La Sportiva Glacier Mountaineering Boot - Men's

Great boot! I purchased these boots on a great sale in the New England area. Not sure anyone there knew what they were because they were 75% off. I snagged them and have been using them since 2008. I have used them for long hikes in very rough terrain during Adventure Races. I have used them climbing Mt. Baker, WA in wet slushy conditions and on the summit with crampons. What I like about the boot is the comfort and fit along with the warmth when using a good pair of wool socks. The only issue I have had is near the toe area where the rubber covers the leather. There was a small separation between the leather and rubber creating a pocket of less then 1/4 inch. I got some good epoxy, dabbed a little in the hole and everything has been great. I plan on wearing them again for another climb of Mt. Baker in late August and a 14er in Colorado. I will definitely purchase another pair - just waiting on another great sale!

I'm a Minnesota wildland firefighter and I bought these because I felt I didn't need a 'traditional' heel and I didn't want to spend $400-500.

The sizing was accurate. Has a nice comfortable fit. They have broken in pretty good after just one spring season and I get the feeling it will only get better.

Great for the midwest, it keeps the water out.

I have heard about delamination issues but have not experienced anything thus far, although I haven't exposed them to extended periods in white ash.

Overall very satisfied and well worth the $.

I can hike in these boots, or I could front-point in them. Great all-arounder.

I love these boots. Great all rounder, stiff yet comfy enough on longer approaches. I got these mainly for Colorado 14ners. They are not insulated but are warm never the less. A really good three season boot. They do require a good bit of a break in period producing some shin bang in the early stages. They are bomber, great support. They work well with my snow shoes and Black Diamond Strap-on crampons. Backcountry.com was excellent to work with as well. I am totally happy with these bad boys!

I just bought a pair of these for a September Rainier climb, and am wearing them on my training hikes (which, sadly, don't test them - I live outside Houston). That said, they have been comfortable from the first time I tried them on. I'm really looking forward to getting them to use them in the kind of environment they're made for!

My unit used these boots in Afghanistan and they were "force multipliers". Regardless of your fitness, your body will give out eventually under extreme loads on rugged terrain. This boot forms the most stable and secure base for your body when fatigue sets in and your muscles can no longer stabilize your joints. Unfortunately, no American boot maker has come close to the craftsmanship and I HAVE spoken directly to the companies. La Sportiva Glaciers are the BEST Boot for the money on the market! No one comes even close.

I bought these one size bigger than my old La Sportiva Glacier EVO's (47) and they were way too narrow in a 48!!

Still; a solid boot none-the-less. BTW; I wear a 12 6E.

Got them in the mail yesterday. Put my Croc boat shoe inserts into these bad boys and they are awesome. I was a little confused about the insert that came with the boots, worthless is all i can say. looking forward to putting many many miles in these.

WENT FOR A 3 HOUR HIKE, UP AND DOWN WITH 30# PACK. THESE BOOTS ARE COMFORTABLE! ROOMY TOE BOX, I WEAR A SIZE 13, 47 GOOD FOR ME W/HEAVY SOCK. VERY LITE. STABLE PLATFORM. I WOULD'NT FRONT POINT WITH THESE ON ANYTHING NEAR VERTICAL BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY ARE INTENDED FOR. SERIOUS BOOTS....

I have 3 pair of hiking boots and use them according to the type of hiking/backpacking. I use the LaSportivia Glacier for hiking Colorado 14ers in winter/snow conditions. They give me good support and are comfortable. I used Sno-Seal on them and they are waterproof. I also like the lacing system allows me to tie it looser on the bottom and tighter around the ankle. They work well with snow shoes and Black Diamond Strap crampons.

These are real boots. Not as real as Norwegian welt full steel shank 7lbs per pair, takes two years to break in monsters, but I'll take these.

I've had them for a little over a year now, and here's what I've noticed.

-Surprisingly comfy out of the box--made me worry about durability, but no issues there. No blisters even on death march style uppy-downy epics. Even more comfy now.

-Feel extremely stable on all terrain. I know light is right, but I also grew up learning not to sprain an ankle in the wilderness. Ever. Think it would be hard to injure feet or ankles in these boots, even with a heavy load.

-Very warm and dry for a "non insulated, non-waterproof" boot. Yet somehow comfortable(ish) on muggy 90 degree slogs.

