Link Lever in ride mode flexing forward. With three different spring tensions, Phantom has covered the spectrum of flex for every rider type and weight.
Phantom Link Lever: game changer in hardboot splitboarding
“Hardboots” or AT boots being used for splitboarding has been a niche part of the backcountry snowboard community for many years, but has recently been gaining traction in the guiding and recreational world. As innovation continues on the split-tech front, I am seeing and riding with more and more people making the switch. Last spring, Phantom Splitboard Bindings did a small batch release of an after market technology that aimed to make AT boots more purposed for snowboarders. The Phantom Link Lever might be the missing link to bring this small corner of the market more “mainstream” in our esoteric world. This winter, Phantom has a full production line of the Link Levers, and they have been in high demand.
I began touring on a split-tech system four winters ago and have witnessed the on-going growth and dialogue amongst riders intrigued by the benefits of the system. But I’ve also seen several barriers to riders looking at making the leap. Cost is one of the big ones, especially in context of what has been available until now. It is a huge “leap of faith” to buy a whole new binding and touring setup that is not compatible with anything other than your splitboard. Getting into this system requires purchasing a pair of AT boots, which is a daunting world on its own coming from the relative ease of the snowboard boot market (and wait, aren’t comfortable soft boots supposed to be the best part?). Once you’ve acquired a pair of boots, you’ve got to immediately take the hacksaw, dremel, and drill bits to the plastic to make irreversible modifications. Then you can put them on and ride around and decide if you like the feel. Sounds like a feasible strategy, right?
The Phantom Link Levers are changing the game in a big way. Not only do they eliminate the latter half of the “leap of faith” described above, but they also completely changed the feel of the Atomic Backland Pro boot for snowboarding. I have experienced numerous advantagesin the last five months of splitboarding in this specific system. The level of commitment that used to be required to hack up a pair of boots to try out a split-AT system is gone, and a better product has emerged.
Link Lever and Atomic Backland Pro.
The Phantom Link Lever is an after market component that can be easily swapped with the stock ski/walk mode lever on any pair of Atomic Backland AT boots. All that’s required is a simple change of screws. No dremels, no drill bits, no more folklore. The Link Lever has a similar flip mechanism to the stock lever. When the lever is up, the boot is in walk mode and has a huge range of motion (one of the many benefits of a touring boot with a tech toe). When the fun part is over and you’re ready to do what you came for, flip the Link Lever into what would traditionally be “ski mode”. Yes, you and your ski partners can now double check that everyone’s boots are locked, bringing mixed groups together. This is where the Link Lever engineering shines: with a built-in spring inside the lever, the boot is locked in the rear position (much like a high back on a traditional snowboard binding), but flexes forward when you bend the ankle and knee to engage the toe-side edge.
Hardboots expand versatility and efficiency of splitboarding.
At first glance, the spring lever seems straight forward, but there are several design features that add value to the performance. In “ski-mode” there is a small rubber bumper that for cushion when engaging the heel-side edge for a softer feel. When you flex forward in the ankle and engage the spring, the flex is progressive and consistent giving the dampening feel of a traditional snowboard boot. The spring mechanism provides the cushioned flex, and in combination with the rigid cuff and lower boot, you have all the support and response you want when you need it.
Hardboots in Japan? Why not?!
Prior to the Link Lever, boot modifications ran the spectrum based on how adventurous someone was feeling, to what their personal preference was. Modifications ranged from nothing, to full disassembly and sawing of the cuff at the pivot point, to the boot being in full walk mode the whole time. To each their own, but that certainly made it difficult for the apprehensive individual to navigate what to do. Phantom as has streamlined this process, and made for a relatively low commitment way to get into the system. The Link Levers are currently retailing for $200, which is not cheap, but at least you don’t have to take a hacksaw to your $700 pair of AT boots.
Walk mode is the same as a normal AT boot, and the Backland Pro is an awesome touring boot.
