Tecnica Cochise Pro, click to enlarge.
If someone wants to count the number of tech compatible AT boots that’ll be available next year, be my guest. But pray you have enough neurons to handle the vigintillion names you’ll need to process. In all seriousness, I hope this is one of the last boot overviews we need to do for next season, and we can start testing our top choices. Otherwise, we have descended to the lowest level of gear geekdom and will require brain cloning surgery from Greg Hill so we can remember how to actually walk uphill, instead of just think about it.
Tecnica of course has one heck of a populated ski-boot line, so we’ll focus only on those that are true to the uphill downhill ethos. Their “Free Mountain” category is the one. Includes eight models which are alpine-like boots that tour (plus Bodacious model with permanently fixed cuff, but still with tech fitting sole option). Last year we covered the freshman class of these fine machines, Tecnica details here.
Tecnica backcountry skiing boots.
Biggest news is they made a variation of their popular Cochise model that uses lighter plastic and low-mass Palau liner to create the rather impressive Cochise Pro Light that scales at only 1610 grams. But other new models are cool as well. List (number with name is flex rating):
– Cochise 130 Pro, 98 last, stiff as your front door.
– Cochise 120, 100 last, the workhorse.
– Cochise 110, 100 last, for those who like softer boots.
– Cochise 100, 100 last, for those who like softer softer boots.
– Cochise 90, 100 last, for those who like softer softer softer boots.
– Cochise Pro Light 120, 100 last, flagship shoe for combining up and down.
– Cochise W100, 100 last, for ladies.
– Cochise W90, 100 last, a bit softer for small framed gals who don’t need concrete blocks on their feet.
All above have interchangeable sole option for tech fittings, all tech fittings are the certified beef-o-matic version that Tecnica came up with last year. Honestly, impressive, and more testimony to the vigintillion choices in uphill capable boots that perform on the down. Happy shopping, and if you need brain cloning to help refocus on actually skiing after you’re done with gear overload, just call 250-new-brain and ask for Mr. H. He can use a chainsaw like scalpel, or so I’ve heard.
Tecnica Free Mountain boots such as Cochise.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lou.dawson.writer
21 comments
I think your top picture is ob the Coshise Pro, not the Cochise Light. There was a little info on Blister Gear Review, and according to them and their pics the light has a normal velcro power strap (not like the hybrid buckle strap on the normal cochise) and the buckles are different (lighter).
Thanks Justin, you’re right. The color is the same… PR material says Cochise Pro Light has “3 alu micro light buckles,” The power strap doesn’t have the hybrid buckle system. Cochise and Cochise womens 100, 90 also lack the hybrid buckle/powerstrap system.
Is that 1610gr for the boot no liner, or with liner? Also, can’t seem to find the TLT5 on the weight chart. And finally, what’s the range of movement on these? Anything even close to a regular AT boot? Doesn’t look like it.
“If someone wants to count the number of tech compatible AT boots that’ll be available next year, be my guest.”
– My spreadsheet summary has 71, but that’s including some current-season models that might be discontinued by next season, as well as “Tech”-compatible NTN boots, although excluding all the women’s variations of men’s/unisex boots.
Jonathan, you are scaring me.
I like the Cochise Pro Light for sure–1610 grams versus my Dynafit Zzero 4-C at 1660 grams (with Superfeet footbed. Tecnica has been making really great boots for many years. Good to see more tech compatible ones.
Does anyone know if anything out there doesn’t have a ski mode that LOCKS you into one super upright position? I’ve engineered my radiums to allow a lot more foward flex but it only works cause I’m using a stiff liner, which doesn’t tour that well.
The boot spreadsheet was pretty much out of necessity – many of my avy students were asking me about boots, and even the best shops out here have only a very limited selection, so just sending out the same comprehensive spreadsheet with some very basic specs and general suitability was easier than providing tailored recs to different students.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: although 71 different models are either currently on the market or about to be, only 29 are discontinued (although I’m probably missing a few Euro-only econo versions of the Laser from awhile back). In other words, more than twice as many Dynafit/”Tech” boots are available now than have ever been previously over the cumulative decade-and-a-half-or-so history of Dynafit bindings.
Hey Jonathan,
How about a link to your boot spreadsheet? Then we all can learn from your extra credit work. 😀
^ I second this suggestion!
I’ve linked it now from my avalanche course blogspot (within the winter gear page).
I was just about to buy the cochise…but now with the light version coming out, I might need to hold off till this fall. They are dropping a lot of weight (320 grams/boot?). The durability of the cochise is what drew me to the boot, I wonder if the weight savings of the light version will compromise any of this durability. If they are just cutting weight on buckles, it should be fine.
Anyone know if the shell will change?
Aaah and I just got my new Garmont’s! These look great though!
Colin, I feel your pain, and am happy to contribute to it (grin). Lou
looking for an A.T boot around 302mm..my old Garmont’s are done!!..my new ones a little big…Technicas?Tks.
Sam F – I actually like the stock flex on my Radiums, however, I find the flex rating and the progression vary by boot size, so yours could feel very different from mine (stock everything). One thought if you desire a more flexible forward flex would be to integrate a spring/bushing mechanism so that the forward lean isn’t locked into a single position, like many alpine snowboard boots use (aka “hard boots,” for carving/racing). You can essentially make the same mechanism with some threaded rod, nylock nuts, washers and a small stiff spring and/or bushing. Luckily the Radiums have a very simple forward lean mech that is held on with 4 bolts and it would be easy to make a homebrew mech that bolts on instead.
I am looking to buy this years cochise for primarily AT / snowmobile use…and I am between sizes. I am a 1 (or slightly less) to 1.5 finger fit in the 27.5, and a 2 to 2.5 finger fit in the 28.5. The 27.5 feels good stock, and the 28.5 only feels good with an intuition liner to help take up room. I wear 11.5 – 12 street shoe.
I like a performance fit even with an AT boot, but do have a bone spur on both back heals that I need to make sure doesn’t get worse.
What is the best way to fit? Should I fit to the 27.5, and do shell work on my bigger foot, or fit to the 28.5, and try to fill in the space?
Aaron,
Definitely go with the 27.5 especially if you prefer a tighter fit. The Triax plastic is very easy to work with/modify. An experienced boot fitter can easilly make a little more room where you need it. Length, width, spur, it doesn’t matter. It’s much easier to make room in a boot than take up space. As the liners pack out you will be much happier in the smaller size in the long run.
Lou, I was looking for the link to Jonathan’s boot spreadsheet mentioned in the comments above, but can’t seem to find it. Could you cut and paste the link into a comment response?
Hi Tom, we’re not working with Jonathan any more, and I’m not sure where that would be. I’ll look into it. Sorry about the bad link, we battle against those constantly… Lou
I was so interested, I had to track down Jonathan’s spreadsheet myself.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6QMdxLQ2UK-UDlNVTJtUjRVcXc
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