Salewa

Vertical Pro Mountaineering Boot

Mountaineering is all about dealing with the unexpected—sudden weather, gear problems, route complications—but the Salewa Vertical Pro Men's Mountaineering Boot is well-equipped to handle changing conditions and multiple objectives in heavy-duty terrain. It's not quite as burly as the Pro Gaiter or Pro Guide, Salewa's two most rugged boots, but the Vertical Pro is tough enough to handle single and short multi-day ascents in all but the gnarliest alpine conditions. The upper is made of waterproof Perwanger suede, a soft, supple, and heavy-duty leather, and it has an integrated Supergfabric gaiter and reinforcements to keep snow, ice, and meltwater at bay while you push for the summit. Cold day? Thinsulate insulation works with a super-thin aluminum layer to trap heat and ensure your feet won't turn into ice blocks.

Salewa has some not-so-obvious tricks up its sleeve, too. First is the Multiple Last System, a unique interchangeable layered footbed that lets you customize the width of the Vertical Pro to dial in a snug, comfortable fit while avoiding blisters and discomfort. The sole is adjustable too; Salewa's Flex system features a nylon and fiberglass midsole that can be turned to "walk" mode for flexible hiking performance or "climb" mode when you need a totally stiff sole for front-pointing on vertical ice. An integrated 3F Evo support system also allows for supportive but unencumbered ankle movement, and the 3F locking laces work independently on the forefoot, midfoot, and ankle to let you nail the snuggest, most comfortable fit you can, so you can focus on hitting the summit and not on how bruised and broken your feet are.