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The list has been (un-scientifically) compiled by:
a) Maggots' input comparing their stiffest AT/Freeride boots' flex (Endorphins, Tornado, Aero Freeride) against their alpine Sollies. A single alpine boot brand's flex range (in this case, Salomon) makes for better comparability in contrast to mixing flex ranges from Lange, Tecnica or Nordica.
b) Once the stiffest AT/Freeride boots flex ratings have been established, the ratings of the softer AT boots were established down the flex range fine-tuning up or down according to, again, maggots' input.
Alpine boots used for comparison
100 - Salomon X-Wave 9 ("a notch or two above Denali TT")
95 - Salomon Gun ("Endorphin not as stiff")
90 - Salomon X-Wave 8 ("the Endorphins are comparable", "if my x-wave 8 is really a flex index of 90, instead of 80 like I thought, I could agree with the fact that the FR Aero is an 80")
THE LIST (stiffest ---> softest)
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110 - Dynafit Vulcan, Black Diamond Factor 130
105 - Dynafit Mercury, Scarpa Mobe
100 - Dynafit Titan/UL, Scarpa Maestrale RS, Scarpa Hurricane*, Black Diamond Factor 110, Garmont Cosmos
95 - Dynafit ONE, Scarpa Typhoon/Skookum (stiff tongue), BD Quadrant, Garmont Endorphin, Garmont Axon
90 - Dynafit ZZeus, Dynafit Aero Freeride (4-buckle), Garmont Orbit, Garmont Radium
85 - Dynafit Zzero CF 4-buckle (the "old" Green Machine), Scarpa Tornado/Pro (black tongue), Scarpa Spirit 4 (black tongue), Garmont Adrenaline, Black Diamond Method, Salomon Ellipse e2
80 - Dynafit TLT 5 Perfomance, Dynafit Zzero PX 4-buckle, Scarpa Denali XT/TT, Scarpa Maestrale, Scarpa Spirit 4 (green tongue), Lowa Struktura Rodeo/Pro
75 - Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain, Dynafit Aero Speed (3-buckle), Dyanfit Zzero CF 3-buckle, Scarpa Spirit 3, Garmont Megaride/G-Ride, Lowa Struktura Evo
70 - Dynafit Dy.N.A EVO, Dynafit TLT 700, Scarpa Matrix, Old Scarpa Denali (4-buckle red shell)
60 - Dynafit Dy.N.A PDG, Dynafit TLT 500 (2-buckle + strap), Scarpa F1 Carbon, Scarpa Laser, Scarpa F3, Garmont Dynamite
50 - Scarpa F1, Garmont Megalite, Dynafit TLT 4 Evo (3-buckle), Dynafit TLT 4 Lite (2-buckle + strap), Dynafit Zzero 2C (?)
40 - Scarpa F1 Race (2-buckle, no strap), Dynafit TLT Race Pro (1-buckle + strap)
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Flex Rating Guide for AT Boot Jongs:
110-100 flex rating boots currently in the market are the stiffest AT boots you can buy. They have absolutely nothing to envy proper alpine skiing boots in terms of downhill performance and in most cases they will feel at home in alpine bindings too. Only stiff Lange race plugs are above them in terms of stiffness. These features make them most appropriate for the sidecountry skier that wants the stiffest boot with Vibram soles for the ocassional bootpack through rocky terrain. He probably ski them with Marker Dukes too, so best for 10% uphill / 90% downhill.
95-85 flex rating is the new breed of "Free Touring" boots good for single-day BC forays and mixed on-piste/sidecountry use. Given the improvements in stiffness, many users buy these boots as their "quiver of one" for both piste and off piste skiing. In the last few years, Dynafit's "Green Machine" has taken this category by storm. Almost all come with 4 buckles, the stiffest tongues, both ISO and DIN-compatible soles and are best for 30% uphill / 70% downhill.
80-75 flex rating used to be the stiffest boots you could get at the dawn of the 21st century. They are softer boots than the "Free Touring" variety, light enough for extended touring but with enough stiffness for decent downhill performance. The definitive boot that epitomized the category at the time was the Scarpa Denali (in its various evolutions), well-liked among guides and patrollers in both North America and Europe. In this date and age, the category's ambassador in this stiffness range is the Dynafit TLT 5 Series, an important change of paradigm in the AT boot universe induced by advances in both design and technology. Targeted best for 40% uphill / 60% downhill.
70-60 flex rating is the quintessential lightweight multi-day hut-to-hut touring boot. When fewer options were available, the Scarpa Laser was for many years the most sold AT boot in the world. If you mod them with stiffer Denali/Flexon tongues, thermo liners and Booster straps, it will make them at least 15-20 flex stiffer. Or if you have the $$$, just buy the Dy.N.A. EVO/PDG. Think Chamonix-Zermatt: 50% uphill / 50% downhill.
50 flex rating is excellent for the alpinist/ski mountaineer that needs a superlight boot for winter/glacier approaches and wants to regularly ice/rock climb or walk in them with crampons on. Almost all have two buckles and are best for 70% uphill / 30% downhill.
