Return Nepal Cubes for Double Boots?

Hello  

I purchased the La Sportiva Nepal Cubes GTX boots due to the fact they state they are winter mountaineering boots for a course I’m taking which is a 6 day alpinism/mountaineering course where they recommend a double boot so you can put the inner in your sleeping bag so you don’t have cold feet the next day. (It’s less than two days away) I can also rent the double boots. 

I live in the Pacific Northwest and plan on doing 2-3 day mountaineering trips all year, all seasons, every weekend. 

With that being said would you keep the Cubes for this use or should I just return them and purchase double boots? Mostly plan on doing mountains on the Bulger’s list and the like.

Thanks in advance. 

ive never used double boots in the PNW, only singles...but my climbing has been limited to multi day trips between April - Sept.

depends on the temp. For me my rule of thumb for doubles is one or more overnights with temps near 0F. However if you're boots get wet then being able to dry is a good option to have.

If the class is during the summer an alternate camp shoe or down bootie would let u dry the boots in the sun and wear something else around camp.

In the PNW for a 6 day trip I would likely do singles for June and later. If u are doing april/may then doubles could be nice.

Robert Hause wrote:

With that being said would you keep the Cubes for this use or should I just return them and purchase double boots? Mostly plan on doing mountains on the Bulger’s list and the like.

(Emphasis added)

It's rare to need double boots in the PNW, unless you have particularly cold feet (Reynauds, etc.).  For the Bulgers, even a Nepal Cube is WAY overkill for probably 75% of the peaks on the list, maybe more.  For many of those peaks, you'll be hiking/scrambling in summer and an approach shoe or light 3-season boot would be way more comfortable.

Guide requirements for a course are a bit unique to those specific situations, I'd recommend reaching out to them directly to discuss what they suggest in more detail.

You can bring single leather boots into your sleeping bag at night too.

Personally, if you have the option of renting double boots at the start of the course that would be the ideal route to take.   That way if the conditions are mild then you can do the trip in your Nepals and if the conditions look cold then I would recommend renting the doubles.   Either way Nepals are a nice do it all boot for technical mountaineering in the cascades.   As others have said many bulger peaks are more scrambles/hikes where having a 3 season boot will be much nicer.

If you want to get into multi day winter trips, you’re gonna end up in skimo boots eventually anyways so it doesn’t matter ;)

You should return the Nepals.  But not for doubles. For something like a G5 or Phantom Tech, or as Malcom suggests, a good climbing Skimo boot (not a racing boot though).   You’ll be better served in the long run 

Unless you run really cold and/or plan to stick with technically easier, colder climbs in the future 

CalvinM wrote:

Personally, if you have the option of renting double boots at the start of the course that would be the ideal route to take.   That way if the conditions are mild then you can do the trip in your Nepals and if the conditions look cold then I would recommend renting the doubles.   Either way Nepals are a nice do it all boot for technical mountaineering in the cascades.   As others have said many bulger peaks are more scrambles/hikes where having a 3 season boot will be much nicer.

Yeah man, it’s going to be Mount Baker and it starts tomorrow. Looks like there will be snow/rain and wind. I’ll probably rent the boots.

Malcolm Hansell wrote:

If you want to get into multi day winter trips, you’re gonna end up in skimo boots eventually anyways so it doesn’t matter ;)

Yeah man, but they’re so expensive. And I’m so poor atm. Best I can do atm is either the nepals or rent double boots. I’m saving for skimo gear for next season though. 

Mark Pilate wrote:

You should return the Nepals.  But not for doubles. For something like a G5 or Phantom Tech, or as Malcom suggests, a good climbing Skimo boot (not a racing boot though).   You’ll be better served in the long run 

Unless you run really cold and/or plan to stick with technically easier, colder climbs in the future 

Yeah man I almost did but decided to hold onto them in case the double boot rentals didn’t fit. Some are more narrow. My course starts tomorrow and we’re doing glacier travel and supposed to summit baker. I definitely don’t get cold. For the past decade I’ve been hiking PNW snow covered alpine(ish) hikes in just leather boots . (Like mailbox/exelsior peak, hidden lake lookout, colchuck when gate closed all snow etc)

I am definitely saving up for skimo gear but at the moment I can’t. The current gear I bought broke the bank. Easily spent $6,000+ and then $1,400+ for the course. Like my level of poor is taking my gf to subway as a night out. 

Mark Pilate wrote:

You should return the Nepals.  But not for doubles. For something like a G5 or Phantom Tech, or as Malcom suggests, a good climbing Skimo boot (not a racing boot though).   You’ll be better served in the long run 

Which peaks on the Bulger list would benefit from G5’s instead of Nepals?  OP is just getting started in mountaineering, a simple and durable boot makes sense, not learning how to ski mountaineer in order to climb scrambles in the summer.

OP, your boots are fine.

No question his boots are fine.  I have them too.  As does nearly everyone.  They’ll take you up anything.   Better than doubles for sure.  But also no question that G5/Phantoms are lighter and warmer for not much more —and only slightly more complicated for a beginner to figure out, lol.  
If durability is very important, then stick with the Nepals.   If climbing pleasure is more important, go with the G5/Ph-tech