please help: which via ferrata lanyard do I buy??? and shoe suggestions

steveoxley oxley wrote: Then just girth it to a screamer

You're still not understanding the forces involved.

What are lugged soles? I will have one pair or trail shoes that I’ll need to use for everything. Maybe I should bring a pair of mythos.
Anyone used the petzl eashook?

Lug soles are what are on hiking boots. I will be using my approach shoes. Climbing shoes will not be of use.

Amrutha Renganathan wrote: What are lugged soles? I will have one pair or trail shoes that I’ll need to use for everything. Maybe I should bring a pair of mythos.
Anyone used the petzl eashook?

Like ARS said, lugged soles is what you get on heavier mountaineering or hiking boots.  I've done a few via ferratas in Europe (Italy, Spain, France)...very few people wear boots.  Folks wear approach shoes.

Mythos?  If you're planning to climb, you'll have climbing shoes?  I wouldn't wear climbing shoes for a via ferrata unless the route description recommended them.

Eashook?  They're 40 bucks per?  Times 2, plus a lanyard, and, shock absorber thingy?  Best to just buy the whole kit ala Vertigo.  Probably lighter and more suited to a recreational use to just get a standard via ferrata rig.

Brian in SLC wrote:

Like ARS said, lugged soles is what you get on heavier mountaineering or hiking boots.  I've done a few via ferratas in Europe (Italy, Spain, France)...very few people wear boots.

Not just the heavy mountaineering boots, these days quite a few low top hiking shoes have similar soles. I have a pair of Salewa Mountain Trainer low top that I imagine would work pretty well on Via Ferratas. But again, hiking shoes, approach shoes, trail running shoes... they should all work.

I´ve used Garmont Dragontail LT which where fine on the rock but kinda lacking on the snow, depends on which via ferrata the OP is doing.

This is a petzl eashook whatever you call it:
https://www.backcountrygear.com/petzl-scorpio-eashook-1.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplpPET4S87450&sc_intid=PET4S87450&gclid=CjwKCAjwsdfZBRAkEiwAh2z65kO4XgXML1BLSe67vUJcU6aX4R0J1HgdZG1vdbQBzO8plgTOm5HyIhoCXgYQAvD_BwE

For shoes: whatever shoes I use I have to also be able to hike an avg of 10 miles a day in.....so approach shoes as much as I love them may not be best. I have oboz right now. They are low cut so not too bulky.

Amrutha Renganathan wrote: This is a petzl eashook whatever you call it:
https://www.backcountrygear.com/petzl-scorpio-eashook-1.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplpPET4S87450&sc_intid=PET4S87450&gclid=CjwKCAjwsdfZBRAkEiwAh2z65kO4XgXML1BLSe67vUJcU6aX4R0J1HgdZG1vdbQBzO8plgTOm5HyIhoCXgYQAvD_BwE

For shoes: whatever shoes I use I have to also be able to hike an avg of 10 miles a day in.....so approach shoes as much as I love them may not be best. I have oboz right now. They are low cut so not too bulky.

160$ for a ferrata kit? Nah, just get the Edelrid that someone linked for 60$!

Via Ferrata vary from the low-level tourist ones which you can do in cheapo trainers and the walk-in is 15mins on a good path OR the older high-level ones like the West ridge of Marmolata where you need crampons and an ice axe (you hire these). So what footwear you need depends on what your aims are. For the longer/higher ones some kind of snow capability is highly desirable as there is usually snow on the top (there are glaciers in the Dolomites) and so a good hiking boot is pretty well essential, the walk across the top of the Sella to the descent can be utterly terrifying in crappy approach shoes for example. Even though there are cables some kind of rock-climbing is usually nescessary at least with your feet so something you can climb maybe 5.4 in is desirable and for the long ladder sections your feet start to hurt in soft-soled boots so most via-ferrata boots have stiffer mid-soles than a normal hiking boot.
Low boots really aren´t the way to go for the more adventurous trails and via ferrata, mid or high are better. Something like the Salewa Mountain Trainer GTX Mid is typical. All textile boots look like a disaster after a week, a combination leather/textile boot survives better.

Also.. petzl sirocco helmet or the black diamond vapor helmet? They are both scary light which is perfect- help me make a decision :)

So here is what I'm deciding between. Sorry..I just can't do the high boots. I have small ankles and they hurt me alot..
Oboz:
https://www.rei.com/product/856296/oboz-sawtooth-low-bdry-hiking-shoes-womens

And the slightly comfier option:
Salomon:
https://www.salomon.com/us/product/x-ultra-3.html?article=402862&CMPID=google|pla|performance|nam|us|||196935509225|c|L40286200037&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvezZBRDkARIsADKQyPlh9lnDhxv3g-9hec2wk1izF-AJvT2AjyPIrG6Yzi34PUAygaGPyrEaApWvEALw_wcB

Salomon looks like it may have a better grip. And I will not be doing anything that involves snow. I don't want to be cold.

