find the SLs extremely comfortable straight away, as were the very early Mantas. Virtually no breaking in for me. My Fitzies (one step stiffer than the Mnatas) were comfy straight away, and needed no breaking in at all. I once did a 35 mile road walk in them (I was young and daft, okay?) and the only problem was a teensy blister on one wee toe that I didn't notice until I inspected my feet. But... ...That doesn't alter the fact that lighter footwear is much less clompy and fatigueing to walk in. The main "robust" point in my havey boots' favour is they've taken resoling very well and thanks to Yeti gaiters the uppers are still fine over 20 years after I got them, and you won't get that in light footwear. But robustness on the hills is only really a factor if I'm trying to kick steps in hard snow. There have been times when it's been nice to have something I can guarantee warm dry feet in all day when doing a slow walk with newbs with Mucho Bog at hand, but after a while I discovered wellies are actually fine for that and are a fraction of the cost and faff (no waxing, no gaiters, so cleaning). Pete.
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I'm going boot shopping this week! Hurrah! Okay - I've tried on a few pairs and as much as I'd love to get the SL's for the sheer joy of trying a new kind of kit I think they'd be too much of a halfway house for me. Seems some people regard SL's as "do it all" and some see them as "too stiff for Summer, too bendy for Winter" I don't know how to figure out which camp I'm in without buying a pair but at £170 I don't want to gamble. Final query - does anyone have any experience of using B0's (Meindl) in crampons? I think may chance my arm at it.
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I just got back from Snowdonia for a week - used Meindle Borneos with Grivel G10s. I was quite happy plodding around up high in these, tried a bit of kicking with them and didn't feel a thing on my toes but the fit is perfect for me. Had to relace the boots once as hadn't done them quite tight enough and when the crampons are fitted... well, you soon notice. I wouldn't say you are chancing it - not unless you intend to go front pointing! 
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Choice is now this: Meindl Burma Pro vs Meindl Vakuum. They didn't have the Vakuum in my size today so I'll popping back later to test them against the Burma Pros which were certainly very nice. Anyone have any views on their relative merits? Seems to me the Vakuum's are just a little bit sturdier and rugged with the high rand and higher ankle.
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Glad you're sorted fella
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Neath, glad you are sorted. I bought Burma Pros a month ago and can't really get on with them. They are quite shallow in the toe box and pinch my right foot. I've done about 25 miles in them, including Cadair in the snow, but am on the look out for something else. Actually I think I should have had a half size larger. Perhaps in a 1000 miles from now I can wear them in. I don't think it's the boots fault though. I suppose I'm in the same boat as you, and might try the more flexible uppers of the Trango family. Of all my gear, boots are the hardest to get sorted.
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Of all my gear, boots are the hardest to get sorted.
. . . and some of the priciest! As with so much stuff I find you aren't really going to know if you get on with it until long after you've handed over the cash!
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Neath, you are so right. The boot market can be a minefield, with so many to choose from. One thing though, I recently settled for a pair of boots from Outside of Calver. They operate a policy that as long as you wear them only indoors, they will give you your money back if for any reason you don't like them ( within 28 days ). In this instance I realised I'd made a mistake and took them back- and got my money back without quible. All the best with your purchase.
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Dude, I think Taunton Leisure would do that for you too. However, I don't think I'll know how these boots are going to suit me until I've done at least 15 continous miles in them. With the best will in the world that ain't going to happen in my 3 bed terrace!
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