Ontario Climbing

There was a time when one set of clunky boots was all you needed as an ice climber. As the sport has evolved, so has the gear and just like with rock climbing, any serious climber has two or more different pairs of boots to better match the conditions they might encounter.

Asolo’s philosophy is to develop innovative and technologically advanced footwear without sacrificing the styling - something that they seem to do very well with their full line of outdoor boots and shoes. With such a rational approach, it’s a bit surprising that they don’t have a larger following in North America. Below are my favourite mountain boots from the Asolo line.

Asolo 6B+ GV
The 6B+ GV is a workhorse boot designed for climbing both rock and ice. The boot is built on the Duo Asoflex midsole made of nylon and fibreglass, which creates a stiff and solid platform. The midsole also has a shock-absorbing Anti-Shock Insert for extra comfort while walking on long approaches. A fully-gusseted tongue and the water-resistant Schoeller K-Tech outer shell provide the first layer of defence against water. Asolo then adds a Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort lining, which helps keep feet warm and dry when climbing in wet, cold environments. This boot is surprisingly warm when you consider it's low weight. The sophisticated heel-cup construction not only provides stability and control, but it also helps lock the heels in place while still allowing some ankle flex. This system really works, the 6B+ GV is the first pair of boots I have ever owned that didn’t need to be laced up extra-tight to avoid heel lift. The sole is designed by Asolo and produced by Vibram. It’s suitable for climbing alpine rock as well as plodding up snowy trails to your objective. The Pebax crampon clip points provide a strong, secure attachment that’s compatible with most crampons.

Because of its warmth, I like the 6B+ GV for general ice climbing and easier mixed routes. They are also my crampon-compatible boot-choice for wearing at the mixed crag while I’m belaying and not climbing; the simple lace-up design allows easy changeovers into my comp/fruit boots. I feel they fit true to size, but may be on the snug side for those who like a bit more room in the toebox or wear thicker socks.

Asolo Eiger GV
The Eiger GV is a high performance boot made when moving fast and light. Built on a carbon and Kevlar Asoframe, these boots are extremely rigid and very light. Rather than a standard midsole, the Asoframe uses a single molded structure, which combines the midsole, heel counter and toe box. This creates a strong and stable platform that efficiently transfers force and yet is still comfortable when walking. Like the 6B+ GV, the Eiger firmly grasps my heel and eliminates heel-lift without requiring overly tight lacing. The waterproof upper is mainly constructed from a highly abrasion resistant polyamide fabric with a built in gaiter to keep snow out. The lower laces have a zippered cover that minimizes snow build-up and also adds another layer for warmth. Asolo also uses a Gore-Tex Duratherm lining for greater comfort in cold, wet conditions. The Vibram sole has an edging platform for rock climbing when when you’re not wearing crampons. In the heel, Asolo uses a unique dual-density material construction that provides shock absorption, support and stability while also creating a secure attachment point for crampons.

Thanks to its slimmer profile, low weight and increased ankle flexibility, this boot is ideal for mixed climbing and high-end ice routes. It has such a great combination of function and performance, that if I can only take only one boot on a trip, it’s probably going to be this one. I found the Eiger to run a little big in length and I downsized them by a half a size from what I would normally use. Once again, I prefer a snugger fit and this leaves just enough space in the toe box to keep me from hitting the boot with my toes when kicking into ice.

Asolo Comp XT Petzl
At the top of the performance scale for mixed climbing and drytooling are comp boots (AKA Fruit Boots). Comparing climbing in a pair of comp boots to normal ice boots is the same as comparing rock climbing in rock shoes versus hiking boots – the difference is that radical. Comp boots are extremely light, and with the crampon bolted directly to the sole, they’re also far less bulky and much more sensitive. At first, the initial cost seems prohibitive, but once you realize that you’re buying a high-end boot as well as a set of high-end crampons, the pricing for the full assembly is actually reasonable. In my opinion anyone who is climbing mixed routes should own a pair. They make climbing less cumbersome and much more fun.

Asolo’s comp boot is the Comp XT Petzl. Built on a carbon fibre and fibreglass midsole, the Comp XT is very stiff. The synthetic inner boot is much like a rock shoe, but with a thicker inner liner to help hold in some warmth. The outer boot is made of Schoeller softshell fabric and closes with a water resistant YKK zipper. The rubber rand wraps high over the toe and completely covers the heel for secure heel hooking. The Comp XT is fitted with the Petzl’s D-Lynx crampon. Similar to the popular Lynx, the D-Lynx is a tuned-up version for more extreme routes. It uses the same front point and has a similar configuration of secondary and tertiary (raker) points, but the D-Lynx is made for climbing steep ice and rock. The secondary points are long enough to be useful on ice but not so long they get in the way when drytooling. The inside raker points are very aggressive. Swept back and splayed out, they allow for easy hooking on edges and in pockets, letting you use your feet effectively and transferring weight off your arms on steep rock.

I found the Comp XTs run a little large and downsized them by half a size from what I normally take for an ice boot. If you are looking to get that last edge to finally redpoint your mixed/drytooling project, or just want to have more fun while mixed climbing, these are the ideal boot.

You can check out the all of Asolo's innovative footwear at Asolo's website.