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12-07-2016, 01:09 PM #1Registered User
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2017 Lightweight Touring Boots: F1 vs TLT7 vs Procline vs Travers vs Backland
Looking for a new big-day touring boot, and figured I'd start a thread since most of the comparison info is currently buried in a number of other individual threads.
After having a few of the 2017 lightweight boots on my feet in a shop, here are some thoughts:
TLT7 seems pretty soft, and I don't like the lower buckle system as much. I also dislike the lack of toe welt, but I need new crampons anyway so I suppose I could buy a hybrid pair that works with them.
F1 and Procline Carbon Support both seem reasonably stiff. I forgot how hard it is to flex into boots with so much sole rocker on the carpet so it's hard for my to quantify any differences between them. In the shop, it was very hard to notice the lateral ROM in the Procline, despite attempting to sidehill on the hiking-boot test ramp thingy. F1 seemed more progressive but could have been the fit or sole rocker.
As for myself, I'm coming from a Vulcan, which I love and have no real need to augment, but I'm hoping to compensate for my lack of fitness with more gear. I'm between the 26 and 27 in most shells. Really trying to figure out how to keep my heel locked down without going to a 5 mm shell fit and punching the bejesus out of the forefoot. F1 in a 26.5/27 right now seems the best fit. For reference, I wear a 26 in all my other boots (Vulcan, Lange ZB, Dalbello Scorpion) with a few mm shell fit. Currently, the F1 would be my pick, but I'm not sure if I can fit into the 26.5/27. I'm also not sure if it's worth it to save like 250 g over the Vulcans, which I love. Would like to try the Fischer Travers on.Last edited by auvgeek; 12-07-2016 at 02:23 PM.
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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12-07-2016, 01:09 PM #2Registered User
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Some thoughts by other people more experienced than myself to kick off this thread:
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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12-07-2016, 01:17 PM #3Registered User
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Reason Atomic Backland Carbon isn't also on your list?
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12-07-2016, 01:18 PM #4Registered User
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Heel hold.
But I had hoped this would be be a comparison thread with consolidated info (similar to the one on heavier touring boots), not specific to what I need/want, so I added it to the title.Last edited by auvgeek; 12-07-2016 at 04:49 PM.
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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12-07-2016, 04:26 PM #5
Disappointing to hear the TLT7 is so soft. I have green TLT6Ps that I ski with (black) tongues, and they're stiff enough but I wouldn't want to go a lot softer.
I remember hearing the F1 was quite soft though, maybe this was pre-recall? The velcro in the top strap turns me off entirely, although anything with mandatory integrated velcro (ie that I cannot replace with a booster or remove altogether without sacrificing performance) is a no-go for me.
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12-07-2016, 06:42 PM #6
I mostly use vulcans, with intuitions/ bottom buckle removed. I've had tlt 5/6. I just got a pair of backland carbons, with a stiff tongue and modded intuitions like I use in the Vulcans. Great walk mode, better than tlt6, with stiff tongue and liners they feel comparable to the 6's, but wider forefoot in the shell. I couldn't ski the 6's without punching, backlands are fine. Walk mode is great. The buckles feel a little less quality than dynafit, but work fine. Cuff pivot/ ease of movement is top notch.
Gravity always wins...
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12-07-2016, 07:02 PM #7Registered User
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12-07-2016, 07:20 PM #8
I was about to start this same thread.
I'm looking for a boot that is:
1) a bit warmer/roomier then my TLT6P
2) More progressive flex in the same ballpark as the TLT6P in stiffness (I ski mine w/o the tongue FWIW)
I've tried on the TLT7, Travers, and Procline. They would all fit the bill. The Procline is a tad heavier without much adding much IMHO. Reports seem to put it in the not very progressive camp. The TLT7P felt more progressive then the TLT6P. The toe bail thing, eh, I can work around it. Travers felt good, simple, I think making the boot water proof might = warmer.When life gives you haters, make haterade.
