TLT Thoughts: The 5, 8, and the X

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

By Kevin Grove

A bit about me, I prefer a single boot quiver. This means I’m using one boot for all types of snow, and any ski under my foot. I occasionally ski at the area with my young daughters, but I’m 99% in the backcountry. I prefer skiing technical descents in the mountains, but any turn is usually a good turn, so I’m not that picky. I’ve owned Dynafit TLT boots exclusively for the past decade or more. Here are my notes comparing the TLT 5, TLT 8 Carbonio, and the new TLT X.

From right to left: Dynafit TLT X, 8, and 5.

Sizes in each make:

TLT 5:28.5

TLT 8 Carbonio:27.5

TLT X:27.5 (Came stock with a 27 liner, I placed my own 27.5 liners in the X)

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Almost to XI: A First Few Weeks in the Dynafit TLT X

by Jason Albert
written by Jason Albert

A Dynafit studio shot of the TLT X.

Dynafit is oh so close to going to XI (11). We are not there yet, nor is Dynafit. They have, though, released some sizes of the new Dynafit TLT X, which will be out in the full-size range this fall. As the X suggests, this is another numerative iteration of the storied TLT line of boots. And yes, they skipped the TLT 9 version, and depending on the glass slipper’s fit, that story was either optimistic, as in I know this foot-binding will dissipate when I’m flying up the skintrack, or maybe, the fit all along, in whatever iteration you scored, was bliss.

Always try the boot on, if you can, before you buy. And if there is anything I’ve learned from boot reviews and the follow-up comments, it’s that we all have different feet (and even different feet on the same torso) and we come to the marketplace looking for something ideal, but that ideal remains just out of reach for many.

For me, the TLT 5s were torture. The TLT 6-P was a smidge less torturous with some punching, the PDG is a slipper fit. But I was scared away many years ago from any TLT prefixed boot. Call the TLT X boot, for me, a reason to reconsider, and maybe covet, Dynafit’s latest lightweight tourers.

The Dynafit TLT X incorporates a BOA-like “Twistfit” knob that replaces the lower buckle system of the TLT 8s. The 8’s upper and lower buckles were ratcheted. And, rejoice or sigh, the new TLTs forgo the revolution that was the speed nose.

Onward.

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Tecnica Zero G Peak Carbon Ski Boot Review: First Look

by Ben Hoiness
written by Ben Hoiness
All new Tecnica Zero G Peak ski boot.

Tecnica’s new entry into the 1kg class of backcountry ski boots: enter the Zero G Peak.

Tecnica arrives in the 1kg class of boots with their Zero G Peak line of boots; we review the Zero G Peak Carbon, the stiffest boot in the line.

 

Stated Weight: 990 Grams
ROM: 75 degrees
Sole: Vibram
Size tested: 26.5

I think boots in this weight class probably have the biggest boots to fill. Which means there’s opportunity. With the growing popularity of hauling fatter skis into the backcountry, many people seek a boot that walks well and drives a bigger ski(105mm+) in a variety of conditions. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to ski a lot of lightweight boots trying to meet this coveted sub kilo ski-well walk-well mark: I’ll admit, I still haven’t found it.

A little background on my daily skiing set-ups and terrain: I primarily ski a Zero G Tour Pro in a 25.5 (4 buckle big boot) and a Scarpa F1LT in a 26 (the 1 kg little boot). I typically ski my big boots on days when I’m more focused on the skiing or if I’m less concerned about speed on the ascent. I ski the Zero G Pro with four different skis, the 4FRNT Renegade122, MSP 107, and MSP99. As for my lighter boots, I tend to ski these on bigger days (8-12k vert) or when speed on the ascent is paramount. I also prefer to ski a little boot in terrain where I am mainly hop turning as I find it easier to maneuver the ski with a lightweight boot. I ski the 4FRNT Hoji112, Raven104, and MSP99 with this boot. I live in Cooke city in the winter and my terrain varies from low-angle tree skiing to steep peak skiing when conditions allow.

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Scarpa F1 GT: First Look

by Dr Alex Lee
written by Dr Alex Lee

The Scarpa F1 GT comes on line next season. It adds to the F1 series with a more traditional buckle closure system with a slightly softer flex compared to the F1 LT.

Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road across Eurasia from 1271 to 1295, walking much of the distance from Venice to the royal court of Kublai Khan. Through his bipedalism, he proved Italians must know how to make a darn good pair of shoes. Known the world over for form, function, and quality, Italian footwear sets the gold standard for cobbler craftsmanship to this day. Straight from the foothills of the Dolomites, Scarpa makes boots for the up and the down in this tradition; ski boots, after all, are footwear (…I mean, the whole country even looks like a boot).

For 2023, Scarpa is adding to their current F1 line-up of fast and fun mountaineering-oriented boots with the Scarpa F1 GT.

