What’s a good Skorpius replacement?

[riff]

I just broke my second pair of [emoji637]st gen Skorpius, both tongues snapped off. I’ve done hundred mile traverses in these, fit is just right. Not a warranty option, sadly. I really have loved them, and might just make an offer on an ebay pair. (Size [emoji638][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]])
Otherwise, what’s out there that comes close these days for fit and performance?
Ridge pro looks fiddly and fragile, Kilo isn’t as stout….
Help!



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[mr_pretzel]

Ridge isn't really fiddly and has been durable so far in my experience. Ski better than a scorpius too.

Fischer Transalp could also be an option, not sure they walk as good as a skorpius however.

[fleaches]

Is skorpius v2 out of the running? I know the instep is a little higher but I thought they got that just by lowering the boot board a bit, which I imagine you could undo wirh a shim or a thicker footbed.

[riff]

Skorpius v[emoji638] is in the running, if I can make peace with the boa. I guess the Ridge has a boa too; I had those on F[emoji637]LT’s, didn’t care for using or fixing them.
I really like the way the clog fit, no shell work needed. There’s v[emoji638]’s on eBay that might have to be the fix.


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[NWFlow]

I went with the V2. It somehow feels like a more substantial boot, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Pretty happy with it, overall. I got my old V1 back after a third tongue replacement and after skiing them back to back again may even prefer the V2. But I'm not a boa skeptic.

I feel like the V2 is a bit higher volume around the heel/instep as described elsewhere, so I have to run a thicker insole.

[chicken feathers]

I have a pair of 26.5 v2's for sale on ebay. They have some shell work done to them but are fresh otherwise. I'd think a aftermarket liner would negate the shell work, with the exception of the big right toe that was punched for more length. Expecting a quarter of this post to be illegible...

[riff]

I’d chat you up about those on ebay but i think the ankle punches take out of the running for me- i’m always getting too much room there and in the heel.


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[Benneke10]

As someone who has also struggled with Skorpius durability (very grateful for the spare parts you sent me!) there is no good replacement. The Kilo is a tighter fit and not nearly as supportive. Scarpa F1 series boots don't fit me and I don't think they would ski as well. The Dynafit Blacklight and Ridge don't fit at all, and the Ridge does not seem like it walks very well. Dalbello Quantum boots probably have the most similar fit, but they don't have the progressive flex I like in the Skorpius. I bought the Head Crux but I am struggling to get a decent heel hold in it. The Atomic Backland 120 XTD felt promising (AMAZING walk mode for what it is) but it seems like its durability issues are even worse. The closest thing to the Skorpius is the Tecnica Zero G Peak. I didn't ski in it but it has a similar flex and tall cuff. It's a little lighter than the Skorpius and it actually walks worse because the lower clog extends way up around the ankle which limits rearward ROM. This probably helps make it ski better than other boots in its weight class. I could live in the Zero G Peak if I had to, I didn't buy it because it doesn't fit me as well, I'd need to stretch out the toe box a fair amount to wear it on longer days while I can wear the Skorpius all day out of the box.

[fleaches]

You know I wonder how much of the shittier-than-expected ROM of the peak is due to the gaiter with the plastic back vs the clog height. I wonder if you could get a few more degrees by removing it.

[riff]

I went with a pair of brand new but fairly cheap v2 Skorpius; I know they fit, my liners and footbeds will drop straight in, some of my old spare parts will work, I know they ski and walk well enough for me and when the Boa breaks i’ll fab some buckles on there. Kilo was tempting but i just know the gaiters will bug me. I was tempted by the Peak Carbons, but nearly double the cost of the Skorps and starting over on fit and fixing.
I’m stoked to try the minor differences but still have a familiar platform. Thanks for the feedback ya’ll!


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[riff]

I might make the old busted clog into a low top nordic ice skating boot..


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[NWFlow]

I might make the old busted clog into a low top nordic ice skating boot..


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Fantastic choice, since it reaffirms my own choice!

