Asolo Cliff

Review Date
August 26, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Mike(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Campbell River, BC

Price Paid:  $250.00 at Strathacona Outfitters

Summary:
These boots were good. That is until my last trip. The leather lining has worn out in the heel area of my right boot and Asolo deemed it normal wear and tear. The leather uppers are in excellent shape still and the soles have many more miles left. I took them to a reputable cobler and he said that they were unfixable. I am very dissapointed with Asolo's customer service as these boots aren't very old and haven't been used very much. I did find them stiff enough for semi-ridgid crampons except that my Charlet Moser Grade 8's needed to have the shape of the bails modified to fit the shap of the boots. I am not sure if that is a fault of the crampons or the boot, but it wasn't a concern for me as I work as a machinist and a welder so I was able to easily modify the bails. They are a little stiff and unforgiving for long hikes in warm weather. In colder weather, they seemed to be more comfortable because my feet would sweat less. I did find that my feet would be sore after 20km of summer time hiking or lots of down hill hiking. I replaced the foot beds with Superfeet and that helped an incredible amount; sore feet were not a problem on my last trip which included 1700 meters of elevation gain in only a few kilometers of trail.

Customer Service:
I was dissapointed by the customer service when, over the phone, said that the lining of my boot wearing out before the uppers or the sole is 'normal wear and tear.' The most reptuable cobbler in my town was very surprised that the lining in the right boot had wore out when there was still a lot of life left in the boots. Because of where the lining hard wore out, it is not repairable.

Similar Products Used:
I have tried a pair of Scarpa Manta's, a pair of Kayland mountaineering boots and a pair of Boreal mountaineering boots in the last few days as I have been shopping for new boots. I own a pair of the Asolo Supersoft double boots and I am very pleased by them.

Review Date
April 28, 2000

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Karina(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Loma Linda, CA, USA

Summary:
I bought these boots because I already had one pair of Asolo boots for general hiking (the Longitude) and they were so comfortable, I was sold on Asolo last. The Cliff is no less comfortable. They have a well designed full grain leather outer, with almost no seams and a continuous tongue construction that works well to keep out water. The pulleys are another plus, they make it so easy to tighten your foot securely. I replaced the removeable insoles that came with the boot with Superfeet insoles for increased support. The Cliff fits my BD sabretooth crampons well. In short, my only complaint about this boot is that I cannot get it waterproofed. One side of my right boot leaks, despite 3 Nikwax treatments. This may be a defect, but it is a serious one.
On the up side, the boots were barely scratched when my hiking partner stepped full weight on my foot while wearing crampons!
My value rating for these boots is high because they are on sale many places, one being Sierra trading Post, and they are a total gem for the sale price!

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
February 27, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Will Hoida(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from SLO, CA, USA

Summary:
The Cliff is a great all-around boot. Comforable enough to walk in for approaches but still stiff enough for ice climbing. It took me less then a week to break them in and I find myself many times kicking around in them even when I'm not out in the snow. Great value right now too because most stores have them on sale for $150-199.

Review Date
January 29, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Hugh Richardson(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Oregon

Summary:
I bought the Cliffs for spring and summer snow/alpine climbs in the Cascades. I wanted a boot that would frontpoint securely on steepish hard snow for a while, and still walk a long way in reasonable comfort. They do this very well. I'd say they are too stiff for general hiking/backpacking. The only thing to watch out for is that the section behing the heel/achilles tendon is quite soft, and the throw on a step-in crampon can press through the leather and be uncomfortable. I use strap-on crampons.

Similar Products Used:
Asolo ridge, Raichle eiger

Review Date
January 8, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Dan Pletzer(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Vernon B.C. Canada

Summary:
The ASOLO Cliff are a solid traditional mountaineering boot. The pulley lacing system is great for use with cold hands. They're pretty warm
for leather and definitely a solid boot. Break in time is about a month of regular use.