This boot takes Scarpa’s flagship F1 LT and beefs it up with a buckle across the lower, in place of the LT’s Boa. These days Boas have a ton of fan fair, precise fit, and low weight, but plenty of folks still prefer the muscle and fit of a good ol’ fashioned buckle.

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Stiff Skiing and a kind ROM: Salomon’s 22/23 S/LAB MTN Summit

by Jason Albert
written by Jason Albert

Salomon’s S/LAB MTN Summit Pro ski boot available 2022-2023.

There are a few directions to go with a gear review. Allow the brain first to pitter-patter down the path of tech specs, or one might diverge and get wishy-washy and aim to appeal to one’s emotional sensibilities, saying things like, “nirvana was (or wasn’t) achieved when slarving this or that.” I’m acknowledging a few things upfront; there’s some subjectivity in reviews when deviating the discussion from strict spec standards. This is a boot review, and as you’ll likely do, please boot fit at a shop to ensure that what I’m about to say about the boot, aligns with what you’re looking for in a boot.

So, here we are to meditate on Salomon’s 2022-2023 S/LAB MTN Summit. This boot is at the sharp end material and cost-wise for the French brand’s revamped MTN boot series.

In total, the new line encompasses five boots, ranging from the S/LAB MTN Summit (MSRP: $799) and onward. The remaining four boots are the MTN Summit Pro (MSRP: $699), MTN Summit Pro W (MSRP: $699)m, MTN Summit Pure (MSRP: $599), and MTN Summit Pure W (MSRP: $599). Although tags like “Pro” and “Pure” are aspirational for some, I’m focusing on the straight-up S/LAB MTN Summit, which, although lacking those tags, sits atop the MTN price, stiffness, and lightness pyramid.

The S/LAB MTN Summit helps Salomon enter the ethereal realm of stiffish, yet big-vert, tourable 1kg boots. The weigh-in for our size 27.5 liners (with stock insoles) found 236g and 234g, with the shells weighing 970g and 974g, respectively. The 27.5 S/LAB MTN (BSL 298 mm) Summit is approximately a 1206g boot (27.5) with a 99mm last (27.5). For me, that’s in the 1kg+ discussion.

The 2022/2023 S/Lab MTN Summit comes in at approx. 2006g for a stiff-flexing light-on-your-feet touring option.

The Fit:
Enough hard data for the moment; let’s get subjective with boot fit. The boot-sole rubber meets the road with the fit. For a few years, as I torqued my feet in some old BD Quadrants and Dynafit TLT 6s, I considered my feet tough to fit into the “normal” parameters of an AT ski boot. On a whim, I mail-ordered a Fischer Travers Carbon in a 27.5. It was love at first BOA cinch. It turns out that as boot manufacturers have diversified their last widths, insole heights, and toe box shapes, more of us are finding proper fitting boots almost out of the box without heating, gluing, and punching. I now consider myself lucky; I easily fit into several boots with minimal mods.

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Dynafit Radical Pro – Review

by Julia Dubinina
written by Julia Dubinina

Looking up towards Beat me up Scotty’s Couloir near Fairy Meadow Hut: Radical Pro heaven. Photo: Krystin Norman.

A few months back, I wrote a first look overview of the Dynafit Radical Pro ski boot. After a few months of skiing the boot, I must say I adore it: it’s not only that they make me feel cool and “freeride.” They are everything I have wanted in a touring ski boot that I have spent the past eight years seeking. In this review, I will break down my favorite features and why you might love it too.

A bit about me

I am 5’9’’, 150 pounds, and an advanced skier.
For the past few years, I skied on the Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour. I also own the Dynafit Hoji Free 110.

Where have I skied it

I have used the Radical Pro for morning skin laps at our local ski resort (Snoqualmie pass); I’ve also gone on several shorter to midsize tours around Washington in various ski conditions, skied this boot in the resort, and brought it on a week-long hut trip in Canada.

Radical Pro after 20 days of use, not looking too beat up yet.

A bit about fit

I have heard various stories about Dynafit boots being hard to fit. I have found this to be true, which for me, began after I first tried the Dynafit Beast many years ago. It seemed that Dynafit was only meant for those with narrow feet, at least for women’s boots. However, with recent upgrades I applaud Dynafit for branching out of their usual narrower formula to accommodate wider feet.

I tend to have quite a few fit issues, but the Women’s Hoji Pro Tour mostly worked for me – I needed a few punches around my sixth toe area. For the Hoji Free 110 I needed a lot more work for a proper fit (review coming soon). For the Women’s Radical Pros, I molded the liners – presto. My toe box feels roomy but my heel is properly fitted. My calf has enough room to breathe, with the top buckles providing the appropriate amount of tightness when I need it. The middle buckle does not put any pressure points on my arch. Is this for real?

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