Is it not possible to get replacement tongues in the states? The Norwegian la Sportiva distributor fixed mine for 60 bucks (out of warranty), which will get me a few more weeks with the v1s as backup before they inevitably break again

[Benneke10]

Let us know how the V2 compares to the original! If it's much different I will have to start scouring the earth for old V1s.. also if someone starts a nordic ice skating thread I'd have some pics to share (I prefer skate boots personally)

[riff]

I might try getting parts to fix up the old ones, i just figured it was a long shot.
I think there’s a skate thread, but good luck posting pics!


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[skis_the_trees]

I am still rocking the predecessor to the Skorpius: Spitfire 2.1. What a great boot! I will cry when they break beyond repair. Sportiva stopped selling parts for them and I've had to get creative to keep fixing them when something breaks. But they keep chugging along doing 5k+ days on 112-122mm waist skis. Putting them on and taking the first few skinning strides feels like coming home every time. What a great boot! Sportiva really hit a home run with it.

[abcdethan]

If you take the Kilo and add the plastic tongue of the Skorpius you will have the upcoming Kilo XTR which based on its specs, could be the replacement for the 1200g weight class https://youtu.be/FkGj6uPaBEk?si=8efnMEa6iLzgPiu5


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[riff]

That sounds pretty good, if it was available now I would have done that- I’ll stay tuned and next round might be the Kilo!


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[Benneke10]

I really hope this beefed up Kilo doesn't mean the Skorpius is going away!

[Johnny Utah]

Slight variant of riff’s original question: what’s a good alpine boot complement to the Skorpius?

Trying to avoid a full-on “which boot am I” thread… but I get along quite well with the skorpius, pretty much out of the box with a pro tour liner. Previously the tlt6 was my cinderella slipper. The last true alpine boot I loved was a downsized factory doberman in 2004. I won’t ski Lange, hated Vulcans, am intrigued by a full tilt, and wouldn’t be surprised if this thread ended with a low volume Atomic

So, where do I start my search if looking for a charging alpine boot for repeat tram laps that won’t take a season of bootfitting to feel like my skorps, and (ideally) maintain similarish ramp/lean angles (obviously in alpine vs tech clamps) to not force me to relearn how to ski? Expect I’ll also swap any stock liners with intuition or zipfit, unless that austrian mimicry foam is as good as they say


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[dub_xion]

Was just browsing through the Skimo.co listing for the Skorp II and saw in the Q&A it is getting 86ed next year. Not sure what might be coming, maybe a reboot (no pun intended) with redesigned tongue, and back to buckles? My V1s have been great (thanks, @riff) and drive 177 VW Katanas and BMT 94s very nicely in the b/c. Think they were first-gen of the first-gen tongues and had to get them replaced alond with the cable loop hook. Hopefully they don't pull a Dynafit like what they did with the TLT6. This has been the sleeper boot of the decade. Maybe I will add back in my ebay alert for TLT6Ps.

[frorider]

Shit glad my skorp IIs are going strong after many many days. And the Boa is actually one of the best things about it IME. Not a fucking piece of shit like my Z buckle transalp pro. Curious to see the replacement.

In re Bennekes post above, I did side by side testing and the quantum flex was too soft compared to the skorpius II. But walk mode was slightly better.

I know I’m just repeating what I already posted a while back in the big Skorpius thread but in TRG style we’re creating a new thread

[frorider]

Re Ridge vs Skorp II, the fit of the Ridge was so weird I’m not sure I can adequately compare to the ‘perfect fit out of the box’ skorpius. But the Ridge upper cuff felt beefier in a good way, more like a Maestrale XT, but the walk mode felt worse than Skorpius and the boot just felt bulkier.

[riff]

So far the Skorp [emoji638] has been very nice - far fresher shell flex, boa is great so far. Not as much lock down for skiing, but very fine adjustment for touring and they are adequate for skiing. I have a set of Radical Pro instep buckles to experiment with if the boa breaks. I’m really happy to have another pair to put through the wringer.
It was so nice to drop my liners and footbeds in there and get back to work- shell fit is spot on.


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[CaliBrit]

Does anyone know if there is really any meaningful difference between the Solar II and the Skorpius II. They look super similar just a stated flex of ninety vs one hundred if that even means anything.

Edit:
Seems like it is just carbon in the plastic.

[CaliBrit]

If anyone has a good line on some twenty six Skorpius let me know.