Zamberlan Boots, anyone use them?

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Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 20, 2013 - 09:30pm PT
I know theres a lot of experienced peak scramblers on here, I'm wondering if any of you have tried Zamberlan boots? I'm looking at the Pelmo Plus on MEC. Trying to find a boot for 3 season mountaineering that will climb decent and take a pair of crampons if need be for glacier crossings etc.

These boots seem to get great reviews and look like a poor mans La Sportiva, I've got a gift card for MEC so i'm trying to find something from there. Anyone have experience with Zamberlan? Any other suggestions for a scrambling boot?

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwear/Mountaineering/PRD~5015-481/zamberlan-pelmo-plus-gt-rr-mountaineering-boot-mens.jsp
Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2013 - 09:36pm PT
I should note, there's no chance of me trying anything on which sucks. Our local gear store closed and nothing around here carries much more than hiking boots anyways. Mail order it's going to have to be
Oplopanax

Mountain climber
The Deep Woods
Mar 20, 2013 - 10:09pm PT
I had a pair of Zamberlan Calanques that lasted around 10 years. Great scrambling/soloing summer shoes
John M

climber
Mar 20, 2013 - 10:34pm PT
I couldn't imagine buying a boot without trying it on. Where are you that you can't get to a store?

If you absolutely can't get to a store, then My suggestion would be to see what brands of boots the hiking store has. If they have some brands that also make climbing boots, then Maybe you could find out if the climbing boots use the same last. That way you have at least some chance of getting something that fits.

Otherwise, take a trip. I have turned my feet into hamburger with poor fitting boots. It can really mess up a trip. To me There isn't much point in buying a quality boot that will last 10 years but doesn't fit.
Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2013 - 10:54pm PT
I'm at least a 4 hour drive and a 2 hour ferry away from a store that I would hope has boots. This isn't exactly mecca for this kinda activity. I've sized them as accurately as I can based on the boots I have, similar models and info I found online. I've got a pretty average foot, haven't had fit problems before and ordered my all my La Sportivas this way. It sucks I know but I'd have to spend a couple hundred just go get to the store, the ferry off the island is ridiculous, and its a 2 way trip. I'd spend the price of the boots and more before I even bought anything.

Besides with MEC it ships free and I can return it or exchange sizes, might cost me a few extra buck but nowhere near the travel/time
Gary

Social climber
Right outside of Delacroix
Mar 20, 2013 - 11:35pm PT
I had a pair of Zamberlans about a decade ago and didn't care for them. I thought for sure they'd kill me somewhere. Serious.

I had a pair of AKU Glaciers that I loved. Perfect fit for me, I wish I had bought 10 pairs.
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
Mar 21, 2013 - 01:31am PT
Damn I used to hate living on the island for this!! Good luck bud!! Could be worth a trip and then get a couple Squamish days in while your over. Worst case you're right you can swap em through the mail.
Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 21, 2013 - 02:03am PT
Don't tempt me Big Mike! I can't wait to go back to Squampton, I'm hoping to do a wall there this year, hopefully I can get some boots that work good for aid too, my hikers are taking a beating.

Hey hope your recovery is going good as well, I saw what happened to you. Hope you're all healed up for rock season!
Bargainhunter

climber
Mar 21, 2013 - 03:45am PT
Just before an early season (i.e in snow) scramble up Black Kaweah, my trusty Limmer hiking boot soles delaminated and so I bought a pair of Zimberlain Civetta's from REI in haste basically for the same reasons you need: a 3 season burly scramble boot that can kick steps in hard snow and take a hinged strap-on crampon for basic snow couloir and glacier travel. (For steeper ice and cold conditions I have plastic double boots and burlier crampons, for summer Sierra/Teton approaches I just use simple running shoes).

The boots are VERY well constructed from quality materials and are very solid, however, they are almost too hard. Even with multiple socks they are not cushioned enough to prevent my feet from getting chafed and getting blistered during long all day scrambles. Perhaps with time they will improve, but the break in period appear to be considerable. I mostly use them as work boot while chainsawing etc. now. I would also consider using them on a long aid climb requiring lots of standing in aiders.

If they fit your feet and aren't too painful for you, I suspect they will be a quality boot that will last a long time and work well for what you described using them for.
BuddhaStalin

climber
Truckee, CA
Mar 21, 2013 - 11:35am PT
Go scarpa, just buy online with free shipping and send em back ifthey dont fit, repeat. Nobody has stock enough to try and and make a choice it seems. Had makalus which sucked, now have scarpa manta and scarpa mont blancs. Both are excellent. Zappos is good and easy, so is backcountry and omc-gear. Omc-gear has mont blancs on sale 20%. A friend has trango evos and hates them, another has the scarpa jorasses and loves them.
Hoser

climber
vancouver
Mar 21, 2013 - 11:49am PT
Zappos quit shipping to Canada. Kaylands, the best boot for BC summer yet.

Rear welt, all leather and light


I ordered mine from backcountry.com

Kayland MXT
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