La Sportiva Karakorum Mountaineering Boot - Men's

La Sportiva Karakorum

davp374789

Member since  Jan 29, 2013

Posted on March 7, 2013

• Gender: Male
• Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Bought these boots for a spring backpacking trip in the Sierras. I got to use them for the first time a few days ago on a winter hike up Mt. Chocorua. They kept my feet toasty warm (it was mid 20's and I ended up wishing I had lighter socks because my feet were over-heating a little bit). I hiked 7.5 miles right out of the box with no blisters and not a single hot-spot.Not bad for such a stiff shoe. They worked well with the BD Contact Crampon Clip (I wear a 45.5 and they were right at the upper range of the crampon).

I water-proffed the leather with Nikwax before use. With temps below freezing I would have been worried if I had issues with waterproofness. I will have to report back when I use them in warmer conditions.

My only complaint is fit and this is really specific to my foot. They are low-volume boots. I have what I would consider a normal or medium width foot. I ended up having to go up about half a size from what is my true shoe size. As I said above I remained blister free. I did, however, find that when I went on to the front point my heel raised quite a bit. I had not experienced this when I walked on an incline slope without crampons so it came as a bit of a surprise. Not terrible for me since my primary use is backpacking and hiking, but worth keeping in mind if you have wider feet.

La Sportiva - Karakorum

Gary

Member since  Mar 15, 2012

Posted on March 15, 2012

I did some research before buying these boots. I had my foot measured twice, just to make sure, on the Brannock scale and visited the La Sportiva website which recommends buying 1/2 size larger. I followed their advice and the boots came in perfect. I took out the factory inserts, put my own in and have accumulated a little over 400 miles in them, hiking,on and off trail, climbing, post holeing through snow and snowshoeing. The website said to Nikwax them after a hard day, which I have, about 3 times now, and have had no problems with leaks. They walk great and feel like slippers to me now which, I'm sure, is due to a lot of use. All in all I feel like they are a great all around boot, great fit, very supportive and a terrific value for the money. I would highly recommend them to a friend but with the understanding they make sure of the fit - but that is critical no matter which boots you buy.

Great General Mountaineering Boot

Sean Lowther

Member since  Jun 21, 2010

Posted on January 12, 2012

I use these boots for General Mountaineering around south central Alaska. I climb peaks in the winter here, and yes it can be cold, and if anything I find these boots to be very warm, even for Alaska winters. Each person has different temps and comforts, for me these work fine! These replaced a pair of Asolo Alpinist boots, which last 3 years of intense use. My crampons go on these with no problems, snow shoes attach fine, and what I like about these is they dont have a lot of seams on the instep mid boot to break scrambling up long scree fields (the problem I had with my Asolo boots, constant cobbler repairs). Bottom Line these boots have functioned well for me, but then again I just climb mountains here in Alaska with them, in the Fall and WInter and Spring, not sure how that translates to what others are doing with them?

Sportivas

DEON NORTJE

Member since  Apr 17, 2009

Posted on December 15, 2011

Great stylin boots that does the job - strong,takes a bit to break in but after that they perform really well

FAIR BOOT WITH LIMITED APPLICATION

Jonathan

Member since  Jun 16, 2009

Posted on November 25, 2011

First warning: If you're looking at purchasing a "mountaineering boot", then I hope you have some experience in this genre of footwear and know what you're getting into. These are not wear out of the box shoes and take quite a bit of time to break in. I've been working in them for 6 months and have probably logged 40-50 miles and they are just now starting to get "comfortable".
Second Warning: These are NOT mountaineering boots...although modern crampon compatible and imbedded with a 3/4 nylon shank, the nylon fabric heel backing (which adds increased comfort when walking) limits the environments you can take this boot into. Additionally, the leather, until treated, is still water permiable. When treated, you lose the breathability of leather and your feet will heat up more quickly. The reality is these boots are simply heavy weight hiker/ backpackers with fantastic ankle support and limited environment application.
My assesment: These boots run narrow in my opinion (I have a pretty regular size 11-11.5/ 45EU foot with no arch dramas). I've tried a variety of replacement insoles and found that Superfeet take up far too much room and my foot felt incredibly cramped. Go with a very low pro insole and stick to lightweight hiker socks to get the best fit...these boots, after all, are not meant for winter weather. It will take time for your foot to get use to this heavy duty boot. Good overall traction across a variety of environments and I haven't had any of the problems previously listed with sole/ rubber separation. If La Spotivas are your flavor, this can be a good boot with LIMITED application. If you are looking for a heavy weight hiking/ backpacking boot with crampon capability and more water resistance, I would recommend looking into the Scarpa Barun GTX, Asolo (best for wider feet) or exploring some of the other La Sportiva models.

