Boots: two buckles and thinner liners
Looking for efficiency
- Author: Claudio Primavesi
- Photographer: Giovanni Danieli
Less has changed in ski boots than in the skis themselves. Light touring is about more than weight (which ranges from under kilo to 1.2 kg or slightly more).
It’s also about simplicity and minimalism. This is why boots for light touring have just two buckles (also popular are the BOA Fit System for the toe + lever buckle for the cuff or BOA/lever for the toe and strap buckle for the cuff), with lower cuff articulation only on race models and often race-ready mechanisms to go from walking to skiing mode. Ski boots that contain more carbon fiber are usually lighter, but are also better able to control more responsive skis, including those that may be just outside the light category, because of the stiffness of carbon.
Take for example the Scarpa F1 XT, or the Tecnica Zero G Peak and Peak Carbon. These boots are made for efficiency, not comfort. That means thinner liners that better convey your commands and less space inside the boot (giving them less insulation). With few exceptions, it’s harder to get into and out of these boots, so you need to try them on before you buy, get familiar with them at home, and have your liners and maybe even the shells molded for a custom fit. Of course, there are a few crossover products that are lightweight, if not ultralight, warmer and more comfortable, at the expense of a bit of performance. It might sound like a unicorn, but they exist.
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Materials are evolving, which is increasing the opportunities for pushing the boundaries of mountaineering splitboarding. It’s no longer just about easy tours, a few jumps and a beer. Thanks to innovative new setups and growing knowledge within the community, long ascents and steep terrain no longer intimidate.
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Probably The most accurate ski test out there.
