REI聮s Spirit II boots (now called the Spirit III and selling for $189 at rei.com) are a fine pair of all-around hiking boots. Whether you want to strap on some crampons and take them climbing depends a lot on where you intend to go. For snow or glacier travel up to a 35-degree slope they聮re fine. But for extended time on snow, or a climb such as Mount Rainier, they just don聮t have the heft to make you real comfortable.
Grivel G10 crampons
G10 cramponsBut they聮ll certainly take crampons. Heck, trail runners can take crampons. What you want is a pair of fairly old-school strap-on crampons. Grivel聮s G10 crampons ($130; www.grivel.com) are the perfect solution. They are easy-to-use, strap-on crampons that have a little less aggressive points and angles than more serious crampons. But I聮ve worn them on hard snow close to 45 degrees in slope and they聮ve worked well. They聮ll work just fine on your Spirits.
For serious mountaineering, however, you聮ll want a real mountaineering boot. Asolo聮s Titan GV ($270; www.asolo.com) is an excellent light mountaineering/heavy backpacking boot, with tough synthetic uppers and a Gore-Tex liner. They聮ll work great with nearly any crampon, and I聮d recommend a pair like the Petzl Vasak crampons ($140; www.petzl.com). La Sportiva聮s Glacier Evo ($250; www.sportiva.com) is another good all-around mountaineering boot, with leather uppers that are a bit more traditional than those on the Titan. Match them with a set of Black Diamond Sabertooth crampons ($150; www.bdel.com).
Get more advice from the Gear Guy as he picks this season聮s top gifts in You聮ll probably find a few things to put on your own wish list, too.