Thanks!
Amrutha

I bet you'd wear down the sole of either of those in the first two weeks.

Amrutha ,
  Your original post stated you'd be BACKPACKING for a month and wanted to know about lanyards and shoes, of which you say you can take only one pair. (Which I read as "one pair for both activities"...correct?)    The shoe discussion seems to have focused on shoes for the VF's and forgotten about the 80% (?) of the time you'd be backpacking.

  You probably want something "beefier" than an approach shoe for the backpacking. Some approach shoes are pretty beefy, low cut, etc.  I love my "Camp 4's" but not sure there are made any more.

  Also, given you really didn't know what a lug sole was, not sure of your overall mountaineering experience...may be a dumb question but... you do know you need a climbing harness in addition to the VF lanyard, correct??

  Also, consider joining one of the European Alpine clubs (I did Austrian or German I think can be done via Internet) for: 1) The hut discounts, and 2) the rescue insurance.

  You didn't say when you were going but know that August is a total zoo...and by mid-Sept most of the huts have closed down and snow is possible in the "high country" anytime after that.  

       

Robert Hall wrote: Amrutha ,
  Your original post stated you'd be BACKPACKING for a month and wanted to know about lanyards and shoes, of which you say you can take only one pair. (Which I read as "one pair for both activities"...correct?)    The shoe discussion seems to have focused on shoes for the VF's and forgotten about the 80% (?) of the time you'd be backpacking.

  You probably want something "beefier" than an approach shoe for the backpacking. Some approach shoes are pretty beefy, low cut, etc.  I love my "Camp 4's" but not sure there are made any more.

  Also, given you really didn't know what a lug sole was, not sure of your overall mountaineering experience...may be a dumb question but... you do know you need a climbing harness in addition to the VF lanyard, correct??

  Also, consider joining one of the European Alpine clubs (I did Austrian or German I think can be done via Internet) for: 1) The hut discounts, and 2) the rescue insurance.

  You didn't say when you were going but know that August is a total zoo...and by mid-Sept most of the huts have closed down and snow is possible in the "high country" anytime after that.  

       

I definitely will have a Via Ferrata elderid lanyard and a harness. I’ll have a harness and climbing shoes anyway from when I’ll be climbing. The other shoes, yes I’ll be using those to hike and do Via Ferrata. I got the Salomon ultra 3 gtx shoes. They are low cut. I’ll be there from the last week of July- first three weeks of August. Also, wouldn’t it just be best to join the Italian alpine club?
Thanks!
Amrutha 

Amrutha Renganathan wrote: I definitely will have a Via Ferrata elderid lanyard and a harness. I’ll have a harness and climbing shoes anyway from when I’ll be climbing. The other shoes, yes I’ll be using those to hike and do Via Ferrata. I got the Salomon ultra 3 gtx shoes. They are low cut. I’ll be there from the last week of July- first three weeks of August. Also, wouldn’t it just be best to join the Italian alpine club?
Thanks!
Amrutha 

Doesn't matter which one you join, as long as there is a reciprocity agreement, wherever you'd get a discount with CAI, you'd also get it with OeAV. CAI doesn't seem to share much details about their insurance, and joining them seems to be complicated, you need to hand in your application at a local branch in person, which then is going to be reviewed: cai.it/index.php?id=384&L=1 At OeAV (austrian alpine club) you can apply online, pay your membership fee by wire trasfer (use Transferwise) and you're done. And with OeAV you're insured for SAR and repatriation for about 25000EUR, which is important, because if you're evacuated with a helicopter (might be needed for minor things in the mountain, like sprained ankle...), you'll be handed an invoice of  5-10000EUR.

Mountain Rookie said it all...I knew there was a reason why we joined Austria, but our "Furher" did all the details.

Mountain Rookie wrote: I bet you'd wear down the sole of either of those in the first two weeks.

Ok what about these???? They have lugged soles. By the way the Salomon low ones do too. https://www.rei.com/product/128942/la-sportiva-stream-gtx-hiking-boots-womens?CAWELAID=120217890004901004&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15998018800&CATCI=pla-291275879470&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|404_47344|1289420012|none|273cdf98-bc71-431b-9c62-d94271938018|pla-291275879470&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_47344|1289420012|none|273cdf98-bc71-431b-9c62-d94271938018&kclid=273cdf98-bc71-431b-9c62-d94271938018&gclid=CjwKCAjw1ZbaBRBUEiwA4VQCIUyQH79HG8IXwY0wl7UTJHSJjwtwHiFDbEy9UiuvbQUGR9iPdHj92RoCa54QAvD_BwE

They would work for most any hiking ... and via feratta.

I have a question about rest slings. I have a Via Ferrata lanyard. If I want to bring a rest sling...could I just use a Quickdraw to rest instead?