Review Date
July 10, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: yuri(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Ottawa

Summary:
An excellent heavy-duty winter boot. I've had mine for 3 years now and they are still going strong after a lot of winter use. These are not comfortable at anything above 0 degrees (Celsius) as they are fairly well insulated.

The materials are first-rate; they are still perfectly waterproof and have needed only a tiny bit of shoo-goo to restick the edge of the rand near the toes. I've never had to waterproof the boots since I bought them and they are still perfectly dry.

This boot is rigid which is great for walking on snow or in crampons. The Vibram sole has a great lug design. The lacing system (pulleys) combined with the way the eyelets are placed all the way to the front of the boot make the fit perfect; there is no movement of your foot inside the boot!

Excellent quality and design. Why buy leather and have to play with waterproofer all the time when you can get these?

Similar Products Used:
Scarpa

Review Date
July 5, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Todd(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Seattle, WA

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Second Bounce

Summary:
I have the 2000 Altitude Plus, which I got for a song, brand-new, at Second Bounce. My feet fit the demo's reps bring by full-price shops. Lucky me. Have used them for half of this season on trips up Mt. Stuart, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and a break-in hike up Mt. Si. These are the best boots I've owned, period. After several years of switching between Onesport (now Montrail) Moraines and Koflachs, I now believe I have found a genuine all-purpose Cascades-type boot. They are waterproof and rigid, while breathing better than my Koflachs. On the glaciers, in crampons, they performed as well as my Koflachs ever did, and particularly for Adams, the approach hike was much more tolerable. On Stuart, as compared to my Moraines, they were as comfortable on the hike in, and provided more support and confidence kicking steps up the false summit snowfield. As for the hike up Si, what is there to say other than that I had no problems. One note: I put Superfeet insoles in everything, including these boots.

Customer Service:
A plug for Second Bounce (now Second Ascent in Ballard): the Tecnica rep lives in Ballard and had actually mismatched his personal boots with the demo pair he sold to Second Bounce. Greg (the proprietor) was very helpful in matching up the pair; he even called the rep on the road in Colorado.

Similar Products Used:
Koflach Viva Softs
Onesport Moraines
Galibier Superguides (?!)