I have long and rather narrow feet - around 11 - 11 1/2, C width at the ball, even narrower at the heel, low volume, and small diameter ankle. I'm looking for two pairs of boots. A new pair of plastics for ice climbing, and a pair of crampon-compatible leathers for mountaineering. Anyone out there have any experience with boots for narrow feet? I'm using Scarpa Invernos now (a little too much volume but not bad), and have tried Sportiva Makalus (too wide!), and Salomon Super Mountain 9 Guides (not quite right out of the box, but may have settled in with time). Anyone got any other ideas, or ways to cheat with boots that are a little too wide or too high-volume?

-- Dennis Roscetti (roscetti@execpc.com), June 04, 1998

Answers

The Inverno is probably the best plastic for narrow feet. I would either get custom insoles for them (which I have in mine) and tell the person who makes them to make them extra thick to take out volume, or put about 2mm spacers underneath the insoles that are in there already. This will take out volume without altering the length too much, and should help. As far as leather goes, you'll also probably be best off in a Scarpa. The Eiger is an excellent mountain boot, definitely more boot than the Makalu, and the Assault is on a par with the Mountain 9 Guide. I use the Manta/Alp, which is similar in use to the Makalu and works well for my slightly narrow foot. Again, a custom insole or spacer will probably work wonders.

--Steve http://weber.u.washington.edu/~waydo

-- Steve Waydo (waydo@u.washington.edu), June 06, 1998.

I have long narrow feet too and have recently been using La Sportiva K3 boots. I previously had plastic Asolo 101s which were good but as the inner compressed over time they became increasing sloppy and hard to frontpoint in. I used the K3s last week for some grade 4 water ice and they were fine. In April I used them to go up a couple of 5000+m peaks in China. I walked in them a lot and wore them all the time. Took a little breaking in though. I also used additional insoles to take up some volume. Be careful that closed cell foam inners or insoles expand at altitude and can restrict circulation. Contrary to some opinion K3s DO take a Berghaus Yeti supergaiter to give full protection in deep snow etc. Good Luck.

-- Damien Gildea (dageogil@tpgi.com.au), August 04, 1998.

In twenty six years of buying leather and more recently plastic mountaineering boots, I have learned a few things, mostly by making all the wrong choices. I also have very narrow low profile feet with skinny heels. One very important and often overlooked aspect of fit is the shape of your toes. If they are chisel shaped with the big toe well out front and the others cutting back at a steep angle as are mine, you should pick a different boot than the climber with a protruding second toe. It has been my experience with the new plastic boots that Scarpa Invernos are best on wide, high arched feet with big heels. Volume can always be taken up with custom inner soles, my favorites are Superfeet. They now have custom service here in the states. The over the counter version is really great, though. If your feet are medium width with the second toe protruding, try the new Koflach Expeditions or Verticals. A bit too wide for my feet and my chisel shaped toes would need an extra half size, not a good thing in a technical boot. The toes on these new Koflach's are very round and klunky. Thank goodness the "new and improved" Asolo's, my last big mistake, are gone. They did not hike well at all! My personal favorites are the Lowa Civetta Extremes. Great for narrow flat feet, a great toe profile for my sticking out big toe. They hold a super-gaiter better than anything. Some top shops in the east say they are out marketed and often overlooked. I like the extreme Gore liner better than the wool loden of the regular Civetta. If your feet are skinny, take a look. I promise they won't rattle in these and should not need drastic modification, a problem I would have with these other boots. Also, don't just take the liner size that comes with the shell. The importer no doubt hates me but a ten and one half liner in a ten shell worked better for me and kept me from the size eleven shell and "klunkydom". Having tried the new roller laces that most companies are going to, I really like the flat laces of the Civetta's. Much better to grab than the piano wire laces that are now all the rage. Some models of plastic boots are no doubt only available in Europe. Where are the old Kastinger plastics anyway? Lastly, for skinny footed folks, in leather on ice, try the La Sportiva Nepal tops and the Extremes. Check out the Trango Extremes for lightweight fanatics. There is ice even in North Carolina!!

-- Frank Clark (clark6@bellsouth.net), May 26, 1999.