The Alpinist Mountain Standards reviews apply Alpinist's tradition of excellence and authenticity to gear reviews by providing unbiased, candid feedback and anecdotal commentary to equipment tested (hard) in the field. Our panel is comprised of climbers who use the gear every day as part of their work and play. Only the gear they would actually buy themselves, at retail price, qualifies for the Alpinist Mountain Standards award. The five-star rating system is as follows: No Stars = Piece of junk. One Star = Below average. Two Stars = Average. Three Stars = Above average. Four Stars = Pretty dang good. Five Stars = Nearly perfect. An Alpinist Mountain Standards award-winner. The reviewer would buy this piece themselves. Review Panel Aimee Barnes Chris Brazeau Larry Goldie Angela Hawse Sarah Hueniken Julia Niles John Race Will Stanhope Jon Walsh Jed Workman Editorial and Guest Reviewers |
 La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTXPosted on: August 8, 2005 
MSRP: $290 The Trango S EVO GTX is just as much a boot as it is a mouthful to say. It is one of the most versatile and comfortable three-season mountaineering boots ever. It is wide enough for our fat American feet and the sole is moderately stiff which allows it to still be flexible enough for many miles of happy hiking. Your feet stay dry compliments to the Gore-Tex inner sock and it is new-matic crampon compatible, so you get great performance on ice as well as rock. In addition, the beefed up "climbing zone" on the out-sole aids when edging small holds. Lucky for the ladies, the Trango is available in women's specific sizes too. This boot has been indispensable in the Tetons this spring as snow and ice lingered up high. All of these features come together at a weight shaving 3lbs 2oz and a nice flashy package. |
