Scarpa - Manta Tech GTX - Mountaineering boots

Used the boots on a few trips now in the Alps and in the Scottish winter. The boots perform very well in both environments, are great on their own or with crampons on and I find them extremely comfortable.

The waterproofing isn't quite up to the task for a wet day in Scotland or Ireland but very few boots are and from my experience they would be better than most.

Overall they're a great boot for rough terrain or taking on snow and ice.

I used these for a week in the Swiss Alps. They are warm but the insulation/construction breathes really well, no sweaty feet after working/walking hard.

I take a 10.5 (UK) in normal Scarpa hiking boots (Delta's etc.) and found the same size to be ideal for the Manta Tech's. I could wear a mid to heavyweight wool sock comfortably. If I needed a liner sock + heavyweight sock, I probably would have gone 1/2 up but for my needs I was just fine with a mid weight wool sock and mty normal boot size - Scarpa already run large in my experience.

They really come into their own in the snow, on ice and on surfaces where stability and support are essential and of course the stiff sole and crampon compatability adds to their functionality for the intended terrain. They maintain excellent foot and ankle support and good overal foot postion, for someone with 'weak ankles' that has a tendency to roll my ankles even walking on pavement, this is important. The lacing system is particularly good with two locking lugs at the ankle position - this ensures laces stay tight and in place.

They are a chunky boot, no doubt, but I didn't find them heavy and the actual profile makes them quite precise on challenging surfaces. I wore them all day long without any issue. This is a boot for above the snow line, for that purpose, they really really quite excellent!

Having great reviews and a reputation as a 'classic' is not sufficient, I personally found this boot to be just too uncomfortable to wear. Sure, it takes a crampon, but your feet have to survive getting to the base of the mountain first! The problem for me is that the transition from heel strike to forefoot is just too abrupt, making for a deeply uncomfortable slapping motion each time I take a step. There is absolutely no heel rocker at all on these beautiful, but in my opinion flawed, mountaineering boots. There's going to be bargain on ebay very soon.