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12-07-2016, 07:48 PM #9
Did you read this?
http://www.tetongravity.com/story/sk...g-boot-2014-15
F! is pretty stiff. At least as stiff as Mango Maestrale. There is a discussion thread about the boot. I have the new fixed F1. It's as good as the older F1 with the exception that the newer F1's forward lean is 20 - 22 degrees as opposed to older model at 17 to 19 degrees
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12-07-2016, 09:53 PM #10
Haven't been in Mango Maestrales for a few years but the F1's feel a bit sturdier to me. I remember the lower deforming when the mangoes were flexed hard. This doesn't happen with the F1's.
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12-07-2016, 10:06 PM #11Registered User
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FWIW the Backland's heel hold is laughably poor with the stock liner for me but perfectly fine with anything else. My other boot is also a Vulcan.
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12-07-2016, 10:10 PM #12full throttle
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Glad to see some talk about the Travers Carbon around here. I just ordered a pair (in 25.5). Tried on a 26.5, because that's what was around. They were too big, but there's a few things I noticed. The walk mode is insane. Better than any of the other boots I've tried on in this category (I haven't tried the Procline or the TLT7). The design is so simple and seems to work very well, didn't feel much play, if any, in the ski mode and it felt more natural than the Backland. Could be because of a taller cuff and more upright stance, but I also think they had a little more progressive of a flex.
The F1 in ski mode felt the most like an actual ski boot out of these three boots (Travers, Backland, F1), I suppose because of what others have described as a "progressive" flex. The real power strap, velcro buckle and boa closure seems like an awesome system. Intuition liners are an obvious huge plus. The walk mode was good, not nearly as good as the Travers.
I was hopeful for the Backlands, given the custom shell possibilities, but they just didn't feel like they would ski naturally for me. I think it was some combination of a low cuff and non progressive flex. Maybe I would rather have a softer flex that I can get into progressively than a higher outright stiffness? Not sure.
Overall, my decision was between the F1 and the Travers. I chose the Travers because I think they had a slightly higher volume fit (maybe because the liner is very thin), a simpler design that really seems to work and less weight. I'll report back once I receive the right size boots and take em out.
For reference, I currently tour in Mercurys and these days, don't feel the need to put the tongue in for the ski down. In the resort I ski on (and love skiing on) Technica Inferno 130s with intuition pro tongues. It's an intoxicating level of power on the right day. I'm just discovering that I don't need a stiff boot skiing powder in the backcountry and would love to have a more mobile boot for the ups.
Edit/PS: I am very psyched to not be messing with velcro power straps and tongues and all the other finicky shit during transitions. One lever and one buckle will be nice.Last edited by land; 12-07-2016 at 10:35 PM.
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12-07-2016, 11:31 PM #13Registered User
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Why not have a go at the La Sportiva Syborg? I've skied both the TLT6 Performance and the Syborg this winter, and if you are on ski mountaineering sized planks, the Syborgs are great. I'd happily ski anything up to 100mm underfoot with them. I've got a pair of Mtn Labs that never saw the BC this year, as the TLT6 is more than enough boot for me, and the Syborg is only a tad softer.
The Skialper reviews considered the Travers to be average, the F1 to be pretty good, and the TLT7 to be even better. They reckon the Procline is the best boot out there in the class - I'm looking forward to trying them on, but right now I'm more than happy with the TLT6 / Syborg combo.
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12-10-2016, 05:59 PM #14
Total geek out but I'll have a TLT6 Carbon, F1, Procline. Will be "fun" to mix and match different boots throughout the day to see how they ski. If they're all close to the same bsl it'd be an interesting exercise
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01-08-2017, 10:51 PM #15
Got some time on my Fischer traverse carbon boots, and man I'm impressed. The stiffness to weight ratio is pretty good, warm, comfy. Did I mention warm and comfy? You can pop the boa while you climb and they feel like running shoes, then quickly crank it down at the top for a nice fit on the down. There's a few refinements I would like to see (the top buckle velcro needs to have a way to adjust tighter for us chicken legs, when the the top buckle is open the two pieces of plastic that overlap on the front of the cuff don't seat right so you have to move them to close the buckle) Pretty trivial stuff though. I think if they reinforced the upper shell with some carbon and keep the weight under 1200 grams they will have a winner for a lot of North American skiers.
