Asolo AFS Guide versus Supersoft versus 103 boots

[David Muoio]

I (very) recently purchased the AFS Guide boots, but have
heard conflicting reports on its suitability for climbing.

Asolo's web site lists the Guide boots for winter hiking and
hunting, and should only be used with "classic" crampons. A
read a response in Outside Mag and the writer stated that
the boots were perfect for general mountaineering and that
he used them 3 times up Rainier. He also stated that he
uses Charlet Moser S-12 crampons with them, which happens to
be the crampon that I have.

I talked to a local salesperson at an outdoor shop and he
doesn't like the Guide boots at all, but does like the
Supersofts since they are stiffer and are more suitable for
vertical ice. He was pretty down on the Guides but his info
seemed more subjective than objective. He also seemed to
get progressevly more irratated as I asked questions, so I
really do not trust his opinion.

As for my own experience, I have recently rented the Scarpa
Inverno on a Rainier climb and also rented the AFS Guide on
a lesser peak in the North Cascades. The Scarpa's were very
good on my feet but caused serious shin banging. I had
welts on my shins from hours of French Technique. The
Asolo's were extremely comfortable, much more so than the
Scarpa's since they were softer. My climbing will probably
be limited to Cascade volcanoes and general mountaineering.
I do not see myself doing any vertical ice climbing and if I
do, I will probably get different equipment for that.

Anyone out there with opinions on Asolo boots?

[Ben Heavner]

I climbed Mt. Rainier via the Furher Finger route (I think Beckey's guide
says the route is 30 to 45 degree slopes...) this weekend in my Asolo
Guides, and did fine. I used the SMC hinged crampons, and that set up was
fine for the glacier travel and climbing to the summit (no front pointing,
but I really like the Guides for French crampon technique).

We descended the Dissapointment Clever route, and I did get bloody shins,
but mostly only once we were on that paved-trail-from-hell down to
paradise from Pebble Creek, and my partner, who was using leather boots,
also complained on that (I swear that's the longest trail in the park...)

I haven't had any trouble with the shells, but I am a little concerned
with the inner boots - some of the stiching where the plastic attaches to
the insulation is coming undone at the end (but, then again, the boots
are a couple seasons old, so that may be reasonable, I suppose). Also,
since I have the older model without the velcro strap on top of the liner
boot, the tounge sometimes wanders over to the side of my leg and gets a
bit irritating.

I've never used the supersofts, but don't think I'd really enjoy the
descent to Paradise in any plastic boots that are out there. I'd
recommend the Guides to other people without hesitation - they seem like
good boots to me - but I don't climb technical ice yet.

Ben Heavner

[jjeffre...@gmail.com]

I have the AFS Guide and a pair of the 103's. Both are fine. When conditions are wet I wear plastic boots, but prefer my leather boots for dry conditions so my feet can breathe.

I find Asolo boots a bit narrow for my feet, but have dealt with it by buying boots in a half size larger and being careful about the thickness of my sock system. I usually wear a liner, covered by a medium size sock with thick socks over the top. This allows me to take off the medium thickness layer when my feet swell which they usually do with heavy exertion at altitude. Having boots in a wide size allows me more room in the boots and therefore more flexibility with the thickness of my stockings.