Thread: AT Boot Flex Comparative List by model

Originally Posted by Meathelmet

How about the general fit / volume of the shoguns? Care to give a bit specs of your feet and impressions of the boot?

it's the same last as the Radium - in fact it's basically the same boot as the Radium except made from PU rather than pebax. 98mm last apparently so i thought i might need it blowing out a little around the metatarsals but doesn't look like i will now i have skied them (i have widish forefoot, quite high/high volume instep, heel is medium i would say).

with stock liner it feels very tight around the toebox but once i put my liner in, it is actually quite roomy. i was dreading cramponing with them, but now it looks like they will be much better for this than my old scarpas

i have them in size 26.5 - usual shoe size is UK 8-8.5

Hmm, so how to add the Dynafit DyNA to the list? The carbon upper cuff means that rearward support is absolutely rock solid (after a little bit of initial slop from the walk-ski switch, as is inevitable with any design). Laterally/torsionally the boot is also super stiff. Probably the equal of any boot on this list.
Forward stiffness though, well, without a tongue and without a velcro strap, and with only one upper cuff buckle, probably around a 60 or so on this list.
More thoughts here:
http://www.wildsnow.com/2346/dynafit...boot-its-here/
Still, so absurdly light that I no longer use my Zzero4 (been using the DyNA with the Manaslu and Mustagh Ata Superlight for all my backcountry touring this season), but I nevertheless plan to upgrade to the TLT5:
http://www.wildsnow.com/2446/dynafit-gear-review/
... for my winter and early-spring skiing next season, since sounds like they're about 80 for forward flex. (Will then relegate the DyNA to late-spring & early-summer skiing with the Trab Duo Sint Aero, plus with my cheapo Atomic race skis for ski area fitness skiing and the occasional race.)

Two boots to review.

Sharon's looking at the Scarpa Shaka - it\\\'s the woman\\\'s version of the Scarpa Mobe - 1680g - 4 buckle. Stiffer than Skookum





I'm looking at the Scarpa Mastrale to be co-reviewed with Alex @ Skitheory - 1470g - light yet stiff?

Don't think embedded pic will show but here it is

bump for a sticky............. There is to much good information to let this be buried.

never mind.... The real question is should I buy dukes, FF+ or dynafits. So many choices with so little info. Only if there was a poll or a thread or two discussing this matter.

STICKY... STICKY... STICKY... STICKY...

I'm really interested in a binding comparison too. Anybody tried out the G3 Onyx yet?
would save me a few bucks.

STICKY, STICKY, STICKY

Anybody have any insight on some of the new boots? and bumping this thread.

Originally Posted by Arno

it's the same last as the Radium - in fact it's basically the same boot as the Radium except made from PU rather than pebax. 98mm last apparently so i thought i might need it blowing out a little around the metatarsals but doesn't look like i will now i have skied them (i have widish forefoot, quite high/high volume instep, heel is medium i would say).

with stock liner it feels very tight around the toebox but once i put my liner in, it is actually quite roomy. i was dreading cramponing with them, but now it looks like they will be much better for this than my old scarpas

i have them in size 26.5 - usual shoe size is UK 8-8.5

I too have a pair of 26.5 Shoguns. I'm most impressed with them.

My alpine boots are Tecnica Diablo Race Pro 130s (the semi plug) with a 302 mm BSL at 26.5.

The Shogun shell for 26.0 and 26.5 is a 305 mm BSL.

The last looks very similar to the Diablo width wise.

The flex on the Shogun is far superior to my old Denalis that I'd really be quite comfortable skiing them virtually the whole time (I'm 150 lbs mind you). I've skied them with Dynafit Vertical STs.

I haven't bothered to cook the Gfit liner yet but it proving pretty comfortable out of the box, although I agree the toe box is snug width wise.

Overall I'm stoked with the purchase!

^^^ mine came with the padlock liner which looks pretty poxy even to someone like me who doesn't get too excited about liners

Anyone seen or tried the new ultralight Garmonts? The look weak next to the TLT5's and Maestrales, but maybe I'm missing something.

Originally Posted by LeeLau

Sharon's looking at the Scarpa Shaka

My ladyfriend pointed out how awkward the women's specific model name is when she read the print ad. I cant decide if Scapra is either super crass or super naive.

Originally Posted by The Gnarwhale

My ladyfriend pointed out how awkward the women's specific model name is when she read the print ad. I cant decide if Scapra is either super crass or super naive.

I thought that was a shocker...

Kinda like Norco's names for their female specific ride. Vixa - female masterbation in german.

Originally Posted by skiingnow

I thought that was a shocker...

