Light and Fast - Boots
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 03:03PM
One of the most interesting, fun and innovative aspects of speed touring is the gear. By gear, I'm referring to skis, bindings and boots. As I pointed out in a previous post, many of the technological innovations developed for the highly specialized rando race market have now trickled down to the everymans' ski touring market. This allows even less serious skiers to cleave pounds off their set-up and take tens of minutes off their touring times. For those lapping powder runs at the their favorite shot in the back country, this means more vertical and less effort.
Ski mountaineering racers have been pushing the limits of light weight gear for several years now. The gear needs to be light and simple to get racers uphill in the least amount of time. It works perfectly for this task. Descending on the same gear is something else altogether. No one is kidding themselves here. But skimo race courses are supposed to be challenging so racers descend regardless. The thing is, if you just stop thinking about it and point them down, you can ski anything in most conditions on this light weight equipment.
In preparation for the race a couple of weekends ago, I stopped skiing on any other set-up besides my race gear. I skied powder, crud, bumps, anything but death breakable and had fun doing it.
Nice skimo race powder shredding form!
Sure, I spent sometime in the back seat keeping my tips up but this merely aided in the leg conditioning I needed to get through Jackson's long descents without stopping. The result was feeling extremely comfortable on the equipment come race day.
Now, most ski touring fans aren't going to get a race set-up to ski on if they're not going to race. But you can still take advantage of the technology and lighten up with more user/skier-friendly gear that skis better than svelte racing equipment. Hybrid set-ups like fatter skis with race bindings and/or race boots can cleave serious weight off our feet. The market is literally exploding right now in this direction. Oddly enough, it seems to be doing so kind of quietly and I'm not sure why.
The big boots and big skis are all over the press. Certainly big air and TGR turns are visually attractive and make sexier marketing than some guy hauling ass up a skin track. There really is nothing sick-gnar about that. But for those of us wanting to eat up vertical in the least amount of time we can be sure that the industry is responding.
I'm not going to detail every available ski, boot or binding here but should be able to point readers in the right direction if they want to move part of their quiver this way.
Boots
Probably the easiest category to dispense with here are boots. For most of us embracing this style of skiing, the only real choice is the new Dynafit TLT 5 Performance and Mountain models.
Dynafit TLT 5 Performance
Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain
These boots have been described as "game changers" by some and, having just gotten mine last week, I would have to agree. The Performance model incorporates a carbon fiber cuff which significantly ups the downhill performance and stiffens the boot laterally. The Mountain version is all plastic and a bit warmer due to a heavier liner but skis softer. The up-side is that it's several hundred dollars cheaper. Interestingly, and I have not confirmed this with a scale, but the rumor is that the Mountain is actually a lighter boot than the Performance but a lighter liner brings the total weight of the Performance under the Mountain. For me, the better downhill characteristics make the Performance the boot of choice.
The skimo race scene was dominated for years by the Scarpa F1 and F1 Race. 
Scarpa F1There were more of these green boots at the starting line of World Cup events than every other boot combined. It seems their heyday has passed but they remain a good choice for our category here. The standard Race model lacks the downhill performance of the newer boots but probably tours uphill better. Downhill performance may be better with the standard F1 due to the presence of the plastic tongue and power strap. The Race model eliminates both in addition to stripped down hardware and lighter sole. My Race's served me well for almost 3 seasons.
Scarpa F1 RaceThey remain light, to be sure. In an attempt to keep up with advancing trends in the race boot market, Scarpa retrofitted the F1 Race with a carbon cuff, adding stiffness where it needed it while improving the weight slightly. 
Scarpa F1 Race CarbonHowever, because this move did not involve a full redesign, some problems arose with snow packing in gaps in the cuff while touring. For the price ($1,600) most racers feel their money is better spent on other brands.
As if to answer their critics and attempt to regain their market share, Scarpa will be releasing the Alien and Alien 1.0 next season. Many were seen on the start line at the World Championships in February and the early buzz is very positive. They have some interesting features along with the requisite serving of carbon and light weight. Although considered a full-on race boot, don't be surprised to see regular folks out free skiing in them in the backcountry next winter.
Why would you want a boot like this? Well, how does 680 grams sound for the Alien 1.0? Yeah, that's freaking light. It also comes with a $1799 price tag. If that breaks your bank, perhaps the Alien minus the carbon sounds better, with a svelte 890 grams for $799. Still damn light and pretty darn cheap in that market.
Scarpa Alien 1.0
The other boot that possesses some positive speed touring characteristics is Garmont's Masterlight. Although not as svelte as Dynafit's offerings, it is significantly lighter than most touring boots and would make a fine addition to anyone's quiver. Pricing is somewhere between the two Dynafit boots mentioned above. The Masterlight lacks the race pedigree of the Dynafit boots so the buckle mechanisms are different but not objectionable.
Garmont Masterlight
Dynafit continues its commitment to the race scene with the EVO race boot. Some subtle changes were made from the DyNA but the top-end performance remains and it should see it's way to the feet of many race enthusiasts due to it's competitive pricing. It's still going to set you back around $1600 but that's a far cry from the $2K+ of the higher end full carbon models available in Europe.