40 flex rating is the land of lycra-laden Euro randonee racers. These boots are uber-specialized, stripped off to the max to minimize weight, provide minimal descent support and probably not worth it unless your VO2 max is up there with Lance's. Think Pierra Menta: 90% uphill / 10% downhill.
a) Maggots' input comparing their stiffest AT/Freeride boots' flex (Endorphins, Tornado, Aero Freeride) against their alpine Sollies. A single alpine boot brand's flex range (in this case, Salomon) makes for better comparability in contrast to mixing flex ranges from Lange, Tecnica or Nordica.
b) Once the stiffest AT/Freeride boots flex ratings have been established, the ratings of the softer AT boots were established down the flex range fine-tuning up or down according to, again, maggots' input.
Alpine boots used for comparison
100 - Salomon X-Wave 9 ("a notch or two above Denali TT")
95 - Salomon Gun ("Endorphin not as stiff")
90 - Salomon X-Wave 8 ("the Endorphins are comparable", "if my x-wave 8 is really a flex index of 90, instead of 80 like I thought, I could agree with the fact that the FR Aero is an 80")
THE LIST (stiffest ---> softest)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
110 - Dynafit Vulcan, Black Diamond Factor 130
105 - Dynafit Mercury, Scarpa Mobe
100 - Dynafit Titan/UL, Scarpa Maestrale RS, Scarpa Hurricane*, Black Diamond Factor 110, Garmont Cosmos
95 - Dynafit ONE, Scarpa Typhoon/Skookum (stiff tongue), BD Quadrant, Garmont Endorphin, Garmont Axon
90 - Dynafit ZZeus, Dynafit Aero Freeride (4-buckle), Garmont Orbit, Garmont Radium
85 - Dynafit Zzero CF 4-buckle (the "old" Green Machine), Scarpa Tornado/Pro (black tongue), Scarpa Spirit 4 (black tongue), Garmont Adrenaline, Black Diamond Method, Salomon Ellipse e2
80 - Dynafit TLT 5 Perfomance, Dynafit Zzero PX 4-buckle, Scarpa Denali XT/TT, Scarpa Maestrale, Scarpa Spirit 4 (green tongue), Lowa Struktura Rodeo/Pro
75 - Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain, Dynafit Aero Speed (3-buckle), Dyanfit Zzero CF 3-buckle, Scarpa Spirit 3, Garmont Megaride/G-Ride, Lowa Struktura Evo
70 - Dynafit Dy.N.A EVO, Dynafit TLT 700, Scarpa Matrix, Old Scarpa Denali (4-buckle red shell)
60 - Dynafit Dy.N.A PDG, Dynafit TLT 500 (2-buckle + strap), Scarpa F1 Carbon, Scarpa Laser, Scarpa F3, Garmont Dynamite
50 - Scarpa F1, Garmont Megalite, Dynafit TLT 4 Evo (3-buckle), Dynafit TLT 4 Lite (2-buckle + strap), Dynafit Zzero 2C (?)
40 - Scarpa F1 Race (2-buckle, no strap), Dynafit TLT Race Pro (1-buckle + strap)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flex Rating Guide for AT Boot Jongs:
110-100 flex rating boots currently in the market are the stiffest AT boots you can buy. They have absolutely nothing to envy proper alpine skiing boots in terms of downhill performance and in most cases they will feel at home in alpine bindings too. Only stiff Lange race plugs are above them in terms of stiffness. These features make them most appropriate for the sidecountry skier that wants the stiffest boot with Vibram soles for the ocassional bootpack through rocky terrain. He probably ski them with Marker Dukes too, so best for 10% uphill / 90% downhill.
95-85 flex rating is the new breed of "Free Touring" boots good for single-day BC forays and mixed on-piste/sidecountry use. Given the improvements in stiffness, many users buy these boots as their "quiver of one" for both piste and off piste skiing. In the last few years, Dynafit's "Green Machine" has taken this category by storm. Almost all come with 4 buckles, the stiffest tongues, both ISO and DIN-compatible soles and are best for 30% uphill / 70% downhill.
80-75 flex rating used to be the stiffest boots you could get at the dawn of the 21st century. They are softer boots than the "Free Touring" variety, light enough for extended touring but with enough stiffness for decent downhill performance. The definitive boot that epitomized the category at the time was the Scarpa Denali (in its various evolutions), well-liked among guides and patrollers in both North America and Europe. In this date and age, the category's ambassador in this stiffness range is the Dynafit TLT 5 Series, an important change of paradigm in the AT boot universe induced by advances in both design and technology. Targeted best for 40% uphill / 60% downhill.
70-60 flex rating is the quintessential lightweight multi-day hut-to-hut touring boot. When fewer options were available, the Scarpa Laser was for many years the most sold AT boot in the world. If you mod them with stiffer Denali/Flexon tongues, thermo liners and Booster straps, it will make them at least 15-20 flex stiffer. Or if you have the $$$, just buy the Dy.N.A. EVO/PDG. Think Chamonix-Zermatt: 50% uphill / 50% downhill.
50 flex rating is excellent for the alpinist/ski mountaineer that needs a superlight boot for winter/glacier approaches and wants to regularly ice/rock climb or walk in them with crampons on. Almost all have two buckles and are best for 70% uphill / 30% downhill.
40 flex rating is the land of lycra-laden Euro randonee racers. These boots are uber-specialized, stripped off to the max to minimize weight, provide minimal descent support and probably not worth it unless your VO2 max is up there with Lance's. Think Pierra Menta: 90% uphill / 10% downhill.
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