Boot welts...

[DSettahr]

How can I determine if a mountaineering boot has toe and heel welts? I think that my boots have both, but I can't tell for sure, and I've spent several hours searching the internet but all welt references and pictures I've found so far have been very vague. Thanks.

 

[giggy]

ok - here is a montrail morraine that has a heel welt/bail (whatever you want to call it) - but not a toe bail - so you can use strap on or hybrid (heel, but not toe) spikes with it

http://www.shoebuy.com/pi/montr/montr46554_lg.jpg

this is a hybrid crampon
http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/shop/images/z_Charlet-Moser-Vasak-Leverlock-TH.jpg

here is a full blow mountaineering boot with both heel/toe bails - note the groove in the toe. - these will take basically any crampon. Most leather mountaineering boots and plastics will have both

http://www.unterwegs.ch/produktbilder/scarpa/cumbre.jpg

this is a crampon with both heel and toe bails
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05134b.jpg


what kind of boots do you have?

 

[Kevin Rooney]

Those are good references and explanations of giggy's. The only thing I might add is that to use this type of crampon

this is a crampon with both heel and toe bails
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05134b.jpg

the boot should be rigid - i.e, no flex whatsoever. Otherwise, the crampon will likely pop off which can ruin your whole day. In other words - there are boots which have adequate welts, and this type of rigid crampon can be attached in the comfort of your living room, but won't work on the mountain as the boot has some flex. Typically you'd use this crampon with a plastic mountaineering boot, but there are some leather boots now which don't flex.

 

[sardog1]

Those are good references and explanations of giggy's. The only thing I might add is that to use this type of crampon
the boot should be rigid - i.e, no flex whatsoever.

The only thing I might add is that one should not use this particular crampon (Montrail models I354, I356, and K364 sold under brand names I.C.E. 9 and Khumbu) if purchased from September 2003 through Feb. 1, 2005.

They're the subject of a recall because they might break at the front. Ignore the recall notice and you may be introduced to a whole new kind of "welt."