Im going to climb Elbrus and I bought a pair of Scarpa Vega but they are heavy as phuck and very bulky, I dont think they would be very optimal to trek in until the last moments when it gets snowy. How do you guys do? I dont think i would want them on my backpack either cuz they will take all the space.

I have these boots and you are correct, they are not the most comfortable boots to hike in. Back when giant backpacks, big plastic boots, and bullet proof Gore-Tex shells were all the rage, I would strap my boots behind the shovel pocket of my pack and hike in running shoes. Since no one makes shovel pockets anymore, I have seen folks tie the laces of the boots together and hang them over the main pack compartment with the lid securing them.

Are you taking the lifts up, or walking all the way up from Terskol? If you are taking the lifts up, you will be on the snow all or most of the way, so you can wear your mountaineering boots. For the nearby treks, you can leave you boots in a hotel.

Double plastic boots are obsolete for the reasons you cite. Modern boots are lighter, warmer, less bulky, easier to walk in, and have an integrated gaiter which either zips or velcros shut or both. Take a look at the Scarpa Phantom series, or Millet Everest for example.

Norris wrote:Double plastic boots are obsolete for the reasons you cite. Modern boots are lighter, warmer, less bulky, easier to walk in, and have an integrated gaiter which either zips or velcros shut or both. Take a look at the Scarpa Phantom series, or Millet Everest for example.

I know that but the scarpa Phantom 6000 here cost between 400-700$ while i got the Scarpa Vega for 165$. Besides being bulkier the plastic boots will do its job, its been around for ages and used all over the 8000 peaks.

RG90 wrote:

Norris wrote:Double plastic boots are obsolete for the reasons you cite. Modern boots are lighter, warmer, less bulky, easier to walk in, and have an integrated gaiter which either zips or velcros shut or both. Take a look at the Scarpa Phantom series, or Millet Everest for example.

I know that but the scarpa Phantom 6000 here cost between 400-700$ while i got the Scarpa Vega for 165$. Besides being bulkier the plastic boots will do its job, its been around for ages and used all over the 8000 peaks.

I keep my Scarpa Inverno/Vegas circa 1994 around for Alaskan and Rainier in winter trips. The new 6000 meter boots are indeed lighter, less bulky, etc. but I cannot justify the high cost for the few trips a year that I need that kind of warmth.

Norris wrote:Double plastic boots are obsolete

Nah. Matt Lemke, Gimpilator, and I still use them on trips. For myself I use them fairly often, much lighter than ski boots. I'm guessing the extra warmth for modern boots are for the very expensive ones? I used to own a pair of modern mountaineering boots which were way way colder and did not quite have the kicking fire power as my plastics (they were much stronger than hiking boots of course). I stash my plastics on my skis, near top of pack, or around the ice axe. I wear basic tennis shoes (I find breath ability more important than traction) for the approach and moderate scrambling. Plus they can make for good camp shoes.