The $1,000 Boot Problem: Are my feet worth the financial pain?
Double Boot Dilemma: To Rent or To Buy for Ecuador?
The main problem of funding an Everest journey on a 9-to-5 salary hits hardest when you look at the gear list. The single most crucial (and expensive) piece of kit for high-altitude climbing is the double/triple boot. I want to be frugal, but I also want to keep my toes, ya know?
My upcoming expedition to the volcanoes of Ecuador requires double boots, which cost around $1,000–1,200 to purchase outright. The immediate problem (yes, I know: first world problem)? My guide company offers free rentals.
NOW BEFORE YOU YELL AT ME that free is the obvious answer, consider these things:
1. I overthink everything.
2. It isn't just a budget question; it's a debate about safety and commitment.
The Case for Renting (The Short-Term Budget Win)
Let’s start with the easy one. Renting is the logical, financial choice for the Side Hustle budget right now.
The Upside:
Immediate Cash Savings: $1,000 is enough to pay for rescue insurance, flights, etc. That cash is vital for closing other gaps right now.
Zero Maintenance: No dealing with the weight or storage. I just return the frozen, smelly things when I'm done.
The Downside:
Fit Risk: You get what you get. Boots that are too loose or tight are the direct cause of blisters, hot spots, and, worst of all, frostbite. The financial savings might cost me a toe?!
No Practice: I lose the crucial time to break them in and train in them here in Ohio before I hit 18,000 feet. I’m not exactly the most… graceful person. I can use all the help I can get, especially when giant crevasses are going to be surrounding every step.
The Case for Buying (The Long-Term Safety Investment)
Buying is the Mental Fortitude choice. It’s a terrifying financial commitment, but it pays off years down the line.
The Upside:
Perfect Fit, Guaranteed: I can spend months trying on different brands, finding the one pair that is a perfect, personal mold for my foot. This is a non-negotiable safety factor for Everest.
Training Time: I can use them for weighted training hikes and winter weekends in the Midwest, making them feel like an extension of my body by the time I need them on Chimborazo.
They Hold Value: I could re-sell and get a good chunk back down the line, if needed.
The Downside:
$1,000 Gone: That money is locked up. PAIN. It could have gone toward booking another expedition!
Obsolescence: If better, lighter technology comes out in three years, I'm stuck. I will need a triple boot for Everest, but that may be overkill to purchase now.
The Current Dilemma: Where the Money Will Go
Ecuador is a proving ground. If I plan to attempt a serious 8,000-meter peak later, I need the security of my own, well-trained-in boot. The safety margin is priceless: I've decided that if a piece of gear directly impacts my ability to walk away from the mountain, for my mom’s sake, I cannot compromise. But …
Decision (Pending): I am leaning toward renting for my first big trip. The financial pain of the REST of the gear I need to purchase is making that $0 rental look really good. A rental will for sure be the correct make and model that I need, and I like the idea of testing it out before buying to ensure I get a good idea of fit and size.
If you've done high-altitude climbing, what was your choice: Rent or Buy your double boots? Did you regret your decision? Let me know!