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Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:26 pm
by 8kclimber
I'm looking to see how others have sized the Oly Mons and Spantiks that have used them and would appreciate your sharing your sizing recommendations as well as how your shoe/boot size compares to say your started running shoe and/or Nepal EVO, Trangos, Scarpas etc....

I use a 10 (snugg) to 10.5 in all running shoes, a 44 Scarpa Triolet and LS Nepal EVO.

I have a new pair of Spantik's in 44.5 and noted that the 44 & 44.5 seem to fit the same and my toes are at the end and the over volume seems tight in the forefoot with the SOLE Veisters moldable footbed..

And....I just received a new pair of Oly Mons in 45 which as new, have no heel lift, but trying to decide if I should go up another 1/2 size.

When fitting, I used a SW liner and SW Mountaineering sock with a SOLE Veisters (thick) moldable footbed.

Not sure of the amount the liners will pack?

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:23 pm
by Damien Gildea
I use LS NepalExt, OlyMons and LS Nuptses, all size 47, all fit well. Have tried on Spantiks but not used.

It seems generally people need to size their Spantiks a size or half up from other LS boots, but you currently seem to doing the opposite? If your toes are touching the front, in any boot, then they are too small/short, particularly if you plan on doing any frontpointing, or walking downhill. From what you say your OlyMons 45 fit well (lucky if you get no heel lift!) and I have found (I have two pairs of OlyMons) that the liners do pack down a little, but not nearly as much as some other liners (Millet Everest etc). And of course the newer LS liners can be heat-moulded, though I have not tried that, I just left my OlyMons liners as is.

So are you thinking of trying Spantik 45.5? That might give you more toe room and would be in line with others' experiences vs. OlyMons. If your foot fits well into both Scarpa and LS boots then you are lucky. Many Scarpa wearers find LS too narrow. I fit LS well, but find Scarpa too short for their width (47 is too short, 48 rarely exists).

You might also want to check out the relationship between LS liner and shell sizes. They don't increase evenly. It's several years since I bought mine so I can't remember exactly, but it was something like a 46.5 and a 47 might share the same shell but different liners, or vice versa. This was a common practice for manufacturers of double boots, and could affect fit quite a bit, depending exactly on your foot. Not sure if it applies to Scarpa, Millet etc.

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:06 am
by radson
I'm a 44-45 in normal shoes and have 46 in LS Olympus Mons. Mine are the model prior to the current one. (Straight zipper down the front without flap.)

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:29 am
by partlyanimal
I wear a 44 in a Trango S EVO. Summited Everest in a 45 OlyMons but was wishing they were 1/2 size or even 1 full size larger. I also have Spantiks in a 45 which fit perfectly in the length but a little tight in the width. I think heat molding the liner will fix that problem. At altitude I usually wear a heavier sock combination which is why I wished for a larger OlyMons.

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:03 pm
by 8kclimber
Partlyanimal it sounds like you and I are experiencing the same thing. What sock combo are /did you use?

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:25 am
by partlyanimal
I always use a thin polypro liner sock in both the Spantiks and OlyMons. In the Spantiks I generally combine that with a treking weight sock - something not too thick. I want the Spantiks to fit a little closer since I'm usually doing more technical climbing in them. In the OlyMons I wanted to wear a thick expedition weight sock for warmth but because of the size of my boot I found that heavy socks were constricting my feet which was causing them to get cold. I found my feet were warmer using treking weight socks. It turned out ok that way but had the boots been large enough to accommodate a very thick sock I would have been happier. I bought the Olympus Mons first and it was my experience with them that made me decide to go with 45 Spantiks. Had I bought the Spantiks first I would have know I needed to go larger with the OlyMons.

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:31 am
by 8kclimber
I use the same thing so... I'm going to try a 45 in the Spantik and probably 45.5 in the Mons.

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:33 am
by hmix
Figured I'd post some limited personal experience and a few questions (not trying to hijack the thread)...

I wear a US 10-10.5, and I had been using a 44.5 Trango Extreme, which, after a while I found a bit tight. I thought I was crazy, but I ended up having to go with a 46.5!!! in the Spantik, which worked out well on size. I used a wool liner sock under an expedition weight wool sock.

I'm curious about anyone's experience with a few issues:

Has anyone had luck with overboots and the Spantik? How does the warmth relate to OlyMons?

Also, the heat molding is intriguing, but I didn't find any La Sportiva info on how to do it, and I'm a little wary of frying a $700 boot on spotty info.

Finally, anyone use vapor barrier socks? How did that change the fit?

Feel free to ignore my selfish inquiries haha!

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:46 pm
by 8kclimber
46.5 seems a bit extreme..... I would think you would have a ton of room up front and heel lift????

The liners are not $700.00. I think Dane even used a smaller Spantik shell and used Intuition liners and was pleased but you'll have to ask him. He has a great write up on http://coldthistle.blogspot.com

There is a post on here or SP.com about heat molding the Spantik's. It was like 250 for 8 minutes or 225 for 10, until the liner felt "crackly" then mold with toe caps etc... I did a pair I really didn't see too much difference so I went up from a 44 to 44.5 as my toes #3-5 are still too close and I still think I need to go to 45. The LS liners are not very thick and therefore are limited to how much material there is available to mold and move but heck... what do I know. I do see a lot of difference with footbeds especially when I use the SOLE Viester's moldable version and I know of more than one other person who has had to go up a few sizes and then use the spare LS tongue from the Neplas to take up volume.

I would highly recommend fitting at Sturevants Sports in Bellevue as well. More great info from Dane at http://coldthistle.blogspot.com blog.

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:32 am
by partlyanimal
I highly recommend Dane's coldthistle blog - its all worth reading but if you're in a hurry here's the link to the specific post that talks about thermo-forming Spantik liners.
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2010/11/double-boot-inner-boots-molding-fitting.html

Re: Need Fitting Advise for LS Oly Mons & Spantik

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:30 pm
by Dane1
Thanks for the links genetlemen. Hope they help

Like Damien I use a lot of La Sportiva boots and all in the same size. Haven't used the OM but tried them on and seems the same result. I use a liner sock and a thin hiking sox in everything. Or just the hiker depending on how tough my feet are at the time.

VBLs? Baruntse line is a VBL..the OM and Spantik is not.
Spantik / OM liner is definatly worth molding. I can't use them without doing so because of heel lift. Directions for temps are on the blog but any good ski boot fitter can do it for you easily.

OM is going to be warmer than the Spantik...just by volume and the gaiter.

Intuition is not the answer as it makes the boots too stiff. Baruntse liner is a better answer for fit and warmth imo. OM and Spantik liners are the same...but no clue if they are the same in size. I think they were when i tried them in Snells last week but am not 100% on that.

LIners don't match shells as Damien suggested...again info is on the blog but you have to pay attention to that. 45.5 and 46 shells are the same on a Spantik..the liners are not.