Scarpa Ultra? http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2010/11 ... antom.html

As long as you are willing to limit your slope angle, you can put snowshoes or strap-on crampons on just about anything. But you WILL have to limit your slope angle, since you aren't going to find low heel rise with a rigid midsole.

You can look at the Vivo Barefoot Off Road: http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/mens/off ... ns-13.html
Also, the Mad Rock Fury is a minimalist boot that will respectably take a crampon, though it has a bit more heel rise than you want.

I am curious why you would want this. I can kind-of see your interest. Minimalist running shoes are advocated for road running to promote a more efficient toe-first gait and reduce heel strike.

But in hiking, you aren't going to go toe first, and heel strike forces are less than in running on pavement (and in snow travel are essentially negligible). The reason mountaineering boots have a built-up heel is to reduce calf fatigue on the uphill, and increase braking on the downhill (think plunge-stepping). If you throw a crampon and have to come down an icy slope with the type of boots you're talking about, you're really going to be upstream on Fecal Creek.

Lionel wrote:Actually, I hike in zero degree shoes all the time and toe strike, not heel strike. Heel striking is the worst thing someone like me can do. It's bad for most people, actually, but whatever. I'll spare you the finer details of my experience with my flat feet, my plantar fasciitis, back pain pre-metatarsal joint pain, orthotics, and knee pain which was actually from the orthotics, worsening pain that never resolved with the remedies the "doctors" prescribed, and so on. All of this "magically" went away once I stopped listening to them and started walking in flat shoes and on my mid and forefoot.

I agree, heel striking is unhealthy. It takes a habit-changing effort initially, and some conditioning as well, but toe striking is far better for our bodies than heel striking. I had sciatica and knee issues that pretty much resolved when I learned to stop heel striking. A good book on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Superath ... 848&sr=8-1

For snowshoeing, there are a lot of softer, insulated boots with relatively low heel rise. Most people would rather use a televator-type feature on steep slopes. But boots that you can trust with crampons... subject of another thread.

Back when heels were fairly solid, I would consider taking a grinding wheel to them. Nowadays, you might get a nasty surprise.

peninsula wrote:

Lionel wrote:Actually, I hike in zero degree shoes all the time and toe strike, not heel strike. Heel striking is the worst thing someone like me can do. It's bad for most people, actually, but whatever. I'll spare you the finer details of my experience with my flat feet, my plantar fasciitis, back pain pre-metatarsal joint pain, orthotics, and knee pain which was actually from the orthotics, worsening pain that never resolved with the remedies the "doctors" prescribed, and so on. All of this "magically" went away once I stopped listening to them and started walking in flat shoes and on my mid and forefoot.

I agree, heel striking is unhealthy. It takes a habit-changing effort initially, and some conditioning as well, but toe striking is far better for our bodies than heel striking. I had sciatica and knee issues that pretty much resolved when I learned to stop heel striking. A good book on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Superath ... 848&sr=8-1

Loved that book!

I suffered from patella issues for 3 years. Couldn't run.

Started running barefoot. I now run 40 minutes without pain whatsoever, except for the various types of herbal material that stick in my soles of my feet.

I wouldn't climb in either of those boots
but if you do find any low heel ones I'd love to know and try them.

Basically, heel striking means forces go up the heel and up the bones and why old guides have bad knees as forces are transmitted up the chain.

Striking further up the foot means the calves absorb the forces and as a muscle it's dynamic and can get stronger to deal with the stress.