Re: Walking (not just climbing) in the latest B2/B3 boots
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:07 pm
Well, I'm back from trying quite a few on.
The most "comfortable" were the Zamberlan Jorasses, although they felt as if they had too much padding inside: they actually felt like slippers and my foot was sliding around quite a bit despite being the right size, length-wise. Most odd for a B2 boot!
I tried the Salewa Pro Guide in walk mode (which apparently turns it into B1 sole stiffness) and that was virtually as comfortable in the foot and more comfortable in the ankle - and it actually fitted. It felt properly rigid at the sides of the boot and laterally (unlike the Zamberlan) and my foot didn't slip around once I did it up lightly. Great ankle movement forwards and backwards - I could crouch down on my toes even more easily than in my Scarpa SL Activs. which have a lower ankle cut. The sole felt sufficiently flexible for walking and I spent about half an hour wandering around Tiso's "rock garden", walking over the boulders, the bridge etc.
I tried a couple of other boots (all B2s) which felt more clunky than the Pro Guides, including a Salewa Raven. Although they only had that in a women's fit, which meant it was quite narrow so not an ideal fit. That was probably the next best (from recollection).
There was a wafer thin difference in comfort between the first two, then daylight, then the rest. The first one (Zamberlan) was a "false comfort" though because the boot was clearly too wide and I'd have had to cinch it right down.
The walk mode of the Pro Guides does seem to work - I flicked it over to climb mode and they became ski boots with ankle flex Very clunky for walking!
Between Tiso's relatively limited stock of mens' 7s and my odd shaped feet, we didn't have loads to try. I tried on womens' boots as well (not fussed unless they're hot pink or something - my ski boots are womens') but it was very clear which boots suited my foot shape and which didn't. Heel lift, pinch points etc. were pretty immediately obvious.
So, decisions to be made...
The most "comfortable" were the Zamberlan Jorasses, although they felt as if they had too much padding inside: they actually felt like slippers and my foot was sliding around quite a bit despite being the right size, length-wise. Most odd for a B2 boot!
I tried the Salewa Pro Guide in walk mode (which apparently turns it into B1 sole stiffness) and that was virtually as comfortable in the foot and more comfortable in the ankle - and it actually fitted. It felt properly rigid at the sides of the boot and laterally (unlike the Zamberlan) and my foot didn't slip around once I did it up lightly. Great ankle movement forwards and backwards - I could crouch down on my toes even more easily than in my Scarpa SL Activs. which have a lower ankle cut. The sole felt sufficiently flexible for walking and I spent about half an hour wandering around Tiso's "rock garden", walking over the boulders, the bridge etc.
I tried a couple of other boots (all B2s) which felt more clunky than the Pro Guides, including a Salewa Raven. Although they only had that in a women's fit, which meant it was quite narrow so not an ideal fit. That was probably the next best (from recollection).
There was a wafer thin difference in comfort between the first two, then daylight, then the rest. The first one (Zamberlan) was a "false comfort" though because the boot was clearly too wide and I'd have had to cinch it right down.
The walk mode of the Pro Guides does seem to work - I flicked it over to climb mode and they became ski boots with ankle flex Very clunky for walking!
Between Tiso's relatively limited stock of mens' 7s and my odd shaped feet, we didn't have loads to try. I tried on womens' boots as well (not fussed unless they're hot pink or something - my ski boots are womens') but it was very clear which boots suited my foot shape and which didn't. Heel lift, pinch points etc. were pretty immediately obvious.
So, decisions to be made...