Dynafit EVO
As far as I know, Black Diamond has not entered the extreme end of this market but I wouldn't be surprised if plans are on the table to do so. When they decided to take the boot market head on a few years ago they had plans to do it in a season by season, step-wise fashion. They certainly addressed the beefier end of things and I would imagine that the light end is next but I have no way of knowing. For now, their lightest offering is a full 3 pounds per pair heavier than the boots mentioned above. They're not even in the game yet.
Italian boot manufacturer, La Sportiva, is entering the ski touring market in a big way next season. They started their assault this season with a full-carbon race boot, the Stratos, that weighs in at a ridiculous 534 grams for a size 26. A few of these were seen on starting lines in the States but most were distributed in Europe. There are some durability issues with the cuff pivot interface but most racers loved how they climbed and skied. Of course, the $3K price tag puts it out of reach for most of us.
Next season, La Sportiva will continue its entry into the market with three other boots, Spitfire (950 grams), Sideral (1065 grams) and a women's specific model, Starlet (980 grams). I don't have any prices on these yet but I assume they will be competitive.
La Sportiva Stratos
La Sportiva Sideral
La Sportiva Spitfire
La Sportiva StarletLastly, I will mention that there are several other superlight options in the race category but these are stupid expensive and, ultimately, too fragile for general touring use. Most of these boots eventually break during races so trusting them in the BC is probably not a good idea. Still, picking up full carbon offerings from La Sportiva and Pierre Gignoux will bring on a case of gear envy faster than you can get your credit card from your wallet. These boots are insanely light and stiff but are probably best left for pure racing.
Jared Inouye's blown up Pierre Gignoux carbon boots
Next up...bindings. - Brian
Gear
Reader Comments (11)
Brian, somewhat off-topic question -- what is the preferred ski retention for rando races that are resort based that have ski brake/leash requirements? Do leashes just get in the way after a booting transition? Thanks.
Funny question, Steve. To the uninitiated that is THE question at races. When someone in the back of the room brings that topic up in the pre-race meeting, those in know simply turn around and glare. The rule is then reiterated and ultimately ignored. Race promoters must state the rule for liability reasons, I suppose, but it is not enforced, at least at races I have attended.
We all ski with our toes locked so ski loss is rare but not unheard of. The best policy with this issue is, "don't ask, don't tell."
Ah, interesting! I will deny the the existence of the above message, assuming it will self destruct in 5 seconds!
I don't race but have certainly fussed around (polite language) with Dynafit leashes and brakes. I actually had a brake fail at the resort and the ski took off right to the lift below me. I had visions of my pass being yanked right then and there...
Steve,
Yeah, I know, we're a naughty bunch!
If you are looking for another option for a ski retainer, check out B & D Ski Gear. Their leash seems slick since you don't have to take it off to mess with your skins.
http://www.bndskigear.com/skileash.html
Hey there,
Love your blog, it has been a source of knowledge and inspiration for quite some time now. I am living in Jackson and am looking to make the upgrade to the world of 'light and fast' this year. I'm shopping for boots currently and am in the price point for either Aliens or PDG's, also maybe the Sportiva Syborg which is the newcomer to this category. I am interested in dabbling in racing but will mainly be touring a lot. I know a lot of it will come down to fit, but I was wondering if you had any beta on how these stacked up to each other performance-wise? Cheers.
Hi Walt,
Glad to hear you're reading. I apologize to you and others for not writing much lately. I've moved into a new condo and still getting settled. Snow is coming so there will be more to say soon.
Anyway, you're certainly barking up the right tree with those boots. I've not skied the straight Aliens but race on the 1.0. Great boot for the most part but they have their limitations. The Boa lace system is a vulnerability as the "lace" can get nicked and then break. A ski strap will fix it if you're out in the hills when it breaks but it's still a bummer. The Alien also skis softer than the 1.0. Not sure how much, though, since I've not skied them side to side.
The PDG seems to be a the go to for guys like you. I have skied that boot and like it for the purpose of fast touring. It will be fine to race as long as you're being casual and don't mind how much you'll give up for the weight compared to dedicated race dogs. But that's a personal thing. For just getting out and racing for fun they're fine. Price is sweet.
I don't know much about the Syborg but I think they weigh in quite a bit lighter than the other two. I skied the Spitfire for part of the season a few years ago. My review can be found in these pages. The Spitfire looks to be a serious upgrade from that in terms of race like performance. Durability remains to be seen but they don't sport the funky lace problem of the Alien. I do see the unfortunate extreme rocker at the toe that makes crampon fitting tricky for some brands. I'm disappointed to see that they did not address this from previous models. Of course, that would involve retooling the whole sole machining. Expensive.
You're right about fit being the deciding factor. Check 'em all out. But I'm most excited by the Sportiva. Can't wait to hear how they fly.
