jon@utcs.uucp (Jon Alexander) (10/03/85)
I have been looking at climbing/rock shoes, as well as lightweight hiking boots, and some running shoes (e.g. NIKE 'Escape'), to be used for climbing and scrambling/walking. Anybody have any hints on favourite or recommended footware? (Up 'til now, I've used running shoes with a polyurethane-type outsole, slightly curved up at the front.) -- Jon 'Big J' Alexander, U. of Toronto Comp. Serv. Toronto, Ontario, CANADA ...!{decvax}!utzoo!utcs!jon {ihnp4 } BITNET: jon@utoronto
eli@cvl.UUCP (Eli Liang) (10/05/85)
I use Boreal Fires. These shoes were the best available for a while and very popular among climbers. They claimed took the title away from the EB's a couple years ago. Recently, a number of new climbing boots have made their way to the market, many of whom are just as good, if not better than the Fire. One draw back among climbing boots is that they aren't very good for very much else. One manufacture of tennis shoes has come out with a combination climbing shoe and all purpose sneaker. I forgot who it is. Basically, you are looking at an investment of anywhere from $40 to $100 when looking for a shoe. Climbing magazines often have reviews of the various shoes on the market. -eli -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eli Liang --- University of Maryland Computer Vision Lab, (301) 454-4526 ARPA: eli@cvl, eli@lemuria, eli@mit-mc, eli@mit-prep CSNET: eli@cvl UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!cvl!eli
lowell@fluke.UUCP (Lowell Skoog) (10/14/85)
For the Cascades, the best all-round footwear is a pair of medium weight climbing boots with vibram soles, 1/2 or 3/4 shank, and surdy all-leather uppers. These will work on trail, snow, moderate rock, and moderate ice. On some trips, however, true all-round versatility is not adequate, or not necessary, so many people use more specialized gear. There are two cases where all-round boots are not adequate. The first is winter or ski mountaineering, or hard ice climbing. Here heavier, full- shank mountain boots are needed. At the other end of the spectrum, difficult rock climbing may require klettershue like EB's or Fires. There are also cases where all-round boots are not necessary. For light mountaineering with little snow or ice, light hiking boots are sufficient. For trails or easy cross country, tennis shoes are best. Either of these may be used as an approach shoe, depending on the nature of the approach. Because they are light and soft, you can cram them in a pack when you change to climbing footwear. The goal in using these is to wear the lightest, most comfortable shoes you can get away with. If this seems like a lot of shoes to own, it is. You have to determine your needs and outfit yourself accordingly. I must admit that I own all of the gear mentioned above, but I'm a wimp. "Real men climb in R-R's" :-) Lowell Skoog, Seattle
sjm0@bunny.UUCP (Stu Mcgraw) (10/17/85)
I have been using Fires for technical climbing quite happily for a year and a half now but am considering getting a pair of Sportivas. Has anyone had any experience with them? In particular, is their performance any better than Fires (enough to justify the $90 price tag)? Do they last any longer than Fires (I've been going thru almost two pairs of shoes per season)? -- stu mcgraw -- Stuart McGraw ARPA or CSnet : sjm0%gte-labs.csnet@csnet-relay UUCP: ...harvard!bunny!sjm0