Alaskas at MEC

[Dirtbag]

I see MEC now stocks Alpina Alaska's and Montana's. Anybody see or try the Montana's yet?
http://www.mec.ca/product/5044-183/alpi ... 0432+52342
http://www.mec.ca/product/5044-185/alpi ... 0432+52342

[lilcliffy]

These are new boots from Alpina.

Pretty sure the Montana is a women's version of the "Wyoming". Strange that MEC is only carrying the Montana.

Don't know anything about them- but my first assumption is that they would have a softer sole flex compared to the Alaska NNNBC. I would suspect the sole flex to be the same as the 1550. Not as much stability as the Alaska- but excellent for xcountry K&G.

[Johnny]

Cool news!

It's funny how little information you get from Alpina for a 250$ boot... They could have picked a sexier color for the Montana...

Hey, nice review of the Alaskas on MEC's site Cliffy!

[Dirtbag]

OK I think I'm going to order some Alaskas next week. Any thoughts on sizing? I'm a 10 1/2 so a 44 or 45? If there as warm as you guys say I guess normal socks and a bit tighter fit would be OK?

[kesroberts]

I've never tried out the Alaska's but I have a couple of lighter pairs of Alpina boots. I wear 10.5 and sometimes 11 (US) in 'normal' shoes, but Alpina 43's fit me. Maybe someone else can confirm that Alpinas run a little big.

[Johnny]

I wear 10.5 / 28. I have 3 pairs of Alaskas, size 43 and 44.

The 44 are definitely too big, I have to wear two pairs of socks... The 43's fit pretty well, but they still feel a bit loose... I still have to wear a thick sock... But I think 42 would be too small...

Alpina say 43 = 9.5 US, which doesn't make sense when you have the boots on. So yeah, be sure to grab a lower point, they run very big...

We'll have to start an Alpina Alaska Club...!

[lilcliffy]

Can I be in the Alaska club- with only one pair?

Despite being very pleased with the durability- I would like to buy another pair...if something ever happens to my Alaskas, I might have to bring my Fischer BCX6, or even worse my Rossi BCX6 out of the closet!

Sizing...hmmm.

My experience is different with the Alaska- I do not find them over-sized. In fact, I find that they might be under-sized.

I am US-size 9- on very rare occasion a 9.5. Up until recently, I assumed that I was a 42- 42.5EU. My aging Scarpa backpacking-mountaineering boots are a 42, and have for a number of years seemed too small. So I ordered the Alaska in a 43...

The size 43 Alaska fits me perfectly in the heel (snug), and across the ball of my foot-metatarsus- I have a low volume foot, a narrow heel, but with a comparatively broad forefoot. I do find them large volume for their width though...I had to train the leather tongue to slide WAY underneath the sides...

I ended up buying a new backpacking boot last fall (Scarpa Kinesis) in a 43- they are too big!! Because they are leather, I can get them tight enough- but I wish I had bought a 42 or a 42.5...At first I thought it was the particular model being over-sized, but I have since bought a pair of light-duty Scarpas in a 43 (too big) and have tried on a number of other 43s (too big)...I have come to the conclusion that my old boots shrunk a bit (old leather), and that I am in fact not a 43- but a 42- 42.5 like I thought...

In the end..I am suspicious that a 42 Alaska might actually fit me better...I have to tighten my 43, big time, in order to gather up all of the material.

Whats the point of this long-winded ramble?

Many people have reported that the Alaska is small, too tight, and have had to go with a larger size than usual (i.e. typically wear a 44- but need a 45). I am suspicious that these cases are individuals with wide feet.

My point is that the Alaska seems big if you have a low-volume foot, and especially if you have a NARROW, low-volume foot (only the first part of that matches me).

So- if you have narrow, low-volume feet, you may need to size down from your typical size

If you have wide feet, you may have to size up...and if you do, take the time, while you are breaking them in, to train the leather tongue and sides.

Phew...I think I got what I was trying to say!

[Johnny]

Poor Dirtbag... How can he make a choice when someone is saying the boots are under-sized and another one says they're over-sized...?

I do have narrow feet... Maybe that's why they fit large to me... The guy I bought my first used pair from told me they were running large....

But hey, I always buy boots online, without trying them... None of my boots fit me perfectly... The thing is that you can always add shims, wedges, and foam pads to 'bootfit' a larger boot, but there's not much you can do with a boot too small for you...

[Dirtbag]

Thanks Guys for the input. Sounds like 43s might be the order. Sounds like there might be a mold split in there somewhere between 42 and 44. MEC is good about returns so that's a big help if things go sideways. I'll keep you all posted on the outcome.

[lilcliffy]

You are right about that- MEC has excellent return policy!

Are you buying the NNN-BC or the 75mm?