Boot Reviews Archives - The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

A First Look: Dalbello Quantum Asolo

by Zoë Roy October 19, 2021

The Dalbello Quantum Asolo is the brand sleek entry into the 1000g boot class. If this boot doesn’t say made in Italy, we’re not sure what does.

If a person were to place a wanted ad in a paper for a pair of boots made for long spring mountaineering tours, all-day comfort, and easy uphill walking with a claimed 65-degree range of motion, I bet these boots would answer. Possibly, if the stars align, there is potential for love at first sight. At least that’s the guess I’m hazarding at first look. Although knowing Dalbello’s history of making ripping alpine boots, I wouldn’t put it past them to make a lightweight boot that charges in midwinter powder and steeps as well.

Right off the bat, it’s obvious they’ve figured out a way to minimize weight by eliminating all buckles and creating a boot that weighs in at a light 1103g per boot (size 25.5, spoiler included). The cuff buckle usually appearing on most boots is replaced by a piece of easily sinch-able Dyneema cord. The cord attaches to the walk/ski (or hike/ride in Dalbello’s terms) mode lever in the back of the boot and a small cleat in front. By tensioning the cord, the boot’s upper is locked out.

A quick lacing system referred to as QLS, similar to BOA, easily tightens the bottom half of the boot, snugging it around the foot. Unclear as of yet how to fix the system in the event of failure, however, Dalbello states QLS replacement parts are available. (We’ll have more on QLS replacement in our long-term review.)

October 19, 2021 7 comments

Hoji Free 110 vs. Hoji Pro Tour — First Look & Comparo

by Julia Dubinina June 4, 2021

written by Julia Dubinina

Side by side view of the Pro Tour (left) and Free (right).

My feet have a wide forefoot (4 inches or 10.2 cm across), a small bunion on the side, a sixth toe bump on the other and a semi-high arch. Finding ski boots that fit my foot and ski well has become sort of a scavenger hunt adventure for me. Am I the only one who goes to ski shops to try different boots looking for that magic cinderella slipper? I have been doing that a lot less these days, given the pandemic, but also because I think I have finally found my current version of that mystical slipper.

In Lou’s Hoji identical twins, he outlined a deeper dive for Hoji Pro vs Hoji Free (130 flex). This post will provide a first look into the difference between the Hoji Free (110 flex) and the Women’s Hoji Pro Tour (also 110 Flex).

Prior to switching to the Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour, I spent six years skiing in Scarpa Gea RS. I loved the Scarpas but it was time for a change. One main drawback of the Scarpas was their ski-walk mechanism which commonly would get constricted with snow. Looking through other options, I was very intrigued by the Hoji walk/ski mode system, which is what led me to the Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour. I was psyched on the 103.5 mm last! Only a few (or many) trips to the ski shop for small punches and my feet felt the happiest they have ever been.

June 4, 2021 9 comments

La Sportiva Vanguard Touring Boot — Mad Scientist Marvel?

by Doug Stenclik May 10, 2021

written by Doug Stenclik

The La Sportiva Vanguard, new for 2021/2022 mixes a variety of boot technologies into one. Case in point: Double the cables double the fun.

In a world devoid of trade shows with supply chain issues plaguing the entire outdoor industry, it has been hard for the gear tester to get a grasp on innovation for the 2021-2022 season. Specifically, the ski touring boot story is setting up to be a year of the status quo. Next year, most manufacturers will release 2021-22 lines with updates to colors and plastics, but with designs that stay relatively in-line to where they’ve been for the last two years.

That was, until the La Sportiva Vanguard emerged from the laboratory deep within Italy’s Val di Fiemme valley.

We’ve been waiting a while for this boot. Back in 2020, the WildSnow crew rolled into the Denver Convention Center excited to get a glimpse, but when we arrived at the La Sportiva booth we were informed the new boot was not ready for unveiling and wouldn’t even be put into production that year. Although disappointing at the time, it seemed to be the more responsible road less taken as many manufacturers — LaSpo notwithstanding — had previously opted for rushing to production and missing important fall deadlines.

Instead of producing the much anticipated ski touring shoe, the engineers retreated to Italy and to sure up plans for the new design. Later that year, on a night we can only assume was filled with lightning strikes and thunderclaps, the La Sportiva Vanguard was born. Although the diode bolts were chopped at the cuff pivots before the pre-production run was released, you can definitely see what took so long in development. A brand new overlap design is being employed, different from the traditional cabrio or any overlap design of the past.

