I used the search function and didn't find exactly what I needed, and while there is good discussion on plastics, I didn't see anything from the past year or so and a bunch of "I'll probably try some plastics this year..." but few if any afterword reports.
Long story short, I broke my leg, numerous surgeries, and while I'm all healed up and at 100% strength, my ankle is "bad" and I do have scar tissue and some soft tissue issues. I'm good to carry the weight and do the mileage, but if my ankle gets too far out of "90*" or out of alignment, it can pinch/bind/hurt like hell and I can feel like collapsing because the pain is sharp. I'm able-bodied and able to hunt, but I have bad days and if my ankle is hurting, I need to keep it pretty solid.
I've had great success and comfort with Sportiva Lhotses and their Makalu last and that line of boots; dating back over a dozen years...Makalu, Eiger, Glacier Lhotse...I was going to get another pair of Lhotses and be done with it...but they've been discontinued and I missed the closeout sales! They're gone and I can't find a pair anywhere.
I need support, and I like mountaineering boots. I wear them around town daily when I'm not even climbing or hunting. Not so much to hold the weight, but to keep my ankle fairly aligned. With the Lhotses gone (and being a big LaSportiva fan), I'm looking at the Nepals. I got a pair Scarpa Mont Blancs, and they're comfy as hell, but they're more of a vertical ice boot and not much ankle there. But before I pull the trigger on the Nepals, what about plastics? Fill me in...pros? Cons? Cautions? Concerns? What to look for? Warm? Dry? Too warm?
I'd be new to plastics, as I've always preferred a 100% leather boot and never had the need for them until now when I've reentered the boot market and my beloved Lhotses are gone! I'm good wearing a hard as hell boot daily and across flat ground. These will be for Kodiak goat hunting, so not much elevation, but rock and uneven terrain.
Any info? Any feedback on the Nepals? I'll be in Anchortown in a few weeks and plan to hit my favorite stores, AMH and Barneys.
Long story short, I broke my leg, numerous surgeries, and while I'm all healed up and at 100% strength, my ankle is "bad" and I do have scar tissue and some soft tissue issues. I'm good to carry the weight and do the mileage, but if my ankle gets too far out of "90*" or out of alignment, it can pinch/bind/hurt like hell and I can feel like collapsing because the pain is sharp. I'm able-bodied and able to hunt, but I have bad days and if my ankle is hurting, I need to keep it pretty solid.
I've had great success and comfort with Sportiva Lhotses and their Makalu last and that line of boots; dating back over a dozen years...Makalu, Eiger, Glacier Lhotse...I was going to get another pair of Lhotses and be done with it...but they've been discontinued and I missed the closeout sales! They're gone and I can't find a pair anywhere.
I need support, and I like mountaineering boots. I wear them around town daily when I'm not even climbing or hunting. Not so much to hold the weight, but to keep my ankle fairly aligned. With the Lhotses gone (and being a big LaSportiva fan), I'm looking at the Nepals. I got a pair Scarpa Mont Blancs, and they're comfy as hell, but they're more of a vertical ice boot and not much ankle there. But before I pull the trigger on the Nepals, what about plastics? Fill me in...pros? Cons? Cautions? Concerns? What to look for? Warm? Dry? Too warm?
I'd be new to plastics, as I've always preferred a 100% leather boot and never had the need for them until now when I've reentered the boot market and my beloved Lhotses are gone! I'm good wearing a hard as hell boot daily and across flat ground. These will be for Kodiak goat hunting, so not much elevation, but rock and uneven terrain.
Any info? Any feedback on the Nepals? I'll be in Anchortown in a few weeks and plan to hit my favorite stores, AMH and Barneys.