-Still look embarrassingly new after a year of steady use. Might need to see if some tight slots near the dirty devil might ugly them up a little.

Recommendations:

-As many others have noted, Size up! I went up about a full size from my measured foot size, and after finally fitting some nice sole insoles wish I would have gone another half size bigger to fit winter socks.

-On the same note, go for the thinnest insoles you can to save that precious toe box space.

A terrific pair of boots that are more than capable of kicking some sh!#.

I have now had my Glacier's for a week here in Afghanistan. Outstanding boot! An average day is humping a 30 kilo ruck at altitude on rock, scree, ice, and snow. Then turning around and going south with 115F temps on near vertical shale. This boot has excellent ankle support and NO break-in time. I was amazed. Good boots mean life or death for me and my team—these boots perform.
My only suggestion is that I would like a lug sole option.

Simply Fantastic, FIT like a glove. About Sizing: I am between a 10.5 and an 11, normal width. I ordered the 44.5 and they fit perfectly with normal thickness socks. Merry Xmas to me. Thanks for the RAPID shipping.

La Sportiva makes solid boots, but unfortunately they don't fit by foot shape well. I'm selling mine for $170 with sof sole insoles. They're practically unused. Check out KSL classifieds if you're interested.

Magic boots, no blisters, no hotspots, nothing. comfortable well made. Waterproof and seem very secure with the BD sabertooth crampons. Best boots I've ever owned!

I bought this boot after reading a number of posts and rave reviews from others. I was in the market for a boot for mixed mountain routes, but something lighter than say the Makalu boot. The half shank sole on this boot provided just the right balance that I was looking for. It is stiff enough for hybrid crampon use, but flexes enough to be used for a supportive backpacking boot as well. I wore the boots a couple of days for break-in and then hit a trail just prior to a snowstorm. The boots performed well both on trail (mixed) and on return through 2 feet of snow. One suggestion is to ditch the insoles on these boots as they provide little to no support. I ran the Sole Dean Karnazes heat moldable insoles. These made a significant difference to how the boots felt and the have about the same padding as the originals so as not to take up any of the toe box's volume. Overall, I am very excited to put some miles on these boots.

No complaints about the consturction of these boots, except that I could not get them broken in to save my life. Short hikes, long day hikes, flat, hilly, wet or dry. I just could not make them work. I have 4E, high arched/volume feet, so I dont blame LaSportiva. Wish it was different.

After two years and many miles these boots are still holding together. Best uses are on long hikes with a heavy load on uneven terrain these boots will give you the support and stability you will need. Overall very well built boot but they may become slick on wet rocks.

First impression is awesome. The boot feels very tough. Definietely needs some break-in period. The adjustable tongue is great. My biggest concern was getting the right size. I went a size higher and it feels great and comfortable. Apparently the boot has no insulation but on a fairly cold winter day it felt VERY warm. I'm wondering if it won't be too hot for July climbs in the rockies. I am so looking forward to getting some miles on it.

On another note I always had doubts about getting boots over the net due to fit etc. This is my, oh I don't know, fifth pair of boots bought over the net and I've yet to be dissapointed.

I went up a full size (US 10) from 43 to 44 in these boots. My previous snow boots were Columbia's which rocked until they literally came apart during a hike & snowshoe expedition. I've only worn the Glacier's twice, but so far they're wonderful. The lacing system caused me to over-tighten the lower section, but there are plenty of adjustments to get it right.

The boot was there as far as comfort and stability but not for wildland fire delaminated in less than a month

No troubles as of yet...Fit true to size. Solidly built, great ankle support. Some people use these for a wildland fire boot but they de-laminate. So unless you live on helibases, I'd stick with Nicks or Whites.

I have wide, flat feet. I read other reviews and followed their guidance. I bought 1/2 size bigger than I normally wear. Perfect fit! The adjustable tounge make the wearing of different thinkness socks perfect. I only needed (2) days for break-in. Wore them (3) weeks in the Seirras with no hotspots or wear. Felt great!

This is the ideal mountaineering boot for narrow feet. Be aware that La Sportiva shoes and boots typically fit small, and this is no exception, so order it a half size larger than normal.