May 10, 2021 2 comments

Downhill Dream Boot — Scott Freeguide Carbon Review

by Guest Blogger April 26, 2021

written by Guest Blogger

The Scott Freeguide Carbon touring boot.

Written by Aaron Rice

I’ve come up with a patent pending method to test the skiability of a boot. Step 1. Check the weather and ignore all but the most optimistic forecast then plan accordingly for a two-foot dump! Step 2. Drive to the trailhead with skis that are 124 underfoot and 184 long. Step 3. Realize that it only snowed 3-6 inches and it’s sitting on top of frozen crud. Step 4. See if the boot in question can still drive a massively oversized ski in horrendous conditions!

During the winter months you can find me solely in the backcountry earning my turns. Unlike some new arrivals drawn to the ski touring for uphill fitness, I’ve always been and still am primarily in it for the down. For me the best way to get the best turns is to earn them. I believe in this philosophy so much that in 2016, I spent the year skinning and skiing 2.5 million vertical feet and setting a new record and did so wearing Vulcans on skis 95-124 underfoot! So with that as my background and continuing to ski 300-400 thousand vertical feet each year, I not only need a boot that is going to be the most fun on the down, but also one that’s going to tour like a dream.

Top: DPS Lotus 124 Pure 3 with Kingpins driven well by Scott Freeguide Carbons even in poor condition Bottom: DPS Cassiar 95 Tour 1 with Dynafit Speedturns and Vulcans - my primary setup during my record breaking year skiing 2.5 million human power feet.

Top: DPS Lotus 124 Pure 3 with Kingpins driven well by Scott Freeguide Carbons even in poor conditions.
Bottom: DPS Cassiar 95 Tour 1 with Dynafit Speedturns and Vulcans — my primary setup during my record breaking year skiing 2.5 million human power feet.

Intended use

Released in 2020, the Scott Freeguide Carbon is Scott’s offering for a freeride touring boot. It is the heaviest and stiffest boot in their touring line at an advertised 1455g (26.5) and 130 flex. The Superguide Carbon and the Cosmos III boots fill out their touring lineup, both a step lighter, softer, and less costly. The Freeguide is made with “Grilamid® mix + carbon fiber” which, best I can tell, is standard Grilamid plastic impregnated with carbon for added stiffness.

April 26, 2021 7 comments

Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W Touring Boot Review

by Cindy Hirschfeld April 7, 2021

written by Cindy Hirschfeld

The Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W Tech touring boot is a suitable option for narrow-footed women who seek a balance of downhill and uphill performance, with slightly more emphasis on the downhill.

Hope springs eternal in backcountry ski touring, for powder days, for epic runs, for snow stability—and for a boot that performs just the way you want it to on both the uphill and the down. In my ongoing quest for just such a boot, I’ve been using Atomic’s Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W Tech GW for the past three and a half months. Spoiler alert: it excels on the downhill. That means I’ve been very happy with it for at least 50 percent of the time, and often much more.

Falling between Atomic’s standard alpine boots and the brand’s lightweight, touring-specific Backland series, the Hawx Ultra XTD family aims to fill the gap by enabling solid downhill performance with enough range of motion and weight savings to competently tour. At $700, the 115 W Tech is right in line pricewise with other women’s AT boots.

When I first opened the box, my heart sank just a bit as I noticed the boot’s traditional overlap, four-buckle construction. Not only was it not what I expected for an AT boot, but up to then I’d only toured in boots with three-piece tongue construction. I feared the Hawx Ultra XTD would be heavy and cumbersome for skinning. But when I lifted one up, I realized it was about as light as the Scarpa Geas I’d skied in for the past several years, and way lighter than my alpine boots. (A pair of the Hawx Ultra XTD weighs in at 1,360 grams (size 24.5); for comparison, current-model Geas are 1,250 grams (size 25), and my older ones are a tad heavier.) Hope restored.

April 7, 2021 5 comments

Dynafit Race Review Part I — Mezzalama Ski, PDG 2 Boot

by Slator Aplin March 15, 2021

written by Slator Aplin

Left: Groomer touring at the beginning of a skimo race. Middle: A double skin rip (#doubleskinrip) executed in mediocre fashion. Right: Attack Turtle descent style performed flawlessly.

Is there a place for race gear in your backcountry quiver?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever found yourself craving the following experiences out of ski touring:

— Redlining while ski-jogging up a resort. Either racing against other people or alone while resort skiers heckle ‘You’re going the wrong way!’

— Transitioning at a blistering pace (ideally performing the legendary double-skin-rip).

