For years the Nepal Extreme has been a near ubiquitous sight on the feet of both Scottish winter climbers and Alpinsts around the world. Within the last few years the appearance of lighter weight offerings has seen its dominance challenged, particularly for those at the technical end of the market. For the climber looking for a warm boot, with outstanding longevity, and importantly comfort the Nepal Extreme still often comes out as out as the boot of choice however.

As a rough guide the Nepal Extreme is best suited to Summer Alpine, Scottish Winter, and other equivalent temperature uses. Although it is a fair bit heavier than the likes of the La Sportiva Trango Extreme Evo and Scarpa Jorasses, we would expect to get a few seasons more use out of it compared to those more lightly constructed boots.

Fit is of course crucial, and this may have been the key to the Nepal Extreme's enduring success - it does seem to suit the typical British foot shap very well, being fairly roomy at the toe, and snug around the heel and ankle. The lack of arch support does seem to be a bit of a recurring theme however, in which case custom foot beds could be a good investment.

In terms of technical features, here's what La Sportiva have to say:

"The Nepal Extreme features the innovative triple laminate lining "Synergy". The insulating Ibi-Thermo footbed gives the boot exceptional insulation from the cold. The new removable EZ FLEX tongue (Patent Pending) gives the option of adjusting the fit personalized for any foot. The EZ OUT pull loop (Patent Pending) facilitates the unlocking of the lace lock. The new midsole HP3 eliminates any wear and tear problem on the toe-box using a new combination of high performance technical materials. It also features a removable insulating footbed and is fully compatible with the step-in crampon system."

Specification
Upper: 3+ mm water-repellent Idro-Perwanger leather
Lining: Thermal Synergy
Insole: Insulating Ibi-Thermo 9 mm
Sole: Vibram Impact Brake System. Suitable for step-in crampons
Weight: 2250g per pair (43)

Relevant Article
Mountain Boots & Crampon Compatibility