Great boot---comfy right out of the box-used them on a 10 mile traverse of the Blackheads (Catskills) Lots of ankle support--haven't used them w/ crampons yet

After 2 winter seasons I still love these boots--Super comfy and warm. Great stability. I've put a ton of Catskill and Adirondack miles on these and they are still in great shape--Keep 'em clean and spray on fresh coat of silicon and you're good to go.

I bought these boots for WildLand Fire Fighting, they took no time to break in. I wore them just last week for the first time on a fire and I loved them. My feet did not hurt after a 14 hour day on the line and no blisters. I am glad I invested in these boots!!!!!

These boots acceptable. The construction is excellent, typical of La Sportiva. However, I have to say that the warmth and water resistance leave something to be desired; even for leater boots. If you are looking for a rugged trekking boot, these are great. I would look elsewhere for a general mountaineering boot.

These boots are great. I have used them in a variety of situations and the only problem was the tongue inserts. They require a bit of repositioning to get it right, but any boot will require some break in period. Other then that, The are awesome. I have used them for hiking, snowmobile and snowshoeing. My feet never got cold or wet. I wear them everyday for work. However, they are not designed for firefighting. Hot ash eats them up. A friend of mine also has a pair and the toe rand came unglued after one week. Great for burning in fall and winter but not on the line. Hope this helps.

Excellent boot for foul weather. I use them for search and rescue work in Oregon. After a very short break-in, wore boots for all day training mission in a daylong downpour. Feet stayed dry and warm. Boot is very sturdy and stiff soled, but now uncomfortable to wear. Would recommend sizing down 1/2 size using Nike] as a reference. For reference, I bought a 45.5 for my normal Nike size 12.5.

My glacier boot has seen it all, chasing my dogs up the backside of Taos Mountain and juants to flyfishing spots in the Adirondacks....I also wear'em to shovel the driveway in the winter....

They are by far the best pair of boots I have ever owned. Bar none. Just the little bit of flex is what makes all the difference. With or without load they perform the same: solid, unswerving, no question.

Six years and thousands of miles, across every kind of terrain imaginable (including fishing on frozen lakes) with & without gear, has finally worn down the sole good in a couple of spots. The rest of the boot is still as the day it came out of the box: leather is soft and very pliable (no cracks or dry rotting), gusseted tongue didn't slide all over and resting where it belongs...not off to one side, padding around collar of boot is very "puffy"/ comfortable. Plus, they still have the original laces!

My La Sportiva boots are one of the very few purchases I would consider a true value in this world. I purchase my next pair without hesitation....hell, I like my boots so much, this time around I am considering two new pairs. The Trango's and Glacier.

I am forty years old and have been walking hill n dale since I fell outta my mothers uterus. This isn't my first day at the rodeo, I've worn OUT every boot worth wearing....If someone doesn't like this boot....their only fartin' around with a camelbak in the backyard stackin' wood or maybe cuttin' the grass! One might need to leave the safety of their suburban backyard with a couple days load to give La Sportiva's the real test.

in the past few years i have seen a huge increase of wildland fire fighters using these boots. why you may ask? well.. they are far more comfortable than a leather boot, they are about 1/2 the price of a danner or pair of whites and they are lighter! plus you dont roll your ankles in these compaired to a normal leather boot.

only problem i have seen is the rubber toe begins to come off if you stand in hot ash. other than that excellent boot. i think on my next pair i am going to have that part professionally stitched down. ill rate it an B+

Had my La-Sportiva Tibets for 3 years until they practically disintegrated from over-use. So I went for a heavier boot this time but trying to keep the same look&feel. These boots felt comfortable the moment I put them on (La Sportiva have yet to disappoint me). They're tough as hell which is great for heavy backpacking activity. no real break-in needed. Gets pretty hot in there in warm weather, but they'll protect your feet superbly during those long treks. I really like them.

Bought these for the wildland fire season and they may not be npfa certified any longer due to the height. But if you are looking for a great outdoor adventure boot these are great. i have hiked many miles in tons of different environments all over the state of Utah and they are great. almost no break in period.

