UKC

It’s time for some new boots. 
ideally I’d like a combination of what I already have, Scarpa SL activ and Hanwag Makra Combi. The SL’s have served me very well and are now sadly at the end of their life.  The Hanwags felt good for a while but didn’t last as long as I hoped. 
anyobody got any suggestions?

my current list consists of Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX / Mata Tech GTX / Marmaloda Pro HD / Zamberlan Voiz and Altberg Tethera. 
 

just need to get round to finding a stockist and trying them out. 
 

thanks 
 

Scarpa make a boot called the Delta which is a bit less stiff and clumpy than the SL, but still very durable. It's an all leather construction and so will last for ages, which I don't believe any fabric and leather boot will do. But I guess it mostly comes down to what fits your feet the best.

If you're looking at the Altberg Tethera add the Altberg Nordkapp to your list. Very similar but built on different lasts and one may suit your feet much better than the other.

The Marmalada HD have shocking linings, my wife returned a pair very quickly and got a free upgrade but we did hear there was quality issues with that model. I got through 2 pairs of Hanwag Makra's under guarantee and found them extremely comfortable / easy to climb in but shocking durability.

The Scarpa SL's are an old style clumpy boot which has it's place but doesn't climb anywhere near as well as the Hanwag Makra. I'd say it depends how waterproff and how long you will need them to last verses how light and well they climb. Personally I went with the Scarpa Mescalito mid as a light scrambler but the Bestard Breithorn as a clumpy heavyweight to cover both uses.

The layout finacially is much more but it means the boots will last longer and I have boots that are activity specific. Depends how much £££ you have going spare to throw as footware but personally I do prefer specific tools for specific tasks.

Yes. Ive got two pairs of Nordkapo on the go. The first pair are 6 years old and have been resoled. They are similar to my old Scarpa SL which were late 80s and had the trionic sole which wasn’t great on descending. The Sl however, didn’t fit my feet and I had to smash the heels with a hammer to make them stop causing blisters. The Nordkapo are excellent quality and fit well. I think that they now only do the shiny leather as opposed to the nubuck hairy type. The nubuck type needs treating with spray as opposed to Leder Gris wax. I think that using the spray instead of the Leder Gris has constituted to their early demise on the flexion points of the toe box, I’ve Leder Grissed my second pair and they look healthy. 
Good 3-4 season boots if they fit.

How you finding the mescalito?

I did have these as an option at one point but removed them for some reason I now can’t remember. 
one option I was considering was 2 pairs, a full in leather for the winter (Altberg/Scarpa) and something lighter  for rest of the year such as what I’ve mentioned. 
im willing to pay good money, its worth it for boots, i view them like tyres in car. 
 

I’m more convinced / leaning towards leather can’t beat it for durability. But the comfort levels and agility of something like the hanwags is a head turner. 

No arguing with the comfort of the Hanwag boots (particularly their leather lined versions) but just be aware that the sole units Hanwag currently use have a reputation for suffering from hydrolysis with crumbling midsoles and sole separation.

I think I may have experienced this with my current Hanwags. They certainly were extremely comfy then after a point I started having issues with the footbed, leaking boot and oddly squashed toes. 

The Mescaline was something I bought for the Cuillin ridge as I needed something light, climby and dextrous. I wouldn't rate the membrane but on a rainy day I wouldn't be wearing them. As a climbing approach boot they are fantastic but for hiking or colder months I'd personally go heavy.

I’m a fan of the Zodiacs a good scrambling oriented boot, light and comfortable. If you’re just walking long distances then there are better boots but for rough Cullin type terrain they are great.

I love my Scarpa SLs but they are undeniably clumpy. I wouldn't choose them for scrambling but they are excellent for bashing across bog and heather.

The Deltas seem a bit weird. Full grain leather plus a membrane sounds both pointless and sweaty.

something suitable for all year use in the lakes and north wales across various terrain, usually around 20k walks with some scrambling thrown in when needed. Need to be something that will comfortable for long weekends too. 
the Hanwags fitted the bill perfectly / ticked all the boxes until they failed, in my opinion, far too quickly. And I wasn’t impressed with the response from Hanwag when I went back to them about the issues.