Shockingly inconsistent

rtfColorado

Member since  Dec 25, 2009

Posted on October 27, 2011

I'll start out by saying I have owned many pairs of La Sportiva boots and love them (but, unfortunately, I only get a couple hundred miles out of each one, so they get replaced every couple years). I've had the now-discontinued Glacier EVOs for the past few years, and the LS people told me the Karakorum boot was most comparable. I am now boxing up the third pair I have bought from this site and I'm giving up.

The first pair of boots (a size 45.5) I sent back because they were a little snug, but more importantly, because the rubber stuff on the side of the boot was delaminating right out of the box. I decided to go with a size 46 for the replacement. I didn't see anything defective per se, but this boot was noticeably smaller than the 45.5 -- my toes actually jammed into the front of the "bigger boot" but not the smaller.

Soo, I decided I'd take a shot at the 46.5s -- since the sizing just seemed like guesswork anyway. The fit was perfect; the product was not. The left boot was fine: placed on a flat surface it sits flat and is stable. The right boot does not -- it tips significantly towards the left front of the boot which creates a very awkward rocking motion that would be a knee killer on a long backpacking trip (and probably on a short hike for that matter). It also makes for a very odd feeling given the contrast with how the left boot feels. The tread itself looks fine -- there is no noticeable tread missing and no wear, so assume the problem must be with how the boot was attached to the sole, but who knows.

One thing for sure, I do not think La Sportiva is manufacturing a product that can reliably be bought on-line these days, because you have to inspect every boot for defects and because the sizing is so unreliable.

Amazing Boots!

chr100640353

Member since  Mar 13, 2011

Posted on September 21, 2011

These are the best boots I have ever owned. I have always loved La Sportiva boots and have previously owned several pairs of the Glacier Boot. The Karakorum boot is far more comfortable and provides exceptional support for any type of hiking or climbing that I have done. I have put over 300 miles on these boots in the past 2 years and have summited over 20 peaks in the Wasatch and Uinta Ranges in Utah. They handle everything from class 1 to class 5 pitches with ease. Sole is great, leather still shows no sign of wear, waterproof, warm but not hot, and I have yet to ever get a single bilster or hot spot. These are the best summer trekking and climbing boot on the market.

Killer boots

snopro231546778

Member since  Feb 10, 2010

Posted on August 21, 2011

Absolutely great I have had 5 different pairs of lasportiva boots and these work great for light mountaineering heavy hiking feel very supportive but comfortable and work great on rocky shale Perfect for spring & fall when I don't need a full on mountaineering boot might order another pair just to have for backup

Very nice all-rounder

Dan Dittmar

Member since  Apr 23, 2011

Posted on June 27, 2011

The quality of these boots in my experience is fantastic. They are made of first quality materials and it shows. I see how labeling them as a 'mountaineering' boot has caused some confusion though. They will not keep you as warm or dry as a super high tech boot. That being said, I have done glacier climbs in above and bellow freezing temps and have still been dry after ten hours. They are VERY water resistant for being non GTX and you get the added benefit of a faster dry time and breath-ability if they do get wet. They accept crampons decently too. In my view this is a quiver of one type boot. It hikes very well, is stable, has good water properties, and can handle some mild climbing as well- not to mention the design looks fantastic in person. I use nixwax on mine and it has worked very nicely. For more intense alpine use I'd look to the Nepal EVO's.

karakorum boots

hos2672365

Member since  Dec 21, 2009

Posted on May 8, 2011

These seem like good boots but they're no replacement for the glacier evos.

Alpine Work/Hiking Boot

Scott

Member since  Jun 13, 2010

Posted on January 13, 2011

This boot performs best if doing a lot of hiking in the alpine and working in the outdoors, doing long backpacking trips or like trans-alpine hiking/scrambling trips. I use this boot 5+ days of the week as a guide on a glacier in New Zealand, and it gets a lot of abuse. I've given the boot 4 stars because despite the abuse it receives, it has stood up well. Other guides I work with have found the boot lasts about 9 months to one year with 4+ days a week wearing it.