Benefits of the Link Lever
-Simple, after-market component easily swapped in and out
-No destruction (and thus warranty forfeit) of an expensive AT boot
-Consistent and repeatable feel for riders to compare across the community
-Easy to flip between ride and walk mode
-Progressive flex and tension in the spring
-Dampening feel on both heel and toe edge turns in the boot
-Three different spring tensions for rider preference and size
-Fully functional Atomic Backland AT boot for other uses (imagine that, skiing!)
The Link Lever is only compatible with the Atomic Backland AT boot (there are numerous models for this year), and this boot has proven to have numerous qualities that make it stand out amongst other boots that AT-splitters have used in the past. I’m on the Atomic Backland Pro and it is by far one of the most comfortable boots I’ve spent days in. Last year, I was testing the Link Lever on an old pair of Backland Carbons and I personally don’t recommend this boot as it is stiffer than necessary and harder to fit.
Benefits of the Atomic Backland Pro
-lightweight and fully functional AT boot (1102 grams)
-Single cuff buckle and compression strap with a lower boot BOA system – secure fit
-The whole shell can be heat molded – in addition to the liner (this is such a nice feature to get a quality fit out of the shop)
-Comfortable liner
-Simple gaiter system to add moisture protection
-Cuff range for touring is 74 degrees (plus the “friction-less” pivot that Atomic markets is awesome)
-Relatively soft AT boot which makes the feel closer to a snowboard boot, but without lacking the support and rigidity you’re looking for if you’re considering the switch.
-One boot can splitboard, ride your resort board, and ski!
The Backland Pro has a simple cuff system as well as a short gaiter. Low profile and effective.
Atomic states a 74 degree cuff rotation – can my ankle even rotate that far?
Potential drawbacks of the Backland + Link Lever
-Lightweight boot – I have yet to discover how everything will hold up over many seasons of use. The boot is flexing in a way that it wasn’t necessarily designed to.
-Field repair possibilities. The BOA tensioning system is hard to field repair if it blows. If the Link Lever fails, ski straps? Extra Link Lever in the repair kit?
-Stock liner is thin – I could see this being problematic on a cold weather expedition
I think it’s worth thinking critically about the potential fail points of the system with these two components of the Link Lever and Backland AT Boot. I have not experienced anything serious at this point, but it does cause me to think about what I carry in a field repair kit, because these two elements are so critical to movement in the mountains.
How the Link Lever system could be more versatile
-A way to lock the spring in ride mode (similar to a stock ski/walk lever) for split skiing rigidity
-Simple field repair kit specific to the Link Lever
After several months of touring on this system, I would highly recommend the Phantom Link Lever + Atomic Backland AT boot for the split-tech curious individual. I have tested this system through long-spring splitboard mountaineering missions, shorter mid-winter powder laps, and on my solid board in the ski area and all its awful conditions. I’ve even utilized the boot to its full potential, having the stock ski mode levers back in and decided to learn to ski. Slippery slope? Maybe, but let’s be real we’re all just sliding on snow and innovation is a really cool thing.
It’s not all about the up – the Phantom Link Lever has made the Atomic Backland Pro ride like my favorite snowboard boot, only way more capable.
Shop for Phantom Link Levers here.
Shop for Atomic Backland Pro boots.
Jonathan Cooper (“Coop”) grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has been playing in the mountains since he was a teen. This was about the same time he made the fateful decision to strap a snowboard to his feet, which has led to a lifelong pursuit of powdery turns. Professionally speaking, he has been working as a ski guide, avalanche educator, and in emergency medicine for over a decade. During the winter months he can be found chasing snow, and passing on his passion for education and the backcountry through teaching avalanche courses for numerous providers in southwest Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest. Similarly, his passion for wilderness medicine has led him to teach for Desert Mountain Medicine all over the West. If you’re interested, you can find a course through Mountain Trip and Mountain West Rescue. In the end, all of this experience has merely been training for his contributions to the almighty WildSnow.com.