By far the best boot I have ever owned. I have had them about 6 years and they still have good support on side hills. The soles hold up very well. Hiking up steep terrain is a breeze and coming down is not bad either. The sole has good down hill breaking ability built into the heel piece, IMO. I wish they were water proof and I don't like the design of the lace holder (where lace threads through black/yellow nylon strap) It is wearing thin. Not sure what to do when that breaks because the rest of the boot is still in great shape. I use them mainly for deer/elk hunting. I have packed out many animals/camps in these boots and they have held up great with the extra weight I have put on them, (over 100 pounds at times)

took em out for 30 miles as soon as i got em and they performed beautifully. super stable in talus and scree with a heavy pack! hats off to sportiva

Best footwear I have ever purchased!
Totally worth the price. I wore them the for an afternoon the day they shipped in and went on a 6mi hike the next morning throgh dirt, mud and snow. Comfortable as heck, no breaking in neccessary and my feet stayed as dry as can be. Awsome boot!

I have tried both these boots and they are awesome for wildland firefighting. They are super comfortable and side hill a lot better than whites or nicks. They are light and the break-in time is less than a week. The size seems to run a little big, and they are hotter than typical fire boots, but these are the best boots for wildland fire out.

This has been a newly approved boot for fire suppression and Rx burning so I figured I would test it out. So far a great boot! They break in a little quicker than a pair of nicks or whites. The tops of the boots are great for people with large legs or ankles not so good for us on the slim side. Overall they are great I wear them everywhere. Great ankle support!!!!!

I used these boots on a climb of Mt. Shasta in May, 2006. They held up well and my feet were warm with a pair of liner socks and Thorlos Mountaineering socks (pretty thick wool). The boots have a good amount of flex due to the half shank. They fit my foot well (I am an average to wide) and gave me no hot spots or blisters. I treated the boots with some Nikwax before running through the slush and wore them around town for a week or so to break them in. I am pretty pleased with the Glaciers as hiking/light mountaineering boots.

These boots are very comfortable and I haven't even put replacement insoles in them yet. My Grivel air tech crampons lock onto them rock solid. I am a 5'9 240 pound guy so I put stuff to the test. These were a perfect match for scrambling around on frozen waterfalls carrying a pile of expensive camera gear.

These boots are tough! I walked around in a blizzard with them for a week and didn't get wet at all, this was before i coated them with Nikwax. Then went on a 40 mile trek after that through mud, rocks, hills, snow. No hot spots or blisters at all. New-matic crampons fit well. These stiff backpacking boots (or slightly flexible mountaineering boots) are versatile and comfortable for whatever job or adventure you're on!

this boot makes a great lineman boot

i spend most of my free time hiking around in the southern nevada desert. the environment here is extremely hard on footwear. the rocks are jagged and razor sharp and stepping on cactus is almost unavoidable. i have been through many types and brands of boots over the years and have not been able to make a pair last more than a year or so. i bought these boots a couple of months ago and have about a hundred miles on them. the reviews are correct. buy them a half size bigger than you normally wear. they are stiff but break in readily. after getting used to the extra support it is more than welcome. ive already punished them and i can tell they are tough and resilient. they are relatively light but offer excellent foot protection. over all i think these are the best boots ive ever owned and expect to get several years of good comfortable service from them. furthermore they look frickin awesome! backcountry's service rocks too (bought the wrong size at first and the return/reorder process was pain free).

Have had these boots for approx 5 years. My feet are very hard to fit and with these boots I can backpack without blisters. They have worn very well. The seventh eyelet from the toe is a cloth material and only recently have ripped on both boots but again its been 5 years. I am now looking to buy my second pair and hope they are still make in Italy.

Since I rely heavily on reviews, I thought it is about time that I contribute one of my own. Just bought these boots for some hiking/mountaineering. My impressions so far: Out of the box, they are fairly comfortable. I threw in an old pair of running shoe insoles and now they are amazingly comfortable. I had them out in <0deg F and my feet were toasty. The lace cleat midway up the boot is great - and can fix my BD Sabretooth crampons with no difficulties.
The bad: well, so far these boots have served me well so I can't say too much here - The two boots were a slightly different colour (strange). Overall - two thumbs up.

