Scarpa ZG65 Boots

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the
wonderful person Jim Millen <[email hidden]> said
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Finally getting around to the main point of this post, I tried on some
Scarpa ZG65 Gore-Tex boots in Keswick on Sunday afternoon, and they
felt fabulous. Very light, very comfortable. So I wondered if
anybody had experience of using these boots at all? Any information
on their durability, breathability, or anything else would be
gratefully appreciated.

Me too (or fabric boots in general). Given the way grass seeds (tares,
whatever) get through the fabric lining of my leather boots (taking out
the Goretex on the way), and through my fabric/suede trainers, I wonder
if Goretex lining in fabric boots is actually worth bothering with - or
maybe I should just stay out of knee high grass. 8>.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Contact recommends the use of Firefox; SC recommends it at gunpoint.

On Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:21:49 +0100, Jim Millen <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Finally getting around to the main point of this post, I tried on some
Scarpa ZG65 Gore-Tex boots in Keswick on Sunday afternoon, and they
felt fabulous. Very light, very comfortable. So I wondered if
anybody had experience of using these boots at all? Any information
on their durability, breathability, or anything else would be
gratefully appreciated.

Dear Jim

Suggest you take a look at
<http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Footwear/Boots/Scarpa%20ZG%2065%20GTX/>.

Regards
Andrew

Jim Millen said:

Finally getting around to the main point of this post, I tried on some
Scarpa ZG65 Gore-Tex boots in Keswick on Sunday afternoon, and they
felt fabulous. Very light, very comfortable. So I wondered if
anybody had experience of using these boots at all? Any information
on their durability, breathability, or anything else would be
gratefully appreciated.

More longer term, I have to say I fancy a pair of Scarpa SL M3s for my
winter boots. Anything people have to say about these would also meet
with eager ears!

I have had a pair of Scarpa SLXX (the wide fitting ones) for several
years now - they replaced a pair of Scarpa Monte Rosa's. Field and Trek
were very helpful, allowing me to try on several different boots and
walk around the Canterbury shop. I found that Manta's were just too
stiff for me - there was too much heel movement - but the SL's were just
right. I find the SL's very comfortable, and they took little breaking
in - I wore them around the house, and then to work for a while. Had a
small heel-rub the first time I wore them on the hill, and fixed this by
lacing the ankle section tighter.

There is a "lock" halfway up the lacing, where it changes from closed
loops to open hooks - I found that I could lace the ankle section
tighter without making the boot uncomfortably tight on the foot.

For winter use, they will accept flexible crampons - I have fitted my
Camp Ice Trek on them, just to make sure.

Regarding fabric boots and Gore-Tex, I have some Karrimor KS-B GTX's
which I now use for light summer rambling. I would guess that the
Gore-Tex lasted no more than a year before one boot started to leak.
Both boots leaked the last time I used them in really wet conditions
(Cheviots - not raining, just boggy). They are still more waterproof
than plain fabric/suede boots would be, but not suitable for a wet day
in the Lakes, or any day on the Cheviots :-)

Alan Dicey said:

Regarding fabric boots and Gore-Tex, I have some Karrimor KS-B GTX's
which I now use for light summer rambling. I would guess that the
Gore-Tex lasted no more than a year before one boot started to leak.
Both boots leaked the last time I used them in really wet conditions
(Cheviots - not raining, just boggy). They are still more waterproof
than plain fabric/suede boots would be, but not suitable for a wet day
in the Lakes, or any day on the Cheviots :-)

Hmmm, I also have GTX 300's and they leak in wet conditions after a
few months and a few hundred miles. I thought that it was either a
leak at the rand or something that I'd done eg not waterproofed the
fabric bits (I've used Nikwax wax on the nubuck). Another thought was
that wearing waterproof overtrousers which make contact with the
fabric bit, feeds water into the boot by some sort of positive
pressure.

The Vibram Bifida soles have been a revelation though - superb.

Daytona

"Jim Millen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

More longer term, I have to say I fancy a pair of Scarpa SL M3s for my
winter boots. Anything people have to say about these would also meet
with eager ears!

I've used Mantas for many years - lovely boots. Now bear in mind these are
quite old Mantas, they never were as stiff or heavy as the current model.
Given their age and wear, I reckon they are (possibly) close to current SLs.
On that basis I would say the SLs would be worth considering. My Mantas are
in need of a resole after which I'm intending to reserve them as 3 season
boots and buy (probably) a pair of new Mantas for winter. I think they may
be up against some stiff (hahaha) opposition from Salomon but it's a case of
try them on for fit.

I tend to prefer boots slightly on the stiff side and without too much
"roll" in the sole (fairly flatish), so for winter I would definitely go for
a Manta rather than SL. I concede that the SL may be considered more "user
friendly" by many and of course a lot depends on what type of walking you
do. My current (softish) Mantas have served well including alpine walk-ins
to rock climbs with lightweight crampons and even some front pointing
(surely we're off route?). As for fit, the Scarpas are fairly narrow in the
heel which suits me fine and although I have a pair of massive bunions, the
toe end seems plenty wide enough (though I know it isn't for a lot of
people).

Roy.