— Descending in classic ‘Attack Turtle’ style, praying for the run to finish soon so you can get back to touring uphill.

— Weighing your gear on a scale and making a Gear Weight Spreadsheet (kit measured in grams obviously).

If you raised your hand to any/all of these (and maybe even if you didn’t), you should probably look into skimo racing. Skimo racing is a silly, intense niche of our beloved backcountry skiing community. If the subsets of ski touring were placed on a gradient from uphill to downhill oriented, skimo would slam against the uphill-oriented side of that spectrum. The gear is as light as possible while still managing to ski downhill (Check out ISMF’s shockingly strict and precise rules about gear). The intent behind the sport is to travel as fast as possible both up and down (or train to do so at some other time).

Spectrum of ski touring infographic. Obviously super advanced graphic design.

Jokes and cultural priming aside, this blog post is first and foremost a gear review, but also a commentary on the sport of skimo racing. I reviewed the Dynafit Mezzalama ski, the PDG 2 boot and the Low Tech Race 105 binding (LTR105). This race kit is capable of a solid finish at any North American skimo event. It’s also a quality training kit for resort fitness touring. The combo of Dynafit skis, bindings and boots is designed for the gram-counting, second-shaving, take-racing-seriously community.

But is that all this gear is capable of? Is there more that race gear can offer to the backcountry community, or is it confined to the packed powder of ski areas and flagged off race courses? How dreamy does it sound to log backcountry vert while moving at a skimo race pace…(I have dreams of big alpine enchainments like this, do you?) I reviewed the Dynafit race kit to get a better understanding of ‘skimo’ and test the limits of this uphill-most oriented touring equipment.

This review is broken into two parts: a narrative review of the Mezzalama ski and PDG 2 boot followed by a review of the LTR 105 binding and an epilogue of sorts sharing my lessons learned from taking race gear into the backcountry.

March 15, 2021 15 comments

Ski Touring Boots 2021-22 — Upgrades to Past Favs

by Slator Aplin March 1, 2021

written by Slator Aplin

The magenta Gea RS and Aqua Maestrale RS feature new more sustainable materials, the Walk XT ski/walk mechanism, and fancy exoskeleton cuffs and shells to help transfer power through the boot.

Touring boots are the keystone of the equipment necessary to move in the mountains. Without them, your feet would be freezing, vulnerable, wet, and not be able to click into touring bindings. With them, you can glide uphill, slide downhill, and walk to and from your car in the parking lot without the signature resort-boot-cowboy-gait.

We have filtered through the ski touring industry to see what’s new for the 2021 season. The general theme for the development happening this season is: conservative. There are no crazy, space-age developments set to revolutionize the touring world come Fall 2021. However, what is notable within the industry are minor improvements on already great equipment. Incremental steady change in the positive direction seems to be a great responsible decision. Nice one ski touring industry. So without further adieu, let’s get into the new boots for the 2021 season:

Redesigned Scarpa Maestrale/Gea & Ladies F1LT

The Women’s Gea and Men’s Maestrale are the quintessential mid-range touring boot. A middle ground between uphill and downhill performance. Scarpa says they are ‘the world’s best selling and highest performing backcountry ski boot.’ We’ll reserve such judgement. But I sure do see quite a few of them on the skin track each season. For 2021, they both receive incremental improvements to move a step forward in their ski boot design fame.

March 1, 2021 32 comments

Light(ish) & Robust — 2021/22 Fischer Transalp First Look

by Manasseh Franklin February 18, 2021

written by Manasseh Franklin

A crew of socially distanced media folk with matching Fischer Transalp Pros.

Here’s a testament to the contemporary age of ski touring gear: one night last week, I imagined an ideal boot. This boot would be light enough for the long tours I mostly embark on, but more robust than the 1000g boots I typically wear. It’d have enough power to drive a 100mm underfoot ski without overpowering an 85 underfoot ski. It would walk exceptionally well, be comfortable enough for big days and be capable of enough power transfer to show up on demanding descents.

The next day, I got to try out that very boot. It seems the folks at Fischer had similar ambitions in thinking up the 2021-22 Fischer Transalp. It is light-ish (1280g for 26), stiff for its class (approximately 120 flex), powerful enough to drive a larger ski, compatible with a minimal tech binding or burlier hybrid like the Shift, and easy to transition between efficient walk mode and stiff, sturdy ski mode.

