So yes, Alpine climbers wear Crocs...

But the endless search for the perfect boot goes on. In Summer Alpine Climbing you need something thats comfy for long walks when it's 25 degrees, warm enough for snow-plodding at 4000m, technical enough for rock climbing and stiff enough for cramponning. Not too much to ask? The ideal boot also lasts for ages and is cheap, but that's pushing it! Here are some of the boots I've had in recent years. I paid for them - I'm not sponsored but if anyone wants to make an offer...

There's really no substitute for trying boots on. I have very wide feet with a high arch, but all the boots in the picture were/are comfy. Take your own socks to the shop when you try boots. Take your old boots along too, so you can compare. 

- Try walking in to huts wearing trainers. Take a couple of pairs of socks and swap if you get sore feet. Blisters ruin a lot of days inn the Alps. It's much nicer waking in trainers when it's really hot. 

- If you can, have a couple of pairs of boots on the go at any one time. Swapping between boots can ease the pressure on sore points. New boots sometimes need a bit of breaking in it's nice to go back to your old ones for a few days. 

- Try reinforcing wear points and stitching with Seamgrip Glue or something similar. 

- Think about getting a resole before it's too late. It's a good idea on sturdy boots but to be honest I find modern lightweight boots wear out on the uppers too.

- Best crampon boot: Scarpa Phantom Guide. B3 so is ideal for proper frontpointing but a bit heavy/clumsy for summer Alpine.

- Most Comfy walking: La Sportiva Aequilibrium. Wide fit, very grippy sole for slippery surfaces. 

- Best Rock Climbing Boot: La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX but they don't make them any more. 

- Cheapest: Salewa Condor Evo(?) A bit clumsy but some good prices around!

- Worst Crampon Boot: La Sportiva Aequilibrium. OK when new but after a few weeks mine were so bendy my crampons wouldn't stay on on anything more than walking. Maybe worse in big sizes? I've tried Petzl and Grivel crampons. Now relegated to no-snow routes. 

- Least durable: La Sportiva Aequilibrium and Trango Alpine. Both sent back for repairs under guarantee. Trango Cube wore out in 1 Summer was was such a good boot it's been forgiven. 

- Current favourite: Sportiva Trango Alpine. Repaired under guarantee so we'll see how long they last.