The result of a lengthy and involved project: a pair of new and usable winter climbing boots, equipped with original Tricouni nails. The midsole is equipped with regular and triple hobs. I'm fairly proud of these boots and can't wait to use them in anger.

Go to it ! This is real gear, but don't tread on the rope! Cheers,Malc.

I'll try not to! Really keen to try some easy mixed with these as I suspect I'll get on better with them than in crampons (never really liked climbing on snowed-up rock with front points).

I hope you are prepared for the inevitable comments about "dry tooling"

Absolutely prepared, yep. Climbing in nails is all about precise, careful foot placement, not scrabbling about ... and since 90% of the rock climbs in Glencoe are in practically virgin condition I can't be seen to be contributing to polish or erosion.

Should probably add that I don't intend to be using these for rock climbing much (except for a couple of obscure Moderate or Diff routes that nobody else has ever heard of); I'm mostly going to be using them for winter climbing.

Do you think anyone will attach themselves to a rope with you?

I've convinced my brother to accompany me on some climbs, Isi has expressed cautious interest (!) and I was thinking about asking Pete Duggan, it might be the sort of thing he's interested in. I won't be doing anything very hard in them: Grade III max.

Nice photo - I'm surprised you can still get boots fitted with Tricounis. I used to wear a pair of Hawkin's 'Trikes' when I was instructing in the Ogwen Valley in the early sixties. It was a bit of a gimmick but great for your technique - go and try 'Flake Crack' on the Gribin if you want a bit of a challenge. I am also reminded of a comment by Chris Bonington in about 1959. "Charity in nails is harder than The Mostest". (In those days 'Charity' was V.Diff and 'The Mostest' was Exceptionally Severe).
Best of luck.

Cheers, the reason I've put these together is to study the technique of climbing in them. It strikes me as being far more precise and technical than climbing in Vibrams, although in some ways it has many advantages on certain rock types.

No offence, but I think it would be a brave individual that tied onto your rope while you were wearing these!

No offence taken Jamie =) It's all about confidence, and for the last year I've been using a pair of nailed boots far less capable than these. I've got a good idea of what they're capable of and where their limitations lie. I am completely convinced that for easy mixed climbing I will find them far better than crampons (which I've never liked for scrabbling around on rock with). I'm completely confident climbing steep snow in nails and cutting steps, and as for ice, we'll find out ...

I just wonder if you are not ahead of the times! Modern boot manufacturers might to well develop the idea. After all the old guys did some pretty serious stuff with 'em, and if they are brought up to date with newer technology/materials, well................

Having now used these boots several times, I am convinced of their superiority in almost every respect to modern boots. Their ONLY failing is that they're not as good for the walk-in along paved paths (it wears down the nails).
What goes around comes around...

Indeed it does.

Were did you get the nails from, as an aside have you read about Millican Dalton the Professor of Adventure, sounds your kind of guy.