@dacksdescents wrote:

its worth looking at this boot as well. http://www.sportiva.com/products/prod/835

Here is a nice review of the Spantik vs. Baruntse from cc.com. Sounds like the Baruntse may work, but has a bit more flex. While I haven’t riden my
Spantiks yet they flex very similar to a Driver X/Malamute, and may be stiff enough with enough forward lean to ride with and without strap bindings, though won’t know until we get some SNOW :banghead:

@Snurfer wrote:

@barrows wrote:

Snurfer: I do not enjoy hiking dry rocky trail for any distance in a mountaineering boot (Nupste) a snowboard boot (Driver X) or a hard boot (Dynafit Zzero 3). If I am planning a tour, or trip that features significant distances on dry ground I will always carry the boots and wear a lightweight pair of trail runners. Remember, the mountaineering boots feature very stiff soles for climbing performance, and they can beat one up a bit on long hikes over dry trail and rocks.
Less weight on the feet is also more efficient for hiking, and the extra weight of carrying the trail runners is minimal.

Barrows, very good info. Thx :headbang:
Def throwing the Salomon runners on next time I do a long approach…

+1

The guys at http://www.cascadeclassics.org/ (http://www.cascadeclassics.org/MountAdams/North/Spring98/NFNWR,Spring1998.htm for example!) and http://www.cascadecrusades.org/ been doing crazy ski mountaineering feats for years using tennis shoes for long approaches.

I finally got myself a pair of “trail runners”, Vasque Velocity VST GTX (that’s a mouthful!) and they are awesome! Did a three day, 22 mile backpacking trip on the Na Pali Coast Wilderness Trail in Kauai, HI and I am a convert to light (16 oz) footwear! I already shredded the mesh a little on lava rock so I’m worried I might really tear through them in the alpine but they fit my feet great and I didn’t feel that much more strain or lack of stability compared to my full grain leather boots I usually wear even for lightweight backpacking (under 30 lbs pack).

@Snurfer wrote:

@aliasptr wrote:

I finally got myself a pair of “trail runners”, Vasque Velocity VST GTX

😯 Hmmm? don’t know about the GTX, but the regular VST while being a very cool design have major quality issues.
I reviewed them in 08…YMMV
http://snurfer.blogspot.com/2008/08/vasque-velocity-vst.html

Yeah that was/is my major concern that I’m just going to destroy them, fast. Your review seems spot on to my experience so far. I’m just hoping to get some good use out of them before they’re completely shredded!

@bcd wrote:

I’ve been using the old Koflach Oxygen boots for the last few years, and I don’t think these will be much different as far as flexibility. I put a pair of really stiff thermo liners in them, which helps a lot, and I’m planning on doing the same with the Nuptse’s. I really like the setup I have right now, but the Oxygen’s are hard to come by. Seems like the Nuptse is as close as I’m gonna get.

BCD (or anyone) You are welcome to my Koflach Superpipes, which are basically the same thing, except in a delightful purple coloration. They are size 11s.