Kinda like Norco's names for their female specific ride. Vixa - female masterbation in german.

You have to say it like your from Massacussetts

Originally Posted by I've seen black diamonds!

Anyone seen or tried the new ultralight Garmonts? The look weak next to the TLT5's and Maestrales, but maybe I'm missing something.

And the walk<>ski switch in ski mode blocks only rearward movement of the upper cuff, a la the Nordic TR series.
(Translation = will probably ski even weaker than they look.)

Originally Posted by Jonathan S.

And the walk<>ski switch in ski mode blocks only rearward movement of the upper cuff, a la the Nordic TR series.
(Translation = will probably ski even weaker than they look.)

I remember drooling over the TR9 boots when they first came out. A few years later I bought a used pair and had foam liners made for them. If the lock mech had stopped forward movement, they would have been truly ahead of their time due to their overlap design. They may not have been the best skiing boot I have owned, but they bring back the best memories.

Is there any chance this list could be updated for the 2010-11 season? I am debating the Factors/Titan/Mobe for rockered lugged sole and Dynafit compatibility.

I just found out Garmont made a Shogun with Tech inserts. Does anyone know if this boot is similar in fles to the Factor and Titan?

Originally Posted by Jethro

I just found out Garmont made a Shogun with Tech inserts. Does anyone know if this boot is similar in fles to the Factor and Titan?

my guess is that those two will be marginally stiffer but that there isn't too much in it

the thing i really like about the shogun is the way the cuff fits. the best of any AT boot i have tried. it feels like it is higher even if it doesn't necessarily look it when you put boots side by side.

anyway, they're a sweet boot IMO - well worth trying

so what does the collective think about the new models?

i would put the scarpa maestrale at around 80 (only tried them inside, but felt in the range of my denali xt's, and btw, did anyone try the pegasus?), the black diamond quadrant at 90-95 (?) while the dalbello virus light is just a tad softer than the quadrants.

what do you think?
and what about the scarpa mobe?


freak~[&]

I got the Lange Superblasters. They have a walk mode, so technically they're an AT boot, right?

They're rated at 120 and I'd say that's fair. I dig 'em so far. Bought at the tail end of last season.

Originally Posted by spaztwelve

I got the Lange Superblasters. They have a walk mode, so technically they're an AT boot, right?

They're rated at 120 and I'd say that's fair. I dig 'em so far. Bought at the tail end of last season.

well do they have a lugged vibram sole like an AT boot ?

walking in an AT boot is a whole lot easier than a plastic din soled boot

Originally Posted by freak

so what does the collective think about the new models?

i would put the scarpa maestrale at around 80 (only tried them inside, but felt in the range of my denali xt's, and btw, did anyone try the pegasus?), the black diamond quadrant at 90-95 (?) while the dalbello virus light is just a tad softer than the quadrants.

what do you think?
and what about the scarpa mobe?


freak~

I agree with the Maestraele at 80

Just got Mobe today. I don't do carpet tests so will have to take them skiing - perhaps next week

ok, after some skiing with the maestrales: they are softer than my denali xts, (which are rated at 80), so id give them only 75.

freak~[&]

While most people seem to say they are stiffer than megarides, rated at 75 too..?

hm, i've read that too. i never skied megarides, but the maestrales are significantly softer than the denali xts. to me, they actually feel as much softer than the denalis, as the denalis feel softer compared to the quadrants, which were in the same range as the dynafit aero freerides. ive skied them all today and skied with some combinations of different boots on each foot, fwiw.

freak~[&]

I've skied Maestrales and Megarides. I've skied the really old Megarides with super soft tongue and G-Fit liners. Megarides with Intuition liners and Megarides which were newer with the stiffer tongue and also Megarides with booster straps and the stiff Scarpa tongue.

Skied maybe 3 runs on Denali XTs - don't fit them so no real knowledge or memory of them.

The Megarides all deformed when you were pressuring them forward. I particularly remember one tour on breakable crust on a 1400m don't fall couloir where it was jump turn to jump turn. On every turn the crust would abruptly arrest you. I had my buckles cranked and feet were aching but did not want to miss any turns for obvious reasons. The forward pressure of my body on the boot would flex the boot plastic and deform it so much that the two lower buckles would keep unlatching. Not cool.

I don't get this type of plastic deformation feeling on the Maestrale.

The Maestrale also feels laterally quite stiff which is something you can feel skiing as you're moving at speed and arcing turns. Not easy to detect standing still on the carpet. Megaride doesn't feel that same way.

yeah, i too noticed that the maestrales are pretty stiff laterally, nice on icy groomers

freak~[&]