Maybe not the ideal Christmas present but with winter tip tapping
on the door, Berghaus has released its first ever full-on winter
mountaineering boot, the Kibo GTX.
It's a serious beastie with a £180 price tag to match and
B2/C3 crampon compatibility intended for alpine and Scottish winter
use. Weight, says Berghaus, is typically 910 grammes per boot, which
is around 80 grammes lighter than the latest Scarpa Manta.
The boot's made from a mix of high-tech materials ncluding
reversed leather, Lorica synthetic leather and abrasion-resistant and
breathable Schoeller® Keprotec® plus a Gore-Tex waterproof
breathable lining and, should, they say, give a good combination of
durability and performance. A full rubber rand should reduce abrasion
from scree and morraine too.
Keprotec, if you were wondering, is a super strong,
abrasion-resistant aramide fibre - yes, really - containing a Kevlar
weave originally designed for astronauts' clothing. It's reckoned to
be five times stronger than steel.
Other features include a trusty Vibram sole unit, a double tongue
for comfort, insulation to keep your feet warm, plus Exowrap,
Berghaus's speed-lacing system complete with lock-off D-ring for
maximum lacing versatility. You should be able to lace the forefoot
firmly then leave the ankle slack or vice versa according to your
taste. You can can also see the webbing extension designed to
maximise heel retention in the boot, he said, in a technical sort of
way.
All looks good if you have Berghaus-shaped feet and are after a
modern, light-ish mountaineering boot for the winter.
More information at
www.berghaus.com