I first met the Transalp at a parking lot of the west side of Eisenhower Tunnel. My legs were wobbly from 2.5 hours of white knuckled driving in blowing and sloshing snow and I was happy to finally get out of the truck. At least the 24.5 women’s Tour model of the Transalp fit well, though it took some finagling to adjust the buckles as I shuffled into position on the skin track between skiing legend Mike Hattrup and a small handful of safely distanced media folk.

It was a day of low expectations for skiing. Our guide, Rocky Mountain Guides owner Peter Krainz kept reminding the group in his playful Austrian accent that really, we were just out for a walk. The tundra we approached was wind scoured, peppered with rocks and bushes, and had enough fresh swirling snow on top to turn the rocks into unwitting core shots. The most important thing was to see how the Transalp toured, he reminded us. Right, but we all secretly hoped for at least a few decent turns.

February 18, 2021 34 comments

A Carbon Fibre Freeride Boot? — Pierre Gignoux Mountain Review

by Doug Stenclik February 1, 2021

written by Doug Stenclik

Skipping over facet pillows in Colorado is about as freeride as this skinny skier gets.

Pulling into Moe’s Bagels in Boulder, fresh off my one-way flight from the east coast as a young 22 year old, I looked around in awe at the fleet of carbon road bikes carelessly corralled against the railings. Just as I was fully kitted out in Prana organic wool for 30-foot, single-pitch, well-bolted sport climbs, so too were my spandex laden friends for their 30-mile pre-beer lunch rides. It was already then that I realized the slimming aesthetics of skin tight clothing worn confidently and definitely even if barely concealing an ever present if not inexplicably toned beer gut. I also knew from a young age that the real goal in life was to grow old doing what you love and one day be able to afford and corral a carbon steed of my own.

However, as I grew into my own early middle age and ever deeper into the outdoor gear industry, my ambitions turned to bringing the unadulterated confidence observed on the cream cheese-soaked pavement patio in Boulder to the sport of ski touring. Although spandex on the backcountry skin track is no longer unheard of, we still have a long way to go. But with the creation of the Mountain, the world’s first carbon freeride touring boot by Pierre Gignoux, at least the carbon slippers have a chance to make it onto the every-skiers feet.

Overview

Pierre Gignoux has an illustrious history of making race carbon ski shoes (calling them boots doesn’t do them justice) for the top level athletes in the world. Seven years ago I donned my first pair of Pierre Gignoux Morpho 400s in an attempt to prove that carbon really could buy happiness (if not a modicum of athletic success and at least delay the inevitable health food diet). However, the irony of a mid pack athlete unnecessarily skiing the world’s lightest boot was lost on a crowd who still thought the act of skinning was to “earn your turns” instead of a sport in and of itself. Years later, rando races in the US are still fringe, but the appetite for weight savings to gain extra precious powder laps is growing every year.

From the moment I unboxed these ski boot stilettos, the tagline “100% Pleasure” from the Pierre Gignoux website rang true. A beautifully sculpted handmade full carbon boot started up at me and I knew the Mountain was the boot to bring carbon fibre in the United States to the dozens if not the masses.

February 1, 2021 30 comments

Leaner and Softer — Modding The Hoji Pro

by Lou Dawson January 31, 2021

written by Lou Dawson

The Hoji Pro is one beefy boot. Strap in, tighten the upper buckles, and most tour skiers will never say, “This thing it too soft.”

On the other hand… there are among our vast cadre of aficionados who like the design and fit of the Pro, yet would prefer a few more degrees of cuff lean angle, or a softened forward flex. Here’s a few mods that’ll get you there. Caveats: Neither mod is reversible. The lean mod will get you at most about three degrees. The softening mod has a radical effect on both the softness and progressive flex. I recommend for smaller, less aggressive skiers who are certain the boot is too stiff. Wear an N95 mask while grinding the carbon infused plastic. This mod’s overall WildSnow difficulty rating and specialized tool needs: nine out of ten screwdrivers.

Object at hand, 2018-2019 Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour ski boot.

The surgery zone. With the liner removed, it’s easy to spot the Hoji Pro cuff lean stops. Work the lean-lock lever, and you’ll see how the Hoji-Lock functions. It’s ingenious.

Hoji-lock lean-lock engaged. The slot engages a vertical plastic tab, interface is marked with grey sharpie. The lean mod involves removing a small amount of material from the tab, so the slot can engage with the cuff farther forward. The trick is you can’t remove a lot of plastic from the tab as the slot has a locator tab that has to slide behind things. How this works is obvious when you observe things live.

January 31, 2021 7 comments

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