La Sportiva mountaineering boots: 1928-2000

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Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Nov 6, 2017 - 08:59pm PT
Thus spake Marlow:
haha...I guess it's a good choice to have the history of the firm under your own control... and not leave it to fragments of speculation on a forum...
That was funny, Marlow! And you are dead on the money ...
Particularly in that he didn't want me posting up fragments of their project before they have it neat and tidy, presentable, and complete. Jonathan is a good man.

Please share later...

And yes when the time comes: will do, with all possible enthusiasm!
In the meantime, I am excited to see what you come up with in terms of representative and collectible examples.
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 22, 2017 - 11:31am PT

Tarbuster.

If you consider buying another pair of Trango Extreme and size 42 fits you, here they are: https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-LA-Sportiva-Moutain-Hiking-Climbing-Boot-Made-In-Italy-42-Black-Yellow-LE/312007240085?hash=item48a514a995:g:8DoAAOSwoR9aEvfg


A couple of new boots have been added to the OP. Models: Nepal Top and Batura, first generation.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Dec 8, 2017 - 09:14pm PT
Thanks for the heads up Marlow. (I saw your post before they were sold).
The pair I have in fact are size 42, but nowadays I need a 43.

Perhaps you have seen these, very similar to the first boot in your OP, but in better shape:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-La-Sportiva-Made-in-Italy-Mountaineering-Boots-39/122846258528?hash=item1c9a352560:g:rDEAAOSwv-ZaJvFI
TomCochrane

Trad climber
Cascade Mountains and Monterey Bay
Dec 8, 2017 - 09:55pm PT
For several decades i searched for boots ok for alpine rock climbing and also able to hold a crampon. Blue Robbins and Shoenards were candidates, along with various European alpine boots. In my experience most mountain boots are very poor for rock climbing.

The first one that I really liked is the 1980s versions of the La Sportiva Trango, that is still a favorite and I have several pair.
David Knopp

Trad climber
CA
Dec 9, 2017 - 07:53am PT
Tom i agree-the original trangos climb well and work great with crampons. Scarpa made a similar boot for only a few years, the mescalito-sold as an aid boot but perfect for summer fall alpine climbing in the Sierra-used them on lots of 5th class routes...
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 4, 2018 - 10:02am PT

A new pair has been added in the OP

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Jan 4, 2018 - 12:50pm PT
Every time that I was able to climb just one grade harder than before in the 80s I was always wearing Sportivos. Great shoes.
Splater

climber
Grey Matter
Jan 4, 2018 - 03:13pm PT
I have some Trango Extremes bought on a trip to Chamonix that need resoling - Who should I use?

The rubber sole isn't fully worn out, but they are peeling off and the front black filler strip between the real rubber and the green plastic has disintegrated.
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Jan 4, 2018 - 05:18pm PT
"Up and running." Now that is going to be interesting.........

cybele

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Feb 10, 2018 - 07:46am PT
Hi, I am glad to see this thread, as I am trying to identify two models of old La Sportiva boots. I have some photos, but first, a question:
Can the boot say "Walking on the Moon" but also be a "Makalu" or even perhaps some other model, or is "Walking on the Moon" the only specific model name? This is on the tongue logo tag. It is a women's boot. (Backstory: someone sold me this boot telling me it was a Makalu but it says Walking on the Moon.)
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2018 - 07:57am PT

Cybele.

La Sportiva used Climbing On The Moon on their shoes for some years.

Here's a catalog:


And this is what you could see on the shoes during the years:

cybele

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Feb 10, 2018 - 08:10am PT
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2018 - 08:12am PT

Climbing on the moon - Walking on the moon... :o)
cybele

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Feb 10, 2018 - 08:20am PT
The above pic from the tongue, and these pics below, are from one pair of the boots I am trying to identify. Later below I will post the other. The boot seller represented these as "Makalu" model but I am not sure it's right.
cybele

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Feb 10, 2018 - 08:26am PT
Here are my old tried and true favorite ice climbing boots. I would love to identify these too, so I can search for a replacement.Here are the two boots size by side. See the difference in toe box height? It's a huge difference. And the darker boots with the duct tape say 41 and the lighter "Walking on the Moon" boot says 40, so the difference in toe box is surprising. I think one is a man's boot and one women's, perhaps. THis might account for the difference...as well as it being a different model.
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2018 - 08:28am PT

It looks like an early pair of Makalus to me. Here's a photo of another even earlier pair:


I believe the greyer shoes are a later pair of Makalus.

Here's a link to some Makalus currently seen on eBay.com: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xla+sportiva+makalu.TRS0&_nkw=la+sportiva+makalu&_sacat=0


There might be two versions of the Makalus. There is a difference between the two models in the cover of heal and toe. Your early shoe is well protected, like this shoe:


Maybe there is a less well protected walking/trekking model and a well protected climbing/ice climbing model?


Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Feb 10, 2018 - 08:51am PT
La Sportiva Makalu: I had a pair of those for a while, given to me as an exchange for some work I performed.
Didn't feel handcrafted, not stiff enough in the footbed, and I didn't care for them much.

The label had a Jeff Lowe signature on it, maybe in addition to the Walking on the Moon tagline.
Much like these, posted by Pud, here on the forum back in 2010:



http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=820516&msg=1081398#msg1081398

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Cybee: the boot you are looking for was much better insulated.
They were black and extra high at the ankle. Might be called the K2.

Here's a pair in size 40.5 on eBay:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sportiva-Mens-Size-40-5-K2-Ice-Climbing-Hiking-Mountaineering-Boots/202172033222?hash=item2f126468c6:g:uPsAAOSwsE1aEc1E
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2018 - 08:56am PT
Here's the current La Sportiva website. The walking/trekking model is called Glacier, while the better protected model is called Makalu:
https://www.sportiva.com/women-s/women-s-footwear.html?activity=619#manaFilters

La Sportiva K2: https://imged.pl/nowe-buty-gorskie-la-sportiva-k2-38-3151819.html


Cybele and Tarbuster.

Thanks for the trip... it gave me a steep learning curve... :o)
Marlow

Sport climber
OSLO
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2018 - 09:14am PT

A current La Sportiva Makalu from their website today


Cybele.

My best guess is that this is the shoe you are searching for...
cybele

Trad climber
Salt Lake City
Feb 10, 2018 - 09:15am PT
SO confusing! Thanks everyone. I've emailed La Sportiva to see if they have an old-timer around there who can help me identify precisely. I'm probably going to a cobbler to have the sole reattached on my duct taped boots. The lighter colored ones were a failed effort from Ebay. I think the seller misidentified them. She did misidentify the size for sure, at least.

Tarbuster, thanks so much for posting the new auction! but as I am looking at some of the seller's other pics of the current ebay post, I see those are the "On the Moon" ones and not like mine. The Ebay ones you posted also seem to have a slightly lower profile toe that sort of slopes down. My trusty ice boots (the darker, duct taped ones in the pics I posted) say "Mountain" on the tag, not "Walking on the Moon" and the toe bed is arguably a bit boxier. This difference becomes extreme in the two models I have here at my house. Despite being similar length (101/2 inches and 11 inches outer sole). This huge difference is best seen from the side-by-side pics I posted. I can't even get my foot in the little pair. I think the model you've posted is the men's and roomier than these silly little boots the seller sent me, but I'm still wary to try another "Moon" version.

As for the labels of the Jeff Lowe series, neither of my boots currently in my possession have that. I have seen that label on Ebay though.

I kind of like climbing with the duct tape fashion. It was fun at the Ouray ice park last week. I proudly wore them. People looked. Lol. No need for $700 boots.
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