UKC

Hi,

My partner wants a pair of size 4 boots suitable for Scottish winter, European ice and summer alpine stuff. She's not the warmest of people.

As we're based in London this really leaves her with the choice of a pair of Mantas or trango towers for £300 or a pair of Nepal Cubes, for £150 more. Both from Cotswold/Ellis in London.

Does anyone have any other suggestions before we try those or go up to Outside in the Peak or Llanberis/the Lakes?

Has anyone tried the decathlon ones (Simond Alpinism Blue) for £159? 

Cheers in advance.

One of my buddies has those and I didn't hear him complaining during a summer alps trip. Not sure I would trust them for super wet stuff though. 

I love the Trango Towers. Perfect for the Alps and v good in the mud too. Not super warm for UK winter. But I have cold feet. Sadly, they don't last, especially in the Alps. There are winter ones which seem to last much better but too warm for Alpine summer. 

Take your timing shopping around for the TTs, I have usually got away with well under £250.

I tried on the Simond blue things on a Wet Day in Cham so would be interested in any feedback. They felt heavy and much stiffer I thought...

Needle Sports have TTs at £198 if you're a 38... one pair. 

From my experience I'd suggest , because of the shoe size, you might be asking too much from one thing.

My partner has similar size feet. mountain boots like the cube, in those sizes are absolutely rock hard and unbendable. For Scottish Winter and ice the rock hard boots are great, nice and warm too, but not something you'd want to walk any distance in. She's got separate alpine boots for alpine stuff, and B4 types that less often see the light of day.

YMMV. go to as many shops as possible and take your time when trying them on.

I'd have to agree with daWalt, I wear a 3.5/4 and find that my B3s are great for Scottish winter/ice climbing but they're just so stiff I wouldn't like to do a big summer alpine day in them.

ETA I have a pair of Nepal Cubes and absolutely love them, there's plenty of like-new/very lightly worn floating around on various reselling platforms.