u/mauritsm

I'm putting together a two-shoe system for alpine trips: a lighter all-rounder for hut-to-hut treks over loose, rocky terrain and as an approach shoe for summits, plus a separate C/D-rated boot for glacier/crampon use. This first pair also needs to work for regular hiking in the Ardennes/Eifel, and for mountaineering/hiking in the Alps and Dolomites more broadly.

Three models I'm considering, each with a slightly different profile:

- Scarpa Mescalito Mid GTX

- La Sportiva TX4 Evo Mid GTX

- La Sportiva TX5 Evo Mid GTX

Has anyone used these across multi-day hut treks with a moderate pack, plus some via ferrata/scrambling? Curious about real-world fit, stiffness on loose rock, and how they compare to each other for this kind of mixed use. Any other models worth considering are welcome too.

Thanks in advance.

I'm putting together a two-shoe system for alpine trips: a lighter all-rounder for hut-to-hut treks over loose, rocky terrain and as an approach shoe for summits, plus a separate C/D-rated boot for glacier/crampon use. This first pair also needs to work for regular hiking in the Ardennes/Eifel, and for mountaineering/hiking in the Alps and Dolomites more broadly.

Three models I'm considering, each with a slightly different profile:

- Scarpa Mescalito Mid GTX

- La Sportiva TX4 Evo Mid GTX

- La Sportiva TX5 Evo Mid GTX

Has anyone used these across multi-day hut treks with a moderate pack, plus some via ferrata/scrambling? Curious about real-world fit, stiffness on loose rock, and how they compare to each other for this kind of mixed use. Any other models worth considering are welcome too.

Thanks in advance.

Solo 6-day hut-to-hut trek in the Ötztal (Kreuzspitze, July), then building toward glacier objectives (Gran Paradiso, Zugspitze) and eventually 4000m+ peaks. In summer it’s mainly a rain shell (worn during rain bursts, not for hours in the heat); on colder alpine days later it’ll see more sustained wear.

Looking for recommendations in the 3-layer GORE-TEX class that you’ve personally confirmed fits over a helmet — that’s the one requirement I keep tripping up on. Tried the Rab Kangri GTX and the fit itself was great, but I’m not confident the hood clears a helmet, so I’m open to alternatives in that same range. What’s worked for you?

Solo, 6-day hut-to-hut trek in the Ötztal Alps this July, finishing on the Kreuzspitze (3,455m).

- One via ferrata day, harness + helmet carried the whole trip
- Grödel/microspikes for one section with a known old-snow risk
- Huts every night - no tent/ only stove/food to carry
- After this: building towards different glacier objectives (Zugspitze, Gran Paradiso) and eventually 4000m+ peaks

I’ve been leaning toward something around 38L, but genuinely open to other suggestions.

What pack (and what liter size) would you recommend for this kind of trip — factoring in that I’ll want it to still work reasonably well once I’m carrying a harness/crampons/ice axe for future objectives, not just this one?