The guru says: Plastic boots usually are double boots, with an insulating, removable liner and a hard plastic shell. That聮s one reason why they聮re so great. The plastic shell provides fantastic protection from moisture (frozen boots being the bane of any cold-weather mountaineer who has worn leather), while the removable liners make it easy to keep them warm and dry (moisture from sweat and a little snow is inevitable) by sleeping with them in your sleeping bag at night.
Scarpa Inverno
Inverno BootScarpa聮s Inverno ($279; scarpa.com) has been around a while but remains a classic plastic boot. And it聮s available in women聮s 5. You might want to order up as feet swell a little at elevation. They聮re very warm by themselves, and although Scarpa makes a 聯cold weather” liner, I don聮t think it聮s worth the shockingly high price of $198. Good wool socks and full overboots, such as Outdoor Research聮s Brooks Rangers ($135; outdoorresearch.com) will ensure your feet stay warm. Scarpa聮s Omega ($350) is a little lighter and designed for more technical climbing than the bulkier Inverno, but also is an excellent cold-weather, expedition-style boot. Sizing may be a problem with the Omega.
That said, it聮s also true that advances in boot technology and leatherwork have made leather boots a worthwhile option. They聮re generally more comfortable than plastics, too. La Sportiva聮s Nepal Evo GTX ($450; sportiva.com) combines Gore-Tex liners with silicon-impregnated leather and an insulating insole for a boot that can take cold, icy conditions. And it comes in a women聮s model, built on a women聮s last. So I聮d give it a look along with the more traditional plastics.
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