Category: Alpine Touring Boots

Some boots incompatible with Dynafit Beast

  Dynafit sent out a notice recently announcing a few models of boots that are known to be incompatible with their Beast binding, both the 16 and 14 DIN models. The Beast features a rotating toe unit and the heel unit requires a special after market Power Insert that covers the top of the boot …

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Testing AT boots at Mt. Bachelor w/ABB

  The annual ski boot test run by America’s Best Bootfitters for Ski and Skiing magazines was held last week at Mt. Bachelor. Conditions were classic spring with creamy corn conditions on all aspects allowing testers, a hodge-podge group of boot fitters, friends of fitters, and manufacturers, to put their feet inside more than 100 …

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Backcountry Boot Roundup for 2014/15

  When you look at sales of ski boots with a walk mode it seems like everybody is going into the backcountry. That conclusion assumes everyone who buys a ski boot with a walk mode is using it to go ski touring. In reality, a lot of folks are simply using it to make walking …

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Take 2: Fischer upgrades Ranger 12

As one might hope, Fischer returns for 13/14 with heat moldable liners for their Vacuum series of boots, which means the Ranger 12 gets a much needed revision to the touring comfort possible. All the other aspects of the Ranger 12 remain: a progressive flex for arcing the fall line, three levels of cuff motion, …

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Review: La Sportiva’s Spectre

When you first lay eyes on La Sportiva’s Spectre you can’t help but think this is a specialized rando race boot. The svelte marketing photos do nothing to prevent that view. Considering it weighs around 3 pounds per boot (mondo size 26.5) and has a huge cuff ROM for longer strides while walking or skinning …

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A.T. Boot Review: BD’s Factor MX

  When I began locking my heel again two years ago I was surprised how far Black Diamond had missed the mark with their AT boot line. This year’s updated Factor MX does a lot to remedy that. Since inception BD’s tele boot line was too aggro and heavy for me to spend much time …

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Schaffner advised K2 on Pinnacle boot

  (Editor’s Note: It was just over a year ago that I went to the front lines to sell skis and boots at the retail level. A big part of the lure was the opportunity to learn some boot fitting tricks from Jim Schaffner. A fringe benefit was getting to meet and help so many …

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