28 comments
I snowboarded in the backcountry for 15 years utilizing a voile split decision with bail bindings and a pair of koflach plastic mountaineering boots. It was a good set up for its time. I had become so efficient with the transitions, I would often be waiting on the skiers. But, that was only during transitions. Rolling terrain and traverses were a completely different story and I often found myself way behind or pleading with my ski buddies to make the traverse line “boarder friendly”. Ultimately, I opted for the right tools for the job and I bought an AT setup. My knuckles (and my ski partners) are still thanking me!
Charlie, as a life-long tele skier that’s dabbling in snowboarding and soon taking delivery of a splitboard, I can assure you that the amount of tech-nerdery in constant snowboard binding and stance adjustments makes tele skiers look like they’ve got their shit together! I can’t wait to double down and get ultra tweaky when my splitboard shows. Hard or soft boots? Aaagh!
And Coop – I’ve got Fischer Travers and Scarpa F1s. Any mileage on either of those with a splitboard?
Adam,
No time on the Fischer Travers or Scarpa F1s. I think the issue I keep running into is a simple way to modify the ski/walk mode lever to allow for a progressive forward flex, while being locked out in reverse. This is where the Link Lever has really made a difference.
Adam, I’ve been on the Fischer Travers and Travers Carbons for the past four seasons, both touring and riding the lifts. I love them. I ride them in walk mode all the time but with the upper cuff tight. Forward flex is really nice, similar to a soft boot setup. Rearward flex is also abundant–kind of like riding with no highbacks–and takes some getting used to. Riding them in ski mode makes for a rigid and jarring experience and I abandoned it very early in the learning curve. If something like the Link Lever ever gets made for the Travers, I’d be one of the first in line.
You make splitboarders sound like telemarkers. 😉
I like the same softer, more progressive forward flex in a 3 buckle tele boot that this product provides to splitters. I have been hacking up a pair of Rush cuffs and TX Pro shells to reduce weight and increase ROM. I thought about putting an Alien ski/walk mechanism on them but at $60 for one it was too much for my retiree gear budget to handle. So I went to Homac (I live in Japan) and bought T-nuts and wing head machine screws and made my own out of a scrap of steel bar to make a poor man’s dirtbag telemark LaSportiva ski walk switch. My modified TX Pros weigh 1600 g and have a ROM of 21 degrees, which are both a lot better than a stock TX Pro. If I had the $200 to spare I would buy these and start hacking up my boots to make them fit. Yes, it’s true. Telemarking is stupid.
Jonathan can you comment on the stiffness of the atomic backland models compared to the tlt6 that I am using? Unmodded other than lean lock. I’m a lighter rider so hoping the backland is a little less stiff.
@idaho I usually switch to ski mode on the split once the main part of the days riding is done rather than try and scootch around or transition to get out. I think if you want to splitboard in a lot of places you gotta learn to ski it. Relatively quick and easy with hardboot and tech toe setup.
Kyle, I have used TLT6’s for several seasons. I would say the Backland Pro is less stiff, but with the Link Lever the comparison is hard. I modded the TLT6 ski/walk mode plate to allow for forward flex, but it was not nearly as progressive and consistent. The Backland is also a much more comfortable boot for my foot (and the heat moldable shell makes it easy to get a good fit). The Link Lever comes with 3 different spring tensions to allow for a soft or stiffer flex depending on rider weight/size and preference. I’d recommend the Backland Pro + Link Lever compared to the TLT 6.
Ok thanks for the comment. I was wondering how it flexed more in the directions tip and tail if that makes sense. I’ll go into a shop and have a peak at the atomic boot. I had contacted phantom and they were helpful about the boots, and recommended I put an intuition liner in the atomic. I did that with the tlt6 a few years back and I think it’s a better liner. The one place I can’t quite get my hardboots to feel as good as the soft is the resort. Not sure if the atomic would be better..
