I'm looking for a local store with a good selection of mountaineering boots. I don't want to buy online because I need to be able to actually hike in them and have the possibility of returning them in case they don't fit right. Anything around LA or even San Diego would work. I know Mammoth has a good store but that's too far.

Thx!

Just curious, if you know what brands fit your foot type why not just order from REI.com or Backcountry.com? Their return policies would allow you to return anything that you aren't satisfied with, and they will likely have a better selection than any one local store.

The santa ana Rei has had invernos in stock for the last couple of weeks.

96avs01 wrote:Just curious, if you know what brands fit your foot type why not just order from REI.com or Backcountry.com? Their return policies would allow you to return anything that you aren't satisfied with, and they will likely have a better selection than any one local store.

That's the problem; I don't really know what fits my foot. I pretty much went most winters with regular boots; it works for anything up to about 35-40 degrees but is not ideal. I want something with a stiffer sole now.

norco17 wrote:The santa ana Rei has had invernos in stock for the last couple of weeks.

Who makes those? When I went in October, they only had two kinds. The La Sportiva I have (and doesn't fit) and another very similar pair.

They measured my feet and I have a medium to wide foot.

For a medium to wide foot you might look at Vasque.

Edit: The Inverno is a Scarpa product.

From what I've seen the store with the best selection is the Sport Chalet in La Canada.

Luciano136 wrote:

norco17 wrote:The santa ana Rei has had invernos in stock for the last couple of weeks.

Who makes those? When I went in October, they only had two kinds. The La Sportiva I have (and doesn't fit) and another very similar pair.

They measured my feet and I have a medium to wide foot.

Scarpa. I have been looking for a pair of plastics and a buddy recommended those to me. He said they had them in stock so I drove down there. They fit perfect, I would say I have a medium width foot, but I am just guessing at that.

Is Scarpa European as well? Euro boots tend to have a more narrow fit. They didn't have the Inverno last month, so I can always try that one on.

Sport Chalet doesn't have a good return policy I believe. Once used, you're out of luck.

EDIT: sounds like the Invernos are plastics; that will be too warm. Looking more for something like the Trangos. Might check out Lowa or Vasque if I can find them anywhere.

Luciano136 wrote:Is Scarpa European as well? Euro boots tend to have a more narrow fit. They didn't have the Inverno last month, so I can always try that one on.

Sport Chalet doesn't have a good return policy I believe. Once used, you're out of luck.

Sport chalet has a crappy return policy. That is my only local store besides big5 and sport authority. With sport chalet even if it is in there computer system you can't have it shipped to a store without money up front and no return(they consider it a special order) They would much rather tell you to drive fifty miles than shove a pack on there next truck in the hope that you would spend$250.

Scarpa is Italian, like Sportiva. Unlike Sportiva, I've found their single boots to be wide -- too wide for my narrow heels in fact. Some others to look at might be Kayland and Asolo.

Sierra Trading Post has some deals on Lowa boots and some others, and has an excellent return policy. They will ship you a return shipping sticker with your order, but it will cost you a few bucks.

I like the Lowa Mountain Expert, but the weight STP lists for this boot is way off -- in size 10 mine are around 4 pounds, 2 oz. per pair.

Sometimes you might have to order a couple of sizes and see how they fit, then return the ones which clearly don't. The nice thing about ordering from REI is that you can have them shipped to your local store for free.

Bruno,

I found more of a selection of winter boots at Adventure 16 in west L.A. than Sports Chalet. Plus, I can also attest from experience that Sports Chalet's return policy is meant to teach you a lesson. And of course check out REI Santa Ana to see what they have.

A caveat: I'm definitely not endorsing Sports Chalet or their (lack of) return policy. Never had to deal with that fortunately. Only, compared to other stores I've seen (including other Sport Chalets), they had considerably more climbing merchandise. In fact, I think every mountain boot I've bought is from there, which is saying something considering I live nowhere near there.

Mountain Impulse wrote:Bruno,

I found more of a selection of winter boots at Adventure 16 in west L.A. than Sports Chalet. Plus, I can also attest from experience that Sports Chalet's return policy is meant to teach you a lesson. And of course check out REI Santa Ana to see what they have.

Thanks Augie. I was thinking about A16. Maybe I'll just give them a call to see what their selection currently is. There's one close in CM as well but that one is pretty small.

The Sport Chalet in La Canada is one of the original and oldest mountaineering supply houses in Southern California. I haven't been there in years but back in the 70's I bought some Lowa's there. There store consisted of 3 old buildings. One was the main showroom and the other two buildings were wharehouses full of massive inventories of gear.

Needless to say, with the advent of selling mountaineering gear like retail fashion merchandise and just-in-time delivery philosophies, Sport Chalet went main-stream and they are now in every community, like an overgrown Big-5.