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The Scarpa Phantom Light, a good boot being used in the Cairngorms..
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>Home/Mountain Footwear for Scotland

Getting the right footwear for Scottish winter mountaineering can be a difficult affair given the vast number of boots currently on the market. Having a well fitting, comfortable and warm winter boot makes them worth their weight in gold!..

Most climbers and mountaineers operating in Scotland in winter choose a good quality, full leather mountain boot. Plastic boots are common for climbing steeper ice, and for those who feel the cold. They are however much more cumbersome for general walking and mountaineering.

It's worthwhile spending some time choosing a winter boot from a good shop with supportive staff; they should allow plenty of time to ensure that the fit and size is correct. Unfortunately, winter boots do represent a considerable investment but in most cases they will last a long time and can de re-soled by a specialist. Remember that it's rare to get a perfect fit without customising the fit with a suitable footbed etc.

A Scottish winter boot needs to cope with the following:

  • Keep you feet warm enough for the coldest days in Scotland (possibly minus 10).
  • Consist of good quality leather or other waterproof combination.
  • Be capable of taking a C2 or C3 crampon i.e. be rigid enough to warrant a B2 or B3 grading. For a full explanation of the Boot and Crampon rating system visit http://www.scarpa.co.uk

Generally James Thacker recommends Scarpa products, which cover the full range of mountaineering footwear. However, remember they need to fit you!

The boots compatibility with a suitable crampon is also really important. It's essential that the crampon matches the boot to ensure maximum security. When selecting a crampon ensure that you take your boots with you to the shop and check they fit properly. As boots (and crampons) get more sophisticated this can take some time, particularly with asymmetric designs.

Crampon tips:

  • Select a crampon with a "french style" strap or plastic loop at the front, they are generally easier to put on than crampons with a wire bail. Over time the front of the boot welt can wear making bail type crampons less secure.
  • Generally a basic 12pt turned plate design e.g. Grivel G12 will be able to cope with most demands.
  • Most crampons now come with anti-balling plates as standard e.g. Grivel G12 again. These help to shed potentially dangerous snow build up on the bottom of the crampon.
  • It's worth having a crampon bag rather than those horrible plastic bungs.

Generally James Thacker recommends Grivel crampons, visit http://www.grivel.com

 

 

 

  

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