Does anyone know how the Backland Pros ride verse the Backland Carbon and Backland Ultimate? and how they do with the link levers?
It works with the full range of backlands afaik.
It would be nice to get an overview on all the backlands over the few years, there are quite a few models out there. From what I know the link levers work on all backlands, and the ultimate is the softer of the boots with a poor liner. I’m not sure how the backlands have changed over the years, trying to figure that out so I can search for past season models and used boots
I had the 17/18 (I think, orange and bright blue ones) and now the pros from this year. What I’ve noticed is where the cuff connects to the “high back” there’s some rivets there and the connecting plastic is a little burlier. This is where my old ones failed, you can see when you forward flex the boots without the lever a lot of pressure is pushing these out. I was skeptical about the boa but it’s a far better design than the older clip style closure on the lower. I broke both of those off on the old pair while boot packing and they’d constantly get popped up by my pole baskets. You could crank them down a little more though. The liners on the new pros are also a little thicker but have a built in tongue where the older style had a removeable tongue. I never used the removable one and don’t really notice a ride difference even before the link levers. Which brings me to comfort, the tongue, liner and outsole fit me way better on the pros. On my old ones I got them molded with the atomic system and punched two different times and they were mostly comfortable but still had a lot of pressure on my medial ankle bones. The new pros fit me well out of the box which is kind of crazy considering how painful the old ones were on day one. I’m fact, they’re a joy to be in and more comfortable than a blown out driver x.
Hi Tyler,
Any comment on sizing for the BackLand Pros vs the Orange and Bright Blue Alpines? Was sizing similar? If you don’t mine me asking what size street shoe you wear and what size Backland pros you went with?
Also have you had much packing out on the Backland Pro liner?
Unfortunately, I need to mail order so I need a starting point. I did try on on the 29/29.5 Alpines and I’m a size 11 street shoe.
Thanks,
Derek
Phantom had a fleet of demo TLTsomethings that they sold off when the Link Levers started production. Does anyone know if they have a fleet of Backlands now? I’ve been trying to make hardboots my go-to for years, and I’m getting tired of waiting for the silver bullet. I’d love the link levers and backlands to be the thing that finally pulls it all together. I’ve tried 4 different AT boots through the years, some modded beyond belief, some bone stock, and never felt more than a minor difference in quality of turns on the down.
I’m inches from ordering some K2 Aspects for mountaineering, and selling my hardboot toepieces and plates. I’ll keep my MTN Explores for skiing with the kids on my XCDs.
I ride K2 Aspect boots and spark surge. I get tired.
@Paul have you tried a modified tlt6 ? The green ones?
Also you mentioned plates. Using phantom or Dyno dh from spark?
I’ve been riding Spark plates on canted pucks since the red paint version, but I started on Voile mountain plates waaay back. I bought some of the pre-modded TLT-6s that Phantom sold that I referenced above (they went full-send while modding them!) and worked with a bootfitter for 2 rounds of trying to dial them into my feet. With the TLTs I found that a) the flex of the super-modified boot was still uncomfortable, with a loss of precise edge-to-edge control on my board in the trees and moguls, and b) even with a lot of bootfitting, I will probably never have a dynafit-compatible foot. I’ve also used Scarpa Lasers, Fischer TransAlps, and am currently on Salomon MTN Explores with various amounts of modding.
Back to my question… Does anyone know if there are demo Backlands with the Link Levers?
Sorry, I meant to say their super-modded ones that I tried were the blue and yellow generation. Thanks!
Okay, I’m using Dyno Dh with canted pucks also. I also have noticed a bit of difficulty in tight trees compared to soft boots, and I won’t ride hardboot setup inbounds. That’s about the only things I don’t like, for most of the riding I do in the backcountry I prefer hardboots and don’t see myself going back. But I am interested in any technology that makes the ride better so I’m definitely curious about the backland and levers.
