Mountaineering boots: La Sportiva Trango S Evo

This is a great all-round boot which has been on the market for many years – I like it so much that I have owned just about every different incarnation of it. It is marketed as a three-season Alpine boot, and it can be used at high altitude when conditions are not too cold – I used it on Mont Blanc this summer. It is a good boot for rock climbing on long routes, as it is comfortable and light, with sensitivity and a close fit. I also use it in Scotland, both for scrambling on Skye, and in winter for any routes up to grade IV. There are a couple of negatives: it is a narrow fit, so not good for anyone with wide feet, and I have found that the Goretex liner leaks after about 6 months of use.