Tips and tricks from Lou and friends

Scarpa Laser Boot Mod

It's no secret that different styles of skiing require different types of boot flex. As a result, boot fitting and modification has always been a big part of alpine skiing. Ski mountaineering is no different. Some backcountry skiers like a rigid boot, some like it soft, some want it in-between. Most like a boot with "progressive" flex that gradually increases in resistance as you press your shin forward.

Out of the box, the Laser is soft in forward flex, with little "progression." No problem if you like it that way. But what if you like a bit more boot to push against, or like me, you just want the things to hold your ankles tighter, with less movement? No problem. With a bit of work, the boot will accept a stiffer tongue from many models of Raichle and Koflach boots. Here's how:

First, find a set of tongues. Try friend's garages first, then thrift shops and perhaps used equipment stores. If you strike out, try some ski shops. Larger and better shops sometimes stock replacement tongues for Koflach and Raichle models. Tongues come in different sizes and flexes. (Hot tip: Koflach snowboard boot tongues snap on to the Laser with no modification.) In my case what worked was a Flexon comp tongue from approx. the same size shell as my Lasers.

1. Remove tongues from Lasers by prying the plastic tongue retention clip up with a sturdy screwdriver and popping the tongue out. Lube with a bit of water while you do it.

2. Remove tongues from your donor boots with as little damage as possible (the Flexons required removing a rivet and leaving a hole, other boots have tongues that pop out with no damage).

3. If necessary, use a small rotary grinder with a burr to grind out a slot in the new tongue that closely matches that in the original, leaving as much material in the forward area as possible. When you've got it close, try popping into the Laser, and grind a bit at a time 'till it fits.

4. Latch the tongue down, observe contact points that prevent it evenly closing, and use grinder to ease those points on the tongue (do not grind the shell of the boot). The Laser has a small raised rib surrounding the lower opening, which I eased down a bit by peeling with a knife. It's also possible to heat-mold some tongues, but only do that as a last resort, and don't damage your Lasers. while doing it.

5. To fit over the higher tongue, I needed a bit more length from my lower buckle. To get it, I drilled out the rivets holding the buckle, then re-riveted about a centimeter outboard from the old holes.

6. With everything installed, I tuned the flex by cutting a vertical slot at the top of the tongue, and drilling a bunch of holes to soften the feel (and perhaps reduce weight [grin]?). After skiing a few weeks, I realized the boots were still a bit too forward stiff, so I cut about 1/4 inch off the top of the tongue. They now climb and ski better than any of the more than 25 pairs of randonnee boots I've owned and skied over the past decades.

Sweet.

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