Review Date
February 22, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Alpnexperience(Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $210.00 at REI

Summary:
Overall these boots are a good all round boot. They feel really nice on my feet. It took a long time (not to mention a lot of blisters)for me to break them in. Like other people said, after the nikwax wears off on them they soak up a lot of water and don't dry out very easily and the metal componets to the laces are rusting. They aren't as stiff now, which kind of makes me made because when I try to go climb alpine rock or ice in them, they have too much flex to them. The rocker basically just walks for you which is nice. Overall, it's a good all round boot that will do everything but not excel at anything. But since they don't make them anymore (replaced by the Eiger, curious to compare these boots to those) I guess there was really not much point in doing this review huh?

Customer Service:
Never had any personal experience and I have never seen any pairs of sportiva''s go back at work either

Similar Products Used:
SLM SM Exp, Vasque H2, Sportiva Makalu, Koflach Degre, Koflach Arctic expe, Scarpa Freney, Sportiva K2

Review Date
August 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Zach (Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Billings MT, USA

Price Paid:  $200.00 at rei-outlet.com

Summary:
great boots, I wore them on a mountainering trip with an 11 mile approach on there first time out. they were very comfertable although they wernt quite broke in and I got a large blister on my heel. They soak up allot of water though I would suggest a heavy water rappelent. The soals are very stiff I did a little bouldering in them and it worked well, they work great with crampons.

Customer Service:
none yet

Similar Products Used:
Danner, they sucked, water got between the gor-tex and leathor and rotted out the leathor.

Review Date
May 18, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Allen Bartell(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Trinity, TX USA

Price Paid:  $200.00 at REI Outlet

Summary:
I tried at least ten different brands of mountaineering boots searching for the perfect pair. I think I have found it. I have a huge bone spur on my left foot and needed a forgiving boots to work around my foot. With a little creative lacing I have a very comfortable fit. Considering what these boots are designed to do I am surprized at the comfort. The Makulu boots are notorious for a long break-in. These Karakoram seem fine. I have just been wearing them walking, haven't got on a mountain yet, but I feel like I have found my boot! They definitely seem stiff enough for ice yet I feel like they will be fine for a trail or rocky approach. The pully lacing with lockdowns is wonderful. On normal (non-hiking) shoes I wear a size 9. Hiking boots I go with 9 1/2. I got the 43.5 and it is the perfect fit with heavy or double socks. And they look pretty cool (I'm so vain.)

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
February 14, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Bill(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Bellingham, WA, USA

Price Paid:  $210.00 at AAI

Summary:
Great on all sorts of snow and crusty things with no crampons. Easy to stand on toes while scrambling or bushwacking up steep dirt on approaches. Great traction on snow and rock. Edge well. Very warm and dry. Fits all sorts of crampons like a charm. Feel very secure. Versatile enough to use on hard mountain and jog back on trail ! I recommend getting new soles before trying to break them in. The Superfeet Soles work nice. I love these boots.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
December 17, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Will Wright(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Kirkland WA, USA

Price Paid:  $190.00 at downtown Seattle REI

Summary:
These are absolutly fantastic boots. Some people are not so happy with their status as the "middle ground" mountaineering boots. Ok for hiking; ok for scrambling; ok for moderate ice climbing, but not great for any. Well, what I do most are long, steep, rocky, bouldery, wet, snowy trails. Unless you like to carry four pairs of boots on each of your climbs, these boots ARE perfect (that is, if they fit you perfectly).

I was told that they fit narrow feet the best. I thought my feet were wide, but these boots fit just fine. My advice, go and try on a pair, no matter what your preconceptions.

I was also told that these boots were very difficult to break in. I just soaked them in a bathtub for three hours (after taking out the insoles and laces), ran around and stretched in them for a few more hours, and poof! they were broken in! My first hike was 8 miles round trip +-3400 feet. Only minor hot spots on my heels because I was wearing the wrong socks. These boots were just fine for the full stride hiking of most of the trail, provided great traction on the snow, and really amazing traction on the rock scramble to the top. This is due to the softer rubber than most shoes which will wear out more quickly and will probably require one or two resoses before the boots wear out, oh well.

Fantastic boots.

Customer Service:
none yet (that's a good thing)

Similar Products Used:
only discontinued Zamberlan and Garmont boots (both midweight hikers and not very good quality)