Among the frost-dusted boulders, where no trace of ice yet appears, before winter sculpts the ephemeral forms of frozen waterfalls, a discipline is born that allows enthusiasts to prepare for the increasingly short winter season. In dry tooling, ice axes and crampons don't scratch the ice , but seek out the rock's weak points, exploiting cracks, handholds, and tiny footholds. It's a hybrid movement, halfway between rock climbing and ice climbing, requiring control, strength, and sensitivity.
Among the leading figures in this discipline is Santi Padros , a Spanish mountain guide and AKU ambassador, who has chosen to live in the Dolomites of Val di Zoldo. " For me, mountaineering is a way of thinking, of being in nature ." Living in the mountains allows Santi to practice multiple disciplines, adjusted to the changing temperatures and the opportunities that arise . Passionate about climbing, canyoning, and hiking, when the temperatures drop, he finds his ideal terrain: ice falls and ice climbing. Dry tooling is thus a perfect discipline for training before the ice structures are accessible.
Santi Padros
"I walk, climb, ski, and go canyoning, with anyone who wants me to go with them and because I enjoy the company of others."
For dry tooling, as for any form of modern mountaineering, precise and reliable tools are needed, capable of supporting the technical gesture without ever compromising comfort and safety.
This is how the Aurai DFS GTX and Croda DFS GTX were born, AKU's premium footwear for mountaineering, ice climbing, and dry tooling. The Aurai DFS GTX, weighing just 700 grams, is designed for cold temperatures where thermal insulation makes the difference. The Croda DFS GTX is a mountaineering shoe ideal for challenging climbing and trekking in mixed environments with rock and ice.
The Aurai and Croda are crampon-compatible and use the AKU Dual Fit System (DFS) technology, designed for a perfectly adjustable fit: snug and sensitive for vertical passages, soft and comfortable for approaches or stops. To further enhance comfort in different situations, they adopt the Elica Natural Stride System to promote the natural movement of the foot, allowing for natural support and propulsion, for optimal walking comfort.
Aurai DFS GTX
The Aurai DFS GTX is a technical shoe for high-altitude mountaineering and ice climbing. Combining lightness, precision, and comfort, it allows you to tackle the most challenging ascents even with a fully loaded backpack. Maximum weather protection and excellent thermal insulation, even during prolonged use in cold environments.
Croda DFS GTX
Lightweight, agile, precise, and extremely comfortable. CRODA DFS GTX is a mountaineering shoe ideal for challenging climbing and trekking in mixed environments with rock and ice.
Insulation Performance by AKU