Once you get them put them on some skinny short skis, (<75mm underfoot, 170-175cm long) and tour on nothing else for a couple of weeks. It'll really up your game for moving fast in all conditions and get you ready for racing. Of course, then you have to get your silly race sticks out in the BC and really get dialed. For the money, the Hagan race ski is really nice and skis well. I did the Pierra Menta on them last year. Love 'em. Cheap too.
Jackson is the perfect place to do all this. I'm jealous. It's been 3 seasons almost and I still miss those mountains desperately. Make the most of it. You're lucky.
Hope that helps.
Hey Brian,
Can jump on this conversation too for some free advice? You may recall I asked you back in your Cham posts what you were skiing on. I'm in similar boat to Walt. I'm toying with the idea of a few skimo races but really I'm interested touring. I live in Zurich and get over to Chamonix a bit. What you did in Chamonix is pretty much the type of stuff I look to do. Closer to Zurich it tends to be bit mellower where the focus can (particularly if the snow is bad) can be more about covering ground.
My current set up is 181 Coombacks with (heavy) Dynafit bindings and Spectres which I feel it is a little too heavy/long Cham style stuff and way too heavy for mellower/high mileage stuff.
So with that long winded intro, I'm wondering how light I can/should go for my touring stuff and how heavy I can go with the race stuff. Boot wise I think Walt sums it up - PDG/Alien/Syborg. My budget doesn't stretch to higher. Ski wise can I race on 75-80mm/170cm skis? And, if I got say a 75mm ski with one of these boots, I wondering if that could cover both racing and light touring some steep skiing where weight is a bigger issue. Or do I just need to bite the bullet and get two pairs: 65mm/165cm sticks and a 80-90mm/175cm/1.3kg sticks?
In terms of the racing I won't be competitive so I don't need to save every gram but at the same time I don't want to be at a big gear disadvantage. To put it in road biking terms I'd happily compete on an entry level $1,000 aluminium road bike and feel that, at my level, upgrading to a $7k bike wouldn't make a real difference. But I wouldn't be happy to enter a road bike race on a mountain bike or hybrid with slicks.
Any advice welcome. Sorry for the novel.
Love your blog BTW. I particularly enjoyed the Chamonix stuff as I know some of those routes and others are on my to do list. Keep writing!
Regards
Stephen
Thanks Stephen.
Let's start with racing. Yes, dedicated gear is better....way better. There's no way around it. It took me a few years to get all the stuff but it was night and day different once I did and my place in the line up improved with every improvement in gear. Even if you're a middle of the pack guy, it's simply more fun to have the cool shit, just like it's fun as hell to ride a $7K road bike.
That said, I would start with skis first, the Hagans are super nice and affordable. Dynafit PDG is also a good starter race ski. I like the Hagan more because of the early rise. Race the Pierra Menta in them and they RULED! But any ski in the 160cm and well under 1000 gms will do. Bit the bullet for race bindings as they are incredibly light and make transitions far faster. As you know, I'm a fan of Plum Race 145 as their track record is undeniable.
You can get a cross over kind of boot that will work for both your racing aspirations and touring endeavors. I covered that already and it seems you know where you're going there. I raced on Dynafit TLT 5 for a season. They worked fine. But, again, the step up to a racing boot is a big change for the better. But I understand the price is daunting.
As for touring, there are some light options coming out that allow you to go fatter while staying pretty svelt. I think the Dynafit Broad Peak is still a great ski in a traditional cut. Skis great in lots of conditions and is still pretty light. But with all the carbon out there, you can go closer to 1,000 grams and still have some width underfoot. Depends on what you can afford. The Dynafit Cho Oyu is the leader here with the Denali even wider. The new Sportiva Nano is turning some heads.
I think for covering lots of ground, shorter is better. Something around 175cm makes for easy turning, comfortable booting and snappy kick turning on steep slopes. Again, you're always looking at objectives versus performance here. Longer and wider is better for aggressive fall line skiing but you'll pay for it on the up. Steep skiers seem to be going wider these days. I think it just breeds more confidence and control. 90-100mm underfoot.
Thanks Brian!
Definitely middle of the pack guy but looks like I should prepare my bank balance for a shock.
Btw have you skied any of hagan's bigger skis? Was eying the y-flow 173cm as a touring option. Reviews/weight/price look good but I'm a little hesitant with the huge tip. I'm carrying some bad memories from previous encounters with steep icy terrain on a super high side cut ski. Maybe it is different if only the tip is huge and not the tail? Just ignore this question if you prefer - don't want to distract you from writing more on the blog.
Cheers
Stephen
I've been tempted to check them out as they seem to be in the right ball park when it comes to weight and reputation. Hagan's been around a long time. But I'm going closer to the 100mm underfoot range these days and they don't have something in that size. Freaking light skis, though.
Hey Brian, Actually looks like Hagan have literally just added skis of that size to their collection.
They now have a 97mm 'Boost' King' at 107mm (claimed weight 1580 at 181cm).
http://www.hagan-ski.com/produkt/ski/ywai-king/
http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/en/haganykingski-p-232949.html