TESTED 2023
Comfort and innovative features for classic tours and long traverses
- Buyer’s Guide reviews
- In words
- Technical specifications
Buyer’s Guide reviews
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
In words
Intro
A one-of-a-kind project; very innovative and sophisticated in terms of technical features, but at the same time a little impractical. Both cuff and shell are made from eco-friendly Pebax, derived from castor oil, while the rivets are easily changed at home if necessary. Weighing in at 1,450 g (a little over 3 lbs.), it's in line with the competition in this segment.
Walking
The transition from uphill to downhill mode is controlled by an Ergal lever that is simple, effective and closes well with no slack. The range of motion is very good, and the ankle is free enough when walking, the only downside is that the buckles tend to rattle a little too much. The Velcro strap and buckle on the cuff are connected, but you need to loosen them both when skinning uphill for good range of motion. Watch out for the rockered sole that tends to slip on hard surfaces.
Lab
Super easy to slip into, the well-made liner envelops your foot. You need to get used to the double tongue system, so that it doesn't pop out before you tighten it. But you soon get the hang of it, and everything stays where it should be. Same goes for the buckles and cables. The shell buckle functions with an adjustable cable system that absolutely must be regulated at home before setting out. The cuff is very high for this category of boot.
Skiing
The Vanguard's plastics work well and are pliant and flexible up to medium speeds. In this case they support the weight of the skier well and the transfer of energy to the edge of the ski is effective. If you try to ski aggressively on wide skis at high speed, the cuff gives way and the shell bulges a little, leading to a loss of precision. A plus for skiers who are tall or carrying a heavy backpack is that the height of the cuff provides a lot of support, which is less tiring for the legs. The fit and closure are precise on the cuff, but wide along the foot, where the buckle system doesn't work well on narrow feet. At a high level, this boot lacks precision in descent.
Technical specifications
LINER MATERIALS
carbon-loaded Bio-Based Pebax Rnew 1100
SHELL MATERIALS
Bio-Based Pebax Rnew 1100
INSERT TYPE
Tech
Buckle description
micro-adjust buckles + dual elastic TWIN-PWR strap
Sole description
Vibram V-Lugs
Liner description
Vanguard
Thermal value
B
No. of buckles
3
Lean forward
12°/14°
Available sizes
24–31.5 mp
Released in
2021
Made in
Italy
Price
670 €
Status
restyling
Sustainability
Use of natural materials.
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the measure 26.5 to get all the details
1.490 gr
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Liner weight
XXXXX
N/A
Shell weight
XXXXX
297 mm
External shell length
XXXXX
N/A
External shell width
XXXXX
N/A
Inner shell width
XXXXX
N/A
Pin distance
XXXXX
N/A
Force to 20° back
XXXXX
N/A
Force to 20° forward
XXXXX
63 °
Cuff ROM
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum cuff height
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum tongue height
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum forefoot width
XXXXX
N/A
Maximum ankle width
XXXXX
N/A
Sole thickness at toe
XXXXX
101 mm
Min. last width
XXXXX
101 mm
Max. last width
XXXXX
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