Sounds like we are having EXACTLY the same experience. I live in New England (Vermont), where tree runs are a requirement of every outing, if not most of the day, so the loss of performance there is a bigger deal. Pow Surfing or even high-speed arcs on big open slopes are no problem, and I don’t hesitate to use my hardboot setup on trips out west.
Yeah I think if was only riding tight trees on my outings I would be on a soft boot setup for sure. Generally tighter trees are just encountered on the exits in the backcountry where I am in BC. Usually by then it’s crappy terrain with flats and ups and downs so I am in full split ski mode.
I’m wondering if that feeling of not having the response in trees is due to the non progressive flex in a boot like a tlt6 say, where when you lean toe side it takes a bit before the boot reacts. The other day I tightened my tlt6 more than usually for a tree run and it handled it much better. Usually I leave the top buckle with a little more give.
I think in soft boots and straps you can just manipulate the board a little easier because you can fairly easily move the boots in any direction. I think also the phantom bindings would make a difference also. I haven’t tried them yet.
Would like to try the atomic for sure as I can’t see ever going back to softboots for the backcountry, the benefits are just too many so I will continue to look for the holy grail boot(:
I saw some social media of Jeremy Jones riding with Reudi Beglinger(spelling?) and Reudi was riding phantom setup. Hopefully Jones gets the hardboot big then maybe we would see a boot..
Great write-up Jonathan! Wildsnow now hosts information on the Holy Trinity of hardbooting (Backland, TLT6, and Procline)
Does anyone have plans to produce a freeride/touring snowboard specific hard boot? Been using non-modified Garmont Megarides ridden in walk mode, for 10 seasons or so. 30+ years of hard boot riding for me, looks like there is finally enough of a market to develop an actual snowboard specific hard boot. Anything on the horizon?
Blister gear did a podcast with the founder of Spark R&D. Essentially, making a boot is about a billion times more difficult and expensive than making a board or binding, and he seemed to believe the demand just isnt there yet.
Chicken or egg argument I guess.
I have using Atomic boots for both skiing and splitboarding. I have a pair of close to worn-out 1st gen Backland Carbons with the stiff tongue and find that buckled tight in walk mode works pretty well, stiff enough to control my board due to the stiff tongue and pretty comfortable to walk in when I unbuckle the top buckle. And too stiff for me buckled and locked. I also have a pair of 2019-20 Backland Carbons that don’t work well out of the box – too stiff buckled with the rear lock mechanism engaged and way too soft (free-moving) buckled with the rear lock disengaged. Great for skiing, though. I like the concept of the Link Lever but I’d need to be able to change the levers out very quickly for it to work for me since I go back and forth. Caveat – I ski a lot more than I ride and am generally not a very good rider…
I found the older model Scarpa Flash to be my “holy grail” . The buckles cross the boot right where snowboard bindings do. I hacked and cut the whole upper part of the boot away except I left a sort of highback just like in a snowboard binding. After trying modded TLT’s and finding them too stiff still, I now have the frankenboot I’ve always wanted, even if it don’t look pretty They ride everything from Couloirs to tight trees and have the same surfy feel as my old soft boots in all the backcountry terrain I ride. Having the buckles in the right place has made all the difference. YMMV.
Jonathan thank you for your review, really helpful and important. Just wondering how would you rate the lateral flex of the backlands. Since it’s such an important characteristic of a boot, being able to fluidly move not only toe-heelside but also front-aft. This is what promotes a surfty feeling in my opinion and can produce a surfy riding style if one prefers such. Thinking that the backlands out of their box get just modified for the heel toe flexion with the link lever, I would expect them to be a bit stiff on their lateral flexion? (A comparison with tlts or Proclines would be helpful)
Also do you find the maximum forward flexing point enough for you, is it adjustable if for example someone would prefer to be bending the knees more and as a consequence flex the boot more?
Thanks!
Pierre Gignoux has a similar mechanism, but it doens’t fit to backland is just for dna boots.
Thank you for the mechanism.
I hope to try as soon as.
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