All my winter gear is in storage in NY, and I needed some boots (alas, not for ice, but just for some snowshoeing, etc). So this weekend I went shopping at a chain of stores (Au Vieux Campeur) in Paris that everyone seems to go to for gear. It's a funny setup with a series of storefronts of different specialities (running, hiking, camping, climbing, etc.) distributed over a few square blocks. The climbing store was just down the street from the hiking store, so I decided to stop by and buy a chalk bag and have a look around. Got the chalk bag, but made the mistake of heading down into the basement where the ice gear was. I drooled a bit and just before leaving noticed rows upon rows of boots along one wall. Spotted the boots below on a shelf and just out of curiosity checked the price. 60 euro. I stood there dumbfounded, trying to figure out where the missing 1 or 2 went, until a guy walked up to me and said, 'No, you're not dreaming.' Holy crap! The French know how to have a sale! Even if they are an older model, I don't think I could have scored something like this in the States (we also managed to get Carine a pair of all-leather Scarpas for 40 euro???). So now I will be the biggest poseur on the mountain, snowshoeing in some ridiculous boots. But at least I'll be prepared if I ever make it out to the ice again...

More usefully though, why buy another pair of Kaylands? Their last (at least for the stiff boots) fits my feet (low volume, slightly wide forefoot, with a very narrow heel) very well. I went up a half-size from my older pair, which were slightly too snug with thick socks on. The M11+ dropped the shark-proof mesh in favor of suede and some other kind of synthetic. Also added a cammed eyelet at the top of the forefoot, which is pretty handy for differential tension lacing.