Anyone got any opinions on the fruit boots currently on the market: Lowa, Asola, Sportiva, and Kayland? My mixed partners keep badgering me that they are worth their weight in gold on the hard stuff and considering they cost their weight in gold, I figured I'd ask the peanut gallery for additional opinions. The ones I've heard so far are
-Lowa = no good
-Sportiva = old model and not that warm
-Asolo = no opinions
-Kayland = high praise for new Ice Dragons

Additional information will be greatly appreciated.

hitching-a-ride -- if anyone knows if female or euro sizes are available in favorite pick ~please advise

thanks in advance ~ ditto mike

please educate.
what is a fruit boot?

I have tried the Kayland and I loved them. I wish I had some extra cash so I could pick them up. They are not that warm but are better than the sportiva boots. I did lots of climbing with a friend who had the Lowa and he liked how they were probably the warmest of all the boots but felt like they were just not as light feeling as the others. The Asolo's look darn sexy.

I believe he's referring to boots with built in crampons but I'm not sure...

http://www.mountainmagic.com/equipment/footwear/kayland-icec>>>>>

Darren,

We talkin' crampons that are integrated into a special boot that is useless without the built-in crampons. Initially called "fruit boots" by Canadian ice climbers because before these specialized boots were produced by boot companies, climbers were bolting crampons directly onto cross-country ski boots, bike shoes, ice skating boots and well, all
that was so gay.......

But I've really only seriously climbed in the Sportiva boot which climbs like a dream but it's not a warm shoe. It's built on the old Mega last and so it's also very tight. I slip a pair of neoprene boot covers over them when it's cold out. The Kayland boot feels too clunky for me and I've only used the Asolo boot a few times but it feels light, stiff and it seems like it might even be warm. Good luck finding them.

Jack

sexonice

Nah, fruit boots are rollerblades.