When life gives you haters, make haterade.
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01-09-2017, 06:49 AM #16
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01-09-2017, 09:02 AM #17When life gives you haters, make haterade.
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01-09-2017, 09:04 AM #18
^ interesting, thanks. also, we gotta get out and tour this year.
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01-09-2017, 01:28 PM #19full throttle
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I would echo all of this.
Maybe I'm lucky that they fit my feet well, but they are the first pair of boots I've owned that don't need any boot fitting whatsoever. I was initially worried that the comfort would be ruined eventually when the liner packed out, but the liner is so soft and thin that I can't imagine this will be an issue. There's just not much to pack out. At first, I had thought the liner was a little disconcerting, coming from various thicker, firmer intuition liners, but it turns out that the heel hold is darn good and the fit is still very close. Probably due to the BOA.
They have been noticeably warmer than my mercuries, but that is probably more due to a better fit than anything. 0 degree dawn patrol still made my toes cold the other day, but I also got a bit of frostbite a few weeks ago, so maybe I'm more sensitive.
I too wish the cuff could be made tighter. I've got the spoiler in and the velcro on maximum tight and it's barely tight enough. Would be nice if they had molded some other buckle locations.
There is a little play in the ski mode mechanism that I notice on the bench, but haven't noticed skiing. Maybe it would be a factor if I wasn't skiing exclusively powder lately. Or if I had bigger skis, but that's not why you buy lightweight boots.
I can't comment on durability as of yet, but it's such a simple design that I think they'll prove to be reliable. Only question is the BOA, which feels strong so far.
They aren't stiff, but they are confidence inspiring in the backcountry. These, coupled with light easy skis (Voile Vector 180) and lower ramp bindings (ssl 2.0) have got me psyched! My old setup was mercuries on huascarans and, honestly, I think I probably ski better on these. Easier, lighter and simpler are good things in the backcountry.
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01-09-2017, 01:51 PM #20Registered User
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Don't forget to pay attention to what boot will fit in a frame binding vs boots that are Tech bindings only
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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01-10-2017, 06:40 AM #21Registered User
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Try Procline Carbon and TLT7 Performance in store. TLT seem wider, more space at the toes and stiffer 10 - 20% then birdy..
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01-12-2017, 08:02 PM #22
2017 Lightweight Touring Boots: F1 vs TLT7 vs Procline vs Travers vs Backland
Got into OR and checked out a couple boots I am mega stoked on. Sportive Sytron, appears to be the upgrade of the Syborg but nicer colors, lower ratchet replaced w/integrated cable similar to TLT7. Same walk/ski mode as now but seemed quite tough.
Scarpa Alien RS, replacing the Alien, ~850g and the rep said a 95 flex (which he compared to the F1 at 100), $699. If really that stiff, or close, a holy grail duo w/my TLT6Ps right there.
Dynafit is making a boot, forget the name, but it's basically a TLT6, normal toe/heel attachment for crampons, in a cool gray carbon color, around 1150g. So if you aren't stoked on the TLT7 toe, maybe this is the ticket.
Maestrale RS isn't really my type of boot but it also looked nicely engineered.
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01-12-2017, 08:11 PM #23Registered User
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"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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01-13-2017, 08:19 AM #24u
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01-13-2017, 08:30 AM #25
^ F1 looked unchanged to me but I also didn't ask, might just be the same color? Maybe someone else more knowledgeable here knows.
https://www.wildsnow.com/21514/dynaf...ing-2017-2018/
They mention the new "Speedfit" boot I alluded to earlier there. Cheap + 1150g + basically a TLT6 = pretty viable option imo, as long as stays in the general stiffness range of the TLT6 anyway. Not sure about Lou's read of it as a "resort skinning" line but ymmv.
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