Chaussure Acrux LT GTX

I bought them with the intention of doing some light ice climbing and year-round mountaineering. They were specifically of interest as they have heel-to-toe stiffness and work better with my crampons than my other boots while being lighter than full fat ice climbing / mountaineering boots. While most boots are crampon compatible, the Acrux LTs have a proper heel well, making them Hybrid/C2 crampon compatible, which have a much more secure connection at the heel. I knew going into this that the boots weren’t purpose built for ice climbing at all, but I also knew that they would be able to handle it decently well, as I’ve seen people ice climbing in day hikers (NOT advisable). After a thorough shakedown at the Junkyards ice climbing area near Canmore, here are my thoughts: FIT I have a very low volume and relatively narrow foot, especially around the heel and ankle. Even for me, the toe box was a little snug around the bunion/balls of the feet area and resulted in a painful hotspot at the end of the day. I encountered the same issue with the Acrux TR boots, but the issue went away as the boot broke in. Therefore, I will cut the LTs some slack, as it was their first time out, and I was standing on a side-hill in crampons for at least an hour belaying my friends. Even though I have a very sensitive pressure point on the top of my instep, and the instep height on this boot is low, the material is compliant enough that I didn’t have any issues. I don’t see this being an issue for many people besides those with very high-volume feet. The ankle area of the boot feels durable, protective, and supportive, but still with a high amount of compliance. Having skinny ankles, I did have a hard time getting them quite tight enough at first, but the locking eyelets at the bottom of the ankle helped keep the ankle tightness separate from the forefoot tightness. ICE CLIMBING As I mentioned, these boots are not purpose-built for ice climbing. But I took them to do it anyway, and they did...fine! The shank underfoot helped keep my foot supported enough that I could stand on my toes without the boot flexing much at all. The crampons stayed on reliably, and kicking hard into the ice repeatedly, even without sizing up as is sometimes recommended, felt totally fine. Ultimately, they were let down most by not having the strongest ankle rigidity. Although it can likely be attributed in large part to my inexperience in ice climbing, my calves were cooked after one climb as they had to compensate for the lack of rigidity in the cuff of the boot. The two people I was with that evening were wearing proper ice climbing boots, and while those were more functional on the climb, my boots were definitely the easiest to get around the cramped belay area with. That brings us nicely on to the best part of these boots: THE APPROACH & WALKING Arc’teryx says the Acrux LT is designed for alpine climbers, with precision and efficiency in mind. I haven’t yet had a chance to try them in that situation yet, but from what I’ve seen, I can see they would excel at that. What I can speak to is that these boots are great at walking. The under-foot support is excellent, and I noticed just a tiny little bit of flex in the toes when walking which made them feel efficient and comfortable. When the terrain became uneven, they had great grip even in slippery snowy conditions, and I was able to kick in some side-steps thanks to the very stiff and stable sole. When the crampons went on, they fit securely and the lightness and precision of the fit inspired confidence. While the boots still need some time to break in to get rid of a pressure point and hot spot, my feet were not tired or sore at the end of the day. I look forward to using them on more technical hikes, scrambles, and climbs this summer. Overall, I would give these boots a 4+/5 if you’re looking for a 3- or 4-season all-rounder boot. This grade is buoyed strongly by its proficiency in hiking and approach situations and rather lowered by its ability to ice climb (disregard completely if this is not something you're planning to do occasionally with these boots).If you want a very solid and supportive boot that doesn’t feel like 10-pound weights on your feet, this is an excellent choice. If you're looking for something you can ice climb with a few times, this is a good choice. If you're looking for a dedicated ice climbing boot, I wouldn’t recommend the Acrux LTs, and would suggest the Acrux AR boots, which I’ve heard fit similarly.