 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I am lucky enough (Omicron variant permitting) to be moving to Chamonix for four months this winter to ski, climb and mountaineer and am trying to figure out whether I am best off buying kit before I go or once I get to Chamonix. I have a fair few equipment needs some of which are interdependent - e.g. I need to buy new ski touring boots along with boot crampons which ideally fit both the new ski boots and my mountaineering boots - so would find it helpful to have access to a range of equipment with different choices, a la Ellis Brigham or a specialist shop like Needle Sports.
It's been a while since I was in Chamonix - can anyone recommend any equipment shops in town or nearby with a similar range to either of the above? I can't remember any but wasn't into proper mountaineering the last time I was there, so they may not have registered!
Any advice much appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@schauspiele, Snell Sports is a big place with a large range of kit. For your boot fitting @CH20 on here knows his stuff and can probably stick you in Tecnica Zero-G’s which get a lot of love
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@schauspiele, there's dozens of suitable shops - Snell, in the centre, is probably the largest (and most expensive), but for boots I'd go to a specialist fitter. I use Sole bootlab.
There's only 3 main ways of attaching crampons - straps, semi step-in, and full step-in. I can't think of any touring boot that doesn't take all 3, so the limiting factor will be your mountaineering boots, and what kind of heel and toe attachment points they have.
Any climbing shop will have suitable crampons, but if you want specific ones (I love my Petzl Irvis, which you can get with any/all of the above fixing methods) then you might need to hunt around a bit more.
Edited to add: message crossover with Bob, and total agreement; CH20 = Sole Bootlab. Go in the afternoon for free cake and beer 
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Fortunately for you, there’s nothing quite like Ellis Brigham 
Second the recommendations for Solebootlab. I’ll be heading there myself for a new pair of boots next week.
For kit, you’ve got Snell in town, but also just down the valley by Sallanches is a big Decathlon, and also a really good Au Vieux Campeur. Both emphasising alpine sports kit, and both well worth a visit.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Concept Pro also have good boot fitting, and a wide range of other kit including e.g. crampons - I don't know what Sole are fitting other than boots (and bindings). Concept also sell skis, some clothing, goggles, helmets, etc.
For Concept* certainly, and Sole probably (it's been a few years since I availed myself of their excellent services) appointments for boot fitting are necessary
For actual mountaineering gear - ropes, etc., - about which I know nothing - Technique Extreme upstairs seems full of that sort of thing and has a good reputation for value.
Ravanel sports maybe also worth a look in but I rarely visit, for no particular reason.
* disclosure; b.i.l. works in Concept
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 14-12-21 7:44; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'd go to SOLE, it's my shop, swing by hear the utter nonsense we speak, then make up your own mind.......Your feet will thankyou, or you get to take my kid home! He's lovely.
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"He who makes the piano, isn't the best a playing the Piano." 
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@CH2O, toot! toot!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| snowdave wrote: |
| There's only 3 main ways of attaching crampons - straps, semi step-in, and full step-in. I can't think of any touring boot that doesn't take all 3 |
Dynafit is for example one, that has issues with automatic/step-in one due lack of "nose". But I think it's pretty much only ski boot that doesn't fit into automatic crampons.
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If you go to Sole @CH2O might give you some of whatever he’s been having 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Many thanks everyone, great recommendations and really appreciate it. CH20 I may be reaching out to you in a few weeks' time!
Crampons - I wear B3 boots (I do a bit of ice climbing) which will fit any crampon type. But I have also been told by guides and others that you get better or worse 'fit' between individual crampon models and individual boot models - so however true or not this is in practice, I would like to keep my options open! And thanks for the heads up on Dynafit, that could be a terrible thing to find out post-purchase...
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@schauspiele,
Grivel and others make crampons that work with the three different binding systems (you change parts to make them automatic/semi/strap-in) and I think these days they are pretty generic. If your boots are a mainstream brand then I'm sure you'll be fine.
You've had good tips on Chamonix shops. I'd probably just add that if budget is an issue then the big decathlon in the valley (Passy) just off the autoroute can be worth a visit on the way to Chamonix. The price of their climbing gear is very competitive, the range isn't huge but its well selected and the staff in the climbing department know what they are talking about.
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Concept Pro for the Ski touring gear, Technique Extreme for climbing gear and Snell for anything the other 2 don't have. Don't forget to have a look in Decathalon (next to TNF) they may surprise you.
The boys at Sole realy know their stuff, beware they can be busy so make an apointment if you need boots fitting!
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You know it makes sense.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @CH2O, toot! toot!! |
But not without good reason.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@jedster, Concept kit out clients of some of the guide companies who don't possess stuff suitable for e.g. going up Mont Blanc. I was surprised but impressed that much of it is from Decathlon.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @jedster, Concept kit out clients of some of the guide companies who don't possess stuff suitable for e.g. going up Mont Blanc. I was surprised but impressed that much of it is from Decathlon. |
My experience cycling is while entry level decathlon gear is (mostly) far too cheap, their mid to high level stuff is at least comparable to others mid level, while usually being cheaper. (e.g. decathlons better cycling jerseys are £35. I seriously doubt £100+ ones from Rapha are that much better)
I would expect the decathlon down the valley to only stock a couple of models of mountaineering gear, but I expect what they stock to generally be at least good enough. There is also one in chamonix, but it is too small to be relied upon to have stock.
+1 for Sole for boot fitting (even if my touring boots aren't from them (had a rental pair for guided touring day that fit nearly as well as own boots, so subsequently bought some...)) (n.b. Chamonix has at least 3 boot shops with good reputations for fitting properly... Which you visit is a combination of availability and personal compatibility with fitters...)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| qwerty360 wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| @jedster, Concept kit out clients of some of the guide companies who don't possess stuff suitable for e.g. going up Mont Blanc. I was surprised but impressed that much of it is from Decathlon. |
My experience cycling is while entry level decathlon gear is (mostly) far too cheap, their mid to high level stuff is at least comparable to others mid level, while usually being cheaper. (e.g. decathlons better cycling jerseys are £35. I seriously doubt £100+ ones from Rapha are that much better)
I would expect the decathlon down the valley to only stock a couple of models of mountaineering gear, but I expect what they stock to generally be at least good enough. There is also one in chamonix, but it is too small to be relied upon to have stock.
+1 for Sole for boot fitting (even if my touring boots aren't from them (had a rental pair for guided touring day that fit nearly as well as own boots, so subsequently bought some...)) (n.b. Chamonix has at least 3 boot shops with good reputations for fitting properly... Which you visit is a combination of availability and personal compatibility with fitters...) |
Decathlon bought the respected Simond climbing equipment brand and in my experience have sustained the quality at a good price. Just about anything with that brand on it is solid gear at a good price.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@qwerty360,
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I would expect the decathlon down the valley to only stock a couple of models of mountaineering gear
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You mean in Domancy or Cluses? The Domancy one is branded "The Mountain Store" and is the newish expansion from the prior one and apparently hosts their R&D dept. It seems to have a pretty good selection of their mountain kit ... 
The Simond stuff looks great. And proper qualite/prix. And gets past the Decathlon, "oh wait, if it's such a nice colour, it can't be cheap , make it look cheaper" filter.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
The Domancy one is branded "The Mountain Store" and is the newish expansion from the prior one and apparently hosts their R&D dept.
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That's the one I meant
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks again everyone, still checking for new recs and Decathlon definitely sounds worth a visit. News of travel restrictions today is making this look a bit more complicated that I had hoped unfortunately...
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