I've had these boots for over 4 years now and they have performed very well as an all around mountaineering boot. The Pros are... Very very durable, stick to rocks like a mountain goats hoof, work well with crampons, they keep your feet warm in freezing temperatures (with a Gobi Liner, thick Cold Weather Sock, and a Vapor Barrier Sock if its really cold) but can also be worn in warmer temps without over heating your feet, and they keep your feet dry in wet conditions. The Cons are... 10 to 20 hour break in period, heavy boot weight decreases endurance, and my biggest gripe about this boot is the poor ankle support. I'm not able to get these boots tight around my ankles and my lower leg. I'm able to fit 2 to 3 fingers in between my ankle and the boot and that has always bugged me. I'm 6'4" and 185 Ibs so I have pretty skinny legs so this little problem may not be as big as a deal for the average person. Overall, a very good all purpose mountaineering boot. Just be sure you like the fit. I'm going to try the La Sportiva Lhoste GTX for my next boot. It looks like it has a little more upper ankle support.

A very rugged and sturdy boot. Still in the breaking in process, so I cannot give a detailed review on this product yet; however, the construction and materials seem to be quality. I have replaced the insoles which give better arch support, but one should probably do this anyway, for most boots. I definitely like the shoestring versatility when cinching down the boots. It allows room and snug fit where you need it. All in all a great boot! Great price! Thanks again backcountry.com! I am looking forward to my first muliple day/mile hike with these boots. They are waterproof also (goretex), but you might want to supplement that with some nikwax or similar.

For the most part I have found this boot to be good. Seems to have rugged constuction (only time will truely test that). There is really only one thing I was dissatisified with, and the problem has corrected itself. If you don't spend a few good weeks breaking these boots in, and you attemp a semi-signifigant incline, the footbeds will slide on you (espically on the downhill) causing you get get blisters if you don't correct the footbed as needed on the trail.

My feet do tend to get cold easily, but in this boot with wool socks on and a little snow creeping in the back of my boots, my feet still stay warm as long as I am moving.

I don't necessarly believe the price is entirely worth it but again only time will tell. Between the footbed issue (even though it is better now), the price, and the question of durability still to be answered, I give it 4 stars.

Overall, I am happy with the performance of the Glacier Mountaineering boots. I use mine on a variety of terrain and conditions. The sole on the toe did begin to pull off after two years, but Backcountry replaced the pair at no extra cost to me. I have chicken legs as well, so the uppers come almost completely together, but they are still comfortable. They have been up volcanos, through the wet tundra of Alaska, and from the East coast to the West coast of the United States.

I bought the Glacier Boots for wildland firefighting. It's not the perfect wildland boot, but it SMOKES my old pair of Whites. They are extremely comfortable and easy to break in, plus I don't roll my heel and walk bow-legged anymore. Hopefully Sportiva will produce a tailor-made fire boot in the future (lug sole, stitched sole, 10-inch height).

Very comfortable. Short break in. Described as a heavy duty backpacking boot to mountaineering boot, but I disagree. This boot isn't much more heavy duty than my last pair of backpacking boots (Asolo leathers). I noticed that the rubber covering the sole/upper interface began delaminating after minimal use.

I have not been on the fire line yet with these boots but they feel excellent
on my feet. the only concern I have is
how the glued on soul will hold up in the heat. I think this boot would be a
great seller to wildland firefighters if
they had a stitched on vibram soul with kevlar thread.

test

The boot does well with loads, technical terrain, and even easy to moderate alpine ice. It was not designed for firefighting and it becomes obvious after walking out of a hot ash pit. The glue doesn't stand a lot of heat. I would recommend them for heli-slack and engine slugs but not for hand crews with limited water.

great book, excellent fit, wears fantastic, not waterproof leaks like a sieve. Does it ever take the terrain even with heavy loads.

I tried to break these boots in for two days with no luck. Just too stiff and probably too much boot for what I was looking for (i.e. hut tours, approaches with skis on my back). The tongue insert is also a bit unusual and I couldn't get it to fit right. But, feet are unique and it just could be this particular boot wasn't a good fit for me. All the other reviews seem very positive so keep that in mind. Returning them was a snap!

Can't comment on mountaineering use... which is, of course, the intended design. I wanna help out all prospective buyers for wildland use and tell you that they've not worked out too well. Not enough shin binding to support well going downhill; lots of extra muscle to make them go uphill, too, IMHO. Put the White's back on after three weeks of trying these out and never being happy with them. I'll put them back on come winter and give it another shot. Again, probably great for their intended design. Cheers, Lincoln