The features I appreciate on the boot are its rugged and thick sole (which absorbs a LOT of shock), high rand (which is longer on the inside of the boot to protect against feet rubbing together), lace locks, softer materials around the ankle flex-point, and high, padded tongue. The aspects of the boot that could be improved are its low, too-soft of materials behind the heel, excessive number of lace-loops going down the toe, and the amount of stitching and construction on the tongue (more panelling= more places to wear out and allow water in!).

I think the manufacturer's description is very misleading for three reasons:
(1) It is not insulated enough for climbing in winter or at higher altitudes,
(2) the sole becomes as flexible as a hiking boot after a few weeks of use and is therefore inappropriate for prolonged front-pointing, ice climbing, or use with a crampon that doesn't have flexible linking bars, and
(3) It is not waterproof, and you should not expect it to be waterproof after one or two stream crossings. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Waterproof boot linings are a nuisance in very wet conditions, since they tend to keep water inside the boot as well as taking a long time to dry out.

And, if you buy the boots, replace the laces immediately. La Sportiva laces may be abrasion resistant but are notorious for their inability to hold a knot!

define "mountaineering"

Reid Pitman

Member since  Jul 16, 2010

Posted on January 11, 2011

with a 3\4 shank and lack of waterproofing I think these boots are much more a alpine hiking boot. I've logged quite a few miles in them before deciding I'm not exactly impressed on all counts. First off, I absolutely love the fit and comfort of the boot!! I have a narrower arch and wider toes, they fit nicely without custom liners.
But as for usage, stay outta snow and off ice unless you further water proof them or have crampons. spend the extra 20 bucks and get the EVOs.
all in all, these have replaced my sorrels and wolverine work boots for walking too and from the lodge and car.

Killer Boots

knmgreen

Member since  Oct 4, 2009

Posted on January 1, 2011

You get what you pay for in these boots! Stable, beefy and comfortable not to mention tough. There is no membrane such as as gortex but this thick leather is scuff resistant and waterproof if not soaked for long periods. It is a high cut but the leather cut out above the heal gives a great range of motion without discomfort with snug ankle support. The full shank allows for heavy loads carried. The vibram sole and rubber rand are of the highest quality as is the leather. Use nixwax to waterproof it better as again it is a boot with no waterproof membrane. A better spring to fall mountaneering boot. Used up and over whitney, forester pass, mt charlestson, redrocks, sierra nevads and so on. They rock and will last if you take care of them! The soles grip like a GMC Hummer! Medium to narrow fit....

Comfortable but quality is questionable

Martin H

Member since  Oct 26, 2010

Posted on October 26, 2010

I purchased these boots for use hiking and backpacking in Colorado, on and off trail. I tend to hike 5-15 miles per day and usually carry a 20 Lb pack dayhiking and 50+Lbs backpacking. I have a narrow foot and have had good luck with the fit of LaSportiva boots in the past. I like a stiff leather boot with lots of ankle support and the Karakorum fit the bill. I tried them on and they fit my foot very well right out of the box. They did not require much break-in time and are very comfortable. I did add a pair of Superfeet insoles.

I wore these boots on 20 to 30 hikes over a period of 2 months, mostly on-trail in dry, rocky terrain with distances ranging from 5-15 miles. Other than some occasional numbness of my toes from pressure on the top of my feet, the boots felt great and I never got a blister or hot spot. The numbness was always corrected by adjusting the laces. They seemed to be fairly waterproof. I spent one entire day slogging through deep mud on a particularly sloppy trail and my feet stayed dry. The leather stayed looking new after many days of traveling over rocky trail and a few days spent scrambling through talus and scree.

My only complaint with the boots is the build quality. Within the first few weeks of use, the rubber scree protector began to detach from the leather on both boots. By the end of the second month, the sole began to come unglued from the heel area of one boot. I would expect good quality, expensive hiking boot to stay together longer and I assume that the build quality is to blame. I have used other LaSportiva, Asolo, Lowa, and Kayland boots in similar and more adverse conditions that lasted many seasons. Either the Karakorums are defective, or they simply won't last a season of use.

Overall, I was very happy with the fit, but disappointed with the quality. I did not feel I used these boots heavily enough or in conditions harsh enough to cause the issues I had.