Talkback: Scarpa Mirage GTX (GSB)

Hi Everyone

I know the problems with all the GSB systems. 

There are two main design faults  with the design

1,       If you have I think size 10 and above you can not easily fit GSB crampons because of the long steel front locating bar at the front of the crampon. People have been either joining the front and back part of the crampon while on the boot lovely as the weathers coming. Or bending the centre adjustment bar on crampon until it fits on the boot then bending it back, nice if you like buying lots of crampon bits when there nacked.

2,       Well this effects every one that DO NOT use GSB crampons or ANY crampons at all.      The front slot in the rubber that is the problem not the GSB system it self because the fixing in the boot sole is made out of steel and once the GSB crampon is fixed in place its supposed to work quite well.

The problem is that when the boots have pressure put on the front of the boot when walking or scrambling etc, the hole is compressing and opening all the time and the sole unit splits on the inside of the hole not the out side as you may think if you was to use the GSB crampon. The sole unit then starts to where uneven at the front because of the compression of the hole and you start to get what looks like a lump on the front of the sole. and then the sole splits on the inside because the protruding lump is pushing up int the hole and stressing the rubber. 

So the sole unit splits inside the hole 

The other problem is that  you could get stones and grass dog muk much and god know what else stuck in the hole

It's all a shame really because they are the best boot I've ever had

James

Heres hopping any one else dose'nt have the same problems with scarpa UK as me

They have had my Mirge Boots over 2 and a harlf months because of the spliting sole problem

I'm only now getting them back after having been a pain in there arse, the boots had not even done 50 miles and they was a problem with the GSB slot and the boots have never had crampons on them.

They started talking about a new pair of boots (Which I thick would be good) But now my boots have turned up and now nothing.

The main boss at Mountain Boot Company (Scarpa UK) today turn round and said we are a business any do not give things away !!! 

I REALLY CAN'T BELIVE HER CHEEK !!!!!.

It turns out that my boots where at Mountain Boot Company for nearly two months

She also said that I'm getting as good as new boots back because the have replaced the rand as well.

My answer was well they were like new when they were sent to them apart from the faulty sole

She also said that I should of gone into the shop earlier to find out where they were to which I answered I did over three weeks ago and they called Scarpa UK and Scarpa UK told them that they have been disppatched from Italy and they would be here in one week

That turn out to be an obvious lie didn't it 4 weeks on 

Today I still do not have my boots 

Mountain Boot Company is pants as far as I am concerned and I will not be giving away any of my money to them any more I spent over £350 in one month on scarpa boots last year

Good boots but OVER 2 1/2 MONTHS THEY HAVE HAD MY BOOTS and they don't really see a problem with that.

James

Hi

I'm glad that I've not had any problems like you with my old scarpas . My boyfriend has some Manta gsb though so I'll tell him to have a look, but he has been really happy with the.

Thanks for the info

Sarah

Hello Sarah

If they have split send them back and they will re-sole them or if they are not to old they may send some new ones as they do not have the GSB system.

But it is not wear and tear it is a design fault and Trading Standards told me that they have to sort it out. Just call them all the time so they don't forget about them like they did with me.

James 

Hi James

Would you still recomend there boots. I'm looking at some new boots and the has been lot of people recomending burma pro or vackums

I really would like a boot the is B rated so it will take a crampon

Tommy

Hi James

Yep same problem he poked the mud out and had a look two small splits

theres another guy on the forum the sounds like he's a new pair because they still make the 

The only problem is that my boyfriend has had hisover a year.

Sarah 

Got a pair of Mirage's, thought they where the muts nuts till i started using GSB Airtech crampons with them!

The sole isn't strong enough for GSB Crampons, It just wears far too quickly. To be honest i reacon they could be very dangerous!

So i've brought Boots and the Matching crampons which don't work and are infact dangerous! Pretty pissed off.

Gone back to using my Old type Heavy Manta's with G12 Crampons, inspite the weight are brilliant!

There resoling my Mirges and I've asked for the GSB part to be removed

At Scarpa UK they also said that all the GSB Mirages and Manta's with the GSB system have sub standard sole units on them from Vibram 

I struggle with boot fittings thats why I stuck with my Mirages

but it does not matter how old they are if they are faulty boots you can have a refund ask trading standards, same with the crampons.

The retailer has then to claim the money back of Scarpa UK and Grivel UK who happen to be the same company (The Mountain Boot Company Ltd)

James

cheers for the info james

haven't asked to get my money back,  i have to avoid people like the women you mentioned from scarpa.

Had a pair Scarpa Manta GSB. Sole unit disintegrated very quickly (within 2 months)  around GSB slot on both boots.

Cotswold refunded without question. Rendered useless for crampons.

Wonderful customer service at Brecon store.

Replaced with new Mantas with non GSB sole (Jorasses unit I think).

Much better, excellent boots. Recommend 100%

Two friends had similar experience.

The other side of this is that if you have a pair of GSB crampons, they are effectively useless on non-GSB boots, however, if anyone's at a loose end, Needlesports sells the parts needed to convert the front of a GSB crampon to a conventional Crampomatic bail/bale (sic. whatever it is...)

You obviously also need to find a way of removing the GSB prong from the crampon and you need a suitable boot to take the full fitting, but it can be done though you'll invalidate your warranty at the same time. A propos of which, I'd suggest finding a way of removing the prong that doesn't generate lots of heat or apply lots of force to the main body of the crampon.

Has anyone sent GSB crampons back to Grivel and had a non-GSB or modified crampon back in exchange? 

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com