Hey guys I've got me a pair of Brasher Hillmaster GTX's and they have served me well for the past few years. I'm looking into getting some mountaineering boots to use with some crampons for the winter time. Does anyone know of any good yet cheap boots to start looking at? Does anyone know of any sales that are on that are selling them? Thanks Stu
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 What are you intending doing, Stuart? And where?
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 Stu, I guess people will ask what you're intending to use your boots for: winter hillwalking (which may require crampon use) or winter mountaineering (which will require crampon use). If the former, then there are several threads in the 'Gear' section at the moment about crampon use with 'bendy' boots.
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yep, just realised this should have been started in the 'gear' section. oops Se@n - looking at doing some winter walking, north wales areas. no ice climbing or anything that advcenturous yet, just some walking of the mountains and stuff!
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Rock and Run are doing a really good deal on Kayland Apex Treks at the moment - Andy Hyslops videos are worth watching too. As you already have summer type boots, the Apex Treks could be a good winter boot for you. B1, but nice and tough with heels that will take semi-automatic crampons.
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| Edited: 29/12/09 21:36 |
thanks a bunch they look exactly what i'm after! 
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I'd ask Rock and Run for some suggestions for crampons too - they often have good deals.
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I've just come back from a very wintery trip up Pen y Fan in a pair of Kayland Apex Rocks (very similar to the Treks, and in a dead cool orange colour  ), and was really impressed with them. Really comfy straight from the box - just did one 4km 'breaking in' walk in them round the local woods, 100g a boot lighter than my '3/4 season' leather boots  and about half a ton lighter than the Raichle 60 degrees they're replacing, though they may not be as warm since the Raichles were very thick leather, and of course you're dependent on the eVent liner for keeping your feet dry rather than leather. They fitted perfectly in my G10 crampons. Not my first pair of Kaylands - I've also got the Contact 1000s - and the fit seems to be good for my feet. If they fit, Stuart, I'd say the Treks would be an outstanding buy.
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ok so sorry for the previous posts within you own posted question section!! The answers are terrible!! One question is good though . . . where are you goin , when are you goin and what are you doin?? I will leave the next question to you because i know the people within this thread get very worked up by newbies and unfortunately they offer terrible advice!! Those that can do, those that can't, talk crap!! B1 semi automatic (new matic) crampons for instance!! on the boot they recommend you could sue them for talkin absolute bull!! be carefull out there, if you dont know what your on about . . . . shush!!!! these boots are not compatible. any questions please ask!! cheers
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and by the way, there is an ice cream van at the bottom of pen y fan and you can walk up in your nike's with your kids on ya back with your aged nan beind pushed up in a wheel-chair. Kayland by the way is wholesaled by a company called rosker and they would be the first to tell you they aint got a friggin clue!! bye bye kayland!! spot the reduced discounted prices!!!
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Luke, Andy Hyslop - who reviews the Apex Treks in the Rock and Run link I posted earlier - is an outstanding climber. Among other things, he held the record for the fastest traverse of the Cuillin ridge for many years. If he puts semi-automatic crampons on a pair of Apex Treks to walk off the top of a snowy mountain in Scotland I reckon he quite probably knows what he's doing. You would have to be one hell of a mountaineer to accuse him of talking bull. Are you?
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Stuart - check out some of the advice I recvieved in the B0 or B1 thread in the gear section. I've jsut bought a pair of Meindl Vakuums. Comfy enough for all year use but stiff enough (I am informed by a few people postoing here and the nice man in Taunton Leisure) for a walking crampon if not ideal for all day use as such. I was looking at the Scarpa SL but these Meindls seem to have all my uses covered - I too have just had to retire the Hillmaster GTX's and I seem to have the same activities in mind! Check 'em out - Taunton Leisure are letting them go for £166
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PS - The people on this site generally offer great advice, they've done right by me on a few questions! I really don't know what Luke is ranting about; seriously now, that's not a rhetorical tool, I literally struggle to understand what he is even saying.
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I've only just seen Luke's posts - weird As for the 'ice-cream van', actually it's Ali's burger van with speciality teas. And yes, you can walk up Pen y Fan in nikes, in the right conditions. Just as, in the right conditions, crampons might be advisable.
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 well during this last period of snow & ice, i took the chance to try my
13yr old crampons with all my footwear (inc teva sandles) from my best dress shoes to a pair of salomon b3's.
I did this test because 1/ i had the time. 2/ i was bored 3/ i was bored with all the can and cant wear this with that.
the result was. every combination worked to the extent that i would trust it to work for at least 2 miles.
at no time did any combiation come loose or fall off.
at no time did it become to painful to walk.
no damage to footwear or feet or crampons.
the only problem i found was with shoes and light summer boots, and that was just the tightness of the straps across the top of my foot.
the most comfortable combination was with my goretex motorcycle boots.
and the sandles ? well ok ,not very good. but if that was all i had to get myself out of trouble, i know it woul work.
my view is . if you are walking paths on the fells any thing will do.
i am not thinking of sharp edge or similer .
so next year for me might be stiffish leather boots and a quality flexi crampon.
And Luke. why so angry. have a spliff and chill man.
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 Yoda - top post.
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