Merrell’s Thermo Rogue 4 Mid GTX winter boots are insulated with 200g Primaloft Gold insulation and have all of the options that veteran winter hikers search for in a cold-weather climbing boot. They’re suitable with snowshoes and most winter traction aids from microspikes as much as full crampons, they’ve a well-protected toe field, entrance gaiter ring, a heel ridge to safe a snowshoe heel strap, a gusseted tongue, and a shallow arch for gaiter compatibility. Merrell has been making high quality 200g winter climbing boots for years, and that have shines via on this pair of shoes.
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- Kind: Mid-height
- Gender: males’s (ladies’s additionally accessible)
- Insulation: 200g Primaloft Gold Eco Collection artificial insulation, 300g Aerogel inserts in toe field and sole
- Waterproof: Gore-tex
- Materials: Ballistic mesh and TPU uppers
- Rock plate: Sure
- Match: True to measurement
- Outsole: Vibram Arctic Grip All Terrain
- Weight: 2 lbs 4.4 oz / pair (males’s US 10.5)
The Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4 Mid GTX is a really snug mid-height climbing boot that looks like a conventional leather-based climbing boot however is way lighter and has a barely flared heel. The boots have a low arch that may maintain a gaiter strap and modest lugs for traction, given that you just’ll in all probability be utilizing some traction or flotation assist (microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes) with them anyway, for winter climbing.
Whereas they appear and feel “regular” make no mistake, they’re outfitted as insulated winter climbing boots with a Gore-tex liner, Primaloft and Aerogel insulation, a inflexible toe field, a gusseted bellow tongue, a gaiter ring, and a rear snowshoe strap ridge. With 200g insulation and 300g within the toebox, they’ll preserve your ft heat all the way down to about 0-10 levels (F), offering you’re lively and never standing round. I’ve been climbing with them for a number of weeks now and so they’re heat as soon as your ft warmth up and reliably waterproof. And, the match is true to measurement.
Whereas they do have a flared heel, it’s nowhere as excessive because the Hoka Kaha 2 Frost GTX mids I reviewed not too long ago. Actually, the size and width of those match with my common winter climbing boots, the calf-high Oboz Bridger 10″ 400g.
When evaluating insulated climbing footwear for winter climbing and snowshoeing, you’ll want to contemplate your complete winter footwear system, together with insulation, traction, and flotation. Likelihood is you’ve invested a substantial sum in gaiters, microspikes, crampons, and snowshoes…or you’ll..so that you’re going to need footwear that may gracefully interoperate with these elements.
Traction Support and Snowshoe Compatibility
Traction Aids
For those who want traction on a winter hike, you’re going to be carrying and utilizing a number of of the next traction aids which are suitable with soft-soled footwear.
How properly does the Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4 play with the binding methods of those numerous traction aids?
- Hillsound Path Crampons: The pair I usually use (with Oboz Bridger 10″ boots) matches superb over the Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4. Equally necessary, the boot’s toe field is inflexible sufficient to face up to the stress exerted by the elastomer harness and doesn’t collapse.
- Hillsound Path Crampon Professional. The ratchet-style binding of those crampons works very properly with the Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4’s flared heel. This may be my most well-liked traction system with these boots on heavier ice.
- Kahtoola K10 Crampon. The flared sole of the Therm Rogue 4 is suitable with the K10, however not as rock strong because the Hillsound Path Crampon Professional or the Grivels. Use further care when strapping down the heel so it’s flush with the crampon body below the only.
- Grivel G1 Crampon: The flared sole of the Therm Rogue 4 is suitable with the Grivels. The match is considerably safer than that of the K10s as a result of the again of the binding is extra pliable and taller.
Flotation
The one snowshoes I’ve available are MSR Evo Ascents with conventional 3-strap ski bindings. These are inclined to work with any boot, together with mammoth mountaineering boots, and so they work notably properly with the Merrells, which have a rear showshoe ridge to entice a snowshoe strap and stop it from slipping off. That stated, I don’t anticipate any issue with snowshoe bindings from Tubbs, MSR, and Atlas snowshoes because the entrance half of the Thermo Rogue 4 is a “regular” sized boot and suitable with most snowshoe bindings.
Extra beneficial winter boots
Suggestion
The Merrell MLT Thermo Rogue 4 GTX Mid is a wonderful 200g insulated waterproof winter climbing boot that’s suitable with a variety of winter traction aids regardless of having a reasonably flared sole. These boots are snug and have a strong really feel though they’re made with mesh and TPU uppers as an alternative of leather-based. Whereas they’re a pleasure to hike in, I’ve to marvel if the flared heel provides all that a lot functionally and what they’d be like with a extra conventional heel with vertical sides. Regardless, they’re nice boots for non-technical winter climbing in snow or within the blended circumstances of autumn and spring.
To summarize: the Thermo Rogue is suitable with traction gadgets suspended from an elastomer harness…microspikes or path crampons. It is usually suitable with crampons designed with use with versatile soles. Essentially the most safe of those is the ratchet-sytle Hillsound Crampon Professional, then the Grivel crampon binding, and the Kahtoola K10 Crampon, which is workable however feels much less positive. Snowshoe compatibility is nice however must be examined additional.
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