I'm not trying to be a dick here. Just trying to get what *I think* is the best info to Castille or anyone else reading this thread.The problem with asking advice on the Internet is everyone has an opinion. What that opinion is based on or its value is anyone's guess.
"Boots for winter on Colorado's highest peaks. Second: Aconcagua. Third: Denali and beyond"
Good question. But my take is the question is flawed. That should have been acknowledged up front. A season or two of Colorado winter mtneering will answer the question for the OP. The boot required for Denali is not the boot *required* on Aconcagua which for the majority of the trip is a much warmer mtn. Colorado in winter? Good singles or Super gaiter style boots will work fine there depending on what you are doing and time spent out. Sure people use dbl boots in Colorado but like Canada it is the exception these days not the rule. Most winter climbers in the US and Canada don't own dbl boots these days. 20 years ago any one who climbed in winter seriously did. They were Koflachs. Which may just answer your question now for a boot that will do it all if you plan on an over boot for Denali. But a caution, over boots have their own issues.
I read the question as:
Colorado: Good Singles or Super gaiter boots (the typical winter mountaineering boot)
Aconcagua: Dbls (cold weather or multi day winter mountaineering)
Beyond: Super gaitered Dbls. aka Triples (may be Denali or above 6000m)
Technically the 6000 and Baruntse are better climbing boots than the Spantik. The fit is generally better and the ankle flex softer on both in comparison to a Spantik. The Spantik has a tiny edge on either in warmth. But you wouldn't know that unless you had climbed in all three. Endurance ice..sure the Spantik has an foot up there. But no endurance ice that I know of in Colorado or on the easy routes up Aconcagua. Alaska and the Alps are full of it. But miles of walking or skiing on Denali before you ever get on any ice.
Frankly I have two concerns. A cold injury first, poor economics second. (Koflachs or Invernos are a good answer finacially btw)
The boot has to be comfortable and *should be appropriate* for the climb you want to do.
Anyone that slogged up the Kahiltna or from Plaza da Mulas cooking their feet in the wrong
boot will relate.
I could (and have) make one pair of boots answer all the requirements of the question asked.
But my point is, my experience tells me, I wouldn't want to now.The question was:
"Boots for winter on Colorado's highest peaks. Second: Aconcagua. Third: Denali and beyond."
I admittedly have a bit of a foot fetish when it comes to mtn boots.
I've not spent any time in Colorado. But I base my comments on having climbed and guided on Aconcagua and Denali and in the Canadian Rockies in winter. More importantly I have climbed in the Baruntses, Spantiks, 6000 and Batura among other boots including the newest new Oly Mons. Not everyone gets that chance, so misinformation is easy to come by when making comparisons.
Here is a 6000 review:
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2010/08 ... and-2.htmlReviews of the Spantik, Baruntse, Batura and entire Phantom Series are there as well.
If you want a look at any of the better dbl or mtn boots mentioned in this thread just go to google and type in the specific boot model followed by "cold thistsle".